Preparing to move the fifth wheel had some bumps in the road We began the 2nd half of January separated by several hundred miles with Dave in Pennsylvania and Cathy back in Florida. By month’s end, we were back together but had moved 90 miles south of Jacksonville to Enterprise FL to begin our volunteering at Residing Hope, formerly known as the Florida UMC Children’s Home. In the process we had to manage 3 flat tires and a dead battery between our 2 RV’s.
| Into the Cold Dave’s trip north was short but productive. His train to Philadelphia actually arrived early enough for him to scramble to make an early bus to Allentown. Over the next day and a half, he met with the funeral home, lawyer, bank, and court as part of his executor duties for his mother’s estate. What he hadn’t expected to do on his visit was shovel snow over and over and over again, including one last time on the morning of his departure, while the snow continued to fall. Despite the weather, he had smooth connections to the bus and train, arriving in Jacksonville on time on the Monday morning 5 days after he left to head north -- to warmer weather, but not that much warmer. | |
"Jr" on our site at Fort Clinch Meanwhile Back in Florida . . .
Cathy spent the few days on her own back at Fort Clinch getting used to life in the van, spending time with Pat and Fred, and catching up on computer work – and responding to several random tasks from Dave while he was away. While the weather was not nearly as cold as Dave’s up in PA, the heat was running most of the time, which brought its own surprises when Dave returned.
One of his first questions when he returned was “why is the heat off in the fifth wheel”? Which, of course, Cathy hadn’t seen since he left, but could have monitored on the app if she had thought about it. Oops. So, instead of heading to Fort Clinch from the train station on Monday morning, we headed back to Faith to check on it. The concern was that our In-Command control system was having a problem, but that turned out to be wrong. Dave was convinced we couldn’t be out of propane, given the temperatures since we last filled the tank. But sure enough, the tank was empty. While we switched to the other tank and filled the empty one, we were scratching out heads about how fast the cold weather had drained the tank.
Cathy spent the few days on her own back at Fort Clinch getting used to life in the van, spending time with Pat and Fred, and catching up on computer work – and responding to several random tasks from Dave while he was away. While the weather was not nearly as cold as Dave’s up in PA, the heat was running most of the time, which brought its own surprises when Dave returned.
One of his first questions when he returned was “why is the heat off in the fifth wheel”? Which, of course, Cathy hadn’t seen since he left, but could have monitored on the app if she had thought about it. Oops. So, instead of heading to Fort Clinch from the train station on Monday morning, we headed back to Faith to check on it. The concern was that our In-Command control system was having a problem, but that turned out to be wrong. Dave was convinced we couldn’t be out of propane, given the temperatures since we last filled the tank. But sure enough, the tank was empty. While we switched to the other tank and filled the empty one, we were scratching out heads about how fast the cold weather had drained the tank.
Sunrise at Fort Clinch Back at Fort Clinch, we had a different problem with the van. Cathy was surprised one afternoon, upon entering the side door of the van, to get a flash message on the dash about systems that weren’t working. But she wasn’t attempting to start the van. So, what was the message about?
Since we would be leaving in a couple of days, we decided to try to start it, and found that the battery was dead. This had happened when we first test drove the van, but we had been told that the battery had been replaced. Maybe not. Fred had a battery charger that allowed us to get it charged enough to start up, and we were able pull out a couple of days later. But we knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.
Since we would be leaving in a couple of days, we decided to try to start it, and found that the battery was dead. This had happened when we first test drove the van, but we had been told that the battery had been replaced. Maybe not. Fred had a battery charger that allowed us to get it charged enough to start up, and we were able pull out a couple of days later. But we knew we weren’t out of the woods yet.
Pastor Michael and Dave consult Fred on the boiler problems at Faith Work at the Church
Our short visits back to Faith during our 2 weeks away were usually a flurry of activity. The Nomads team continued to resurface the courtyard deck, and despite an injury on the team, did some amazing work. The cold weather made the persistent problems with the boiler supplying heat to the sanctuary a higher priority. With Fred on the phone giving advice, Dave spent time showing Pastor Michael what might be done to bleed the supply lines to get it going in an emergency.
With some cold weather imminent after we headed further south and a special service on the weekend, Dave and Fred would drive the nearly 2 hours back to Jacksonville to ensure the boiler would fire to heat the sanctuary on the next to the last Saturday in January.
Our short visits back to Faith during our 2 weeks away were usually a flurry of activity. The Nomads team continued to resurface the courtyard deck, and despite an injury on the team, did some amazing work. The cold weather made the persistent problems with the boiler supplying heat to the sanctuary a higher priority. With Fred on the phone giving advice, Dave spent time showing Pastor Michael what might be done to bleed the supply lines to get it going in an emergency.
With some cold weather imminent after we headed further south and a special service on the weekend, Dave and Fred would drive the nearly 2 hours back to Jacksonville to ensure the boiler would fire to heat the sanctuary on the next to the last Saturday in January.
