Computer is not working right.

    The keyboard on my laptop is dead. Now all I can do is use the on screen keyboard. It's not that easy. Had a good time in Gatlinburg. 

Post more soon.

Just went on my first Cruise !!!!!!!

       Me and the wife took a last minute cruise to the Bahamas . I wish I had give in and done it years ago.  Now I have always been a little on the cheap side But a cruise is a bargain for what it includes. I did snag a deal  at 753$  we had a blast on the ship. The ports were just trying to pry as much money from us in as short a time as possible. 4 Nights and  28 meals (plus all the ice cream you can hold) ,while I couldn't eat much my wife had Hungarian short ribs one night, lamb shanks with roasted veggies and gravy the next. To start with she was humoring me but the shank she had 2 . She opened up and tried some curried chicken "a fail" but found hot Naan bread with butter and honey to be great. 

       Not everything was good my wife likes to be in crowds and the pool deck had that and music . So she spent most the trip up there , I stayed with her as much as I could but the nerve ear pain would start So I would hide in the salon deck better music "jazz" and adults sitting around.   The noise level was much better. Had to go back up top for coffee refills but I didn't mind.
     
        If you have ever thought about a cruise  my cheap ass thinks "Do It "!!!  It has something for everyone. All told my wife had 8 mixed drinks and we bought 100 in gifts  the daily tips was 112  plus I gave our cabin Stewart  30 cash as we left. I wanted to be sure he got it not a communal split like the other.  The trip was 1056$ and a value.

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

To hot for work .

    No update on the new build when the heat index is almost 110 this old boy ain't working!!!! I am at the lake that's where everyone should be its 20 degrees cooler plus I have water and beer there . I came home for tonight to do the BBQ and make a large sale that was pre ordered . I will set up for a short while Saturday before I head back to the lake.

    My wife and her sister are having a girls weekend. Then me and the wife will take 2 days us time. I think my wife is trying to make up for refusing to take my dream trip . I wanted to be in Mesa Verde Colorado this weekend . Arches and Canyon land next week. then on to Bryce canyon the north rim and a week in las Vegas  before Death valley, Sequoia and Yosemite .

     I had this trip planed for my slow time of the year but it was a desert trip in the summer which is why my wife refused. She didn't want to take the squatty trailer because of the heat and no bathroom in it .

    I wrote this Saturday to post later when I was at the lake but seems while I was home the wifi at the campground got struck by lightning so now I am home.

The 4th and a new trailer in the works!

      This year the 4th was un believable . Saturday I had 24 pork butts and 12 slabs of ribs sell in less than 2 hours. I had to stay up most the night to be ready by 10 o clock . The total for 3 days was a staggering 60 butts and 42 slabs of ribs. If I could have done 20 more of each they would have been gone to. With my setup as one man I was at my max to do GOOD BBQ . Yes I could have done more it I had took  short cuts but I have a reputation and wont compromise . In the last year I have read a lot of BBQ books and know more now. There is a lot of different ways to cook great BBQ but the one thing all have in common is time and love of the end product. One line in BIG BOB GIBBSONS book rings true to a real pitman "what's the fire telling you" A fire talks to a pitman .

      I spent this morning stripping the old deck off a camper frame and will post pictures of it tomorrow . This is going to be my BBQ trailer next year .I bought it 7 or 8 years ago for a storage building till a roof leak got to bad .Now its down to the frame and going to be rebuilt as a tiny house /cabin to sell and cook out of. It will take 2 months to get it done and cost 1500 to 2000 to finish but it will be a LEGAL full service kitchen capable of any type of food.

      I had planned on a 6 week trip out west to all the national parks but my wife refuses to go. This build was going to take place next year and I as going to return to full time work but looks like I will move it up a year. The new trailer will be built for a complete breakfast lunch and dinner menu with propane stoves ovens fryers and smoker I already have on hand.

    It will be very busy for a few weeks but I will be posting pictures of the build as I move forward .

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 .

More thoughts on a E bike.

    Today I got on the computer and started looking at E bikes, prices ,options speeds and distances . I looked at E bike and motorized bikes about 5 years ago . Wow the difference's between then and now on what is available and set ups is huge.
    I found I can get a 750 watt front hub and controls for around 300 $ and turn that 10$  10 speed into an electric bike. Or find a 3 or 7 speed bike and do a rear hub. Now if I were to do this the battery pack would be a 48 volt system and 4 SLA batteries are heavy along with my 264 lb. bulk would be 320 lb. That's a lot to peddle down the road .

