This blog entry is dedicated to those who have actually been looking forward to an update for a looong time.
Friday 9th September (Cont.)
After our stop by the side of the highway while getting our tire replaced – changing a tire on an RV by the side of the road is definitely not for amateurs – we made it to Shediac and Father Richard’s driveway.
We were soon joined by Carol’s sister, Jean , and husband Tim and since Gwen (Richard’s wife and cook of the house) was away at their cottage in Baie du Vin we decided on fish and chips on the waterfront .
Jean and Tim left for home soon after supper and we talked with Father Richard, a lively conversationalist, until quite late.
Saturday 10th September
Before heading off, tried to start the Miata but just a chattering solenoid – hmm!
Said goodbye to Richard and headed back to Quispamsis and Carol’s nephew Teddy and wife Kim’s driveway.
Left the Miata at the top of a slope and did the old bump start. After driving it around for a while all was well – must have left the ignition on the day before while we were driving.
Our reason for arriving back on this particular day was to celebrate Jean’s 65th. So after cleaning up a little we all set off for a meal at the Shadowlawn restaurant where we last celebrated Carol’s 60th.
Monday 12th September
Got the busted tire replaced in Saint John.
The highlight of the day was when Teddy and Kim’s dog, Winston, got thoroughly, drippingly, skunked and smeared it around the house giving Kim several days of misery trying to eradicate the smell.
Tuesday 13th September
Took in a movie – The Debt – disappointing.
Wednesday 14th September
Ever since the meal at the Shadowlawn, I had not been feeling well so decided to go to the hospital emergency in Saint John. After five hours of sitting around I came out somewhat zombified, walked over to the Miata, put my Kindle and sample bag on the roof to unlock the door, got inside, got on the phone to Jean and Tim’s where I was overdue for a family supper, then drove away. Note the fatal flaw in the process.
As I pulled onto the Main highway I suddenly realized what I had done. I retraced my steps and found the sample bag but not the Kindle.
Once back at the house I related my tale of woe and Kim suggested I should maybe try Kijiji’s lost and found the next day.
Thursday 15th September
On checking the Saint John Kijiji, sure enough someone had found a Kindle. I contacted the lady who had it and not only was it mine (it had to be) she was visiting her son that night in Quispamsis and would drop it off.
Sure enough she returned it but unfortunately it was broken. The case had evidence of being run over but the device itself looked OK apart from the fact it didn’t work. I talked to Amazon and told them that my Kindle had “stopped working” and they promised a new one would be on the way directly.
I offered the lady a reward but she wouldn’t take it – New Brunswickers have to be the nicest people.
Friday 16th September
A rainy day.
Sunday 17th September
Still not feeling right so another day in emergency with no resolution.
Sunday 18th September
A day preparing to travel.
Monday 19th September
A beautiful sunny day for driving and we made it to Edmunston to stay at the same campsite at St. Basile where we stopped on the way east. However, it was closed so we carried on to Quebec and Camping Centre Plein Air where we had stayed a couple of years before.
It’s a beautiful spot on Lake Témiscouata.
Tuesday 20th September
Up to the Saint Laurence and along the 20 for a couple of hours and we’re in John and Rejeanne’s driveway in St. Jean Chrysostome south of Quebec City.
Wednesday 21st September
John was working, Rejeanne and Carol went shopping and I hung out in the RV.
After our last enjoyable visit to’ Crevettes Plus’ last time we visited we had to do it again. It did not disappoint.
Watched ‘Once Upon a Time In the West’ – never seen that before, classic Serge Leoni western.
Thursday 22nd September
Highspot of the day – Rejeanne’s vegetable pie.
Friday 23rd September
On we go, to Ken and Cheryl’s in Cote St Luc, Montreal
Saturday 24th September
It’s our wedding anniversary so it’s out for supper again. This time went Indian.
Sunday 25th September
Family barbeque at the Fogels.
Monday 26th September
After breakfast at Eggs Frutti we’re on the road again and end the day in our storage area compound in Kemptville, Ontario.
Tuesday 27th September
Got a lunch invite to Richard Hayward’s where our mutual friend Mike Simms was already invited and Richard’s girlfriend Cheryl was up from Trenton. We had lunch and took the dogs for walk down to the creek.
The little dog in my arms is Yula who seems to have taken a shine to me.
Got my replacement Kindle – wonderful, can’t live without that.
On the way back to storage we dropped in on Lena and Peter to see how Lena was doing after her disastrous fall from a horse that broke her arm just below the shoulder – ouch!
