Summer Vacation 2020 - Day 10 - The drive home

Usually the drive home is an anti-climatic event for any trip.  However, with the brake issue, some decisions had to be made.

Normally, I would have taken the top route through Okeechobee, FL 72 to FL 70 to FL710 (Beeline Hwy) and then I-95 from WPB).   Due to my desire to not use the brakes, I figured if we got an early start and took I-75, it would be easy and we would avoid rush hour in Ft. Lauderdale.

We did pretty well and got out of the campground around 10:00.   The drive to I-75 was fairly uneventful, although I did have to make a semi-hard stop as the light changed as we were coming up on it and no way it would have still been yellow.    It was a good test of what brakes I did have, and she stopped fairly well (I figure I had 5 out of 6 working now).

I pulled off before getting on the highway and checked the fluid level after the hard stop and as a precaution put in about 1/4 of an oz as I now had plenty to spare.  We got on the road and traffic was light heading south.  I figured we should make in about 4.5 hours with a gas/bathroom stop (vs. 3.5-4 going the other way).

Things went smoothly and while I had enough gas to make it across Alligator Alley, I figured I'd stop, top it off, check the brakes (although I hadn't used them once) and stretch for a couple min as we had been driving for 2 hours.

The brakes were still full and she took about half a tank of gas.   After about 10 min, I got back in to fire it up.  If you may recall, the engine in the coach was rebuilt a few years ago and probably has about 9K miles on it now.  It is not a stock engine and has some upgrades to it.  

This makes it a little hard to turn over when she is hot.   I get in position and hit the starter.  It groans and turns over slow.  Usually, I let off it and wait 10 seconds and hit it again and it fires right up.

Well my impatience costs me here as I don't let go and decide I will force it through.  It turns over more slowly then just as it is about to stop I hear a crack like sound and then some very nasty grinding noises.

This scares me and I look at the girls and wait 30 seconds or so thinking WTH was that?  I try it again and I can hear the starter motor spinning but it doesn't sound just right as there is a little grindy sound but its really faint.   It's lunch time so I send the girls over to Taco Bell while I sit and think about it (and let the engine cool down).   I try it once more while they are gone and talk to a guy at the next pump who hears it also.

We decide that it is probably either the starter solenoid not engaging or the bendix unit not pushing out the pinion gear to engage the flywheel.

A short instructional video of how an automotive starter functions.

My lunch comes back and I eat it even though I have no appetite at the moment.   I start googling auto parts stores nearby looking for a new starter.   No one has one for a 45 year old vehicle, but AutoZone has one at their store/distro center in Ft. Myers about 40 miles away.    

I call up Mark as he mentioned to let me know if I ran into any trouble on the way home and low and behold, the starter is just minutes from his home.   He is SUPER cool about picking it up and bringing it to us.

This was my view for the better part of Friday afternoon at the corner of SR 84 and Collier Blvd.

While I am waiting for Mark to arrive, I pull out the old starter.  Right when I get it out another man asks if I need a jump.  I say I could use your cables for a minute please and he hands them over.   The starter is still wired up put uses the engine block as the ground.  I attach one side to the starter housing and the other to the block where the starter mounts.  I lay there on the ground and have lucy hit the starter.  It works perfectly!  

I thank the nice man for aiding in my troubleshooting and then stick my fingers in the starter hole and feel that the starter broke off 3 teeth on the flywheel.  It is rounded out exactly the size of the pinion gear.

I quick call Mark back and tell him I also need a 1 1/8" or 1 1/4" (knew it was one or the other per a phone call to Jim from The Co-op) socket and it is not the starter.  I start to tell him not to pick up the starter and then figure, better safe than sorry and to grab it, I can return later.   Timing is everything as I called just as he is walking into the store to grab it.

Not knowing what will happen and the time (now 2PM) I also call Sirum GMC in Okeechobee to alert them I may be coming in on a tow truck.  I'm surprised to find out that from where I am in east Naples, it is just about the same distance from my house to their shop. As always he's super nice and offers up a local tow company to him that could get it done.

