Paddling on The Econlocklatchee

 On December 17 we paddled on the Econlocklatchee River with our friends Patty from TGO and Michael and Cyndi from Apopka.  The "Econ" is the only about 45 minutes from our winter home, and we usually paddle it 3-4 times each winter.

Normally we see lots of unusually large gators on this stretch, but this day was cool and breezy and none were out.  We did see a number of great blue herons, belted kingfishers, ibis, cormorants, and a few ospreys and red shouldered hawks.

"Low bridge" on the Econ

Lunch stop on the Econ

OK, everyone bend over and show their butts!

Matilda is always the first one in the boat

We didn't see any alligators on this day, so I thought I would include a picture of a few really big gators we saw on this same section in February earlier this year.

Video of the week

 Critters observed strolling through our back yard this week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every winter for as long as Dorcas and I have been retired, we have made an annual migration to sunny Florida. During most years we leave during the week of Thanksgiving.  Last year we had planned to leave the week before Thanksgiving, but dealing with the aftermath of our crushed motor home set us back a week or so.  You can read about that setback HERE.  This year we made up for that and left home on Friday before Thanksgiving. Our first stop was at my brother's house near Angier NC where we spent 2 nights, exhibiting brazen contempt for CDC guidelines against holiday travel during the COVID pandemic.

Camp Little Brother

Our next stop was at the Circle K RV Resort where we spent a night in the cul-de-sac of friends Mark and Diane K who live near Savannah.  This is a favorite stop, not in small part because it is convenient, about half way between NC and our winter home in Florida. 

Parked in our usual site at the Circle K RV Resort

We hit the Florida Welcome Center on I-95 shortly after noon on Monday November 23.

About 4:00 on Monday we arrived at our winter home at The Great Outdoors near Titusville FL

It wasn't long before I was back on the pickleball courts.

Pickleball Paradise

TGO is for the birds!

Mr. Gator wants turkey for Thanksgiving too!

We snagged the last one!

We had several options for Thanksgiving dinner.  1) cook something from scratch. Dorcas said no way!  2) Go out to a local restaurant. Not the most intelligent choice during a global pandemic,  or 3) get a prepared take-out meal from a local restaurant.  We chose option 3 and reserved a dinner and fixins to feed 6 people from Cracker Barrel.  We love leftovers!

After a few hours of pickleball in the morning and an afternoon nap during NFL on the tube, we enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast.

Dorcas preparing our Thanksgiving dinner

Dorcas enjoying our Thanksgiving dinner

These are the ones that got away:

Dorcas and I are very thankful for our health and good fortune.  Life is still good!  

Gobble. Gobble. 

Fine Fall Camping on the Lumber River

Every November for almost 25 years Dorcas and I have done a November canoe camping trip, usually on an eastern blackwater river, with our friends and favorite paddling buddies, Wayne and Lynda.  Way back when, when we were working, we did a 2-3 night trip over Thanksgiving weekend.  After retirement and since Dorcas and I started migrating to Florida, we have been doing the trip a week or two before Thanksgiving.

Our put-in at Turnpike Road

This year we put in on Drowning Creek, the headwaters to the Lumber River on Friday, November 6 for a 3-night camper.  We met Wayne and Lynda at 9:00 at the Turnpike Road bridge, just south of Aberdeen.  The weather forecast was perfect with highs in the 70s lows in the 50s, sunny and clear. Fine fall camping weather. The river level was perfect, reading about 9.5 feet on the Lumberton gage.

Lynda does a fine draw

We spent our first night at the canoe-in campsite at Chalk Banks, a unit of Lumber River State Park.  The site was equipped with a fire ring, 2 picnic tables and a trash can. These are not luxuries normally found when camping on rivers. 

Our camp site at Chalk Banks

A camp fire on the river is always special

We had several duck-unders.

Low bridge!

We also had 2 blowdowns that we portaged, both on river right.  Once upon a time, we would have jumped up on the logs and dragged the boats over and not portaged.  Piece of cake! But that was then, and this is now.  Our bodies no longer will do what they once could do.  Balancing on a slippery log in a November river, and dragging a boat and gear and dog weighing perhaps 700 lbs is no longer an option.

