"Good Ol Boys"

Cool night last night down into the 40's but up into the upper 60's today under cloudy skies. Got up and had a Texas breakfast in the Rec hall $2.50 Not sure how it differed from anyother breakfast....scrambled eggs, sausage, and pancakes. After breakfast went for a long walk after which I went down to the boat launch to watch the fishermen launch their boats going out for sea trout and others. I then went to the pier to check out the fishermen there. Each one seemed to have 3 or 4 lines in the water (not legal in Ont.) After I went to a craft sale at the rec. hall...... no sue I didn't buy anything. This afternoon I went to watch the "good ole boys" shoot some skeet. I posted a couple of pics at
http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99
Later while reading I heard a commotion and went out to see thousands upon thousands of birds arriving. (pics at link above) Better here than in cold Ontario but a long flight home.
Doug.

Bingo

Am getting into a routine walk in the morning and evenings. Lots of reading done and relaxing lying in the sun. Went to Bingo last night and as usual didn't win anything just donated to the cause. I did get the RV and Truck washed today and got some of that "upnorth" salt off. Hope to take a long walk along the beach tomorrow. A couple of new pics at this link.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99
Stay warm.

greeting fellow campers

I just booked here (Seawind RV) for the month. Went for a walkabout and saw a javalina (will take camera next time to get a pic) not sure if it is a pig or giant rodent? Met lots of my new neighbours, fixed my antenna rearanged basement, missed the TAI CHI class, played a game of pool in the games room, checked out the quilting class and will think about washing the trailer and truck this afternoon.................if I get up from my nap by then...... :-) Started reading a new novel The Appeal by John Grisham. Lots to do A bit overcast today but warm temps (71) Well off to make lunch.
Doug.

Seawind RV park

Well finally got Blogger to work not sure what I did (if anything) or how long it will last so I took some Pics and uploaded them. They can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99

Had my first technical glitch raised the TV antenna and went to rotate it in a different direction and handle, springs and all came down on me .............drat not sure how to fix it Oh well I've got lots of time to figure it out..........at least until April. Got to go soak up some rays as the temp has risen to 23.4 degrees C that's 74.1 F (sounds hotter that way :-) )

finally got warmth

I still am having problems accessing Blogger ...... can get into other sites with the WiFi at parks but not blogger anyway am at the Library in Kingsville Texas. Texas is a big state and after a long drive down from Marshall, Tx I arrived at the SeaWind Rv camp south of Kingsville after dark. At first light got out and about and discovered this is quite a nice park right on the water. I may stay here for a while. The temps here are coolish around the 14 degree C. area much too cold for the locals but heaven to someone from the great white north. The temps today are unusual here and tomorrow it will be back up into the 24 degree range. Looking forward to hiking on the beach and meeting more of the other park residents. Had many firsts for the year yesterday.......first bug on the windshield, first mosquito kill, first blooming daffodil etc. Will spend some time today or tomorrow washing off the salt from the journey down then time to get some rays on the beach. (gotta watch out for sunburn). will try to post some pics. if and when I can access again. Don't work too hard back home and don't freeze.......I'll be thinking of you.

brrrrrrrr

well made it to Brinley Arkansas for the night and the snow on the RV is still not melted off.............they are calling for an ice storm here tonight so off it is further south. Going to Marshall Texas tonight maybe I'll find warmer temps there. Having difficulty hooking into Blogger so short post hopefully next place has better WiFi Keep warm.

Thawing out

Well I couldn't stand it anymore the winds were blowing cold sooooo at 1:30AM I started up the Dodge and got out of town..... boy was it windy, occasional flurries but nothing major....Got to the border in Detroit about 5:15 am and hey single guy trailer going to Texas............. got pulled over 3 border guards kept asking me so your alone? then they all piled in the trailer (dirty boots and all) found my stash of cereal and 12 bottles of beer on the wall. Still not satisfied they called the agricultural inspector over luckily his dirty boots didn't go in as one of the guards said he's OK just cereal and beer :-) anyway finally got through Detroit's horrible roads detours and all and ended up at 3Pm at least I think it was then not sure about the time zone here at Elizabethtown Kentucky. Got the trailer set up and as the temp is 2 degrees C. the snow on the roof is finally melting. I put out the slides and am putting everything in its place as we couldn't open the slides at home (frozen) well off to the grocery store for some milk for my cereal. I'll save the beer for another time. Not sure if I'll stay here one night or two depends on the weather and if I recover from the 14 hours of straight driving. furnace and fireplace are on and it is up to 14 degrees C. in the trailer now.
Will try to check in again tomorrow.
Doug.

Where did all the stuff come from?

Made my first trip to the trailer (that is in storage) today.......things look to be fine but very cold. Took a load of stuff out and packed it away .........well really just stuck it in as I didn't want to put the slides out untill I get to above freezing temps as the seals are probably frozen together. Anyway got back home and started putting more stuff together that I "need" in the trailer and boy where did it all come from or should I say where am I going to put it all. The old truck will be a groaning with all the weight. Oh well time to edit. Still hoping to get on the road either late Friday or early Saturday.
Will take the DW out to dinner this evening as I will be gone for valentines day and her birthday. :-) Oh well it's a sacrafice I have to make so I can get down south early and check out the most perfect spot for her when she joins me in March. (at least that's what I tell her) I was finally able to update Susie (my gps's voice) Garmin for the longest time wouldn't allow Canadians to purchase and download map updates from their web site. So my GPS was still working on 2005 maps. Garmin have finally changed that so last night I downloaded the new updated 2009 maps and after a few technical glitches (my old GPS couldn't hold the much larger updated map)
I found a work around using an SD card but hint hint it may be time to get an updated GPS I'll have to work on "she who must obeyed" to get a new one.
well back to editing.