Mark arrives and I waste no time.   I grab the 1 1/8" first and it is the right one.  I use a stubby extension that he also picked up and use the breaker bar (30 inch) that I carry for the lugnuts.  I am surprised how easy it is to turn the engine by hand.   The big nut is on the pulley and connected to the crankshaft, so by turning it I am turning the crankshaft and the flywheel on the back of the engine.

I do a few for good measure and then finger probe and shine my flashlight in the starter hole.  All good teeth!  The starter was easy to take out by myself, but it weighs a good 30 lbs or at least feels that heavy so Mark puts the bolts in while I hold it up in place.

I decide to go use the bathroom as once I start it, I'm not turning it off until I'm in my driveway.  It fires up on the first try like butter.  I high-five Mark, and off we go!  It is now about 4:00 PM and we had been at the gas station for 4 hours.

We get right on the Alley and start heading east at about 60-65 mph.   People are going around me, but I'm also pacing some trailers in front so I have to keep letting up a bit as I don't want to be too close to them with my extended braking distance.  I call Jeff at Sirum back and let him know we are underway and didn't need a tow truck and not wonder what happened to us.  He thanks me for the courtesy call.

About half an hour later,  the phone rings (I had made several calls) and it is my yellow GMC twinsie Mike.   I let him know we are good and motoring happily.  As I'm talking with him, I see smoke ahead.  At first I think brush fire (it is the Everglades and rainy season which means lightning strikes).  Two miles later here come the brake lights

Smoke is now way too dark to be a brush fire.   As we slow you can see the Fire Truck on the other side of the road.  So yep, they shut the road down while working the fire.   I put the motorhome in park and let it idle as I was worried about turning it off, especially in the middle of the road.    

It took them about an hour to finish up and traffic start to flow again.  Amazingly, the fuel gauge made no noticeable move in that time, but I'm sure we spent a few gallons but I wasn't worried as the range on the coach is over 250 and we only had about 140 to go.

As we rolled by, Lucy took this shot.  Just to the right was two ladies, one holding a small child.  I was happy they got out without anyone being hurt.

So based on our late departure and now stoppage on the highway, we were hitting Broward County at the peak of Rush Hour.   One benefit of Covid is the reduction in traffic.   I still opted to use the Sawgrass Expressway to avoid downtown Ft. Laud and having to use the brakes.

It was smooth sailing and we arrived home around 6PM.  I left the coach running and played musical cars and then backed it up onto the lawn and shut it off.   An hour or so later we were done unloading. It fired right up and I put it away.  I had used about 1/3 of the reservoir of brake fluid.

EPILOGUE:

Approximately 1100 miles in 10 days, avg MPG was about 9.6 (did get 10 on one leg), 4 parks, 2 states, a couple hundred miles of new highways traveled, 1 car delivery, 3 nights of comet viewing, 3 major vehicle issues, 1 new Tiki bar visited, and priceless memories with family and friends.

Needed Repairs:

Fix the leaky brake lines

Reattach the sunvisor

The flywheel will wait as there are over 100 teeth on it, so I have a 99% chance of it starting.  I will carry the socket and breaker bar JIC and not try to start it hot for now.

Summer Vacation 2020 - Day 9 - Siesta Key

I don't recall what time I woke up this morning, but it wasn't too early or too late.  My buddy Mark from Fort Myers Beach (about 1.5 hours away) was coming up to hang out with us for the day.  He is also a gear head as we met through our mutual love of station wagons.  

In fact last year, he drove from Ft. Myers to my house, then to north of Tampa so I could buy my new wagon.  That's a solid friend!

Anway, up and at 'em, took a stroll down to the beach while I drank my coffee and Mark said he was on his way.   Of course, I'm thinking about the brakes, so I start going over everything again.

* Check the fluid level.   It held overnight, that's good not catastrophic leaks

* Check the combo valve on the frame rail and that checks out (had leaked before and was replaced)

* Think of pulling the vacuum line at the brake booster to see if it's getting sucked into the motor (a known issue on these),  Doesn't come off easy and I don't want to risk breaking it, as that's a show stopper, literally as no brakes if that happens 

*  Fire up the engine and do the 10 second brake test. Namely hold the pedal tight and see if it goes down while you hold it.   Crap, I feel it moving really slowly.

