RV Update

Rural view from host's front door
View from back door. See 'my' patio to the right?

My Sudoku mate

Tonight it will be 7 nights that the RV has been in the 'shop'. They are still waiting for the airconditoner unit, but have repaired the gas line, sealed some cracks in the roof and welded a part in the front chassis. Apparently when they went to put the hydraulic jacks up, one blew out. So now that has to be fixed too. Hmm. I think I need to come up with an acronym for RV like BOAT (Break out another thousand). At least we can console ourselves knowing the repairs will have the RV in a better condition to head into Alaska next year.

However I am feeling very discombobulated without my 'home', but very thankful for wonderful friends who have made the tedious wait more pleasant than it could possibly have been otherwise. Rainie has lent us her car each day, and she has been taking Tom's truck to work. While the guys have been watching the World Cup Soccer and cable movies, I have spent a few hours each day wandering craft stores, lunching at Panera, ambling the aisles in Walmart and checking out the summer clothes sales. The rest of the time I usually sit at the back of the house in the patio area with my iPhone playing sudoku or perusing the USA atlas checking out potential routes. Being out in the rural area, it is relaxing to sit outside and watch the squirrels play under the trees, or hear the redheaded woodpeckers knock, knock, knock as they chase grubs in the tree. Tonight I am cooking dinner to give Tom & Rainie a night off. I am going to cook your prawn dish Leonie - the one you were going to cook in Ballina and never got a chance!

The days here in Plant City, Florida (east of Tampa) have been very hot & humid. The last few days we have been getting thunderstorms & lightning. Murray & I were keen to watch the light show, but our hosts warned us that Florida is the No 1 state for lightning deaths. They average 8 deaths and 46 injuries per year. This area in particular is very vulnerable. Apparently people hear the thunder and go outside and it is common for the first lightning strikes of the storm to do the killing. We didn't need to be told twice - we scurry inside at the first sound of thunder each day. The house is beautifully airconditioned, so we are very comfortable.

We had plans to join some New Orleans friends at an RV park that has a music festival up on the Suwannee River (3 hrs north of Tampa) today, but now we hope to make it by late tomorrow. Otherwise, it could even be Saturday. How very sad. We also planned to go up to lower Georgia and attend the HandOver ceremony of our USAF friend Randy who takes over command as Colonel of his security forces group. Sorry Randy, but it was not meant to be. Hopefully we can meet up in Alabama while you are all there for the family wedding.

Things happen for a reason, so we are making the most of the enforced rest and recreation. Although my eyes are starting to get blurred from all the sudokus I am doing each day. Wish I could say my sudoku skills were improving! At least it is keeping the grey matter active, right? Yes, you may ask, what grey matter! I think there might still be some there...or am I going mad and talking to myself??