We spent the 2nd night at Jasper Memory Canoe-in Campsite, another unit of Lumber River State Park.  Jasper Memory also had a fire ring, but only one picnic table and no trash can.  There used to be a trash can here, but for some reason it is now gone. 

Everybody was plum tuckered at Jasper Memory camp

The take-out at Jasper Memory sucked.  It was very steep, there was no good way to get in and out of the boat, and it was hard to drag the boat and gear up onto the bank.  The following picture was just before putting in on our 3rd day.  I had commented to Dorcas that it looked a bit like the Titanic.  This was a very unfortunate and foreboding mistake.  When a canoe is launched at a steep angle to the water, the end tends to dive into the water because there is little volume and buoyancy at the ends.  When the boat is loaded with 4 tons of camping gear the problem is exacerbated.  When there is also a lard-ass stern paddler sitting in the low end of the boat it is catastrophic.   While putting in we moved the boat into the water as far as possible and I got into the stern.  At that point the bow was pointing towards the sky at a 45 degree angle.  Dorcas pushed me in the rest of the way and then screamed that water was coming in the back of the boat.  She didn't need to scream, I knew it right away.  Immediately water was up to my hips and the green box floated out of the boat.  Within about 3 seconds the water was up to my ears, and the cooler, chairs, tent and the large dry bag floated out of the boat.  Finally I floated out of the boat.  In short order we recovered all the gear and emptied the water from the boat.  Matilda was embarrassed. She ran away and and hid in the woods. I was embarrassed too.  It was a rookie mistake, and I knew better.    I was wet, but it was not cold, and it is rare to get a good bath on a river camping trip.  In short order we had the boat reloaded and were on our way. 

There were no more state park campsites along our course before our take-out.  We spent the 3rd night at a primitive site on river left after about 8 miles of paddling.

We took out on Monday at Old Red Springs Road after 3 nights and 28 miles on the river.  Neither our put-in or our take-out was a particularly safe place to leave a car for 4 days, so we were happy to find both vehicles safe and sound, with all windows intact, and tires full.  The weather was great, and it was a wonderful paddle.

Life is always good on the river.

Making Repairs at Freightliner Service Center Gaffney SC

 Faithful readers will remember that at the beginning of our summer trip we had some problems with the leveling system not re-inflating the air bags after leveling, and with the Comfort Drive.  Specifically, when departing the Great Smokey Mountains National Park on August 17, the air bags would not fill.  With no air in the bags, the coach could not be driven without causing significant damage.  After spending hours on the phone with Newmar Corporation and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, with no resolution, we were told of a work-around to manually engage a valve to inflate the bags.  At the same time, although the systems are totally unrelated, the Comfort Drive system ceased operating, likely because I had been pulling and checking fuses and had disconnected the chassis batteries.  Both problems persisted for the duration of our summer trip and during our trip to Georgia this month.  

While our Newmar warranty has expired, our Freightliner Chassis is still under warranty until February 2021.  The air issue could be a Freightliner issue or it could be a Newmar issue, depending on what specific part is broken.  I have talked to Newmar and Freightliner and neither could tell me whether it was a house issue or a chassis issue without an inspection and diagnosis.   BUMMER!  The Comfort Drive is clearly a Freightliner issue.  I decided to work with Freightliner first since we are still covered under their warranty.  Shortly after arriving home at the end of September, I called the local Freightliner service center in Greensboro and was told they were very busy, and they did not make appointments for service.  I would need to bring the coach and leave it there, and they would get to it in 1-2 weeks.  BUMMER!  Freightliner RV chassis are manufactured in Gaffney SC only about 130 miles from home.  Freightliner has a customer service center near their Gaffney plant to specifically service and repair Freightliner RV chassis.  COOL!  The good news is they do take appointments for service.  The bad news is they are booked up until 2021. BUMMER!  However, one can drop in and wait on stand-by in case there is a cancellation or they are running ahead.  I called Freightliner last week before leaving Brunswick and was told there was a fair chance they could gets in the same day if we checked in first thing Monday morning.  COOL!  