So that means I have a pressure leak (only leaks when pressing the pedal).   Ok, that's not the end of the world, I will just need to check the fluid level often.

Mark is taking awhile, so while I'm waiting, I'm checking around the rear brakes and now that it is dry, I see it.   On the passenger side rear wheel there is fluid drips on the inside sidewall.   I run my finger in it, smell it and feel the viscosity and yep, it's brake fluid.   I check the other three rear tires and they are all dry.

 Mark arrives in his color coordinated T-bird.  He had the top down but I snapped this after the rain started. This would make an excellent Towed for us, although it's only a 2 seater.

By now, I had the jack out and was lifting the back corner up and pulling the wheel.  I had guessed that it was the slave cylinder leaking (most common issue), but the bottom of the drum way dry.  I get the wheel off and as these rear wheels aren't on an axle they are mounted up differently than what I'm used too.  I figure out via google that I have to pull the castle nut to take the drum and the hub off as a single unit to get at the slave cylinder.

Mark throws out the good idea of testing the brakes with the wheel off before we do that.  So I jump in and fire it up and he watches. I press the brakes and he yells I see it.  I power down and he informs me that it is leaking from the fitting where the hard line attaches to the slave cylinder. 

I have Lucy start it up so I can see too.  Sure enough it's about 3 or 4 drops per second coming out when the brakes are applied.   Well at least I have 5 ish out of 6 brakes working.

I think it just may be loose and try to tighten it, but it's not budging, so I am assuming the flare on the line is cracked.  At least I know what I'm working with so Mark runs me down to the parts store and I buy way too much fluid (2 quarts).   Fast forward, I used about 4 ounces all the way home and had that much onboard.  Hey better safe than sorry!

I'm feeling alot better about this now and of course here comes the rain again just as I'm putting all the tools away.  We retreat inside and enjoy a nice cold beer or two and some snacks, and visited with Mark for a couple hours until it was time to head home.

The rain lets up and we go for a bike ride.   We end up at Point of Rocks Beach, which is supposed to be a good snorkeling beach as well as a surf spot.   Well as soon as I see the setup I can see the surf potential.   Ernie said he has gotten it good here in the past. 

Looking to the north.  off to the left the rocks jut out at and angle making a point.   I will go surf this place one day on a storm swell.

Never having been here before, I see Naya climb a seawall and disappear around the corner.

But before I can follow her and explore, Tommy pops out for photo shoot.  Be sure to check his instagram page...

Around the corner is really cool, with alot of limestone either exposed or in very shallow water.  It went on for quite a way. 

You can see the big tree is by the corner and the wave can wrap right down that point into the cove around the corner.  There were a TON of cool shells here and while I don't collect too many, I had to take my shirt off to carry them all.

We messed around until the sun was fading as it was about 10 min to the bikes and then a 20 min ride back to the campground.   We got there as it got dark.   As you can see above (proper angle for where the comet was) it wasn't looking good for us to see it again.

While we were cooking dinner, Charley came back over with the kids and they played cards at the table, while we were making dinner.   Seven people in the coach was pretty tight, but it was alright.

After dinner we went for a night time swim (well the kids and Charley), and then they started digging holes.  

Jesse started and got bored, so Naya took over the shovel duties.  I just noticed the lights in this picture It was a large family out looking for shells in the dark.   Not the way I would do it, but hey maybe they were vampires.

It was a pretty good size hole and she kept going.

Cora and her friend also wanted holes, so they went up the beach and dug two and got buried up to their necks.

Naya of course not wanting to be left out, pulled them out and asked to be buried too.  They were happy to comply.

Naya's hole was deeper and she couldn't get out herself, so they had to dig her out too.   It was a lot of fun for all of them and they probably left 35 lbs of sand at the beach shower afterwards.   It was late so they packed up and hit the road.

I started prepping for departure early the next morning, bu putting the bikes up and generally putting whatever we didn't need in the morning into storage.

