Winter 2013-14
Christmas Day we had the usual house full and lot so good
eats. Before everyone left, the Santa
boxes and other decoration containers were brought from the basement. Early on Thursday we started the
‘un-decorating’ and by shortly after noon we were done and turned our attention
to the final loading of the Wildcat.
We turned in the cable box and modem to Time Warner and
placed the phone on ‘vacation’ mode so we had a quiet night and were to bed
fairly early. A good thing too as we
were both awake about 3:30 and decided there was no reason to stay in bed. We took our time and pulled out at 5:15 on
Friday morning for our trip south.
The journey to near Charlotte Speedway was uneventful and we
got in about 3, so we had plenty of time to walk Lilly and visit the vendor
tents setup along the drive into the park.
The folks at this park are so helpful and friendly. They help to level the unit and even connect
all the utilities….all for $20. We had
one empty propane tank so we did unhook to go get it filled and then spend a
quiet night. The drive through Charlotte early on a
Saturday morning was much easier than on a work day. After several break stops
we got into Darien , Georgia Inland
Harbor
Sunday morning we headed to Valdosta , Georgia Valdosta to visit Nancy Juster, a friend from our days in Hawaii . Judy and Nancy had a nice visit and Nancy had made dinner,
though the plan was to go out. We were
back to the Wildcat before dark, walked Lilly and got to bed early for the
drive to MacDill.
We arrived at MacDill about 1 and found the office very
busy. Things have changed since our last
visit. The old ‘partial’ sites along the
fence have been upgraded to full hookups (sewer) had been blocked off from use
because the cable had not been installed.
With the large influx, Debbie the park manager decided to open up 10 of
those sites for a week – over the holiday.
We were fortunate and got the next to last site she opened. We knew it was temporary and we would have to
move on Monday January 6, but at least we had all the necessities. Once we were setup, Floyd and Mary Woolridge
walked up to meet us and set a time for dinner.
They had asked us for dinner on our arrival.
Very peaceful New Years eve, although the fireworks form
downtown Tampa and St Petersburg were load and went on for nearly a half
hour. Thursday afternoon we were just
settling in to get ready for dinner when the camp office called. Debbie offered us a full hook-up site for two
weeks. Knowing we would have to move
Monday anyway and that we would either move to dry or partial, we packed up and
hurriedly made the move – in a light shower.
We will be on site 22 until January 16.
Friday night we went to potluck and following they had a
‘memorial time’ for Bob Beach. He was a
92 year old World War II vet who had been coming to MacDill for thirty-eight
years from Mt Vernon, Ohio. He was with
Merrils Maurders across much of Asia . He died in his sleep New Years Day. His two sons were here and it was a moving
but fun time recalling his life.
Sunday, January 6, 2014.
We are settling in more each day.
On our bike ride today ran into two other couples from last year. They are already in ‘permanent’ sites as they
both got here in early December.
Surprisingly, there are only five units in the field (dry camp) and
there are several empty sites in the partial row. Everyone is wondering what will happen when those sites along the fence get
cable and become full hook-up sites.
Tomorrow Judy is going to skip exercise and go to the Chapel for
quilting. Tuesday is quilting/sewing in the campground.
Tuesday January 14, 2014.
The routine is starting to take shape.
Last Tuesday Jon went to the “Airman’s Attic” location and met the two
volunteers who run it. We had met then
last year at the Volunteer’s Luncheon.
They live in St Pete and each Tuesday and Friday open up the place. They take donations from on base and any
enlisted E-6 and below and family can come and ‘shop’ for items. All items are free, but they are limited as
to the number of items they can take in a month and how often they can
come. So Friday the 10th we
were there at 10 and put in four hours.
Judy worked in the clothing and baby room and Jon worked on electronics
and kitchen things. We were both pretty
tired when we got back to the RV.
Judy has been having some problems with her left knee so she
is not walking but is going to exercise and riding the bike a lot. This leaves the Lilly walking to Jon. We are trying to ride at lest 3 to 4 miles a
day.
So this is our routine now:
Monday:
Judy Exercise and then we have the rest of the day to run around
Tuesday:
Judy Quilting and Jon Airman’s Attic
Wednesday:
Judy Exercise, Bible Study and Woman’s Group and Jon Computers
Thursday:
Judy Crafts sometimes
Friday: Both at Airman’s Attic
This Thursday we have to rotate and will no longer have a
full hookup site. By the number of units
in here now, it looks like we will be in dry camp for a few days.
Judy’s knees are getting better but now Jon has a problem
with the left knee. When working at the
Attic he was on his knees and must have done something. Ridding the bike is no problem for either, so
that is how we are motivating now.
Thursday the 26th we had to move tot the field
for dry camping. We picked a spot and
parked our bikes before Jon went to the office.
They said we would be there maybe a week so after our move we decided to
head to the Tampa RV show. It is so big
and so many units, but it is fun to look at those monster fifth wheels and
motor homes. We did see a nice Open Range
It got very cold Thursday night – well very cold for Florida anyway – and
without electricity we had to depend on our furnace and battery. We did survive and did sleep in some before
heading off to the Attic for our Friday tour.
