1st shakedown cruise--to Key West

[pabusnut]

So I knew leaving on a long trip exactly one week after getting back from Afghanistan would be a challenge, but without a deadline, nothing happens!

Here is a brief synopsis:
3 November--Arrive home from Afghanistan
4 November--take bus in for inspection & flush & replace coolant
7 November-AM-get bus back from inspection

10 November about 1300 hrs--finally leave after multiple problems and fixes.  Discovered new straps for tow dolly are too long for VW Jetta front wheels, but just barely tighten down on Kia Soul 18" wheels, so the Kia goes.  All LED lights on bus and tow dolly force me to put magnetic brake only lights on roof of KIA Soul.  Turn signals work about half of the time.  Leave York, PA and make it all the way to Fredericksburg, VA before dark, and stay in KOA.  Use electric heaters, as didn't have time to install the furnace(arrrrrggghhh --I am an all electric coach!)

11 November--run pretty good all they way to Fayetteville.  Stayed in Army MWR Smith lake site.  Very dusty, but easy to get in and out.  Bathrooms are a story---clean but shower not sloped toward drain!  Thankful for my new truckers' GPS!!  Visited friends from my active duty days until late!

12 November -- filled up w/ fuel--6.8 mpg.  Stopped for the night at friends in Ridgeville, SC--forgot to plug in right away and the battery went totally dead(frig runs on 12 VDC, and I only have one battery right now) but no food was spoiled as it didn't warm up.  Discovered that the turns on their 1/2 mile long lane are tight, but didn't put the car in the ditch!

13 November-- Couldn't find the campground at Gainesville, FL, and had to make a U-turn-----that's when I discovered that I had lost the power steering.  I just had the steering cylinder rebuilt last year, so I didn't understand it, but this would explain the smell that I thought was somebody else's brakes!  Still couldn't find the campground, so we went to the nearest state park, and just made it before complete darkness and got the last site!.  Filled the power steering w/ 30 wt oil and made it into the site with help from the campground host after dropping the car.

14 November-- Filled up w/ diesel just south of Gainesville, FL and got 7.8 mpg. Tried to take 27 south, but my left leg got tired of the stop and go traffic, so I diverted to the FL turnpike($$$$ OUCH).  Made it to CB SMITH county park at Pembroke Pines with no trouble(other than the PS)  Note:  Forgot to fill w/ diesel prior to stopping for the night!

15 November -- Followed FL turnpike again to rt 1 and down to the keys.  Experienced severe white-knuckle syndrome going over high bridges and the seven mile bridge(which really is seven miles)  You would think a guy who can fly in a Chinook next to the back door open without fear could conquer his fear of heights, but apparently that isn't happening.  Made it to the Navy Sigsbee Island campground with little trouble other than taking the tow dolly and car over a curb.  Discovered I have the cheapest, ugliest coach in the campground---but what a nice looking toad!  Only saw one or two converted coaches on the whole trip.  One was a burgundy colored eagle sitting in a park in one of the Keys, but I don't remember which island?!

---More to come-----

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut

[mung]

Have fun down there.  We just got back a few weeks ago, but didn't bring the bus.  We have a friend that is retired Air Force and gets us in at Trumbo Point every year.  Look for a guy named Frankendred playing pan down there and tell him that you know Vern from the bus list. 

[Dave5Cs]

Steve glad your home and havin some fun. Its not ugly, its "Eclectic" and unusual, and if asked a collectors piece. When I finish restoring it could be worth thousands!.....Elvis used to drive it and sometimes still does!.......
Dave5Cs

[loadera10]

 
Steve, sounds like fun. I wish I was traveling with my Eagle. This trip will be a good time to fix all the little problems that pop up. Good luck and have fun.

[robertglines1]

Ron W. stays in area in military camp ground . H-prevost  home built with a beautiful pain job! pulls stacker trailer.   Don't know if he is there yet?   Bob

[Seangie]

Steve -

Any updates?  You make it out okay or did you go AWOL on us?

-Sean

Wandering the country in a 1984 Eagle 10S. 
www.herdofturtles.org

[pabusnut]

Sean, we are @mickey world on our last day here. Didn't plan on needing heat in Kissimmee but 2 electric baseboard heaters are running now-- I think it was 45 or so this am. Tomorrow we head north to Madison to meet my AF boss from the late 80's. Power steering still leaking ,but now putting 30 wt in and it seems to not use as much, but I still have to fill prior to parking.



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[Seangie]

Sean, we are @mickey world on our last day here. Didn't plan on needing heat in Kissimmee but 2 electric baseboard heaters are running now-- I think it was 45 or so this am. Tomorrow we head north to Madison to meet my AF boss from the late 80's. Power steering still leaking ,but now putting 30 wt in and it seems to not use as much, but I still have to fill prior to parking.



Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Steve, we are going to pass each other.  We will be driving to Wekiva springs tomorrow afternoon/evening. We are leaving from Thomasville, GA about an hour from Madison.

-Sean

Wandering the country in a 1984 Eagle 10S. 
www.herdofturtles.org