Tomorrow, homeward bound!

Summer Vacation 2020 - Day 8 - Drive to Siesta Key

Today was our shortest drive of the trip.  Only 157 miles!   I figured on 4 hours to get there (spoiler, took almost 5).

Time wise, we could have headed right back over to I-75 and took that all the way down.  But as previously stated, I like staying OFF the interstate when an alternative is there.  Today we could get a solid third of the trip on US 41, and again a section of road I had not traveled before so that was the plan. 

We pulled out of the campground around 11ish as it wasn't a long drive, and check in was at 3, and we would avoid rush hour in Tampa.   Originally, today would be the day we were headed home, but we threw an extra 2 nights on the trip because I had the vacation time and well, why not?

After a quick stop for more gorilla tape and a bag of ice, we were off down US 41.  Was a nice drive and the closer we got to Brooksville, the hillier it got.  Fun for us Floridians the up and down and twists.  Of course this meant I was using my brakes more. 

We got to Brooksville and intersected US 98 and headed east to hook up with I-75 to motor through the Tampa metroplex.  As soon as we turned there was another black wall approaching (like the one the day before) but this one was even more menacing.  Good thing I bought more tape and applied it in Dunellon!

I had mentioned in earlier posts about topping off the brake fluid.  I had checked it in St. Augustine, and in Savannah, but I forgot about it at Rainbow this morning.  Up until this trip, I never had any issues with the brakes as they were all redone when I bought the coach.

Well it was still pouring and I was on a long downgrade that wasn't real steep but it was down.  I saw the stale green light and let up a bit on the gas as I knew it would change.  It did and I hit the brakes.  UH-OH!  The pedal is really soft but it doesn't go all the way to the floor and I am slowing down.....just not fast enough.  I yell out no brakes and try pumping it.   I'm pressing as hard as I can and while I'm only going a couple of miles per hour I go out into the intersection. 

Luckily, due to the rain everyone is cautious and they saw me coming and I hit the plane of the intersection just as the light went red.  I get it stopped with about 3/4 of the coach over the line.  I look around, no one is moving so I hit the gas and continue (wasn't going to back up). 

My first thought is to stop but as you can see in the video it is not good outside weather.  I surmise that as long as I drive slow in the right lane, I won't need any brakes on I-75 so I get on and start going about 50.   Everyone is going around me in the rain and that's just fine.

We drive in the rain for a solid hour until about Riverview south of Tampa and it starts clearing.  I make it to Sarasota and get off a few exits early as I know there is a BJ's gas station.  I come down the off ramp and  test the brakes.  They are bad.  I slowly roll up to the light trying to time it.

There are enough brakes to hold it at the light and I gingerly pick my way to the gas station.   I start pumping gas and pop off the Master Cylinder cover.   It is dry for the rear brakes.  I get some fluid and fill it up.   I was only stopping with the two front brakes instead of 6. 

I pull out of the gas station and park.  The pedal is a lot firmer, but not right (air in the line probably).   I check all over and don't see a big leak anywhere, but everything is wet from the rain.  We are only about 10 miles from the campground, so instead of driving through town,  I get back on the interstate as in the whole 2 hours from Brooksville I hit the brakes only once coming down the off ramp.

We make it to Turtle Beach Campground on Siesta Key without incident.  In fact, I made almost every light on the way there.  They had called us earlier so it was contactless check in. Pulled in and went right to our site #12.  Curiously, site #13 next to us was empty the two nights we were there.

 While we were setting up, I noticed this walking stick on the windshield wiper.  I alerted science officer Lucy who commenced molestation activities on it.  It climbed up the side and I went and got the camera.

 We were in good company and this newly minted Airstream was looking pretty stylish.

 View at the end of the campground of the Gulf of Mexico.  There were small waves and Lucy and I took turns groveling for rides on the Boogie Board.  I did manage a couple of half decent ones given the conditions.