     A  better way would be a sturdy 7 speed with a 500 watt hub with a 24 watt battery pack . Every thing new would still be under 500$ but no peddle assist just a twist throttle for grades and speed boosts. 

   These costs are not a casual amount to me but something to think about. If the world was to drop the dollar inflation will be unimaginable . Gas would be unavailable to regular people. Our 6 million barrel a day doesn't cover agri ,military and emergency services . A 24 volt bike could be powered with 2  30 watt solar panels wired in series in 5 hours . A roman march was 20 miles in a day on a  E bike 60 miles is doable in a day. Is the cost of an E bike worth it I am still undecided,  is it worth a little thought and research DEFINANTLY !!!

A fat man can ride a bike.

   Last week when we where camping I rode my bike a lot . Now most camp ground are fairly level so bike riding is normal for both the young and old . It is a great way to look around and say hello and be sociable . At a campground a bike is quiet and slower than a car or golf cart and its easy to carry with you in a camper.

    Now I will come clean I had not been on a bike since I was a kid till last summer. Last summer I picked up a 10 speed at a yard sale for 10$ and rode it a few times at the house oiled every thing checked it out made sure it was useable . Every prepper /survivalist should have a bike, right ? Jim Dankin preaches against cars and associated cost .He praises riding a bike, well that 10 speed showed me I was OLD ,Fat, Out of shape . I  rode it once 2 miles and I was hurting in my legs sucking air sounding like a diesel truck and swearing I love my truck the last mile home. Now don't laugh could you ride a bike 2 miles ?
    Now last week I rode 5 miles never broke a sweat passed all the kids and adults took small hills easily . My wife said I spent more time on the bike than with her . I did I felt like a kid having fun. This is what was different than last year . I bought a NEW BIKE .

   Last fall I was in Sam's Club buying supply's for the BBQ and walked passed their  mark down corner . There sat a Yukon Trail Navigator marked 82.50$ no keys . Ok this is an electric bike with a 250 watt motor and a 10 amp 24 volt battery pack. It normally sells for 498 $ I jumped on that deal .

    Now I didn't fix it till the week before we went to Guntersville .The bike is fast, it is well made but you have to get it adjusted right to your comfort . It is a little weak on steep hills but great on flats and slopes . You have to pedal but it cuts the work in half . If you have ever thought about a bike for just in case but know your out of shape an electric may be a solution . The bike suppose to have an assist range of 25 plus miles and a speed of 15 miles an hour.

http://www.amazon.com/Yukon-Trails-Outback-Electric-Mountain/dp/B00NPY7WAY

A picture or two. this is why i camp.

    Sights like this is why I  love to camp and believe in a Supreme Being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sunset over lake from the lodge and across the campground.

 

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.

High 30s are nice .

     With the cold weather last week I had a cold .My luck holds. this weekend the temps rose to a balmy 42 and I decided to sell BBQ glad I did as it was a decent weekend considering the temps and me not cooking a lot .
    Rainy out today so I went to the hardware store for a file to sharpen my chainsaw. The chain I have is a pruning chain and is so small they didn't have the file .Looks like I will have to try some where else I think it was my first strike out at the Ace I use. Once it is sharpened I will be back on brush clearing. I did pick up some 2 x4s to frame in a roof for the spring box. If the weather liar is wright I will have nice weather the end of the week. Also will be doing a large BBQ cooking this weekend 6o degrees and sunshine Saturday is forecast .Cabin fever is getting to me .

   Wish I was in south Florida for a week but not in the cards this winter. Even the wife is getting antes to go some where .Maybe in a couple of months but not at this time.

Been at the lake.

     I came in from the lake to sell BBQ this weekend.So far i should have stayed at the lake maybe it will be better Saturday.OK this trip is with my wife and sister in law it was amazing how long it took to back the campers in to their satisfaction.Have you Ever had your wife guide you in backing up ? if you have you know what i am talking about.If you refuse their help your in for a looong trip.
    OK i will not vent ,the trip was to a nice state park(gunterville)and the lot is secluded so it has been nice.My sister in law is a wildlife nut so this place was perfect for her we have had 7 to 15 deer less than 25 ft. every nite from our campers.I'm going back tomorrow nite and will be back home Tuesday.Perfect weather but hot so it will be a lot of swimming and sitting in the shade.

Just back from the lake.