Tire problems plagued us as we moved south Hitting the Road
Our stay at Fort Clinch came to an end on Thursday the 21st. We would be moving south to the small town of Enterprise FL north of Orlando to volunteer for a children’s home, Residing Hope. We would be taking both the 5th wheel and the van, so we needed to get both ready to move. We had already worked through the battery issue with the van, but our bigger challenges were going to be with the 5th wheel.
Our stay at Fort Clinch came to an end on Thursday the 21st. We would be moving south to the small town of Enterprise FL north of Orlando to volunteer for a children’s home, Residing Hope. We would be taking both the 5th wheel and the van, so we needed to get both ready to move. We had already worked through the battery issue with the van, but our bigger challenges were going to be with the 5th wheel.
With doctor’s appointments scheduled for the Wednesday before we were to leave, we spent the Tuesday night before and much of the time between appointments packing up the fifth wheel at Faith, even retracting the slides so the next day we could just hook up and leave once we made our way back from Fort Clinch. However, Dave wanted to do one last thing before we headed back to the van, which was to check the tires and add air as needed. That triggered a problem that would plague us for the next couple of days.
Our first tire failure required some assistance The trailer’s front tire on the driver’s side was losing air fast. The tire stem had failed with a hole at the base. This wasn’t an insurmountable problem. We just needed to swap it for the spare. However, try as we might, we couldn’t get any of our sockets to grab the lug nuts tightly enough to get the tire off. So, we had to call Good Sam to get some assistance, delaying our departure even more. When the serviceman arrived, he ended up using one of our sockets, but had to hammer it on to the lug nut to use it.
Dave getting the spare tire fixed With the flat removed, installing the spare was straightforward, and we were ready to head out. It was after 5, and we wanted to get to a Discount Tire on the way to Fort Clinch to have the tire stem repaired so we would have a working spare again. We made it in time to get the tire fixed (at no charge) before they closed. After a quick stop for dinner, we pulled into the campground after dark. So much for getting the van ready to go early.
Luckily, the next morning we were able to get the van packed up quickly and it started. The battery was still in question, but that was a problem for another day. Earlier in the week on he day that Dave had returned from PA, Pat had to leave to help out her daughter in NYC, so we made ourselves available to stand in for her as Fred got his rig ready to depart. We were poor substitutes, but we did our best.
After a quick stop at Discount Tire to top off the tires on the van and truck, we drove to Faith to pick up the fifth wheel. Of course, it is never that simple. While Cathy helped out with a few questions in the office, Dave consulted on the boiler. It was then late enough that we stayed for lunch. Finally, after lunch we were ready to pull out. Cathy would drive the van, following Dave and the fifth wheel. The trip was slated to take a little less than 2 hours and was all interstate. Pretty simple. Or so we thought.
Luckily, the next morning we were able to get the van packed up quickly and it started. The battery was still in question, but that was a problem for another day. Earlier in the week on he day that Dave had returned from PA, Pat had to leave to help out her daughter in NYC, so we made ourselves available to stand in for her as Fred got his rig ready to depart. We were poor substitutes, but we did our best.
After a quick stop at Discount Tire to top off the tires on the van and truck, we drove to Faith to pick up the fifth wheel. Of course, it is never that simple. While Cathy helped out with a few questions in the office, Dave consulted on the boiler. It was then late enough that we stayed for lunch. Finally, after lunch we were ready to pull out. Cathy would drive the van, following Dave and the fifth wheel. The trip was slated to take a little less than 2 hours and was all interstate. Pretty simple. Or so we thought.
I95 is not the ideal place to change a tire Not too far south of St. Augustine, Cathy saw Dave pulling off a very busy I-95 onto the shoulder. This could only mean one thing. Another tire had failed. This time it was the passenger side rear tire. While the tire stem was the initial problem, the tire had more damage from the failure and was not salvageable. It had also damaged the fender skirt.
While it is tricky, we have a method of raising the front tire on the same side to allow the rear tire to be changed by driving up on boards. After a couple of miscalculations, we made it high enough. It was also made a little more complex by a technical problem with the phones. Cathy’s phone was paired to the van’s console. Since we needed to keep the van running to ensure the battery would be OK, her phone would automatically pair with the van whenever she tried to communicate with Dave from the side of the highway. Sigh.
While it is tricky, we have a method of raising the front tire on the same side to allow the rear tire to be changed by driving up on boards. After a couple of miscalculations, we made it high enough. It was also made a little more complex by a technical problem with the phones. Cathy’s phone was paired to the van’s console. Since we needed to keep the van running to ensure the battery would be OK, her phone would automatically pair with the van whenever she tried to communicate with Dave from the side of the highway. Sigh.
We managed to keep the fender skirt on, but it didn't look pretty So, with the RV rocking from the 3 lanes of passing traffic, we swapped the tire and secured the fender. Dave then backed off the boards so we could put them and the bad tire into the truck bed. We managed to find a gap in the traffic, so we could pull out again. Cathy gave Fred and our contact at Residing Hope an updated ETA.
