Finally... THE TRIP

Jan 15 After loading up and running a couple errands we got a late start out of town Wednesday getting on the road about 5:30pm driving to a Walmart in Kansas City for the first (very cold) night about 9:30pm.

Jan 16 Thursday up about 11:30am and headed to Saint Louis about 4:30pm. Went to three Goodwill and one Salvation Army before getting on the road again eastbound. Pulled into the Vandalia Walmart in Illinois about 10:30pm for a second very cold night. We watched DOWNTON ABBEY on the player before settling in for the night.

Jan 17 Friday I was up at 9:30, quietly so Leofwyna could sleep until 11:30. There was a Goodwill across the parking lot to look into before getting back on the road to Louisville, Kentucky dropping further south. 5:30/6:30 switch to EST at the first Goodwill then as we were leaving the second Goodwill I was saying, "You're too close to the fence." As she was responding, "I have plenty of room," as she slammed the A/C right off the camper against their fence post bordering the parking lot. Found a cover for the hole and a Walgreen for packing tape then found a Walmart where we covered and taped up the hole. Settled by 11pm. Rain and cold most of the night but the patch was good.

Jan 18 Saturday (9am) on the road we stopped at World in Corbin, Kentucky, then back on the road to Knoxville where we found two Goodwills. Back on the road to Kingsport, Virginia for Walmart about 10pm.

Jan 19 Sunday (11am) a shower, then a scenic route alongside Mt Rogers found Quiltville Inn at Mouth of Willson. It was a very satisfying side trip with occasional sunshine and lovely back country Virginia roads. Stopped at a Goodwill in Galex, Virginia then on to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for another Walmart about 10pm. We still haven't stopped to recharge the movie player.

Jan 20 Monday (10:40) Finally a sunny clear sky. Headed to WAFFLE HOUSE for lunch. A couple thrift stores in Winston-Salem then a country drive to Charlotte with another few thrift stores. Supper at Denny's then the Walmort in Moresville about 10:30pm.

Jan 21 Tuesday (11am) woke to a clear sky, chilly. Found a Best Buy to deal with cellphone problem. Leofwyna ended up having to replace it... losing phone number list.
Sonny's BBQ for lunch. Headed out to Valdese for the "thrift row" a lady told Leofwyna about yesterday, then several more on the way back to Moresville Walmart, stopping at Olive Garden for supper. Upon learning tonight Robin will be in Georgia next weekend Leofwyna called her to make arrangements to meet. Leofwyna is researching for other possible SCA events as well.

Jan 22 Wednesday (10am) again clear sky, chilly and brunch at WAFFLE HOUSE. Filled propane in Charlotte then thrift stores including a Goodwill Wearhouse before continuing The Mad Greek for supper and to Columbia Walmart approx 9pm.

Jan 23 Thursday (10am/11am) a few thrifts in Columbia then head to Augusta for more thrifts, and supper at Augsburg Haus for Jaegerschnitzel. Walmart in Bobby Jones to set up about 10:30pm.

Jan 24 Friday (11am) after a rainy night, a rainy morning. Got groceries for the weekend then Great Chow Chinese buffer for lunch. Found Wells Fargo for merchant change, showers then on the road to site at Indian Springs SP, Georgia. On site about 6:30 for supper then went to arrange camp spot. Back to site to set up merchant table. Back at trailer site before 10pm.

Jan 25 Saturday up and at 'em 8am going to event before lunchtime. Leofwyna sold more than expected with such a small event. Left after court about 6pm headed to Centerville for a movie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) and Walmart about 9:30pm.

Jan 26 Sunday (10:30/11:30) checked out a nearby Goodwill befire hitting the road to Statesboro, Georgia to visit Robin and her daugher, Jody. Leofwyna took all of us to supper at Boiling Shrimp, Set up at Statesboro Walmart that night.

Jan 27 Monday (10:00/10:30) lunch at Sonny's BBQ in Stateboro, Georgia before three thrift stores then on the road to Savannah. Checked RAV lights then toured for architecture and found a Goodwill... Took photos of Eugene Talmadge Mem Bridge. Stopped at Ranch World for gifts and continued to Jacksonville. Stopped in McDonalds for fast meal, found Walmart in Jacksonville about 10pm. Fripped for a couple hours.

Jan 28 Tuesday (9:30/10:30) Clear blue sky, pretty day. Stopped in a Goodwill, then followed A1A south awhile. Then realized running later than planned and called 'cause we'd be late (from St Augustine). Registered over phone (easy peasy) so visited several thrift stores and Hurricane Patty's for supper. Checked in at Best Western Plus about 9:30am. I spent a couple hours on the lobby computer catching up. We had a room on 5th floor overlooking beach and ocean.

[more follows]

THE TRIP,,, Part 2

Jan 29 Wednesday (9:55AM) woke to the alarm to get free breakfast then a walk on the beach collecting a few shells before showers and for Leofwyna a nap. I sat on the balcony for awhile studying wave patterns. It was a beautiful day. Left camper behind to go to several thrift stores, 31 Flavors and Sonny's for supper. There was some overcast and sprinkles late in the afternoon when we did laundry, some computer time in the evening.

