That would be "D" as in Departure. My camper is now near Mobile, AL. I took it up last week and parked it in a storage facility about 10 miles from the MS/AL state line.
I planned that trip to go thru Apalachicola (again) at the same time one of my best friends -- from Illinois -- was also visiting. This part of Florida (the Panhandle between US 19 and 231) is one of my favorites (besides the beach where I live). If you are into nature -- this is a top 10 place to visit. Bring your fishing pole, binoculars and your kayak.
Today is final prep and packing - mostly kitchen stuff and my motorcycle -- and then leave by 9 in the morning with my Harley and my Schwinn on the utility trailer. It's about 8 hours back to the camper. I'll likely just spend the night there -- I already have a parking place -- and then put my 'train' together and head west along I-10 Friday morning. This will be only the second time I have pulled this combination although I have many miles pulling each unit separately. But it works on paper -- as long as I don't have to back-up.
As I've watched the sunset here the last few nights -- one of my MOST favorite things to do -- I have had mixed emotions about my pending travels. I'm going to miss this place. A lot. I am where I have always wanted to be when I retire. But I also want to get back to traveling the USA, like I did 10 years ago as a truck driver. So for foreseeable future -- 2, 3, 4 years??? -- I will travel with my toys ... but Treasure Island will ALWAYS be my home (hopefully). Because I'm not giving up my TI residence, I am not really a full-time RVer. That's okay -- I have the best of both!
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
One of My MOST Amazing Days -- EVER!!
I jumped on my motorcycle about 10 am for a 3 hour or so ride to the west side of Florida. Elon Musk was launching his cherry red Tesla into orbit around Mars on board the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket -- on it's maiden voyage, no less!
I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps as I watched it live from about 30 miles south and a little west. I have since watched the video replay 3 or 4 times and still get teary eyed. See for yourself, if you haven't. SpaceX Heavy Falcon Youtube This is the largest rocket in use today -- second only to the huge Saturn V used for Apollo -- and it's not a nation or a country doing this. It's a business man looking to send people into space! Amazing!
I did not want to get too close to the launch site for a multitude of reasons. I figured traffic would be insane -- it was -- with seemingly millions of people. It still took me 5 hours for the 180 mile trip home, anyway. The launch window was from 1:30 - 4:30 and I suspected it would go later rather than earlier even though the weather was perfect. Lift-off eventually was at 3:45. Sunset is about 6:10 so I knew I was coming home in the dark -- something, I'm not crazy about.
I also did not want to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a mass of humanity -- which it appears was the case at Kennedy Space Center. The flu is at it's peak right now and then there is the current-day consideration one must think of concerning terrorist's attacks. And even Mr. Musk was cautioning of possible failure -- this was a first. The idea of this going 'boom' with me surrounded by zillions and only 1 way out was not pleasant. Being that close wasn't necessary.
I took back roads from Tampa -- south of Orlando -- to the Atlantic coast near Palm Bay. My smartphone kept me appraised of the countdown. When they pushed the launch back a second time at 2:30, I decided to go back via Interstate since it was going to be dark for the ride home. Visibility is significantly better on 4 lanes if you can just keep from being run-over. This allowed me to go north along I-95 toward I-4 -- paralleling the coast and the launch site -- which would eventually take me back west.
I got to a rest area -- another stroke of great luck -- about 3 minutes before lift-off. My picture is above!! Though my experience lacked the sound of the thunder and vibration of the 27 engines thrusting their way into orbit, it was still a top 5 moment in my life! (please don't ask me for the other four)
The ride home took a lot of the pleasure out of my day, quite honestly. I wasn't 30 minutes west of the launch on US-192 when traffic was halted for, not 1, BUT 2 med evac helicopters landing. It looked like someone may have clipped a log truck at an intersection. That was an hour delay for me and a really bad day for someone.
The traffic on I-4 thru Orlando is ALWAYS a disaster, yesterday being no exception. I had another hour delay as we craaaaawwwlled for 2 miles past another crash on my side. No helicopters this time. And then just a few miles past that one, there was another accident on the eastbound side. No affect to me this time.
But I'm home, sunburned face and all, safe and sound but also a bit weary. I have a volunteer function this Saturday here in town. I also will take my ham radio Technician license Saturday evening. Then next week I will take my camper to MS along I-10 and store it there. Since I can't pull two trailers at the same time in FL, I have to stage one of them out of town.
I report for duty to Benson, AZ on March 1 -- my first workamper job!
I did not want to get too close to the launch site for a multitude of reasons. I figured traffic would be insane -- it was -- with seemingly millions of people. It still took me 5 hours for the 180 mile trip home, anyway. The launch window was from 1:30 - 4:30 and I suspected it would go later rather than earlier even though the weather was perfect. Lift-off eventually was at 3:45. Sunset is about 6:10 so I knew I was coming home in the dark -- something, I'm not crazy about.
I also did not want to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a mass of humanity -- which it appears was the case at Kennedy Space Center. The flu is at it's peak right now and then there is the current-day consideration one must think of concerning terrorist's attacks. And even Mr. Musk was cautioning of possible failure -- this was a first. The idea of this going 'boom' with me surrounded by zillions and only 1 way out was not pleasant. Being that close wasn't necessary.
I took back roads from Tampa -- south of Orlando -- to the Atlantic coast near Palm Bay. My smartphone kept me appraised of the countdown. When they pushed the launch back a second time at 2:30, I decided to go back via Interstate since it was going to be dark for the ride home. Visibility is significantly better on 4 lanes if you can just keep from being run-over. This allowed me to go north along I-95 toward I-4 -- paralleling the coast and the launch site -- which would eventually take me back west.
I got to a rest area -- another stroke of great luck -- about 3 minutes before lift-off. My picture is above!! Though my experience lacked the sound of the thunder and vibration of the 27 engines thrusting their way into orbit, it was still a top 5 moment in my life! (please don't ask me for the other four)
The ride home took a lot of the pleasure out of my day, quite honestly. I wasn't 30 minutes west of the launch on US-192 when traffic was halted for, not 1, BUT 2 med evac helicopters landing. It looked like someone may have clipped a log truck at an intersection. That was an hour delay for me and a really bad day for someone.
The traffic on I-4 thru Orlando is ALWAYS a disaster, yesterday being no exception. I had another hour delay as we craaaaawwwlled for 2 miles past another crash on my side. No helicopters this time. And then just a few miles past that one, there was another accident on the eastbound side. No affect to me this time.
But I'm home, sunburned face and all, safe and sound but also a bit weary. I have a volunteer function this Saturday here in town. I also will take my ham radio Technician license Saturday evening. Then next week I will take my camper to MS along I-10 and store it there. Since I can't pull two trailers at the same time in FL, I have to stage one of them out of town.
I report for duty to Benson, AZ on March 1 -- my first workamper job!
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