Got my Camper home

    Made a quick trip to the Gulf this weekend . We could only get 2 nights at the campground   as they are packed. I even called Gulf Shores State park on the Bama side and was told  full till July 15 or so.  Sure they have a few one night opening here and there but  we are retired so we will wait and book a 4 day trip the end of july. I hate playing camp site hopscotch its a lot of work and ruins a day moving site to site.

      We had left the camper when my dodge truck seemed to slip on the trip down. I had my old mechanic drive it he though it was fine said I should keep the overdrive off and keep my speed to 60 when towing. I did as he suggested and had no problems but I plan on getting a transmission fluid cooler put on. to be safe. I also plan on a fluid change and filter as that has been known to make this model drop in and out of overdrive and some times act like it is in neutral and overrev .

      The wife and I have decided we will be keeping our camper and truck. I want to paint our camper. I hate generic white campers and the tan ones aren't much prettier . She's not sure what colors she wants but is leaning towards Royal Blue  and Red trim . 

  
 This is a decent factory job  but a little less white would be nice. While our Fun Finder is not new it is not a retro or classic as are most that are custom painted.  
    To often we conform to  normal so not to stand out and because it could reduce resale value. We do it with our cars ,campers and homes . We are at that point in life where resale has no meaning .
We aren't  moving ,we plan on driving our cars into the ground and our camper is not perfect but its ours and usable for us.

Fun trip camping

        We got back late Saturday evening from our trip to the coast. This was my first trip since getting cancer treatments and it was the first real trip with the dodge truck. I learned a lot about myself and my new truck . 
      First off I am not the man I was a year ago and I had better learn to live with my limits. The scar on my stomach hurts if I lift or over stretch . I have lost a lot of muscle along with weight , just for the record I have stabilized at 164 lbs. My normal adult weight had been 250 lbs. I require more sleep and now like naps they help as I get tired quicker. Simple things like extending the awning and letting down the stabilizer legs took effort. While I did have fun and enjoyed the ocean and seafood (shrimp tasted normal)I wasn't able to ride my bike or to go for long walks .

   On the truck I was nervous as I hadn't driven it but a few hundred mile since the new motor and front end was rebuilt. I haven't posted what all ended up being done to the dodge. While it was having the motor swapped out my mechanic noticed I needed a drivers side spindle bearing assembly tie rods both inner and outer both sides upper and lower ball joints. The only good news was the transmission was good just need a fluid change and the shift cable adjusted (that was causing it to downshift). Total bill for it all was 1580$. After this trip it was money well spent it drove great!!!!! As long as I was under 60 mph. no problem. Over 60 it would start fishtailing , but that will be fixed with a load leveling hitch and sway bar. I knew it could be a problem because the truck is a short wheel base. Me and the wife will be looking for a slightly bigger camper over the next few months but we are in no hurry.

    While we were camped we noticed they had no camp host normally they have 3. Now before we left 2 camp host did pull in. Before they did I went into the office and asked for any information on becoming camp host . The park Rangers gave me a paper that had all the requirement and web site to apply state wide. They told me this year had been hard to get hosts system wide. The wife and I are considering doing the camp/work thing next year. We have a family friend that has been doing it for a year now .

Time to travel !

     I haven't post much lately because I  had a biopsy last month. I admit I have been worried . While the CT didn't show any cancer a PET scan showed abnormal cells in my throat and lymph nodes. Today I found out I have NONE in my throat!!!! As for the lymph nodes I am going to have them removed the 5th of September. If they are cancerous they will be out and a none issue. To remove them is no more surgery than to biopsy them.  But I have a 3 week window to go to the beach !!!!!!!

     This year has been all about doctors and hospitals. I need some beach time . So about an hour ago I reserved 6 days at big lagoon for the week of the 20th . While it isn't some place new it is NOT HERE. Sometimes its just about getting away.

     While we are there we plan on going over to Fort Pickens and getting a senior park  pass  so we can get half off federal camp grounds because we plan on traveling next year. This may be the last trip in our Fun finder as we are Looking at another larger camper.

Memorial day weekend starts early !!!!

