QC21-07 A week in Civilization

February 26, 2012 (Sun) Alexander Springs CG to Lakeland, FL (83/1524 miles) 49/68° - We wanted to get propane in Umatilla as we drove south on SR17 and it was beginning to look as if the rain would get here sooner than predicted. The fellow at ACE hardware there doesn't like what he has to go through to get it into Q's tank and we didn't want to add to his misery by his having to do it in the rain. So we rushed our departure routine - to no avail. The sky opened up as we drove into Umatilla. We didn't stop.

Other than the rain, which lasted until we got to Eustis 3 miles on down the road, the drive to Lakeland was uneventful. The sun lightened the skies and the early blooming azaleas brightened the landscape here and there along the way making for a beautiful morning.

We got to Ed and Kathy's about 1:00 and moved Q into a new spot in their yard. They have put in a beautiful patio and walkway near where we usually park and we didn't want to spoil the ambiance.

February 27, 2012 (Mon) Lakeland, FL (2) 63/80° - Mark installed the new "Jack" digital TV antenna on Q. It is supposed to be a little less directional that the regular bat wing antenna that comes with all RVs and more sensitive especially in the UHF range. We are in a strong signal area so we don't know if it does what it is supposed to yet, but it does at least as well as the old bat wing - a good start.

We went to Ling's Buffet (the best Chinese buffet we know of) with Ed and Kathy. On the way back we shopped for miscellaneous supplies at various stores. The rest of the day was sitting around chatting.

February 28, 2012 (Tue) Lakeland, FL (to Plant City, FL) 65/83° - We left Q in Ed and Kathy's yard and went over to Plant City today. On the way we stopped at Book Bazaar to exchange 7 bags of books for two. They deemed the books in 3 of the bags unacceptable for one reason or another so we had a bill for $22 for our "new" books. We found Gordy and Ruth in good health and at least as glad to see us as we were to see them.

February 29, 2012 (Wed) Plant City, FL ??/??° - We never looked at a thermometer today so there's no record of the temperature, but it was about like yesterday. Alderman Ford was our destination in the late morning. It's a park with a 1.8 mile trail with periodic exercise stations along the way. We've been there before and it was just as pretty today as then. We didn't partake of the stops along the way (except the rest rooms).

March 1, 2012 (Thur) Plant City, FL to Lakeland, FL 70/85° - After a wonderful couple of days of good food and thought provoking conversation we packed up Lamont and came back to Lakeland and Q. It was so good to be with Gordy and Ruth, as it always is, and we left wondering at how fast the time passes.

After some research on line and in person to find the best price for the small Honda generator (the EU1000i) we ordered one from a company in Wisconsin - saving nearly half the MSRP. It was waiting for us when we got back to Lakeland. We wasted no time in setting it up to run and giving it a try. It really is amazing how quiet it is. In the afternoon we went over to Winter Haven to The Yarn Basket (a yarn shop) with Ed and Kathy. It was a nice shop with a good selection. Joy now has more sock making raw material. (Mark picked up a bag of tiny beads that happened to be torn, and they all dumped out on the floor of the store!! Can't take him anywhere!! -J)

Joy helped Kathy pull weeks in her flower garden when we got back. One of the weeds turned out to be a stinging nettle!! Applications of Caladryl, Benadryl and Aloe don't seem to help much.

March 2, 2012 (Fri) Lakeland, FL (6) 64/85° - We had lunch at Harry's in downtown Lakeland. It was a nice place with good service. And, of course, we ate too much. From an eating stand point it will be good to get back out into the wilderness. Ortona Lock South is our destination tomorrow. It's not exactly wilderness, we have electric and water hook-ups, but it's away from the calorie factories.

Q083607 Ed & Kathy's yard (6)