Wednesday 28th September
Doctors’ appointments and lunch with my friend Richard Wormleighton.
Thursday 29th September
Moved the RV to Sandy Mountain campsite just down the road as they’re promising colder weather.
Friday 30th September
It’s a cool day with high winds and a day for staying ‘home’
Saturday 1st October
One of our favourite campsites is the Ottawa Municipal Campsite in Bells Corners and we’d booked it in advance to take us up to the end of their season.
Sunday 2nd October
The people who generously let us live in their basement apartment live not far from the campsite so we couldn’t miss a visit with Ruth and Keith and their son Sam and daughter Yasmin.
Monday 3rd October
Took walk through the camping area.
Tuesday 4th October
Doctor’s appointment for Carol and some provisioning
Wednesday 5th October
Took in a double feature at the AMC theatres: “Drive” & “50/50” both really good movies.
Thursday 6th October
Carol stayed ‘home’ while I went out for lunch with Richard Wormleighton at our favourite ‘Pho’.
Friday 7th October
The weather is beautiful; clear sunny days. We had Richard Hayward over for lunch. He came on his ‘chopper’. This is a pic of him and girlfriend Cheryl on her crotch rocket.
I rode down from the park entrance on the back – scary.
Saturday 8th October
Did a long walk with Buddy on NCC trails. The weather was fabulous.
Sunday 9th October
Another gorgeous fall day and another long walk with Buddy.
Monday 10th October (Thanksgiving)
Another long walk with Buddy on this memorable weekend.
Tuesday 11th October
It’s the end of the season for the Ottawa Municipal Campground and so we move back to Kemptville and the Sandy Mountain Campground which has a more flexible end of season.
Wednesday 12th October
Lunch with Richard W. and over to Kemptville Truck to see if they will modify our bike rack.
Thursday 13th October
It’s now cold and raining but there’s lots to do.
Lunch with my old partners in business: Bob, Harry and Bill, then a doctor’s appointment followed by a dental appointment.
Friday 14th October
A day shopping in Kemptville.
Saturday 15th October
Time to move on again. After packing up we’re on the road and heading for Richard Hayward’s.
Merrickville has decided in its wisdom to have a Jazz festival in October (?). The featured artists that afternoon were ‘ Group Therapy’.
We all (Cheryl Richard’s girlfriend, was staying the weekend) headed off to Merrickville in Richard’s car and after a stop for plants and dodging the rain showers we saw and heard a very unusual outfit in a very unusual setting.
The Unitarian Church
What were they like? Well, we enjoyed some of it but…
Sunday 16th October
It’s 10 years after my colon cancer and time for a celebratory colonoscopy since I haven’t had one for five years. So it’s a day of preparation which as everyone knows who’s gone through this is the worst part of the whole process.
Carol escaped to a friend’s for the day while I got cleaned out.
Richard and Cheryl went to see Bryan Browne at the jazz festival which would have been my choice by a country mile.
Monday 17th October
Up bright an early for the trip to the gastroenterologist’s office. All went well, no polyps (That's none in ten years, meat eaters) and he even gave me a down the throat-a-scope for good measure – no ulcers.
I spent the rest of the day sleeping by Richard’s wood stove while Carol fed me.
Tuesday 18th October
Yearly physical for me and a dentist’s visit for Carol.
That night Richard’s friend Nancy came over for a big dinner.
Wednesday 19th October
Had of our now rare but highly enjoyable evenings with Richard and Felicity Wormleighton.
Thursday 20th October
A haircut and a trip to Active components to buy relays to make an RV signal light to Miata lights converter.
Friday 21st October
Built the light converter.
Saturday 22nd October
Richard’s daughter Katherine, husband Scott & baby son Connor came over for breakfast.
Tested the light converter which worked as designed just fine. However, it became apparent the concept was bust – back to plan B which involved running wire from the front to the back of the Miata.
In the afternoon we visited Mike and Janet Simms for afternoon tea (they came from England too) and we got chance to congratulate Mike since his colon cancer is in remission.
Sunday 23rd October
The day started with a power cut but since both Richard and ourselves have gas stoves we still had breakfast.
Finished wiring the Miata and did some RV roof caulking.
Monday 24th October
Breakfast at Royal’s in Richmond – just the best.
Dennis and Madeline, our friends from The Rock, have moved from Orleans and now live in a swanky part of Ottawa. We always make a point to see them and we wanted to see their new place.
They live in a very long established part of Ottawa called Manor Park. It’s very close to the Aviation Parkway and Museum.