      Sorry  for not posting we took the camper and had a long stay at the lake. Where we were at had no internet.This trip gave us a chance to check out all the features of the camper.We are impressed with the funfinders storage and now have itstocked and ready to go anywhere.I will be moving a few prepps into it for storage.The wife has said i can have one dinnette seat storage area.It should hold a couple of buckets of dry goods and a box of can goods. Will be posting a few pics later just have a lot around the house to catch up on.

We got a camper!

   Well  me and the wife found a camper we could agree on.Its not new but it is an 06 in perfect shape and everything works perfect.

   It is a funfinderX that is 23 ft long but only weights 3340Lb so it is towable with my jeep.We have loved our travels in our teardrop but for long stays and parks with limited shower/bathroom facilitys it was rough on the wife (which made my life rough).So now we will be using both.

    When we go for over a week we will take the larger camper but for just 3 or 4 days we will be using the teardrop.We plan on taking the funfinder out to the lake in 2 weeks for a shakedown trip.Pulling something this size will take some getting use to and i had a few issues pulling it the 140 miles back home.My jeep sliped a little in and out of overdrive on flat ground so i had to switch it off  and  drive at 60mph droped gas milage to 11.That is to low it should have been 14 to 16 mpg, time to tune the motor and change the transmission fluid and add a cooler.The cost now will be recouped after 1200 miles so well worth it.
       My post 3 weeks ago was that we were lookig at a new camper I just could not do it.We do love the retro but we got this one for 5000 and it will last us for 5 to 10 years and still be sell it and recoup 2500 to 3500$ .You got to look at total cost and 300 a year in deprisiation is livable.Just for the record for years i saved change when i had the gas station at the end of shifts loose change went into a 5 gallon bucket.Last month i cleaned out my junk room and found i had 2 buckets of change the grand total at the bank was 5049.21 .I GOT A CAMPER!!
    PS  yes the tellers though i was a nut job!!!

THE RESULTS ARE IN !!!!!!!!

    Well the doctor called the wife doesn't have Cancer it was benign!!! It was pre cancerous but now it is out, they want her to take the lose dose preventative treatment.She doesn't show it but i can tell its a load of her mind .We went yesterday on her kidney pain and was told she may have been passing micro stones and that's why she has had occasional kidney pains.
     It is a warped kinda humor that all this started at the same time as she started her social security.Her first check arrives in march and she started falling apart in December.Now we have her super glued back together and a steady income she wants a new small camper with a bathroom to travel in.Last month me her and her sister and brother in law went to the R.V. show it was a interesting way to spend a Sunday afternoon.We looked at RVs that cost 20 times what i paid for our home,a few that were affordable.The wife fell in love with this one   http://www.riversidervs.net/RETRO-MODEL-177-ISLAND-BED.html to some this would look dinky and impractical but we teardrop so it looks huge and luxurious.The sister fell for a Forrest river Freedom 22 footer and bought it the next week.
     The retro my wife loves is my dream camper to and it is reasonable priced at 13,900 (I cant believe i called that reasonable)I have not had any payments on anything since 2005 and have no real job now so financing is going to take a 3rd party(my mom).Normally I would not even consider this but this scare has made me understand our time on earth is limited and i want to spend it with my wife dong what we enjoy.

Health can change any plans.

     Sorry i haven't been posting much lately.Right after New Years my wife had a questionable series of mammograms about 5.The first of February she had a biopsy inconclusive.This week she had a lumpectomy to put every thing to rest and we are waiting on the results.Now the breast doctor told us the biopsy didn't show cancer but she had radial scaring and a bad family history of breast cancer so he wanted to be sure.
     Now that's not what the post is about.But back before Christmas i had purchased a travel package to Orlando for a 3 nite stay at one of those travel time shares for idiots.Yea i was going to have to sit though a sales pitch but for 149$ i will get 100$ n Bass Pro cards and a 4 nite cruise (found out to take the free cruise it will cost 360$) Not a great deal but OK. We were to go down 1/24 and stay at this park http://www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings/default.cfm for a few days then go to the time share.After that we had talked about going to http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/default.cfm and Key West.I was looking forward to this winter trip and so was the wife.Thank goodness we had a window to change our plans we canceled the day after the first mammogram.
     Now after 6 weeks of waiting we hope that this will be put to rest by Wednesday and she has a follow up on 3/5 i think .After that the wife asked me when could we leave.She is itching to go some where warmer and sunny.When we first started going camping she did it to humor me but the last year she has been the one with wander lust.If her health holds i think we will be going even more.