Tue - 31 Mar/15

The humidity is increasing giving an overcast sky this morning. It would only start "burning off" as it approached the noon hour.

Folks are starting to head home. Our neighbours across from us pulled out this morning.

The Hot Water is on and it is not leaking. Yeah! We can once again shower in the RV. The main clubhouse showers are immaculate - just inconvenient.

Tuesday is the day of the week without in-park activities in which we participate. We will decide what will be on the agenda after our showers.

Oh well! Best laid plans. We just decided to be lazy this afternoon. Charlotte had a B/W movie on TV, you know, one with dialog, a story, no foul language and no violence.

The rest did us good since we have been quite busy lately. It was a nice relaxing day.

Since it is Tuesday, I will watch my usual CBS evening shows after Jeopardy and Family Feud.

Mon - 30 Mar/15

Cool again last night. Down to the high 40's; however, it is still clear and dry. It will warm to almost 80F by lat afternoon. Nice to have no humidity, sunshine and clear blue skies.

I went to the ACE Hardware across the street from the RV Park to buy my needed item with which to "Mickey Mouse" (AKA MacGyver) a fix so I could remove the RV Hot Water Tank Pressure-Temperature Relief Valve.

I did not bring my pipe wrench on this trip. After travelling in the RV with a set of "Heavy Wrenches, etc.) for 10 years and not needed them I decided to reduce the weight and increase storage space by omitting them. Sure enough,  I should have left them in the RV.

The variable sized wrench I have just would not allow for enough leverage to loosen the valve. Actually, the solution was not "Rocket Science". My fix was to screw in a length of galvanized pipe that I purchased at ACE (red arrow). It did the job.

I will keep this Special Tool" for future use. Galvanized pipe is a hard to find item these days. Most all plumbing fixtures today is made of some form of plastic. I was lucky to find this length of pipe as it was all they had with 1/2" threads.

Installed and tightened the new valve. No leak, so we were then on our way for a day trip.I did not want to turn on the hot water until we return just in case it might leak when the tank is heated and/or pressured.

Our first stop was at the Yahala Bakery for a "German" breakfast. Unfortunately, they stopped serving at 10:30 a.m. We then continued on to the Webster Westside Flea Market in Webster, FL. It is held on Mondays (Oct through April: 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Parking is always almost full with the thousands upon thousands that visit during the day.

For more than 50 years, Webster Westside has been the place to find everything imaginable in the35 acres of open air markets.  Here, in the over 300 undercover booths and over 600 outdoor booths, you can find produce, flowers, bakery items, jewelry, plants, boutique items, furniture, musical instruments, electronics, hardware/tools, pet supplies crafts, clothing - just to name a few things. It is also a primary source for the old, unique and unusual.

Our first stop; however, was for breakfast lunch. We ate at "Chez Jim's". I wonder if they are transplanted Canadians from Quebec. (Think the Chez might be a clue - grin).

They provided a great breakfast for a reasonable price (cheaper than McD's).

Still no luck on locating the Corelle dinnerware we have been looking for. Often the "Under Cover" booth vendors have extra items in storage sheds behind their stall. We checked them all with no luck. Corelle is so durable and like by it's owners that it rarely comes up for sale. The closest we might come to The Black Orchid (pattern) is to watch the movie (grin).

Being Florida, there were several booths selling every type of gun and ammo.

There were several Diz Pin dealers. None had "Lumiere" which we have been try to add to our collection for years. Needless to say, it is a hard one to find.

We were tempted at the Homemade Ice Cream Booth. It is made using portable John Deere (circa 1936) machinery. We have had ice cream made this way previously at an Amish Farmers Market. Unfortunately, we were still full from breakfast lunch.

Just a beautiful day to enjoy a convertible ride on the less travelled roads we used to return to the RV Park. Still a faint whiff of the orange blossoms as we passed orange groves near Howey-in-the-Hills, FL.

We stopped at our usual Publix to pick up a jug of milk and this week's magazines for Charlotte. While Charlotte was in shopping I had an interesting talk with a "local" who noticed I was Canadian (the licence plates were a dead giveaway).

He was familiar with Cornwall, ON (nearest large city to where we live) as he served on the SAC Air Force Base in Plattsburgh, NY during the Cold War era. He also noticed my Route 66 hat. He took the Route 66 from Chicago to California after WWII about the time I was born. He still had an original highway sign  - wow!. Most interesting was the fact that he worked in the Sheriff's Department in Orlando. Way back then he said crime did not exist. The yearly major crime rate = about 15 cases. Today, they have more than that in one day.