 Monday morning I was drinking coffee at Big Lagoon in Perdido Bay and my Phone rang.  A customer wanted to reserve 2 BBQ Butts and a slab of ribs to pickup Saturday at 11. Well no problem we were leaving at 12 to head home . We broke camp got the camper set to hit the road and headed home. We ran into road paving and a 10 mile traffic jam at 2 and I had just cleared it and got going 65 mph with idiots wizzing by at 90 thinking they could make up a hour in traffic.   My phone rings again . At this point I have a white knuckled grip on the wheel and my wife say its for me.  Who? A women. I get the phone and that glare you may die from my wife. Its a customer wanting  6 Butts chopped and panned with 2 slabs of ribs single rib cut plus sauce ready to pickup Friday before 5. Its for a wedding ok no problem. I hang up and fall in behind a Snieder truck they are governed to 65 max. HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE YOUR PHONE# ?  A LOT ! women hate to cook REMEMBER. It was a long drive thank god no more calls .

  Now I have been doing this for a long time and know I will be having a big weekend. I went today at 8 am and picked up 40 butts and 18 slabs of ribs  plus reserved 20 butts and 18 more ribs to get Saturday.  While talking to the butcher he ordered a butt plus 3 others ordered butts and ribs. Pre orders I like because most of them people want them chilled so I can pre do them they are for tavaling to families or the lake. I started cooking today at 10 pm and will finish Monday at 2 . Triple A says this will be the busiest travel memorial day weekend ever. This is why I went to the gulf last week . This Summer is looking to be a blow out!!!!

Back from camping and the blue angles show.

      Just got back into town from our 4 day retreat to the coast. We had a great time relaxing and playing on the beach and at the camp ground. Me and the wife have been together for 16 years and like all married folks with kids and family. Couple time is pushed aside. This trip we acted like teenage bunny rabbits ok grey haired teens but it was fun . All couples need times away just for themselves .

     We did get to go see the Blue Angles perform . If they are ever in your area you have to go see them it is amazing to see.

     These are web shots but they did a full show because the weather was perfect . 2 years ago we tried to see them but it was called due to weather and all we got to do  was see the naval air museum. This year we did both .

  We had a good time but it took an hour and a half to get in to the viewing field . Now the pilots  knew traffic was backed up and did the stunts over the field and over the entrance gates for those trying to get in . CLASS ACT on there part .

     Here is the problem 2 years ago I showed my ID got a museum pass and was told enjoy the show. This year was different and slow Everyone had to show ID then was asked any firearms? No. Any explosive's ? No. What was our business on base ? The airshow. Stay on the left follow the yellow markers. No smile no enjoy the show we where 20 minutes late for nothing . When we got parked  we got ID'ed again  by a naval ensign . I asked why all the ID checks ? Terrorism sir. Being a smart ass I said Their all in WASHINGTON DC . He smiled and said  Yes Sir and their SCARED of everyone .

My labor day is next weekend.

      While everyone enjoyed a 3 day weekend and ate good played hard . I was tending my BBQ grill . Now I am not complaining I choose BBQ as my job it allows me a lot of free time. The only draw back is my busiest days are holidays. I don't get to go to the kids and spend fun time holiday activity's with them. This past weekend was no different but my wife didn't go to her kids like normal she loafed at home. So to make it up to her next week will be spent back at the coast.

     This trip will be in the squatty trailer pulled with her mitizibishe convertible . It will be the first long trip we take this set up and I am kind of looking forward to seeing how it works out. My wife refused to go out west but now is regretting not agreeing to the trip. A friend went on a similar trip last month and raved about how beautiful and fun it was so now the wife wants to go.

   Its not a bad setup it has 12 volt lights 110 air and plugs, a 1500 watt inverter, all it lacks is a bathroom. It has a queen size bed :) a table or a regular bed if some one is with us. The awning slides into the pipes on the roof and the awning is just a cheap tarp and held with spring clamps. Plenty of inside storage and a 35 gallon tote on front . All in its still only about 1100 lbs

The cost of a Camper !

     A lot of people  think a camper is to big an expense .For some it may be but I want to give a rundown on why for most it can be a great long term investment.

      I will use our Fun finder 210 as an example because most people would never consider much less . As a base line cost lets use 6500$. This is about what we have in ours. This includes purchase price, insurance, tag and some chairs and what not.