The rest of the trip was proving uneventful. Cathy gave our contact a heads up that we were 15 minutes away. We pulled off the exit, only a couple of miles from our destination when Dave pulled off to the right. Wait. We need to go left. But, you guessed it, another tire had blown. The spare tire that we had mounted less than 24 hours earlier had failed. And, of course, now we had no spare to put on
Not wanting to leave the trailer unattended, Dave arranged for Cathy to head to the campground with the van to meet Fred. He would bring her back in his car and exchange her for Dave and the bad tire. While Cathy waited with the truck and 5th wheel, they would drive to the nearest Discount Tire to get a new tire mounted on the wheel. Discount Tire’s manager was incredibly helpful in getting the tire ready quickly and very economically. But the infamous I-4 traffic slowed their return, so that we were racing against time to get the tire changed before the light was gone.
Also, using boards to raise the tire off the ground was tricky. Dave had to back onto the boards and we had to add them gradually to keep them from interfering with the rear jacks. With Fred’s assistance, we managed to do that and got the tire changed before it was too dark to see. While the traffic wasn’t as heavy as earlier, we were now operating on the driver’s side with fading light. So, it felt much more exposed as cars flew down the exit ramp.
The rest of the trip was proving uneventful. Cathy gave our contact a heads up that we were 15 minutes away. We pulled off the exit, only a couple of miles from our destination when Dave pulled off to the right. Wait. We need to go left. But, you guessed it, another tire had blown. The spare tire that we had mounted less than 24 hours earlier had failed. And, of course, now we had no spare to put on
Not wanting to leave the trailer unattended, Dave arranged for Cathy to head to the campground with the van to meet Fred. He would bring her back in his car and exchange her for Dave and the bad tire. While Cathy waited with the truck and 5th wheel, they would drive to the nearest Discount Tire to get a new tire mounted on the wheel. Discount Tire’s manager was incredibly helpful in getting the tire ready quickly and very economically. But the infamous I-4 traffic slowed their return, so that we were racing against time to get the tire changed before the light was gone.
Also, using boards to raise the tire off the ground was tricky. Dave had to back onto the boards and we had to add them gradually to keep them from interfering with the rear jacks. With Fred’s assistance, we managed to do that and got the tire changed before it was too dark to see. While the traffic wasn’t as heavy as earlier, we were now operating on the driver’s side with fading light. So, it felt much more exposed as cars flew down the exit ramp.
Set up in our site at Residing Hope With the tire changed, we pulled into the campground in the dark – something we almost never do. We managed to get set up and breathed a sigh of relief to be in and safe. We had spent the last several days in contact with our son as he made a long trek north with mechanical issues along the way. We kept telling him that we were having our problems for every one he had. In the midst of our drama, we learned that he had made it safely to his destination. And we had too, but we were winning the competition.
"Day of Hope" mailings being stuffed Residing Hope – What to do?
After getting our orientation on Friday, we started our volunteer work in earnest on Monday. Cathy made her way to the mail room, where year-end tax mailings were stacked by the thousands to be stuffed. These had to be out by week’s end, followed by packets for 729 churches promoting the upcoming Open Houses in February and March. With Pat still in NY, Cathy was the only one on tap to assist the “mail room lady”, Janice. Although Dave helped with some counting and packaging cards one afternoon.
After getting our orientation on Friday, we started our volunteer work in earnest on Monday. Cathy made her way to the mail room, where year-end tax mailings were stacked by the thousands to be stuffed. These had to be out by week’s end, followed by packets for 729 churches promoting the upcoming Open Houses in February and March. With Pat still in NY, Cathy was the only one on tap to assist the “mail room lady”, Janice. Although Dave helped with some counting and packaging cards one afternoon.
Dave and Fred headed to the maintenance shop, where they began sanding and refinishing desks, nightstands and dressers to be returned to a residential cottage being refurbished. However, many of these were missing drawers. They sold the Maintenance supervisor on their tackling the job of making replacements. So, their efforts moved to the wood shop to figure out what was possible.
Sandy and Sue at dinner We weren’t the only volunteers staying in the campground. Sandy had preceded us by several weeks. And a new Nomad team began arriving that included some familiar faces: Butch and Cheri, Neal and Sue and Karen and Russ, to name a few. On our first night after work, we met Sandy’s daughter (our friend Sue) and her husband Steve for dinner as they made their way slowly back north after the close of their Nomad project in Tampa.
Overlooking the boat ramp at Lake Monroe Park - a 7 mile bike ride from the campground And when the temperatures weren’t plunging to record lows, we took some bike rides along the convenient and scenic bike trails that pass by the campus just outside the gates.
Happy 90th Beverly! Parting Shots
Before leaving Fort Clinch, we celebrated with Beverly on her 90th birthday with a lunch at the Lunch Box in St. Mary’s.
Before leaving Fort Clinch, we celebrated with Beverly on her 90th birthday with a lunch at the Lunch Box in St. Mary’s.