Back at the RV I checked the PR Valve. No leak, so I turned on the hot water switch. I will keep checking at random to see if all is working correctly.

We found our "Sweet Tank" was a little low. We topped it back up by finishing the last of the desserts we bought the other day from the Yalaha Bakery. It was then time to rest, with a little TV, until it was time for Bingo.

We were off to Bingo being sure to arrive before 6:30. You know, the "If you are a half hour early, you are already 15 minutes late" rule applies here.

The folks sitting next to us informed us that since the new Bingo Calling System was installed the display board we were facing no longer functioned. With their help we were able to switch to the other side of the table just in time for the start of the Bingo. It didn't improve our luck in the least.

After Bingo we were able to get back to the RV ( a 2 minute walk) in time for me to catch the last 3/4 of Scorpion on TV and do the blog. Charlotte watched different programs on the bedroom TV. I finished the blog while watching NCIS Los Angeles.

Another busy day in the "Land of Sunshine" where it is about to get even warmer. The forecast for the next week shows the temps in the High 80's F.

Sun - 29 Mar/15

Again, another cool start to the day. It will reach 70 F later in the afternoon. Low humidity (for Florida @ 31%) and clear, sunny skies.) Tomorrow will be about 10 F warmer as the "Cold Front" moves on.

The usual lazy start to a Sunday with CBS Sunday Morning. It is good to have relatively good news compared to the regular local TV News down here.

















We have been checking the hot water tank lately because the Pressure Relief Valve was leaking the other day. The water seemed warm, not hot. so Charlotte checked outside and found the tank was leaking again. I went outside and popped the valve open to let it drain. This should flush out any sediment that might be caught in the spring. It stopped leaking. I then turned the tank back on.

A re-check after 10 minutes and found it leaking again. I called Camping World and they had that part in stock. We left to pick it up.

Just a perfect day for a convertible ride. I picked up the part at Camping World and since we were in the neighbourhood we went to the Marion Market, just down the road. We would check with the vendor we talked to a few days ago. Perhaps she had received some Corelle "Black Orchid" tableware. Charlotte soon returned empty handed,

I asked Charlotte if she should would like to do a little shopping at The Landing in The Villages. Of course, you know the answer (grin),

To avoid the 6 lanes of traffic on US-27/441 I took a right at the next light and headed over to US-301. Much nicer driving. 4 lanes with light traffic. We continued down to CR-466 which we took to Morse Blvd and the The Landing.

Most of the street parking was filled blocks away from the main square; however, I got lucky and found a spot right on the square. Even though it was more than 2 hours before the daily live music was to begin, there were folks  already sitting in their chairs in the square.

Charlotte found 4 nice T's similar to the one she was wearing at the IZOD store.

She paused outside her next stop to admire the dogs. There are always dozens of pets walking their owners somewhere around the square (grin).

Charlotte soon found a few additional items. Then we were on our way back up the street.

Overcome by thirst, we stopped at Johnny Rockets to replenish. The nice weather had the outdoor tables filled, so we went inside.

Charlotte had a Root Beer Float and I. the "Butterfinger". Shakes alway come with a filled glass and the mixer container almost half filled.

Now that we were hydrated we headed back to the RV. It was still perfect convertible driving weather that included the pleasure of whiffing the orange blossoms along the way.

Back at the RV it was time to replace the hot water heater temperature-pressure safety valve (Red Arrow).

No such luck! Unfortunately, I cannot get the leverage necessary on the valve to turn it so that it will unscrew from the tank. I have an idea on how to "Mickey Mouse" a solution that will help me remove it from the tank.

Urban Dictionary: "Mickey Mouse" = Repaired in an unsuitable fashion. Duct taped together or
                                jury-rigged. (I use this definition when describing a really "Crappy" fix.)

Otherwise:

Bill's Dictionary: "Mickey Mouse" = Making a repair using an innovative solution utilizing materials
                              at hand or easily located. (I use it as a synonym for "MacGyver"). Since I have    
                              used this definition years before MacGvyer appeared on TV, I believe it is eligible
                              as "Godfathered" definition.

Urban Dictionary: "MacGyver"

                               v. 1. To use ingenuity to fix or remedy a problem using only the tools available at

                                       hand.