Dennis as per usual didn’t come home from work until late but we had a great fishcake supper. They were nervous about feeding us such a dish not realizing it’s one of our favourites.
Tuesday 25th October
Dennis left for work at the crack of dawn, the man never stops. We left a ‘little’ later after pics on the front porch
Back to RH’s and connect up the Miata to check the wiring – all is well.
One last meal out before leaving – the Mongolian Village – always good.
Wednesday 26th October
Time to leave Ontario. After goodbyes, we headed off to what we’d divined is a free dump station at Green Creek in Gloucester. What an operation and we only just hot there in time before they closed for the day.
We got to Montreal in time for the evening rush hour.
Thursday 27th October
Ken went to work and the ladies drove Cheryl ‘s cousin back to Hawkesbury. I just lounged around.
Once the ladies returned, Cheryl went off to a retirement party and we had the place to ourselves.
I had to go pick up Ken from Dawson College at night so I took his Prius – once I figured out how to make it go.
Friday 28th October
Drove back into Ontario to get a blood test as part of my annual checkup – Hawkesbury is the closest.
We went out for supper and a movie – The Ides of March – well at least Carol and I thought it was really good.
Saturday 29th October
The other really good breakfast place Eggs Frutti.
It must be 20 years since we went to Fairview shopping centre – how could we resist an offer to go? How many clothing and shoe stores are really needed?
A night in watching TV.
Sunday 30th October
40 cm of snow in New Jersey, this is not looking good for our trip south.
We dropped into our other Montreal friends Nick and Eve’s place for brunch. They’re non meat eaters too so it was all very good.
Sunday is family supper day at Ken and Cheryl’s so we got to say hello/goodbye to their son Jeffrey, their daughter Jessica and their new son-in-law Mike.
Monday 31st October
No further snow so it’s a go for leaving. We said our goodbyes, which seemed more poignant than usual as we spent so much time there this summer.
We got searched by a dog crossing the border and they took our tomatoes and lemons.
Back in the USA with less hassle than last time.
On the way we finally got a response from a campsite in Catskill that said we had a spot for the night – when it’s sub-zero it’s good to have power and electric heat.
Our first (and hopefully last) view of snow.
Tuesday 1st November
After a frosty start we’re on the road and passing New York City on our way to the Camping World parking lot in Swedesboro, New Jersey for a free stay. It’s not any warmer yet. In fact the RV furnace came on in the night even though it was set to the absolute minimum.
Wednesday 2nd November
After another frosty start we get on to I-95 and head down though Delaware (a little bit), Maryland and round Baltimore and Washington, the most hated part of the trip. Finally we were firmly in Virginia and bi-passing Richmond.
Before too long it’s North Carolina and a place we’ve stayed at a couple of times before.
When we there before it wasn’t finished and there was hardly anybody else there. All that’s changed and now they have really swish facilities, a swimming pool and everything. It still wasn’t warm enough for that. And there were a lot of people there and just for the night like us.
Thursday 3rd November
On down through North Carolina into the southern part of South Carolina and a Wal-Mart stopover.
It’s finally not frigid. Again, a lot more people staying here than last time we stopped by.
Took the opportunity to replace our $25 Wal-Mart BBQ with a new $25 BBQ
Friday 4th November
Somewhere (in Georgia I think) we blew a tire again so that shot our schedule and by the time we got to Manatee Hammock campsite in Titusville Florida it was dark – no fun in the RV with car in tow.
Saturday 5th November
Our first view of the Intracoastal that we have spent so much time on and will be spending time on and the cursed bridges we have to wait to open.
From Titusville it’s back on the I-95 and down to West Palm Beach, Century Village and Ira and Ann’s apartment.
Sunday 6th November
What to do on a Sunday in South Florida? Costco of course! The food samples are sooo much better in US Costco than Canadian ones. Bought lots of frozen fish and a new GPS.
Monday 7th NovemberDentist for Ira and grooming for Buddy and Publix shopping for Ann and Carol.
I just sat at home and played with my new toy.
We watched the movie “Jane Eyre” – very gothic.
Tuesday 8th November
Hangin’ out at the Russianoff’s. Girls Play cards boys play with their toys.
Watched “The Conspirator”, another Robert Redford well-directed movie.
Wedesday 9th November
Picked up Ira from Honda dealer. Driving round West Palm Beach in a Miata with the top down – cool!
“Paul” the movie – a gem.
Thursday 10th November
Time to head for the boatyard.
Back in Indiantown Marina and parked in our usual RV spot. Watched “The Fighter” – that Christian Bale guy is quite the actor.