 The campground had a couple of grills and a few tables for the campers to use.  It is a Sarasota County park and there is a public beach and parking lot next door.  Lucy has a cousin that lives in town, so he came over and we grilled up some dinner.  The corn on the cob you see on the grill was from Skidaway, we never ate it as we went to the beach that day and a deer stole one of the ears so we only had 4 left, so this worked out perfectly.

It was a beautiful sunset, but alas no more comet as just about the time it was getting dark enough, big clouds rolled in and shut it down for us.

The only drawback at this campground was no fire pits, so we went back to the coach as the rain came and we played a few games with Charley until bedtime.  He went home and vowed to return with his kids the next evening.

Skidaway Island Camp site

Our camp site at Skidaway Island State Park was huge. The sandy area is the tent pad. This is a pull through site, #60.

Hung up some hammocks for talking and relaxing. It's the first time we have been able to use our hammock, it's not allowed at Florida State Parks to hang things in trees. We ended up with two areas, the hammocks were daytime hangouts since that area had shade during most of the day, and the fireside was used more at night. Chairs got moved back and forth as needed, especially the yellow rocking chair.

View of the vehicles from the hammock. The picnic table was a long one, longer than our tablecloth.

Set up a dishwashing station because the bathroom sink is tiny and the kitchen sink doesn't work. 

Fauna checking us out.

There was a oak stump that she was throwing at, but it's surprisingly hard to get the knives to stick.

. 

Summer Vacation 2020 - Rainbow River - Days 6 & 7

Day 6

As mentioned in the last post, driving out of Florida, it looked like a 2 hourish back up coming in on I-95. Some quick research showed that it was the ONLY road where they were stopping traffic.   How incredibly stupid I thought, but started mapping out other options.

US 17 was out as it is I-95 in that stretch.   I figured US 301 or US 441.   I looked at both and to our destination, it was only 5 miles less using US 301, but it also offered the advantage of less interstate driving.  I have found since I can't drive 70-80 mph in the coach, the lesser traveled roads don't impact our time very much and are much more relaxing to drive on with less traffic.

This route only put us on about 4 miles of Interstate that I could have easily avoided leaving the campground, but I knew there was a good gas station right next to I-95.  From there is was all US highways (17, 84, 90, 1, and 301) all the way to Gainesville, FL.  All of the driving north of Jax, was new roads for me so that's a plus!

Lucy liked the Florida sign on US 301/ 1 as we entered, but didn't get a pic and I didn't want to stop so here is the google street view of it.

It had that mid century feel with the breeze bricks that were so popular back then.

Major Tommy on navigation duty while the rest of the Stuffy Patrol was in their relaxation period.  This was on US 301 south of Starke, FL.   We stopped a short time later on the south side of Gainesville, having skated around the east and then south side of town.   I gassed up on Williston Rd (FL 121) and headed out of town. 

We got a later than desired start leaving close to 11 AM for a 6 hour drive..  This put us leaving G-ville shortly after 4 PM and traffic was getting a little heavy with daily commute.   As I was lumbering along the two lane country road people were going around me even though I was doing about 55-60. 

Earlier in the day (around the time of the pic above) I had noticed that the sun visor on the front was vibrating a lot.  So I'm humming along and had just received my in flight service of a beverage, pub pretzels and smoked almonds, when BOOM there is a loud noise and I instantly realize the sun shade is gone off the front of the coach!

File photo of the coach with the visor over the windshield installed as purchased.

As the PO Kerri told me, her father bought the coach around 2000 and had it painted, updated, and the visor and wheel well covers installed.   So, apparently the adhesive they used was only good for 20 years. 

Back to the moment....BOOM, holy crap!  I yell out, VISOR GONE and look to the rear view, expecting it to come crashing down on the Mini behind me, but I don't see it (rearward vision is only directly behind me).  There is no shoulder, only deep grass so I'm loathe to pull off. 

I'm coasting now, as I know I NEED to stop.  I see a driveway with a locked gate and it's just long enough for me to pull into and get off the road.   I figure it's probably a half mile now and I don't want to have to walk carrying it (I have no idea how heavy it is, if it's salvageable, etc._  The only thing I DO know is that, no one got hurt and I am very happy about this, as it easily could have gone into incoming traffic and done bad things.