Hoar Frost

Well more snow last night but clear skies today. Looking at the forcast I think I may be able to leavc this Saturday....so I am in high gear here getting things ready to go. Spent part of today with a friend helping her set up a computer system.........but as usually happens a glitch........ the cable we wanted to hook into for internet was there but wasn't live so will have to wait till tomorrow to get that taken care of then I can finish setting everything up for her. (maybe she'll follow my Blog once she's hooked up)
Oh ya the title Hoar Frost.......... driving in this morning there were a million diamonds as the sun shone on the thick hoar frost. (that's a layer of ice crystals on everything when falling temps cause the crystals to form on the cooler tree branches etc.) It was -21 * C this morning.
UPS delievered my copy of the "Next Exit" today This book lists all the exits off the US interstates and what is there ............helps if your looking for diesel fuel with a long trailer behind.

Oh it's so pretty????????

I have been putting all the "stuff" that needs to go into the trailer in piles in the livingroom and now am just waiting for some clear weather to put things in motion. I awoke at 6am to find what???? yup another night of snowfall sooooooo up and crank up the snowblower (the only good thing about this snow is I get to play with the snowblower) and do our drive and walk and the neighbours then up to the church to shovel the walk into the church for this mornings service. When I return home there is the DW (Dear Wife) waiting for me with "Oh it's so pretty" arrrrgh I don't want pretty I want clear weather so I can pack up and get out of Dodge. (in my Dodge)
I have posted a few of the "pretty pictures" at the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99/20090117#

Now if all the rest of you could just join me in the chant No more snow, No more snow, no more snow. I would appreciate it. Actually I can't leave until at least thursday as I have a medical thing to get done (just tests) and a meeting with my financial planner so he can tell me I'm crazy and can't afford to go south this year............ Already know I'm not listening to him this time.
Just looked out the window and guess what ???????yup snowing again???????well I guess it could be worse....We could be getting what our neighbours to the south in the states are getting. Apparently Buffalo has had about 90 inches of snow this season. Think I'll head the other way down through Michigan to miss some of the white stuff.
Just checked and it is 27 degrees C down Mission Texas today......... once again no more snow.

oiled up

Took the truck in today to get it checked out and have the oil changed. Love that Cummins turbo diesel but boy does it drink alot of oil. I'm using synthetic oil and at almost $10.00 a litre Ouch expensive. Oh well the truck is checked out and everything is AOK Got my trailer batteries in the basement and have them on the charger so they are all topped up. Now to start putting all the things one needs for 3 months together in piles to go back into the trailer. Not sure why I took everything out in the fall but do look forward to getting a place where I can park the rig at home and load it at my leisure.
Hey remind me not to post pics of myself again............ I look scary with short hair.....OK OK I know I look scary anyway ........why do you think I married a beautiful woman ........to cancel my looks out. (already starting to suck up) :-)
I have been using streets and trips and google maps to plan a route down south....I want to move quickly far enough south to get into warmer temps then take a slower route the rest of the way to the Rio Grand valley.
My son is home now so will probably enlist his help in loading the trailer.
I have my out of province medical set up 62 days on my wife's plan then top up from Medipac. A couple of people suggested to me to buy a pay as you go phone at a walmart once in the states as these are cheap (I like cheap) so I will check that out.

Preparation

Well I started to prepare in earnest.........got my summer cut, renewed my truck license which would have expired while away, and renewed my ERS service (emergency roadside service) don't want to be stranded somewhere with a 40 foot trailer. So many things to think about. Luckily my DW is here to look after things when I'm gone. What an angel. I guess I owe her big time.......but I think she is looking forward to a little time to herself.
Weather forecast doesn't look good for the next few weeks so my goal now is to leave here by the end of January. Still some things to get together and set up.

Why do I want to go down to Texas?

well you'll find some pictures I took of my backyard just after I finished shovelling the front walk and driveway......pics looks good................ back not so much and more snow in the forecast as well as a big drop in temps.
http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99/SnowyWonderland#

Learning the ins and outs of blogging

well I am continuing to experiment with blogging today I will attempt to link to some pics I have of my trailer............here goes, follow the link to my web albums.... http://picasaweb.google.ca/collindo99/OurNewTitanium#

if this works you should be redirected to my web album. :-)

Setting up the Blog

Well this is the start of my Blog. I decided to set this up so that family and friends could follow my travels. I have recently retired and am now the proud owner of a 2009 Titanium 5th wheel trailer the layout of which can be viewed at http://www.glendalerv.com/2009/Titanium/32E37SA.html

I am currently at home with cold temps here right now and getting colder ........time to get ready to head south. So I am starting to check out the weather websites looking for a good weather corridor hope something comes up soon. I am planning on driving down to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.......Why? ----- its warmer, I have talked to friends who are there, the scenery and wildlife looks interesting and well I've never been there before.
Time to start getting things organized and ready to get into the trailer for the big rush down to warmer temps. where I can De-Winterize the trailer and use it as my home on wheels.