Jan 30 Thursday (9:45am) I spent a few hours on the computer while Leofwyna took the RAV for maintenance, After lunch headed out for quilt shop and thrift stores. Leofwyna found yet more plates. Oh my but it was windy, but pretty. End of the afternoon helped repack back of RAV before heading to a near by diner for supper. Planned tomorrows load up and took 1st load when I went back down to the computer. The high winds and afternoon overcast pushed the temps back down.

Jan 31 Friday (9:15) up to alarm and schedule for breakfast, sowers, loading and Leofwyna's sales meeting (4.5 hours!). I spent the time on the computer while she dealt with this. We got the camper hooked back up and headed out to finish the laundry. But first must find Best Buy to fix phone again so we
CAN find the laundomat. Too late for laundry so found Goodwill, found books. Went to Olive Garden for soup and breadsticks for supper then started looking for friendlly Walmart. No joy. Ended up in Forever Summer campground ($37) about 11pm. Couldn't find registration slot so no doubt will be awakened for the pay envelope in the morning.

Feb 1 Saturday (10:15) rainy night, grey rainy morning. Back to Quilt shop for Palm border I passed up the other day then lunch at Sonny's BBQ. Got the rest washed and all dried (stuff in the room didn't dry much at all). We stopped in at a couple thrift stores as we found our way to a Walmart that allowed campers but we stopped at a different one we found along the way in Ocachobee (inland) about 10pm. Supper was WAFFLE HOUSE part way there.

Feb 2 Sunday (9am/11an) sorted laundry back into totes, remade beds and organized RAV again. It's a beautiful clear (dry) day. First meal at a nice Chinese buffet, a thrift store and flea market then it was a nice drive around the lake to Clewiston but they didn't have a theater so no movie. We read awhile before heading to another Sonny's BBQ for supper. Settled in at the Walmart there for the night.

Feb 3 Monday (9:45 alarm) for quick load up and stop at Subway, one Goodwill, then on the road to Miami to catch our boat at 2pm. Traffic was heavier than expected so we felt rushed getting aboard. Our room is nice (8'x17'). Darma is our room steward and Gunawan our head server with Depak and Caroline. We had lots of attention from them at our meals... only one night that another couple was at our table. We watched the sunset while Miami dissapeared over the horizon.

Feb 4 Tuesday (9:15 alarm) up and out for shipboard breakfast then out to Key West. Leofwyna hired a 'golf cart' so we enjoyed a couple hours tooling around town. It was tight getting back to the ship but we made it. Leofwyna laid down and napped before lunch. My nap waited until just before supper. Between lunch and my nap we sat in the Lido area working our puzzles.

Feb 5 Wednesday (9:30/11am) I dressed quietly and went to breakfast while Leofwyna slept. Watched the horizon, then coming into Cozamel. Leofwyna joined me for lunch then we went to our submarine ride which was very satisfying with lots of Sgt Major fish escorting the sub and a shy manta ray making its escape. The reef is second largest in the world and swarming with many fish, esp brilliant blues on each coral head. Went down to 110 feet and could see the drop off into the deeps. We both got a brief nap before supper then we watched a documentary about Mr. Rogers.

Feb 6 Thursday (10:30) I headed out to lunch while Leofwyna made a late start, showing up around one. We played three rounds of Canasta. I won the first handily but my luck changed and she won the other two. Even on total of the totals was hers. After supper we packed up most of our stuff to be taken off ship for us in the morning.

Feb 7 Friday rainy am and overcast. Out of the room before 8:30 OMG! But plenty of time for breakfast 9am before we actually have to leave the ship. Off the shiop before 10am but not in the RAv until 11am. The early am, rich (sic) breakfast, heat in the lines waiting, stress and what all triggered poor Leofwyna's tummy. After lunch at Sonny's in Florida City found Southern Comfort campgrouns and booked a couple nights. Went to Salvation Army and two Goodwills before heading to supper at WAFFLE HOUSE.

Feb 8 Saturday (11:30am/1pm) slept all morning then got up and out to let Leofwyna start slow. Sat in the RAV to read until she got up, unhooked the trailer and headed out for lunch at Farmers' Market. Reclaimed her wallet at Salvation Army. Checked Miami Dade Library, 15 min... no joy. Went to Biscayne Nat'l Park, watched film movie "Spies in Disquise". Supper at Burger King then back to camp.

Feb 9 Sunday (9:30/10:30) partly cloudy with some pretty blue skies. We checked in for an additional night then headed to the Everglades for tour. Stopped at Subway for sandwiches. A fatality accident on highway 41 (with no possible alternate route) turned us back only 7 miles from Wooten's. Fortunately Wooten's was really decent about not charging us for the missed reservation. We re-booked for the next day. Instead we headed into Miami for a couple thrift stores and found Versailles (a bakery in Little Havana) for supper. Back in camp I retaped the license plate and A/C patch.