Dammit, my snack has to wait, but I guzzle my drink walk 10 ft and say, hell with this and go back inside (after a quick look at the damage up top).   Looks like the adhesive gave it up and the bolts were only there to hold it in place until the glue dried (they all pulled out).

Six holes over the middle of the windshield, and two more on each side (not pictured).  This is after we parked at the campground.   Things on the side of the road, were fast and furious, no time for pics.

Lucy stood in the road and waved me to back out onto the state road when traffic broke.  She ran over and jumped in (I didn't stop for her) and we headed back looking at a lower speed before traffic caught up to us.    I must have gotten out of the gas fast as it was only about 1/4 mile down the road in the grass on the side we were traveling it.   My best guess is it let go on the driver's side first (were  I saw it vibrating), and  lifted spinning off to the right and landing on the edge of the asphalt and quickly sliding into the grass.

This is evidenced by the lack of severe damage to it.  Lucy spotted it in the grass as I was still driving.  I pulled off on the shoulder and ran across the road to retrieve it.   The whole operation from hull separation to retrieval was at max 5 minutes.  I made another 3 point turn (unassisted this time) and we were back on course for the Rainbow system.

Right after retrieval, and close up of damage after arriving at the campground.  

Minor scuffing from a short slide.   From the location of the scrapes, I have a good idea how it landed.

All hands made a damage report, but none was visible from inside the craft.  We arrived at the campground and I realized I had reserved site 13.   Coincidence?   I think not in retrospect (read on!)  We get checked in an head to the site.  I buy firewood, but then we never use it  (loaded for next trip!).

We hook up and I survey the damage. get my bathing suit on and head for the 72 degree spring fed river.   It feels fabulous.   We splash around for a bit and then get out as it starts pouring rain and we are basically all cooled off.   We shelter under a picnic shelter and wait for it to pass (15 min) and then pedal back to the coach.

A quick check shows that the rain is not our friend with the new holes and water poured in all over the dash.  Unfortunately it is now too wet to tape anything.

Fl gets hot and steamy in the summer time!  That is steam coming up off the asphalt after 20 min of rain, so you know it was hot.

We cook up dinner, but use the griddle inside to make fajitas as it was pretty wet out.  Finished up and looked out and it was clear!   Grabbed the Binocs and the bike and waited for Lucy to come out.  My plan was to ride down to the river for best NW viewing.  She came out about 5 min later which allowed my eyes to adjust to the dark a bit.  I peddled about 2 sites down and rounded a corner that THERE IT WAS in all it's naked eye glory.    I did NOT expect a naked eye viewing but damn, there it was.   Obviously, Dunnellon is a lot darker that where we were before. (and being north of town helped).

I took out the binocs anyway for a better view than went back to the coach and got the less than impressed teenager out to come look at it (one day she will appreciate it).  Not only had I spotted the comet, shared the experience with my enthusiastic son, but now I was seeing it with my own eyes and no equipment other than my glasses.   It was a little emotional for me as a life long dream I carried for over 45 years had been realized....  Unfortunately, I didn't have a good enough camera to take pics with.

We retired back to the coach and played some more games....then off to sleep.

Day 7

So a week in!   I'm the early riser in the family and I slept in until after 9AM ( workdays I'm up at 5:45).   As we wanted to float the river, I got rolling very slowly, knowing it is only a 2hr float.  So anyway, by the time I finally rolled over to the river and talked to the lady in the gift shop, found out as a camper with my own floaty, it was $10 for the tram ride back up (2 miles) and you could go as many times as you like, so long as you are in the river by 3PM (last tram at 5).

She gave me the waivers to sign and I headed back to the campsite.  I think we had chocolate chip pancakes (again) and then I blew up the floaties which did take some time as they were big.  By the time we got back to pay, it was already 1PM! 

So we set off and got in the river.  We had fun and 2 hours later we were at the end of the run.  At first I wanted to hurry up as it was only 2:30 and we could squeeze in a 2nd float.   Mother Nature had other ideas as soon after we got out, the sky turned black, the wind cranked up and the tropical deluge started to descend upon us.   Right about the time they were loading the tram, they pulled everyone who was not a camper off it to wait and they sent us out to return to the campground. 