    Trips to Big Lagoon S.P. 2 stays, 23 days total cost 512$ added gas 180$ total cost 682$. Hotel cost 265$ a night X 23 = 6095$ . Savings on 2 trips =5,413$

   We spent 26 day camped at various state parks and lakes this year. Cost 546$  for site, gas around 200$ so 750$ or so. Flea bag hotels in those areas are 80+ or 2080$ or more. Savings 1330$

    These numbers are for one year and do not include the savings to family that have stayed with us or after us. A ruff guess would be they saved 1500 to 2000$ this year using our camper.

  The wife and I have saved 6,713$ in travel cost plus 2000$ more for our kids. The Larger Fun Finder has been a great investment in its first year . Next year it will cost us less than 500$ in maitence .insurance and tag.

    I do not think a new Camper is worth the additional cost but a 3 to 7 thousand dollar used camper for a famly that will use it 2 weeks and 4 weekends a year over 5 years is a no brainer.

   We did spent 1500 $ camping this year which is a lot but it was less than 150$ a month. My dear wife is the one that saves for travel out of her meager check and she is happy so I am to .

   If we keep Camping with family like we have been for 4 more years the savings will exceed 30,000$ on a 5500$ camper that will still have a value of 4000 to 5,000$.

P.S. While we love the Fun Finder we will be rebuilding our red Tear Drop this fall for quick trips With Out Family !!!!!!!!!

Home at last

    We got home late Thursday night . We let our son and his wife use the camper and they will bring it home Sunday . We had fun but 12 days was a little long for a single destination trip .

     I had to hit the door running and got the BBQ ready for Friday. got home at 9 and was cooking by 10 . Now that was changing gears ! Had a decent weekend .

     On our way we stopped at the casino both going and coming back ,going I won 230$ on the way back we lost 180$ back so we had 4 hours of fun and  50$ for the gas tank. :)

We are having fun !

          The trip down went well ! I made 1 mistake I kept my foot in the pedal going 75 pulling the fun finder and my mileage was about 9 miles to the gallon. That's a problem when its been awhile between trips you hurry and forget to enjoy the ride. The ride is as important as the destination going home I will be going slower and taking the old roads .

      Before the interstate system the rural HI ways held a lot of places for travelers to stop and places to see .Now they are almost gone I remember old Burma Shave billboards and See Rock City painted on old barns and Stuckys advertising 2 eggs bacon and toast for 99 cents.
 I will be back on here later this week. Love the Wi-Fi at mc D but this coffee suck . I am taking the wife a sausage bisects back to the camp site and fix some drinkable coffee !!!

Ready to Go .

     The camper is packed and ready to go and so am I .Sunday morning we will head out about 4 am to the gulf. Now I love to leave before sun up and avoid traffic .On Sunday traffic isn't a concern but I like leaving early . My wife hates it, one she's not an early riser and two she says she cant see the country side .What's to see I am taking 65 south . The sun will be up before we hit the back roads she can look then.

    I may stop at wind creek casino and let her play a little its on the way . Three years ago I  hit a 2000.00 $ jackpot on a machine you never know. The truck  will be ready tomorrow. I had the air fixed turns out it was a clogged orifice tube going into the condenser .It is a minor and cheep repair and will fix the whining sound from the passenger seat :) . We need a little time just the 2 of us. Having the kids around is driving us nuts . Since the stay will be 2 weeks I have the bikes and may rent a kayak one day . I will check in when I go to Mc Ds as the campground doesn't have Wi-Fi .  

Trip planning with family.

     For the last week we have been trying to coordinate a trip back to Big Lagoon in Perdido Bay Fl. We are set, reservations are made the Camper is packed. Add food and we can roll ! My sister in law is going to join us she has reservations for 4 days .Our daughter is going to come down and spend 3 days staying with us or her Aunt. For 4 days it will be 3 Man bashing women and me !

     My stepson and his wife are planning on coming down for our last 2 days and want to use the camper for 3 more nights and bring it home when done . I have no problem with that but for some reason they are hee hawing on the reservations and Gulf shores is full and big lagoon has 1 spot left. The days of plenty of camping spots are done . Now you have to plan a little ahead if you want weekend camping.  They are wanting to be at gulf state park because its closer to the night life and his father is going to be camping at GSP.