Coughing, coughing... took cold med. Beeping during night so went out to plug trailer to the RAV to make it stop.

Feb 10 Monday (9:30/10am) Leofwyna did most of the take down. I am coughing, coughing... but still can breathe. Booked Burns Lake campsite #5 on the way to Wooten's. I stayed in the RAV and slept while Leofwyna finally got her Everglades experience. She decided to get a motel room so I could rest better, bless her heart. Sore throat in addition to the coughing. She got me ice cream and cream of chicken soup. I mostly slept the rest of the way around the clock. Now she has the cough too.

Feb 11 Tuesday (10/11) we decided to head home. After leaving the motel at noon we've headed out on I75. I had a booboo when it took too many miles to find a rest stop. Along the way to St Petersburg we did stop to thrift at Lehigh and found a little country diner where hamburger steak and mashed potatoes perked us both up. When we couldn't stay at the Walmart in St Petersburg as planned we pushed on to Ocala where the humidity made sleep difficult at the Walmart there.

Feb 12 Wednesday (11/12) upon leaving Walmart we decided to get the cruise control reprogrammed first thing. They convinced Leofwyna to let them fix a couple things and I spent the afternoon in their sitting room, well cooled and with TV. They let Leofwyna set up in a shady area in back lot so she mostly slept there between 'consultations'. By 5pm we had the RAV to go find supper and spent the night in the camper in the back lot. The electrical cord didn't work so around midnight I had to hook up the RAV again to quiet the alarm. Later a semi with a delivery got me up and out to move the RAV so he could get through. I rehooked the RV and finally got back to sleep.

Feb 13 Thursday (9:30/12) The part arrived, was installed and we were able to load up and get back on the road for showers, food and some mileage northward at last. I'm nearly back to normal (I thought) and Leofwyna is recovering so I'll drive the first while. Stopped at another Quilt shop. They had prints I hadn't see before but no sandpipers I was looking for. Found a Goodwill too but neither of us found anything. Drove until 9 to Walmart in Cordele, Georgia. Used heater and wool blankets!!

Feb 14 Friday (9/12) lunch at Sonny's in Macon then library computer 3 hours and a Goodwill. Then continued to Atlanta, Georgia and Pell City, Alabama Walmart for the night.

Feb 15 Saturday (9/11:30) WAFFLE HOUSE for lunch, several thrift stores and a flea market in Birmingham. 5:30pm I saw Mama's sundogs, pointed them out to Leofowyna. Went to China Buffet in Birmingham then hit the road to Nashville. Leofwyna called Cera while I drove then relieved me when we gassed up just past the border in Tennessee.

Feb 16 Sunday (9/10:30) breakfast at WAFFLE HOUSE. After visiting several thrift stores in Franklin and Nashville drove via Padukah to Fallon Walmart. Rained through the night.

Feb 17 Monday (9/11:30) Initial plans to drive home today changed following breakfast. Visited many thrift stores in St Louis. Left 7pm to arrive Oak Grove (near KC) just before midnight.

Feb 18 Tuesday (10/11) Pulled in at home about 10:30pm. Left unloading to do another day.

Lots to catch up

We didn't start emptying the RAV and camper until Friday and took it several days to do so. A dry cough is persisting for both of us and we're low on energy after the trip. At gaming the next couple weeks Buck played on the 16th and Gnancy on the 23rd. We both attended the Wednesday meetings the 19th and 26th. Probably shouldn't have but we didn't altogether realize what was developing. I had worked up a nine-patch top, a four-patch top after the trip and contacted Opal C for a pick-up... had 15 tops, a couple backs and a bag of poly-batting. She came for them on Mar 11th when she had an appointment here.

We both missed the Wednesday meeting on Mar 4th, just tired and dragging. On Mar 6th when I was headed to bed I had a really bad spell but toughed it out through the night... took it slow Saturday and felt okay by Sunday. S'awn played at gaming on Mar 8th and was promoted to 5th level by DM's orders. Whee! I started a set of sniglets but after a week of piecing ran out of darks and had to set them aside for awhile. Monday Mar 9 felt energetic and motivated enough to completed pantry inventory & 14 day menu plan. The next day WHO declared the COVID-19 a pandemic. By this time we'd seen enough reporting to have a better idea what had been going on the last couple months. We still went to Wednesday meeting the next night... as it turns out the last one for awhile. We still got together at Kate and Will's for their sewing day. Things have been rapidly going into shutdown now including SCA, schools, the university... Gaming had been canceled Sunday 'cause Eric is sick and with the Mohlman's in Florida we didn't have a quorum. Leofwyna and I began social distancing Monday; should have started sooner. No Wednesday meeting or Thursday music this week. On a good note I did get the Happy Patch finished, the first on a new pile for Aurora. Oh, and the purple crocus are blooming.