Florida - Phase 3 with a new motorhome

Friday, Feb 13

Today is the big day - we take delivery on our new (to us) motor home.

And what a day it was.

We arrived at North Trail RV Center, which is only a few miles from where we're staying, around 8:30 am to start the process.

From then until after lunch we were provided a thorough overview of all the systems and operations of our new (to us) 2012 Tiffin Phaeton.

It's exciting to go through the home and find all the new and exciting features.  First and most important, it's 7 feet longer. Then it has 5 heating systems (3 heat pumps and 2 gas furnaces), a bath and a half, more horsepower, lots of storage in the "basement", an overwhelming video/audio system, and lots more.  It took a long time to learn about all the systems and features of our former Tropi-Cal, and I'm sure it will take equally long to learn this one.

Right after lunch we completed all the paperwork - just like buying a house almost.  Then we start the painful process of moving out of one home into another.  It actually brought back memories (mostly bad) of the several times we moved.

We parked the old and new so that we could step out one right into the other, carrying box after box of "stuff".  It's hard to believe that we've accumulated so much.

Out of the old!

Into the new!

Finally, around 5:30, as the sun was setting, we have cleaned out the old and stuffed the new.

Late afternoon, and we're finally finished moving everything.

Initially, it seemed like we were moving into something smaller.  There didn't seem to be room in the new motor home for all the stuff.  It was a matter of just finding the right space.  We had "grown" into the Tropi-Cal, and now it seemed we were stuffing the Phaeton.

We got it back to Upriver and crashed and burned.

Saturday, Feb 14

Valentine's Day.  Quite a gift to each other.

We spent most of the day organizing and trying to find things.  When we started yesterday, we set out to move one box full of stuff at a time, carefully organizing it in the new motor home.  After only a few boxes, we realized that we would be there for a couple of days doing that, so stuff just got put somewhere.  We'll sort it out later.

Today, Tony and Jill and Bill and Jan showed up to help us christen the new.

Sunday, February 15

After two relatively hard days, today is a nice relaxing day.  We've got a lot of stuff in places, which neither of us can remember.  Instead of worrying with all that, we drive up to Tony and Jill's, then we go to Venice, have lunch and enjoy another great afternoon with Brian Gurl and another great performance.  This time, he is accompanied by Kathryn Alexandra.

Kathryn Alexandra

Brian sometimes gets carried away.

Monday, February 16

Today we worked on getting more things in place.

And Bill and Jan came over and are staying with us a few days while they have new flooring installed in their motor home.

Our first "formal" dining in the new house.

Tuesday, February 17

Bill and Jan moved in today.  They are having new flooring installed in their motor home which will take a few days.

This afternoon we drove over to a nature preserve (6 Mile Cypress Slough) and had a nice walk.

I couldn't resist

Reflections in the water.

Wednesday, February 18

Today was a full day of organizing everything on the motor home and getting lots of little things done.

This evening Dave and Pat Marshall came over for another house warming of the new home.

Thursday, February 19

Today is "getting the things fixed that we overlooked" day.  We get up early and head over to North Trail and spend the day in the motor home while workers come and go working on things.  We've had a problem with a leak around the washing machine which must get fixed.  It's unbelievable what they've had to do just to find the leak, then remove the washer and dryer, fix the leak and put everything back together.

They didn't quite finish by quitting time, so we worked it out to spend the night "boondocking" in their parking lot so they can finish up early tomorrow - then we'll head back to the RV Resort.

Bill and Jan had decided that they would get a hotel room tonight, but as they started calling around, it appears that there are absolutely no rooms available in the area.  So they're back with us "slumin".

Friday, February 20

After a quiet evening in the parking lot of North Trails, the technicians started work bright and early on the water leak.

And we "hope" they've got it.  It will take a few days to test the systems out and make sure that the leak is stopped.  We don't want to leave here until we're positive.

Tonight we finally watched the final episode of "Downton Abbey".  This TV series has become a major source of entertainment for us - and the only time we use the TV.  Now with 4 TVs in the coach, I don't think it will change our watching habits.  We'll just find something else to do with the TVs.  What a waste!

Saturday - Wednesday, February 21 - 25

We're pretty well settled into the Snowbird lifestyle now.  The weather has been outstanding, with highs in the high 70's to low 80's daily and 60's in the evenings.

Saturday we went kayaking around Matlasha with the local group.

There really is little to do except swim, relax, read, the ladies do puzzles.and we eat out occasionally.

We've pretty well got the coach organized the way we want it, and have found a spot for everything.

This motor home is really going to be a lot of fun to live in.  We are very comfortable and have plenty of space with four people living here.

Bill and Jan are still waiting on their motor home to get finished.  It seems that the cool weather over the weekend played havoc with setting the new tile floor.  And of course, most of the shops and garages don't have any heat.  Supposedly, they will get their home back tomorrow.

We'll be leaving here on Sunday.  We have four days planned at RV Parks in the Everglades National Park.  Then we're not sure what or where we'll go.

One thing for sure, we won't be heading to far North until the weather improves in NC.  Today, it seems that there is snow fall from the mountains to the coast.  We do now want any of that misery.