Friday 11th November
Laundry and Publix. Oh yes, and took a couple of tarps off the boat.
Saturday 12th November
Cycled into the town for a little local shopping and rent a movie – The Adjustment Bureau – not the best.
Sunday 13th November
Shopping at Publix – Again!
Watched “Everything Must Go” - What was Will Farrell thinking?
Monday 14th November
Got bitten by fire ants again. (I hate when I Keep doing that!!) This time many more bites. This time though I had Benadryl which saved a trip to the hospital though not some serious swelling.
Tuesday 15th November
Arm still swollen & itchy as hell – extra care is required near these little horrors.
Wednesday 16th November
Working on RV problems caused by water leaks – the RVers nightmare.
Watched the movie “Man on Wire” – don’t know why we waited so long to watch it.
Thursday 17th November
Jointly working on our finances and facing up to reality
Friday 18th November
A little boat work in the slightly cooler weather – solar panel transfer from RV to boat.
Watched “The Story of the Weeping Camel” – sweet movie.
Saturday 19th November
Way back before all this southern sailing we were going to head south with Kismet from Lake Ontario. That never happened but every once in a while we bump into them. This time they were on a mooring ball in Stuart and since we had a car ….
Our first supper on the water, with Jim and Laurie.
Sunday 20th November
Shopping Publix – woo hoo
Monday 21st November
It’s Thanksgiving week in Indiantown which means free food and booze every night down by the dock.
Tonight it’s "Island Time"
For meat eaters that means chicken Caribbean style, for us it’s black beans & rice.
Tuesday 22nd November
Boat work.
Tonight’s Thanksgiving theme seems to be Italian with baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.
We got to spend time with Divia and Chris from Maggie M who we first encountered on the trip down and then in Marathon and Georgetown, Bahamas.
Wednesday 23rd November
I found this product on the Internet called Eternabond which appears to be indispensible for RVers. It’s a broad extremely sticky tape that goes over damaged part of and RV’s rubber roof.
Let the application begin. First the front roof seam and then a bit of awning repair.
Ira and Ann always turn up for the Indiantown Thanksgiving dinner and this year they’re going to stay with us a couple of nights .
Tonight it’s hors d’oeuvres and wine and the Dr. Dave Band which has been playing the same gig last couple of years and we love. Danced the night away.
Thursday 24th November
Thanksgiving, the dinner - with all the things you would expect in the US of A. Salmon burgers substituted for turkey.
Tried out a folding bicycle – they’re OK.
Friday 25th November
Ira and Ann returned to their place in West Palm Beach and we watched “Horsemen” the movie – strictly B grade.
Saturday 26th November
We started the day singing Happy Birthday to Divia aboard Maggie M before they left to head down to Marathon where we’ll doubtless meet up with them if we ever get out of here.
More Eternabond work on the RV roof.
Sunday 27th November
More RV work to put it (sort of) back together. More repairs to occur back in Canada we think.
Watched “The Kite Runner”. Must have been quite a book ‘cos it’s quite a movie.
Monday 28th November
Every year there seems to be a problem starting our Yamaha outboard for the first time. Last season it even started acting up before the end. It always seems to be the jets that clog up no matter what product I put in the fuel etc.
This year I decided to take a jump on the situation and clean the carburetor first. First time I’ve done it without coaching, let’s hope it still works afterwards.
Tuesday 29th November
Big day. The boat is moving from the storage area to the boat yard. All progresses hitch-less and the work begins.
Wednesday 30th November
It’s cold. We actually have to turn a heater on in the RV.
Power washed Incognita thanks to the loan of a washer from Maggie M.
Our buddy boaters John and Rejeanne arrive from Quebec City and we gave them a bed for the night.
Thursday 1st December
The deck teak as been steadily deteriorating in appearance for the last couple of years, so time to give it a makeover.
First you scrape off all the old Cetol.
We all watched “Spaceballs” in the RV – dated now, probably funnier when it first came out.
Friday 2nd December
Then you tape all around the teak rails and apply the first new coat of Cetol.
Saturday 3rd December
Then you put on the 2nd coat of Cetol.
Then you put on the 3rd coat and spill the can making an unholy, very hard to remove, mess.
Sunday 4th December
4th coat of Cetol applied without further mishap.
Took a trip to Stuart – so nice to have a car. Publix for Carol and West Marine for me.
Monday 5th December
Last Cetol coat
Sanded the underwater part of the boat hull ready for repaint – horrible dirty job.
Tuesday 6th December
Taped the waterline and painted the boat bottom.
