Saturday, January 31
If anyone had told me a week ago that we'd be trading our beloved Tropi-Cal for a Tiffin, I would have quickly responded that "there ain't a chance".
But we are (in the process) of doing just that! And no one is more surprised than we are.
As soon as Clara saw the Tiffin Phaeton 40, she knew it was exactly what she wanted. Never mind that it is 40'5" long and that it costs far more than we should be spending. She has always contended that she could not (would not) drive anything over 35 feet long and we certainly didn't have the money for something as nice as a Tiffin. But once she makes up her mind, it's a done deal.
She has really enjoyed the process of negotiations and she is remarkably good at it. I don't think sales people at RV dealerships are use to dealing with a woman. I have stayed completely out of the discussions the whole way through. She really surprised me how much she was able to negotiate, especially considering that the motor home has only been on the lot since Wednesday and one couple had already decided to buy it, but after signing the paperwork, they couldn't get the loan needed.
And while we were in the final stages of negotiation, there was a couple in the next office to the one we were in, and they were in the final stages of making an offer on the same motor home. We just said "yes" to the deal a few minutes before they did. So, in reality, the motor home was sold 3 times in 3 days.
Today, Bill and Jan went over to the dealership with us for about 3 hours to go through the motor home in detail. There are a few things that need to be fixed before we take delivery. The biggest among these is some paint work that must be done. The previous owner apparently took a corner a little to tight and wiped out a street sign, and has scratched a few feet of the side. The dealership is going to start Monday on doing the paint work required. A few more items, and we'll be taking ownership - probably in a week or so.
It is really a great motor home. They are built in Alabama. I imagine we'll try to go by the factory on the way back to NC.
It is interesting to talk to people who have Tiffins. It seems that all of them, for one reason or another, have had the chance to talk to or meet Bob Tiffin, the founder and owner of the company. They all talk about what great service they receive and they all put him on a pedestal.
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| The master bath is in the rear of the motor home. There is another half-bath near the middle of the coach. |
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| We had never considered having a washer and dryer, but now we will have one. |
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| Looking toward the back from the drivers area. The refrigerator is a full size residential freezer/refrigerator. |
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| Both sofas open up and make full size beds. |
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| There are a ridiculous total of 4 TVs, even one outside (which I feel sure we will remove). It has more TVs per square foot of floor space than any house I've ever been in. |
Sunday, February 1
No more thinking about buying a new(er) motor home today. That's behind us. I think this will be our last motor home if it as good as we've heard it is from other Tiffin owners.
Today was relax, workout, kayak, swim, cookout. And what a absolutely perfect temperature.
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| In the mangroves. The roots grow into the water sometimes. |
Mon, Feb 2 - Fri, Feb 6
We have settled into an easy routine mostly doing nothing but enjoying some good weather. It's been pretty doggone good - warm during the day and cool at night, except for Thursday when it rained off and on most of the day. I've been kayaking with Bill, went up to spend an afternoon with Tony and Jill, gone to a barn dance (I am not a dancer) a wine tasting (much more to our taste).
Mostly, just working out, swimming, relaxing, meeting people and enjoying the weather.
Clara has found a friend, Pat, from down the street who enjoys putting puzzles together - then taking them apart. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but she and Clara are having a good time.
When we returned from the group kayaking today, our new neighbors were in a Tiffin Phaeton 40 similar to the one we'll be getting next week. I'm sure we'll be bugging him for owner knowledge.
We did have a good kayaking trip this morning (Friday) out of Manatee Park with the group from here at the campground.
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| Bill and Jan went with our group kayaking. |
Saturday, February 7
Clara planned the day. This morning for breakfast, we drove a few miles East to the little crossroads of Alva and had an overwhelming breakfast at a former gas station, now known as the "Alva Country Diner". It was truly overwhelming. I don't know where they get their eggs from, but two eggs were equivalent to four any where else.
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| Alva's Country Diner |
Then she'd heard from a neighbor about a great paddling trail about 5 miles away from the resort, so we sought it out. Telegraph Creek was a great paddling trail. In our 4 mile paddle, we never saw another soul.
The creek is very narrow, with some fallen trees and branches, and an overhead canopy of trees that made it feel that we were in a tunnel many times. Definitely the best paddle we've seen on this trip.
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| This duck (of which we saw many) has about the ugliest face of any duck I've ever seen. The rest of the duck is rather pretty. But ugh!! |
Then tonight was Italian night at the club house. I definitely over indulged, but it was fantastic.
Sunday, Feb 8
We got Clara's new (to her - Anna's former) Iphone activated today. Clara feels like she's in the 21st century. Now we're waiting for Anna to call so she can tell Mimi how to use it. I sure can't figure it out. I generally, and specifically, haven't figured out how to use Apple products. I'll stick with my Android and Google.
Then, this afternoon around 3 Bill called and we decided to go kayaking. We went back to the same place Clara and I went yesterday -Telegraph Creek.
Around the first curve in the river, Bill pointed to the bank and whispered - "Gator".
And sure enough, there sitting near the bank is a 10-12 foot (maybe bigger, but I don't want to exaggerate) alligator looking very content (at least I was hoping he was content - and full).
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| I got about 12-15 feet from the alligator which was plenty close to suit me. |
Otherwise, a very comfortable 1 1/2 hour paddle up the creek, which sometimes felt like we were in a jungle.
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The water was perfectly calm and made a perfect reflection which made it feel even more like we were paddling in a jungle river.
This evening we spent about an hour talking to our neighbors - Roger and Trish, about their Tiffin motor home. The more we learn, the more we think we've made a good decision. It will be great to have them next door when we bring in the Tiffin so they can help us quickly learn the little things about the motor home that we wouldn't learn otherwise.
Last night when talking to Anna, she feels that we have to name our new home. The kids called our first motor home "The Rolling Turtle" (the turtle carries its home on its back - and we carry our home with us). We've never named this one, but she came up with "The Third Turtle", but to make it more exotic, she's translated into Spainish. It will officially be known as "la tercera tortuga"
Monday-Thursday, Feb 9-12
We are feeling like old pros here in the RV Resort. We're meeting people and settling into a routine.
Tuesday, Clara drove to Tony and Jills and the two ladies went shopping alllll daaayyyy loooonnnnggg. Thank goodness I didn't go. Clara got home after sunset, having left early morning. It is something I will never understand.
Wednesday, we took an ill-fated drive with Bill and Jan to Sanibel Island. It was perhaps the worst traffic gridlock in which I've ever been involved. It seemed that the whole island (at least the parts we were able to see) was in total gridlock. I don't do well in that kind of situation. We had hoped to get to a beach, which Sanibel is supposedly famous for, but once we had lunch, and fought the traffic again, there was no way we were going to be able to get to any beach. I can only feel sorry for the people who live and work there.
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