We are at the Turner Agri-Civic Center in Arcadia, Florida (map), site of the Bussin' 2011 rally which starts Thursday, the last of a series of annual rallies here in Arcadia. Early parking for the rally opened yesterday, and we are the first rig in the "occasional generator" section. By the end of the day yesterday there were already three dozen rigs here, most of them in the electric hookup area.
We had a pleasant, quiet, productive, and relaxing stay in Lake Placid. We had a nice dinner Saturday at Heron's Garden, the only restaurant (well, other than Golden Corral) in town open for the holiday. We each had a giant platter of turkey with all the traditional trimmings for less than $10 a plate, and a glass of wine was less than $3. This place was basically a Greek diner, a style of establishment long-familiar from my youth, and so a fitting place for a holiday meal. It was nothing fancy, but the food was home-cooked and tasty, and the price was hard to beat. It was only a short walk from where we were parked at the Elks lodge.
In fact, there were no fewer than five restaurants (not counting fast food) an easy walk from the bus, including the aforementioned Golden Corral. We also rode the scooters out to June lake on Christmas Eve to eat at Jaxsons on the Lake, which was also decent. We were the last patrons there around 8pm, and they closed the doors behind us.
Yesterday we awoke to 30mph winds, gusting to 40 or so. Not ideal conditions to be loading scooters or even moving the bus, but we had passed our five nights there at the lodge and were looking forward to moving on. I dialed the cruise in at 50mph as we pushed west on route 70, because those winds were basically head-on the whole way. We arrived here around 2 or so, got checked in, dumped and filled, and got parked. With our choice of spots I was able to park about 120' from a water spigot so I could fill the tub, and even though it was windy I wanted to get that done early on, since the hose has to cross the entrance road.
That was an amusing experience. We carry a single "normal" garden hose, a bright red affair about 50' long. In order to have 150' of hose, which lets us fill the tub even when legally "dispersed" camping 100' away from water sources, we also carry two 50' lengths of "collapsible" hose, made of woven material that folds flat, the way you see fire hose carried on a fire engine. When I unrolled the first one the wind grabbed it like a giant streamer and sent it in a very different direction than where it needed to go. Once I finally managed to wrestle it into position and get it filled with water it was fine, though.
Today I need to wrap up my slide presentation for the seminar I will be teaching later in the week. Tomorrow we'll go through all the bays and closets looking for excess "bus junk" for the swap meet, which really is just a table we put out in front of the bus for the duration of the rally. We'll be in this spot through New Years, and on the first of the year we will head off in a direction as yet unknown. We might head off to Vero Beach for a party on the 2nd to which we have been invited, and we certainly need to be in that neighborhood on the 16th for Louise's training cruise. In the intervening two weeks, however, we have no concrete plan as yet.
Your Christmas decorations are great!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy. The "tree" is ceramic with a single light bulb in the base and little colored plastic bits that fit in little holes. My grandmother hand painted and glazed it and I have had it for a couple of decades, one of the very few such items we kept when we moved onto the bus. It takes up a lot of room the other 11 months of the year but it has great sentimental value.
ReplyDeleteThe wreath on the bumper and garland in the front window are inexpensive items that we buy each year at Wal-Mart, perhaps $10 each. At the end of the season we give them away, and someone less fortunate than ourselves but who has the room to store them will use them next year.
Hard to see in the photo but this year Louise found some tiny battery operated LED light strings and we decorated the scooters, too. Not shown are the five stockings "hung by the roof hatch with care." Two human-size and three pet-size, of course, and those we also store.
One of the minor consequences of living in a small space is that we buy our holiday supplies at full price each season and use them all up. As opposed to the way I was brought up, wherein we bought them all after the holidays on deep clearance, then put them right in the attic for next year. Can't say I miss the process of trying to box it all back up.
Happy holidays to you and your family.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. I am one of the silent followers of your postings. Thanks for the effort.
I am a bus owner, Prevost XLV living in Texas, and I am always interested in learning more about busses. What is the topic of your slide presentation? I have learned much about the Prevost suspension system and developed a slide presentation of the same. I can't comment on other busses, but rubber is the enemy of Prevost busses older than 15 years. Managing suspension air leaks can be a challenge.
Thanks again,
Hector
@Hector: Thanks for the comment. My presentation was on plumbing systems for converted coaches.
ReplyDeleteYou should think about presenting your suspension slides at an upcoming bus rally. I know there is one annually in central Texas and of course there are half a dozen or more nationwide. Most of these rally organizers are always looking for seminar presenters.
Sean -
ReplyDeleteHad a great time in Arcadia - bus folk are the best!
I really like that new photo for the front page - Karen did a great job!
It will be interesting to see what Bill & Brenda conjure up for next year, eh?
Later, my friend!
RJ
I love the new front page photo! The lighting and reflections make for an amazing effect.
ReplyDeleteHi Sean & Louise,
ReplyDeleteLove the new picture. Also I meant to post a comment re: Opal & the Boat. We've decided to postpone any trips to Glacier Natl Park or Yellowstone as well as the Amtrak Cascade to SFO until Mojo leaves us. National parks aren't too dog friendly nor is the Amtrak. It leaves me something to look forward to. Mojo is almost 17 but still going strong, despite the deafness caused by the canine distibular syndrome he had in June. He's sniffing more now that's he's deaf but still running around like a puppy when there's snow involved or creeks. We'll be heading down the Oregon Coast (Mojo's annual vacation) in May, lots of dog friendly beaches and towns for him. Hope Opal is well and please post some picture of him. Kelly, Rocket and Mojo.