The wind was probably 30 mph and the rain was coming in sideways.  After 2 hours on the river in 72 degree water, I was COLD and started shivering (watch me in the video).   It was a full on adventure ride back to the campground.

Shuffling through the water back to the site, Naya asked if I was going to the coach first.  As this was a really good question (it was still pouring), I said, no, hitting the shower for warm water pronto.   Luck was on my side as someone left a whole bottle of shampoo and body wash, so I used them to get all nice and clean. 

Walked back to the coach and got dried off and relaxed until it was time for dinner.  Again it was super wet outside, so we stayed in to cook.  After dinner we watched the video we shot on the river and played some more games until it was bed time.   Too cloudy for comet viewing.

Summer Vacation 2020 - Days 3-5 - Skidaway Island State Park, GA

Day 3

The second port of call on our tour took us out of the home galaxy of Florida into the northern reaches of GA.   I was a fairly straight 180 mile shot right up I-95.  This would be the last leg of the journey with the support shuttle craft flying in formation.  As I anticipated it took us right at 4 hours to make the drive with a gas stop and trip to the grocery store (more on that later).

We left the campground and drove through Old Town to US 1, and headed north.   From St. Augustine to Jax is actually faster up US 1 as there are not many traffic lights and I-95 is pretty far west of town.  Naya got some drive time in as I wanted her to drive the same stretch of road I made her brother drive when he was learning.

Interestingly (and foreshadowing), I had read a post on the GMC FB group about a guy losing his brakes on a mountain road out west (he was able to safely stop), so I made it a point to check the fluid level in the Master Cylinder.  It was down just a little, so I topped it off at the gas station and off we went.  Just before the interstate, the girls swapped drivers in the Jeep and we hit the east beltway around JAX.

Drive by video going over the bridge in Jacksonville, FL

Everything was running smoothly, except the slippy fan belt.   It was getting really  annoying as I was trying to move with the flow of traffic and it was right at the speed where it would start squealing.  We got around town with no issues and headed north on 95 toward GA and I slowed to a pace that would keep the belt quiet.

I had been wondering if they stopped the CoVid check point coming into FL on I-95 and half an hour later we could see it was still in full swing.   It was about 11:30 AM and the traffic was backed up for at least 2-3 miles as they stop EVERY vehicle entering on I-95 South. I vowed right then to find a different route back.

We stopped at the GA welcome center for a potty break, and to make sandwiches for lunch, then got back on the road again.  I checked the brake fluid and it seemed to be holding it's level since I had topped it off.

I took off immediately again and trundled along in the slow lane doing about 60.  The girls caught up again about 70 miles later, about 10 miles before out exit.

We were meeting my boy and his girl at the park and after speaking with them, decided on steak and potatoes for dinner (needed to buy steaks).   While stopped I had googled and saw there was Kroger on the way, and a Publix right next to the state park (but a little past it).   I decided to patronize the Kroger as a change of pace (we don;t have them in FL).   I found parking and masked up and went straight to a disappointing meat section.   They steaks they had didn't look really good and they were really expensive for what they were.  Tons of Chicken and Pork though.   After discussing with Lucy for 5 minutes, I said let's get out of here and go to Publix. 

I was not disappointed as I got a really thick London Broil (almost 3 lbs!). Got some firewood, ice, and a few other things and headed out.

We checked into the campground (got a magnet for the RV fridge) and got set up.  Honestly, our campsite was larger than the property my house sits on.  It was huge and our neighbors were at least 100 feet away on any side.

The boy and his lady arrived about 30 min later and after joyous hugs (haven't seen him in a year), got to the business of handing off the Jeep to it's new owner.   The meat was marinating by now and I started setting up the fire to grill.   Usually, I just use wood, but this spectacular chunk of beef needed an even heat, so I broke out the bag of Mesquite charcoal and got busy with it.