We ‘volunteer’ from 10 to 2 so we really don’t get a lunch so we stopped
by the base Burger King on the way home.
After our late lunch we settled in for some much needed
rest. A little before 4, Debbie called
from the campground office and asked if we wanted to move – silly question
considering it will be chilly for the next few days. So we hurried up and made the move and still
had time to make it to the Chilly Pot-Luck by 5:15.
We can opt to stay here for up to 28 days but will see where
we are on the ‘list’ at the end of two weeks.
We have water and electric so Jon has to ‘dump’ every few days but with
this unit it is much easier. The site is numbered 335 and the “canal” is right
behind us and just across the canal is the golf course.
This is looking north on the canal behind our camper. When the cruise ships go out we get a bit of
a ‘tidal wave’ as the wake moves up the channel.
Saturday and most of Sunday we just rested our knees and on
Monday it was back to our routine. The
weather turned a bit cooler so it was back to jeans and sweatshirts. Tuesday Jon rode to the Airman’s Attic while
Judy headed off to quilting. Jon just
made it back to the RV when an afternoon rain came up. It rained hard for no more that 10 minutes
but it did rain. The rest of the week
was routine with sewing, bike riding and of course walking Lilly. Thursday we had Don and Jane Coget for dinner
and a couple of games of pegs and jokers.
Friday we went to the Attic but Angelo did not show so we decided to
make a day of it and do a little shopping (Hancock Fabrics) and then lunch at
“The Ranch House.” On the way back to
the Famcamp we spotted Angelo’s van at the Attic so stopped and spent a little
time before he closed. Beginning in
February he wants to be open on UDT (AF Reserve Training) weekends.
Judy’s knee seemed to be getting worse so on Tuesday we went
to a clinic nearby that is associated with the Tampa Sports Medicine
Clinic. X-rays showed no bone damage and
only slight arthritic changes. The
doctor was very nice and thorough and when she told Judy the X-rays were
negative you could see Judy’s posture improve.
She gave her a prescription for prednisone and told her to stop the
naproxen but continue the extra strength Tylenol while on the prescription. If no improvement, she will set up an MRI,
but the doctor felt it should improve.
Wednesday the weather had not improved much so we decided to
go to a movie. We saw the new Walter
Mitty movie and we were the only two in the theater. It was a good entertaining show and a good way
to spend a couple of hours on a dreary day.
Feeling a bit better and with the sun shining but chilly,
Sunday we hit one of the nearby flea markets. We walked several of the barns
and sat and listened to some music but it was just a bit too much for Judy’s
knee. Monday she skipped exercise but we
did go to the “Wine and Canvas” program at building 2017 (the building where
all activities take place). It is a free
program with a professional instructor.
We had heard about it from a couple of other campers. This week we were each given a 12X12 canvas
and painted a beach scene with palm trees, sky and sea. It was interesting and no two paintings were
anything alike.
The nearest JoAnn’s is in St Pete so much of our fabric and
sewing needs are purchased at either Michael’s or Hancock’s. Hancock’s will accept JoAnn’s coupons both
paper and digital. We’ve been putting
the Jo-Ann’s on the iPhone when we go to Hancock’s.
Monday the 3rd we had our second “Wine and
Canvas” class. This time we were given a
line (very faint lines) drawing of an old fishing boat washed up on shore. We had to draw in/darken the lines with a pin
and do some shading then we added colors using acrylic paints thinned with
water. Again everyone came up with a
little different finished project. We
have three more sessions before we leave.
Tuesday the 4th Judy decided to stay home and
work rather than go to quilting so when Jon headed off to the “Attic” she shut
the doors and lowered the shades and went to work. She said she needed a day to work on her
own.
Wednesday there was no exercise or computer group because of
a craft fair at 2017. We went over about
10 and found a couple of neat things. We
just had a ‘snack’ for lunch and headed to the theater again, this time to see
“12 Years A Slave.” It was a good but
sad show and this time there must have been ten of us in the theater.
At the Friday night potluck, our table was last which means
next one we get to “go to the head of the line.” The past several, we have been next to last
so it was nice to get a reward for being last.
We went to the “Attic” at 10 on Saturday and Judy and Brenda
worked in the clothing room and Angelo put Jon in charge of the desk and the
front room. The girls got the back
straightened out and Jon put up a lot of uniforms. By noon not one shopper had
showed up so Angelo decided to shut down.
The weather is still not great but is improving along with
our knees. We are beginning to tire of
driving to the shower house each night.
On Friday the 14th we have to move from this partial site to
the ‘field’ and begin rotation all over again.
We have been stuck at number 3 on the list for some time now.
Tuesday the eleventh Judy did not go to quilting and we
headed to the ‘Attic’ for some hours.
Angelo gave us our VIP passes (for going to the head of the line at the
Commissary and priority parking) and apologized that he did not have the
“MacDill Bucks” we had earned. They are
good for discounts at Seascapes and for our rent here. There was some mix-up and we should get
them. Wednesday Judy rode her bike to
building 2017 for the women’s group meeting at 4 and about 5 the sky opened up
and it poured. Drove the truck over to
pick her up and our camper and the parking lot were lakes! She had planned to ride home – in the
rain. By Thursday morning things were
drying out.