                                   2. To jury-rig 

                               n. Someone who can cobble together solutions to problems using only the tools 

                                   available at hand. 

Tomorrow, when Ace Hardware, across the street from the RV Park opens I will try to find the few pieces needed to make my unique tool.

That about sums it up for today.

Sat - 28 Mar/15

COLD SPELL ALERT! From being 12 F above normal we are going to drop to daytime highs of 70 F or less and nighttime temps in the low 40's. The good news is it is sunny and dry.

We headed out to the Mr. Dora Spring Collectibles and Craft Show at 11 a.m. Charlotte said we should get there before everyone buys what we want (grin).

Once again the downtown streets will be filled with over 200 booths. This is not a juried art show. There will be a variety of antiques and collectibles from dealers, crafters and artists displaying their treasures for show and sale on the downtown streets.

Mt. Dora shows are our favourite. Plenty of parking and easy viewing and access. There are plenty of park areas and street benches as well as public restrooms easily available.

We made a stop at a store we usually visit (In a Nutshell). We have been stopping here on a regular basis. Once again we found a Boyds Bear Resin to add to Charlotte's Collection. Boyd's Bears are no longer in production; however, this item was from a private collection.

There were plenty of food vendors throughout the sale area. They were mostly located at the ends of streets or at intersections. All the restaurants along the sales route also had "Sandwich Boards" (literally - grin) placed in the street to alert shoppers to their establishments located behind the tents.

Our choice was a local establishment "PizzaAmore".

We ordered a large regular crust with anchovies, pepperoni, mushrooms and olives. Mmmm Good! There were a few slices left for a treat tomorrow.

The day was perfect for a convertible trip in the Del Sol. This would relieve our "Stress".

As you remember: (Read the sign - grin)

Of course, we could not get pass the Yalaha Bakery.

Charlotte made a choice of 4 great desserts that we would share.

We enjoyed the "Napoleon" outside on the patio. The other three desserts will be shared in the RV over the next few days.

We then continued on our convertible drive on the back roads enjoying the sunshine, quiet roads and slow roads for a few hours. Then we headed back to the RV. As we passed through Eustis Charlotte noticed that a the downtown area was packed with "Classic Cars".

Naturally, we pulled over, parked and toured the several blocks of vintage autos.

A Tesla S (an all-electric auto) was among the parked cars on display; however, it was just there using the Charging Station. Eustis,like Mt. Dora and many other cities and towns in Florida, usually have electric vehicle charging parking spots located in the downtown shopping areas.

The Tesla is made in America (Longwood, FL) and named for Nikola Tesla, essentially the father of electrical engineering, the inventor of the electric induction motor and a multitude of other items that brought the world into the "Age of Electricity".

Tesla electric motors have only one moving piece: the rotor. As a result, the Model S acceleration is instantaneous, silent and smooth. Step on the accelerator and in as little as 3.2 seconds the Model S is travelling 60 miles per hour, without hesitation, and without a drop of gasoline.

Ramada Cornwall (a few kilometers from our home) has an official Tesla Supercharger Station located in their parking lot. It is one of only 2 such stations in the Province of Ontario. It offers a faster and easier charging process for Tesla owners, providing 12 to 17 times the power of a conventional charging station—the fastest EV charging technology in the world.

The Tesla charging station, which can accommodate up to 6 vehicles at a time, is available 24/7 at no charge to Tesla owners. The location is easily accessible to travellers on Highway 401 via Exit 789, as well as travellers coming into Cornwall over the Seaway International Bridge from the USA.

There was a nice variety of classics on display that included more than a dozen Corvettes.

A rare and immaculate Buick Skylark Convertible.

Great Hot Rods!

A Camaro like Charlotte's sister once owned. Well, at least the colour was the same, even if the motor wasn't. (grin)

Eustis has done a nice job making it's downtown area inviting. Charlotte admired the "Sidewalk Mural" made with mosaic tiles while I admired the "Vet".

A Plymouth Prowler really looked neat with it's "Woody" treatment.

A "T-Bucket" brought back memories with it's Rat Fink artwork.

Rat Fink is one of the several hot-rod characters created by one of the originators of Kustom Kulture, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Roth's dislike for Mickey Mouse led him to draw the original Rat Fink art. After he placed Rat Fink art on an airbrushed monster shirt, the character soon came to symbolize the entire hot-rod/Kustom Kulture scene of the 1950s and 1960s. In high school in the '60's, I and a friend (Larry) drew our own version of "Rat Fink" in colour on sweatshirts and sold them to other students for fun (and profit - grin).

