May 5, 2014

Little Manatee River State Park

 Wimauma, FL

Monte spent the entire day helping one of the rangers put up a corral.  

 

 There is a wild bull roaming the park that they hope to trap. 

 The trail leading to where the bull has been spotted is very overgrown.

 One of the other volunteers, Sharon, helped the guys by cutting lengths of wire.

I spent a lazy morning reading.  After lunch, although it was very hot and I would have rather been a couch potato inside with the air conditioner, I went for a bike ride.  I should have worn a hat because I could feel the intense heat on my scalp.  

 

 I stopped at the old kayak launch to see how much the water had risen from all the rain we recently had.   

Not too bad.  

 I have been borrowing one of the parks bikes.  I hadn’t been riding my bike as much as I would have liked to because it just isn’t comfortable.  I don’t like having to bend down and after a while my hands get numb from the downward pressure on the handlebars. 

The parks bike allows me to sit up straight. I think I see a new bike in my future. 

On my back to the compound, I stopped for a while to just watch this little guy.  

  We stared at each for a while.  He stood frozen until he figured out I wasn’t a threat and continued munching on some grass.

May 4, 2014

Little Manatee River State Park

 Wimauma, FL

We really like the new screen we bought that attaches to the awning.  Without the screen, it would make sitting outside comfortably almost impossible because the sun is that strong.  It is a little bit of a nuisance but we have to take the screen down and retract the awning when there are strong winds in the forecast or, as a precaution, when we are going to gone for the day.  

 Monte and I usually attach the screen together.  After the spline is inserted into the track of the awning Monte pulls along the length while I hold up the other end feeding it to him a little bit at a time.

It rained the last few days so we took the screen down.  With no rain predicted in the forecast for the next week, Monte decided to put the screen back up.  I was on the phone when he began the process so I couldn’t help him—but did that stop Monte? NO.  He cleverly devised a simple pulley system.  Worked like a charm.

Last week, Monte took the hitch apart so he could wire brush and paint it.  He noticed the plastic glide pads were cracked so he called Mor/Ryde to request new ones that were delivered on Friday. 

 

 

 

 

 Good as new.

The day just seemed to get away from us.  We talked about taking the kayaks out.  We talked about going on a hike.  We talked about riding our bikes.  It was all talk.  We didn’t end up doing much of anything.

In the late afternoon I gave Monte a much needed haircut.  

April 27-May 3, 2014

Little Manatee River State Park

 Wimauma, FL

Sunday-

Monte removed the plate from the hitch so he could wire brush and then paint it.   

 

 

After the plate was removed he discovered that the plastic glide pads that go between the lower skid pad assembly and the upper mounting assembly were cracked.  On Monday, Monte called Mor/ryde to request a replacement. 

 We received them on Friday at no cost. 

 I was impressed with Mor/ryde when we visited their facility back in August 2012 to have the independent suspension and disc brakes installed.  We have had a couple of issues since then that they addressed to our satisfaction so I would confidently refer Mor/ryde.

This is how far the pole Monte bought at the thrift store on Anna Maria Island extends.  

Our co-volunteers, John and Darlene, invited us out to their favorite Mexican restaurant.  Monte is not a big fan of Mexican food so I suggested he order the fajitas.  It was a good call-he liked them but also maintained that my fajitas are better.

I had the chicken quesadilla that came with beans and rice.  The serving was so large I ended up taking half home.  But I did manage to drink both my two for one margaritas.  

Monday-

 Monte and I worked together taking down shelves in the back room of the garage that will become an office.  After the shelves were removed I painted the walls.

I got the lizard seal of approval

Annie doing what she does best.  When we bought our rig I didn't like the chairs that came with it so we purchased two new chairs ($400 each).  Monte uses his all the time but I never use mine so Annie took it over--that is one expensive cat chair.

Tuesday-

Monte attached the shovel to the tractor and filled in gravel on one of the equestrian sites.  

 After lunch I went back to the campground with him to help rake and water the newly laid gravel.

 

 In the afternoon he dumped the black tank and then did his post dump chores that included treating the toilet.  First he pours in some canola oil, 

 followed by softener,

 and after a little swoosh with the brush,

some Happy Camper is added.   

The last thing he does is add a little lubricant. 

 There are many ways to treat the tank-this system seems to work fine for us.

Wednesday-

Monte’s back was a little sore so he decided not to work today.  But while I was doing my shift at the Ranger Station he managed to get two loads of laundry done as well as build a shelf in our hall closet.

 

 

 Thursday-

 I was scheduled to work the Ranger Station but ended up switching with the person scheduled to work on Friday because they needed to take time off.  I spent most of the day reading while Monte worked on one of the club cars.  It wouldn’t start so he suspected the problem was with the starter.  Unfortunately, he had to take off many parts to get to the starter.

 

Just before lunch he took a break to say goodbye to John and Darlene who are moving over to Rainbow Springs for a couple of months.  One of the many things I like about our lifestyle is meeting new people-unfortunately all too soon it is time to say goodbye.  We are going to miss them.  Our little group is dwindling fast as we are down to three rigs in the compound.  The other two rigs are solo males leaving me the only female left.  

 Friday-

I worked in the Ranger Station for the morning shift—It was my last shift in training—Beginning Wednesday there may be times when I am in the station by myself.  Each site in the campground was reserved for the weekend but with a forecast of severe rains we began getting some cancellations.   Most of my morning shift was spent on the phone with people who had reservations asking if they should cancel. 

Back home, after lunch, the rains came.   

Saturday—

Non stop rain all night and most of the day.  As we watched the news, my heart really went out to the people who had damage to their house from flooding.  

During a lull in the heavy rain, Monte went outside and swept some of the water off our large slide.

 Cabin fever was setting in so we decided to take a ride to Sam’s Club for The Taste of Sam’s. 

On the drive home, the rain began again and continued through the night.  I was happy to see the forecast for next week is for sunny days.