March 9, 2014 (Sun) Ocala National Forest (6) 45/77° - The Publix supermarket in Eustis usually has the Sunday New York Times newspaper - we think. The last time we were there on a Sunday they didn't. The Winn Dixie supermarket across the street did. Aside from Panera Bread which is some distance away, Publix is the only place in the South where we can be sure to get bagels that come anywhere near approximating New York area bagels. So Publix was our destination of choice this morning. But we had to go early before the Sunday Times were all sold out. We did and we were able to get one of the last two left and some bagels. We also picked up some picnic supplies, hot dogs, buns, paper plates etc. to celebrate the start of Daylight Savings Time with Bill, Margaret, and Dora at the campfire tonight. We also picked up a couple of cans of cherry pie filling for Margaret who made a delicious white cake, cherry, coconut, almond concoction for dessert.
It warmed up beautifully as the sun came up so our room of choice became the great outdoors. The one concern we had, as we read the newspaper, worked a crossword puzzle, read our books and appliqued a quilt border, was ticks. The approaching Spring was causing the Live Oak trees around us to bud pushing last years leaves out of the way. Seed ticks love to hang out on the tiny leaves and ride them down to the unsuspecting humans below. While relatively harmless (no threat of lyme disease) they are pesky and need to be dealt with to prevent infections. Luckily we found none.
I might add here that before the big adventure with the flat tire, Joy thought she was up for a walk around the campground which we did. Then while we were waiting for the road service truck, she walked back to our campsite to get her bicycle so she'd (we'd) have some form of transportation if needed. So she got a lot of walking in with no apparent ill-effect.
March 11, 2014 (Tue) Ocala National Forest (8) 54/84° - One of the things Joy did yesterday afternoon was design a small quilt/hanging with a "Sandy" (the super storm) theme and found she needed some fabric not in her traveling stash. The last time she was in the quilt store near Mt Dora (Sew-mini-stitches) she wasn't all that impressed but it was the closest so off we went. It turned out that the shop had greatly expanded and now well worth the visit.
On the way to the quilt shop we stopped in Umatilla to make arrangements to have Q's tire repaired. Actually all it needs is a new valve stem. Since this failure keeps happening we will be looking into a way to prevent it from happening in the future.
March 12, 2014 (Wed) Ocala National Forest (9) 67/83° - The folks at the tire place in Umatilla wanted us to call to ahead of our arrival so they could be sure there was room for us in the limited work area. They said it was pouring rain there. Since they'd be working outside and would need to fetch the wheel with the now deflated tire from its storage location up under the motor home, a probable muddy crawl, we agreed to reschedule for tomorrow. We had planned to go on into Mt Dora (with Lamont) after Q was whole again and decided to go today anyway. When we were there last year, we discovered the Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill - after we'd already eaten! We vowed to try it the next time we were in town. This was that next time. The food was excellent and well worth the wait.
We've had several flats on Q's rear inner tires caused, we are told, by the valve extenders flexing the valve stem until it fails. Steel valve stems may be the answer, if extenders must be used, but our local tire supplier tells us that rubber and steel are just as good. Apparently they are not. This morning we took Q into Umatilla and had all steel stems put in both inside wheels. As far as I can tell there should be absolutely no flexing now. We'll see.
March 14, 2014 (Fri) Ocala National Forest (11) 37/73° - Thirty seven degrees this morning! I expected to see flakes of snow drifting through the palm trees. What am I thinking? This is Florida. And it's the middle of March. Oh well, It's better than the weather they're getting at home. It did warm up nicely during the day and by afternoon it was warm enough to sit out without sweatshirts.
It's Friday in the park. The influx has begun! By late afternoon cars and campers were going by almost nonstop looking for the "perfect" site. Kids on bicycles zipping here and there risked life and limb in their oblivious use of the roads. One little guy ended up on the asphalt in front of our site. There was no apparent sign of damage to him but his bike took some fixing before it was road worthy again.
Q091976 Alexander Springs CG, Ocala NF #32 dry $10.50 B
0 comments:
Post a Comment