Charlotte and I thought of attending the casual dance at 7 p.m. this evening; however, we were in such a comfortable mood after our travels, we decided to just take it easy in the Motorhome.

I think it was just that we wanted to hit the dessert before it got too late! (grin)

Fri - 27 Mar/15

The chances of rain are 80%; but not until after 11 a.m. On today's agenda was the Marion Flea Market. We decided to leave after the morning rush so we could enjoy a convertible ride prior to the coming rain.

We needed bag clips. We really like these for closing bread bags, chip bags, etc. We have already bought this amount before - twice. Some have been gifts and all the others are now in use. We know just where to find these at the market.

We were also looking, by request (Diane and Keith), for Corelle Black Orchid dishes. We also knew where a booth was located that specialized in Corning Ware and Corelle. Charlotte showed the picture of what we needed to the vendor. She knew that pattern well. Unfortunately, someone bought all she had a few weeks ago. She is expecting more to come in. We will have another chance to check before we start heading home.

Next on our Mission List was to get duplicate keys made for the RV entry door. We stopped in at "Your Village Locksmith" in Belleview, FL just a few miles down the road from the flea market. Even RV dealers often do not have keys for RV's; however, a good locksmith will. They did and Josh had me on my way with new keys in a very short time. We will store these in the new Key Safe that we just purchased once it is installed in a "hidden spot" on the RV.

"Din-Din" Time (Morris). We headed back up the road in the other directions to Chili's in The Villages. Charlotte ordered a favourite of hers: Tableside Guacamole which is made at your table with fresh ingredients. This is available as a fresh daily menu offering; however, it is pre-mixed and contains fire roasted jalapeño. The only way to order it without the jalapeños is to have it made fresh at your table. This way the jalapeños can be omitted. All the ingredients, starting with fresh avocados are mixed at the table.  Next fresh lime, diced red onion, salt, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro ( fire roasted jalapeños). are added and mixed. It is then served with warm tostada chips & fresh salsa.

My (usual) order was a half-skillet of Texas Cheese Fries w/Bacon chips and ranch dressing. I also hold the jalapeños. We don't do hot!

Next stop, again a few stoplights up the road, was Staples. I went in for printer paper which I almost bought. It was a good price at $3 per ream after rebate. Unfortunately, since it did not say mail-in rebate, I thought it would be applied at the cash. Not so! I was getting "Reamed" (grin) for the total price which was almost double. I didn't need the hassle of a mail-in rebate.

On the plus side I did get a good deal (50% off) on a Logitech Wireless Performance MX Mouse. It is 5 star rated by CNET! I previously had a similar version that I loved using and dearly miss; however, it was not compatible with Windows 8 when I bought new computers. Once again, I am going to enjoy using this mouse in it's new and more advanced reincarnation.

We just had to cross the parking lot to Target to buy a ream of paper. It cost more than the Staples paper; but less than the Staples price + stamp cost for the rebate letter.

I also purchased 3 plastic folders. The cardboard one's I currently use soon become tattered. I use these to store maps, info, etc. that I print out from the computer and brochures that we pick up in our travels. The new plastic units are binder-like with 4 interior file holders with double-sided pockets. It will now be easier to separate maps, list, brochures and info. They should do a much better job of holding our travel agendas.

Bonus: Charlotte found a new lip gloss. Bill's Rule # 67: You can never have enough lipstick!

As predicted by First Alert Weather. The rain would be arriving by 3 p.m. As we left Target it began to rain steadily. Half way back to the RV it became quite heavy. Within a few miles of arriving at the RV it was back to a steady, light rain. Listening to the rain in the RV = Nap Time.

It will rain off and on, getting lighter by the hour. The rain is needed. Although the average monthly temp is 12 F above normal, the rainfall is 20% less than average. Predictions are that the final orange crop will be down 2 % from last year.

The good news: It should be a gorgeous weekend. Sunny skies, low humidity and low 70's until mid-week. Good news for the Mt Dora Art festival this weekend.

We had planned on going to Bingo in the Main Clubhouse this evening. The dilemma: We are too close to take the car; but we don't want to walk in the rain. Solution: we are going to be lazy and just watch TV this evening, of course, starting with Jeopardy.

We will save our energy for tomorrow's excursion to Mt. Dora.