So that's what we did.  Rather than coming straight home on Friday after our last rally, we drug our (w)heels and spent 2 nights with our friends in Savannah.  On Sunday we drove to Gaffney, which was not too far out of our way home, adding less than 70 miles to our trip, and spent the night at the Freightliner Service Center. 

Our home at Camp Freightliner

There are 27 campsites at Freightliner, each with 50A electric service.  All are available for no charge on a first come basis.  When we arrived we found ~10 sites available and set up on #22. 

They opened up at 7:45 on Monday morning.  I was in line at 7:30, but I was the second person in line without an appointment.  Should'a got up earlier!  However, when I checked in, I found I was #4 in line for stand-by service.  Apparently there were two units ahead of us left over from the weekend.

We are not alone in our quest for factory service

Monday came and went but our number did not come up.  We did gain one position in line.  But that's OK; I don't think I really expected to get in on Monday anyway.  We were in no particular hurry to get home, we were comfortable with good 50A service, good OTA TV and fast internet. I spent some time working on other coach chores and internet projects.  

Tuesday came and went with no service, but when I checked we had gained another position or two on the list.  By this time we are getting a little bit impatient and wondering if we might want to leave the coach and go home.  Finally at closing time on Tuesday I received a call from the lady at the front desk; they would take us first thing Wednesday morning.  COOL!  

They have lots of spare parts!

About 8:15 on Wednesday Scott, our mechanic, came to pick up the coach.  We went over my list of items to check or repair, and he did an exterior inspection of the coach to see if there was any pre-existing damage to note.  Mine was not a short list.  I asked if he would be finished by lunch, and he laughed at me.  We did want to get home as soon as possible.  Hurricane Zeta would make landfall in Louisiana this afternoon, and the remnants of the storm were expected to impact our area on Thursday morning. We really wanted to be home before the storm hit. 

A pair of naked Front Engine Diesel (FRED) chassis

With the coach parked in the service bay Dorcas and I were forced to hang out elsewhere.  They had a nice customer lounge, but I found it more comfortable to sit on the covered porch out front, where I wouldn't need to wear a mask.  Dorcas mostly waited in the car with Matilda.  We lunched at a Mexican restaurant nearby, and got the call about 2:00 that the coach was ready to go.  They made all the requested repairs, checks and adjustments I had requested and all is good.  Specifically, they replaced the auto level valve (which resolved the air bag fill issue), restored the Comfort Drive function, checked ride height, weighed the coach and adjusted tire pressures, and checked windshield wiper function.  All the charges were covered under warranty except for the 4-corner weighing I had requested.  COOL!  It is always a good idea to weigh each corner of the coach at least once after it has been loaded with gear and with tanks full in order to determine proper tire pressures.  As it turns out I had been running the Michelins a bit under-inflated.

We hit the road and headed for the barn.  It was particularly enjoyable that the Comfort Drive was functioning.  Comfort Drive rules!!!!  It rained pretty hard off and on all the home, but the major part of the storm had not arrived, and the winds were light.  We arrived home safely shortly before dark.

We'll be home until about the middle of November and then migrate south to our winter home in Florida.  

A rolling stone gathers no moss!

Life is still good. 

Pals, Pups, Pilots and Pushers

When Dorcas and I drive the coach I-95 through Georgia we usually stop and spend the night at our friends Mark and Dianne K's house near Savannah.  On all previous trips we have parked in the cul-du-sac at the Circle K Motorcoach Resort.  This year we decided not to block the road and not to impede the mailman, so we parked in the driveway.  The Circle K Motorcoach Resort has all the necessary amenities: 50A electric, water, sewer, lakeside parking, paved sites and all the southern home cooking you can eat. 

Pals, Pups, Pilots and Pushers

For those who may not understand the 4 Ps, the Ks also own a Honda Pilot and a diesel pusher, as rear engine diesel motor coaches are often affectionately called.

Bird's eye view of the Circle K Motorcoach Resort 

We spent Friday and Saturday nights at the Circle K on our way home from Country Coach Rallies in Savannah and Brunswick.  We will be back here in November on our way to our winter home in Florida.

Tonight we are parked at Camp Freightliner in Gaffney SC.  Hopefully we can get a few chassis service items checked off tomorrow or Tuesday.