 Beef, it's what's for dinner!  You can see the taters wrapped up in the foil. Looks like the double round of Mai Tais were all gone already!

The view back toward the front of our site.  The firepit was at least 75 feet from the coach, tent pad off to the left of the photo.

Earlier JT and I took a bike ride to recon a comet viewing area and found this view looking in the right direction.

You can see the observation tower under the tree branch on the right.   There were people at it so, we figured we would come back that way later for night viewing.  Notice how clear the sky is!  BTW that is the Intercoastal Waterway out beyond the reeds.

We had three bikes (four if you counted JT's that was in the Jeep), but one of them had a flat I discovered in St. Augustine.  The beach cruiser had a tendency to throw the chain if you weren't careful.  The path was bumpy and the boy got tired of putting it back on. In the process of trying to fix it, the chain actually broke!.  So now we were down two bikes....

We all walked back to observation area at dusk and went up on the tower.  As it was wood, it shook so the boy and his new camera went down to the ground for better photos.

The comet is actually behind him in the photo, and he said I blinded him with the flash.  I like the picture myself, even if he's a little out of focus.

The comet it turned out was really easy to spot this evening as I had seen it the night before and  knew where to look.  I pointed out (JT had only seen it pre-dawn so different constellations), he brought his camera up and nailed it on the first look.   He took lots of pics, and we spent a good hour or longer gazing upwards.   He also tried to get shots of Jupiter and Saturn, but couldn't get the focus right.

Went back and stoked up the dinner coals and burned a few logs before calling it a night.


Day 4

Pancakes and Bacon for breakfast, followed by fixing the squealing belt.  After two days, I couldn't take it anymore.  Internet research and looking at pics of Oldsmobile accessory brackets I came up with a plan.  With JT helping we got it snugged up in about half an hour.

A quick reconfigure on the Jeep (move stuff around), and we all were on our way into Savannah about 15 miles away.   We parked at a garage downtown and I thought this was a cool alley shot.

We started walking around and made or way to the riverfront as it was getting to lunch time.  It was too crowded in the restaurants next to the river, so we retreated back up the hill and a block over and found a brewery with good food.   We went and found a bike shop and after talking with the owner, decided to bring back the bike and let them put the chain on so it wouldn't be loose (they could pop off the extra links). 

At 5PM the highlight of my day happened when a new bar in town called the Bamboo Room opened for the day.   We were the 2nd people in the door and got a good look around before it got busy.

A friend of ours from the Hukilau was the main guy who planned and orchestrated the build out of the space. He did a fantastic job with the decor.   It definitely has the right vibe inside.

 After a couple rounds of drinks and some  horderves we were ready for the next adventure.

Clouds obscured the viewing, so we cooked chicken on the fire and burned through a lot of firewood.


Day 5

Slow easy start to the day and after breakfast JT and I loaded up the Schwinn and headed to the bike shop.   It took about 45 min and $58 later I had a new chain installed and new tire for the mountain bike.  We had changed the tube but the sidewall in the tire was shot...

We returned to the campsite and went for a very HOT bike ride for about 3 miles.   We saw an old Moonshine still that was abandoned in the park

 Testing out the new chain

 Water was down for the time being.

Part of the old still.  you can see axe cuts through it where the revenuers got it during a raid.

We decided to go to the beach.  Even though we were pretty close to ocean at the campsite, there was no beach in the marshy area we were at and had to drive back around to Tybee Island.    Even though is was less than 20 miles, it took us 45 min each way. 

 The kids having fun

If you zoom in, you can see the others in the background.

We went late which was good as most people had left for the day so the crowd on the beach was fairly light.   We all went swimming and caught a few waves on the boogie board.   We dragged the grille with us and made burgers on the beach and enjoyed them there.

We then slogged it back to the campsite and played a few games and made another fire.

First family photo in over 4 years where we are all in it.  Tommy even photo bombed it.  The new curtains look nice.

The fire was still going late.  I ended up dumping water on it to kill it.

Late night view of the Pineapple.   We said our goodbyes, as we had a longest leg of the trip the next day.   Only 2.5 days, but sure was nice spending time with my son.