Jon finished work on the chair we brought. The fake wicker had all broken and he used You-Tube to learn how to macrame and made the chair usable…three more to go at home.
Jon finished work on the chair we brought. The fake wicker had all broken and he used You-Tube to learn how to macrame and made the chair usable…three more to go at home.
The field is nearly full – most campers we’ve seen there and
we have to move there on Friday. We will
try to pick out a good spot and Jon will have to move alone. Judy will be headed out on a quilt trip all
day Valentine’s Day.
After Judy left on the bus to go on the quilt trip, we moved
to the ‘field’ and set up and Jon headed to the attic. It is still cool so we may need the furnace
over night. Hopefully we won’t have to
spend too much time dry camping. We are
either number three or four on the list for a ‘permanent’ site.
We had planned to cook steaks out Valentine’s Day after Judy
got home, but in our haste to get moved and meet the bus for the quilt trip we
forgot to get them out of the freezer.
About 3, Floyd called and invited us over for grilled cheese and soup so
that was our big Valentines Day celebration.
Sunday after church we were sitting in the sun making phone
calls when the phone beeped indicating a missed call. It was the Famcamp office. We called and were offered site 109 –
permanent. Jon rode his bike up and then
we began the move. By a little after
lunch we were settled in to our home for the next six plus weeks.
After being on this site for a few days we’ve determined
that it is one of the best in the campground.
We are parked headed north so we get both morning and afternoon sun. Our
neighbors to the west are semi-full timers from Rhode Island/Las Vegas. He is a retired plumber/US /Army and a
computer guy. To the east we have an
active duty US Marine Lt Col. His family is still in the Atlanta area and he expects to be at MacDill
for only a year. If he is not promoted
he will retire next fall. As a hobby he makes guitars.
We bought a screen room during the campground ‘yard’
sale. It belonged to a couple we had met
last year and this year they bought a house near Apollo Beach
Scot and Stephanie arrive on the “Amish Bus” for a week on
March 8 They opted for the bus as they
can bring their tent, sleeping bags and other gear along with clothes. They will sleep in the tent but spend meals
and other times with us. We are planning
some activities to keep them busy, although they want some time to “chill” on
the beach.
The week of guests flew by.
We picked them up at an Ihop/motel parking lot and they were pretty
tired. They were pretty tired so we
moved on towards home and stopped by the Interbay Market and picked up
sandwiches for lunch. After we ate and went
to Security to get them registered on base and the campground office to pick a
tent site it was getting late.
Stephanie was thrilled with the game “Skipbo” and learned
who to beat us all.
We had a full week including a trip to Madeira Beach
They managed to spend some time in the waters of the bay and
the Gulf of Mexico. Oh and of course several trips to Clothing Sales for some
neat and different items.
It was sad to see them board that bus for the trip back toOhio .The big news around MacDill is the 2014 Tampa “Air Fest” coming up soon. The Air Force Thunderbirds will be performing
on Saturday and Sunday and there will be other aerial acts, some precision
para-jumping and of course lots of planes on static display. For that weekend no RV’s will be moving on
base and base personnel are restricted to entry/exit only via the Bayshore
gate. The other two gates will be open
to the public. It will be interesting to
see. In past years the show has happened
after we departed.
It was sad to see them board that bus for the trip back to
Just about everything is winding down, crafts and quilting
are ending and we are no longer doing any computer classes. We have one more painting class and with all
the departures it will probably be a small group. We’ve enjoyed the sessions and the instructor
is really good and has lots of patience.
On the Friday before the air show some of the aerial acts
were practicing and then in the afternoon the Thunderbirds arrived. They put on quite a show before finally
landing, streaming in tandem across the air field and then pulling up sharply
into the blue sky. And before you could
get your eyes focused back to earth one would shoot in low from the bay and
streak by. If you tried to follow them
by sound – it was too late.
The campground is beginning to empty faster. Each day more of the ‘winter folk” pull out and head north. Some of the ones from Northern Minnesota and
the UP of Michigan are staying until the end of April as they still have lots
of snow.
We did manage to get in one more ride along Bayshore with
Floyd and Mary Woolridge.
While at the Tampa RV show in January we spotted an Open
Range unit we liked. The ‘show price’
was just a bit much so we began looking online to find dealers with that
model. Found a number of them west of
the Mississippi, but only a few to the east.
Looking at the pictures online and from the Open Range web site narrowed
it down to a dealer in Michigan and one in Streetsboro, Ohio. Told them both we were in Florida and would
check when we got back to Ohio.
We worked our last day at the attic and began packing things
up for the trip home. Had the Ram
serviced on base (not the same deal as last year but still less than at home)
and took down ‘Lilly’s House’ and finally got everything put away.
The trip home was uneventful with just two stops. While stopped the first night at Walterboro
met a professor from Ohio U and his family.
They were on their way home from Disney.
And unlike last year or night at Fort Chiswell was pleasant – no snow.
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