     Kind of funny my wife's EX bought a camper. Now he wants the kids to camp with them like they have with us. He has always been a condo resort type .Makes you wonder what brought it on .

Every one is at the lake .But me

      Friday I watched as campers and boats and flat trailers with totes and grilles headed up the road to the lake. Everyone was headed to camp or stay with friends at the lake it didn't seem to matter who what or how the road was packed . School let out Thursday and with the long weekend everyone wanted to be away.

      In years past traffic was never this heavy but the last 3 years the lakes seem to be the go to getaway for more folks . It seems that the longer trips are not  in the budget but the lake and river is still doable. Even us we plan on going to a friends next week to just getaway and use her yard as a camp site. All  it will cost me is a gallon of moonshine and her and my wife are a hoot when they get plastered .

    My BBQ grill hasn't cooled down since Wednesday night and I see no relief before Monday. So far I have worked my way through 4 cases of butts and 1 of ribs . I have sold butts headed to the lake ,river, Smokey MTs and Florida. I appreciate people thinking enough of my cooking to take it on vacation to me it is a great compliment .I still have 2 days of cooking left to go and I have to go and dress 12 butts and 6 racks of ribs for tomorrow . Next week is my turn at the lake . Then I have 2 weeks scheduled for Big Lagoon mid June .

A change makes for nice profits.

     This has been a long week ,last week was snow this week was rain and then ice. Friday was clear and the BBQ was busy. The last 4 weeks I have been cooking Baby back ribs  along with Boston Butts I should have been cooking them all along  been running through 10 or 12 slabs a weekend and the same amount of butts. The ribs have made  a sales increase of 200$ a weekend . With a profit increase of 100$ plus . In the middle of the winter it has been a welcome surprise .
     Normally I have to dip into savings from Christmas till mid April but this year I have been able to add a few hundred to savings . Next week I will be booking a 2 week stay for Big Lagoon campground in June and it will have to be paid for up front, nice to be able to.

    I dragged the old trailer frame into the clearing out front today if the weather breaks will be starting on my last trailer build ever. I know the next 5 days it will rain but I will have it in place and can get it leveled . I promise lots of pictures once I start on it.

Back from the gulf

     Me and the wife took a quick trip back to Big Lagoon this weekend.We only stayed 3 days.The main reason we went was to set up a camp ite for my brother.He has one of those jobs that shuts down 2 weeks at the 4th and 2 weeks at Christmas.If he gets a vacation its then.So he is spending 10 days camping.We got every ting set and he came down the last day.I hope he enjoys his stay we left menus and pamphlets of stuff we like to do and the Blue Angles were practicing this week.
      Before we left me and the wife went into a little restaurant under the Baars bridge called Fisherman's Corner.It was old and weathered on the outside and had a big burger sign.When we walked in it had table cloths silverware and glasses on the table.Turned out it was a New Orleans style casual fine food restaurant.
     Now this is not our usual type of lunch but we sat down got a drink and looked at the menu.The food was a little pricey but not bad (by our lunch standards)salads and burgers started at 7$ to a 12oz fillet of Angus for 29$ the menu was large on surf and turf choices.My wife had been wanting fish so she got fried grouper for 17$ and i got a combo of shrimp and oysters for 19$ we both got onion rings she got fries i got Cajun mac and cheese.The waiter asked if it was our first visit it was.We were told every order was cooked to order from fish and vegetables caught and picked the day before and was worth the wait.It took 15 minutes was served perfectly cooked you could taste the freshness was one of the best meals we have had in years.When we go back i will have that Mac and cheese again.

Been missing at the beach.

      Miss me i have been camping.The wife and I went down to gulf shore for a week of alone time.We got 3 days alone before family trickled in.We knew her sister was coming down for the weekend but my wife's oldest daughter came down to.I drove back and left them to have fun.I had to BBQ glad i did was a good weekend .They spent the weekend swimming and at the bar me and the wife found.As a man i am sure there was a  lot of man bashing going on.
      OK if you go to the perdido bay area you have to find a place called   HUB STACEY,S its a bar,sandwich.Burger ,chicken wing,relaxed place.Its not fancy its like a friends deck with table service.I saw workers stopping in for lunch women with kids enjoying the food and margaritas husbands meeting the family for a bite,and the usual barfly's saying hello to everyone as they came in.It was like cheers with a deck on the water.The food was cheap the beer ice cold and service quick and friendly for an indoor and outdoor setting verry clean.