Watched the movie “Lakeside Terrace” – one of those ‘crazy neighbour’ movies.
Wednesday 7th December
Readying for launch.
Thursday 8th December
Boat launched, engine started (eventually) and no leaks.
Went over top Bilbo to watch R.E.D. on their new TV. Not bad for a completely mindless action movie.
Friday 9th December
While installing the Bimini (canvas cover over back of cockpit) every zip on the thing (of which there are many) came unstitched.
This necessitated a quick trip into Stuart to get it fixed and a quick temporary Bimini from a tarp which was good since it poured with rain that night
Dee Stefano’s is the high spot in Indiantown cuisine and we have to go at least once while we’re in town.
Saturday 10th December
Windlass (the thing that helps you pull up the anchor) servicing time. Taking it off took a lot of effort.
Sunday 11th December
Shopping for wine supplies and organizing.
Monday 12th December
Dismantling windlass and more boat organization.
Tuesday 13th December
One of our problems if we don’t want to go to the Bahamas every year is renewing our cruising permit. A few people have got around this by registering their boat in Florida. The disadvantage being that you have to pay sales tax on the value of the boat. Since the value of the boat is what you say it is and prices are down, so ….
We now have a Florida registered boat (and dinghy).
Picked up the repaired Bimini and bought more wine.
Wednesday 14th December
Carol was cleaning the boat while I attempted to change the outboard gear oil only succeeding in letting out more than I put in.
Put the Bimini back on and John went up our mast to replace missing halyards (ropes that pull the sails up).
Thursday 15th December
Tried to put the jib up but found I had given John the wrong instructions on the halyard path so he will have to go up again – sigh!
Friday 16th December
Successfully replaced the outboard gear oil, launched the dinghy, pulled on the cord and the motor ran perfectly – whew! One thing went right.
Watched Cowboys & Aliens on Bilbo – very silly.
Saturday 17th December
Tried the generator before putting it on the boat – doesn’t work. Deal with that later.
Cleaned & greased the windlass .
Sunday 18th December
Assembled our dinghy-tow, mounted the dinghy and re-installed the winds.
Another trip to Stuart for last minute boat stuff and more wine.
Monday 19th December
Checked the engine alignment – still OK after 3 years, various other engine related tasks.
It’s someone’s birthday so a gang of us (9 in all) head out To 3 Amigos Mexican/Chinese restaurant – eclectic.
Tuesday 20th December
Moving stuff onto the boat, chlorinating the water tanks, filling them.
First night sleeping on the boat.
Wednesday 21st December
Frank from the boat Melodeon lent me his bass and amp to practice for a jam.
I got the Miata wheels balanced and took in the blown RV tire to see if I could get any joy from the manufacturers.
Started to watch the movie “Phase IV “, after 15 mins decided it was utter ‘pants’ as the Brits say and watch “Bee Movie” instead – fun.
Thursday 22nd December
Remove the word “Toronto” from our transom. Been meaning to do that for years just to stop people assuming we come from there. But now it conflicted with the Florida registration.
Put the RV in its winter resting place.
Friday 23rd December
One more trip to Stuart for a last minute stuff and groceries.
Received sad news that the wife of one of my school friends had finally succumbed to breast cancer.
Put the RV to bed with its cover on.
Watched the movie “Due Date” – Robert D. has been in much better.
Saturday 24th December
It’s Christmas dinner day in Indiantown. The marina provides the turkey while everyone else chips in with a potluck.
Ira and Ann arrived to participate and we had a day of not doing much at all except eating and drinking.
Ann drove the Miata back home to West Palm Beach to save us paying to store it in Indiantown and partially for the fun of it I think.
Sunday 25th December
John went up our mast one more time and we got the halyards tracking properly.
I went over to Melodeon and fixed the wiring on one of his guitars.
Later we went over to Melodeon with John and Rejeanne and I played bass while Frank played a weird slide acoustic he owns and John played harmonica. We were a little rough I thought but Carol who was upstairs (it’s a big boat) with the ladies thought we were doing Karaoke so at least the instrumentation was good.
Monday 26th December
We did intend to leave the marina after putting the genoa up and few other jobs but when I came to start the engine the starter appeared to have failed.
Fortunately before I dismantled the thing and took it into Stuart for repair I realized that the batteries were turned off. The solar panels were giving enough juice to make the solenoid go ‘clunk’ but of course with no battery connected the starter was going nowhere.
By the time this was all figured out we decided to stay another day.
Tuesday 27th December
11 o’clock and we cast off, out of the marina and down the canal to the coast.