Friends are good.  Life is good.

Rallies Galore

On Wednesday October 14 we left home and headed south to attend 2 back-to-back rallies in Georgia.  The first rally was at CreekFire Motor Ranch just south of Savannah.  This was a gathering of members of Country Coach International (CCI) the national club of Country Coach owners.  While we no longer own our Country Coach, we are allowed to remain as grandfathered members, and attend in our SOB (Some Other Brand).   Country Coach is no longer in business and the make was last produced in 2010.  We won a prize for having the coach in attendance with the least number of miles.  It really wasn't very fair, but who would turn down a chocolate bar?

Our site at CreekFire Motor Ranch

There were 34 coaches registered for this CCI Rally, which started October 14 and ended October 19.  Click HERE to view my drone video on the venue.

Rallies are hard work!

The Savannah rally had a number of planned activities and for most we were chauffeured on a private tour bus or trolley. On the first full day of the rally we visited Tybee Island.  After a visit to the Tybee Island beach and pier we had a nice lunch at the Crab Shack.

Beach watchers on Tybee Island Pier

A sunny day at the Tybee Island South Beach

Finally we boarded a boat for Captain Dereck's Dolphin Adventure Tour.  The captain promised we would see dolphins, and we were not disappointed.

This was the first dolphin we saw

A small pod of dolphins off Tybee Island Lighthouse and North Beach

This guy was just showing off

Dorcas and Cockspur Island Lighthouse

We took a trolley tour of historic Savannah.  Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia,  established in 1733 on the Savannah River.  Savannah's downtown area, which includes the Savannah Historic District, the Savannah Victorian Historic District, and 22 parklike squares, is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. Downtown Savannah largely retains the original town plan prescribed by founder James Oglethorpe.

Our motley crew on a chartered trolley

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

The renovated Plant Riverside District contains an amazing museum of huge geodes and a steel brontosaurus skeleton.

Brunch at Huey's featuring their World Famous beingets

We were provided a private tour at the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force. 

Immediately following the Savannah CCI rally approximately 16 Country Coachers relocated 66 miles south to Brunswick GA to attend another rally hosted by the Southeast Country Coachers (SECC).  SECC is a regional chapter of CCI.  This was a less structured rally, with more time on our own to explore Georgia's Golden Isles at our leisure.

Our home at Coastal Georgia RV Resort in Brunswick

Click HERE to view another drone video, this one showing the SECC rally venue in Brunswick.

The weather in Savannah was perfect.  The weather in Brunswick, not so much.  But that didn't keep us from enjoying a trolley tour of historic Jekyll Island,

The Jekyll Island Club

Driftwood Beach

The MV Golden Ray capsized September 9, 2019 in St. Simons Sound near Brunswick.  The vessel was carrying brand new Kia and Hyundai cars manufactured in Mexico for delivery to the Middle East.  The the vessel listed 100 degrees in about 20 minutes.  All 23 crew members were rescued.  The cause for the capsize has not been determined.  The ship and over 4000 automobiles were declared a total loss.  Salvage operations are underway. 

St. Simon's Lighthouse

Kitchen in lighthouse keeper's house

Parlor in lighthouse keeper's house

Our visit to St. Simon's Island ended with a visit to Fort Frederica National Monument.   From Wikipedia: "In the early 18th century, Europeans called the land lying between British South Carolina and Spanish Florida the "Debatable Land". Today's state of Georgia was then the center of a centuries-old imperial conflict between Spain and Britain. After the philanthropist James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia in 1733, to provide a place where poor debtors could settle, colonists from England and Scotland, and refugees from the German Electorate of the Palatinate built Fort Frederica in 1736 to defend their new territory. They named Frederica for Frederick, Prince of Wales, (1707–1751). The name was feminized to distinguish it from Fort Frederick in South Carolina."

On Friday October 23 our rally fest ended.  Our plan is to spend Friday and Saturday nights with our friends near Savannah, then on Monday drop in for some chassis service at the Freightliner Service Center in Gaffney SC.  The next available appointment at the Gaffney service center wasn't until after Christmas, but they told me they might be able to work us in on a standby basis in a day or two.  Wish us luck.