Mothers day! make it her day.

     Our kids are mad at us Sunday is mothers day but we are not going to be here.We are going to go to Gulf Shores.This is what my wife wants its her day not the kids so we are going to go camping.My Mom is still alive so i will call her from there,I told the kids to call and wish her a happy mothers day.Our house is grand central station most days so us being gone wont be to bad.
    Yesterday we had 4 out of 7 come over 2 grand kids and 6 calls from the others.This is a normal day for us.So the wife can have a day of rest we are going camping.I will get her a bottle of Margaretta and we will grill steaks and listen to her favorite Cd's its her day.We are going to meet up with her sister on Wednesday when she comes down.I hope he weather is nice but if it rains we will pile up in the camper for a movie feast.
     I don't know if we will be able to go to the coast after schools out.I searched dates and campgrounds on line and most are filling fast .A lot more families are camping now than a few years ago.That's a good thing in my opinion.If we do manage another trip to the coast it looks like it will have to be 2 days on one lot then shift to another.Lots of 3 and 4 day stays are being booked with 2 day windows on the campsites left.
      Oh just for the record I am calling my MOM but her Mothers day gift is going to be a week camping at a lake her and my step father went to every summer before he passed.She dropped a few hints she would like to go back.I just wonder if she will be able to enjoy it now that hes gone.I have to spend more time with her shes 71.I  do what i do so I wont have so many' I SHOULD HAVE" later

no sleeping on the beach

  Some people just cant keep up with us old folks.


the family hoped a seagull well you get the idea

    My step daughter took a nap as we played in the sand.

our spoiled grandson Noah

The little one was wide open all day even as his momma was snoring in a chair. Its funny you have kids when your young but there no fun until you get thegrands.Ever wish you could have skiped kids and gone straight to grandkids? I have.Hear is my sister in law building a sandcastle in the surf.It was more like a hole with sea water in it.


digging is useless on the beach

 Everyone needs a break even an unemployed fat man like me it was nice to have some of the family togeather with us.Normaly me and the wife camp alone but i think we will be inviting our son and linda to go with us on more we had fun.The bigest reason we cant is they work durring the week and i do the BBQ on the weekends.If i worked a regular job i couldnt afford or have time to enjoy life.Unlearn and live!
     It is amazing what you can do when you owe no banker and keep what you earn.STARVE THE BEAST and OWE NO BANKER!!!!!!!

A few pics of the coast.

     I just wanted to post a couple of pics of us enjoying being away from home.

     The surf was mild and the water was shallow so everyone could go in. There is somethin about the ocean that a river or lake cant match.


    Afew hours of sun and surf wore us out. 

blogger has gone apeshit will try more later sorry!!!!!

Florida is wet!

  Just got back from a verry wet week on the coast.When we arrived on sunday the sun was shining the humidity was unbeable mudpuddles were everywhere in under an hour it was pouring again. Our campsite was dead center of a large swag that was full of water but we were dry except getting in the car.Will post more tommarow i need a shower an good nite sleep. Nothing is like your bed at home!

Packed up and ready to go

    Well every thing is loaded except the ice chest. We have let the kids use our teardrop camping so i stripped it down and repacked it for our trip.For some reason the wife is acting like we are going to be in the middle of nowhere she basically wants to take the house with us.This is only going to be a 10 day trip  I do not need  a suitcase of my own we are going to the beach so what if i wear my cloths more than once.Men and women do not think alike if i have a change of cloths I'm good for a week.
   Back when i first got divorced i kept a change of cloths and a shave kit in my truck box because i never knew when id take off somewhere or a cutie would let me sleep over a weekend.
   It seems i have won we have one duffel of cloths and just normal camping gear loaded.{I think i really lost i just don't know how yet}This trip should be fun next weekend we have her sister and our son and his wife coming down for 4 days.I payed for the camp sites and all i asked was Saturday morning we go to the navel air museum. None of them have ever been,The Pensacola navel air museums is a must if your anywhere near it.Oh and its FREE!!!will be back on the first