Peggy and I took a few days in September to load up WT2 and head up to Belfast, ME for some R&R. Belfast is about 80 or so miles north of Topsham on the coast of Maine - so it wasn't a long trip at all. We stayed at an RV Park situated right on the coast and had a gorgeous view of Penobscot Bay out our curbside window. Although we did experience some morning fog on a few days the weather was generally gorgeous with plenty of sun and relatively warm daytime temps.
We had been through Belfast several times in the past but wanted to spend some quality time soaking in this beautiful part of Maine. We took a few walks on the beach, walked around the downtown area, cruised Route 1 north and south a bit, and even wandered inland along poorly marked back roads checking out the rural, more agricultural parts of Maine that most tourists bypass on their way to Bar Harbor. Not that we didn't also play tourist while having pricey lobster rolls at Young's Lobster Pound and a way expensive (but good) lunch at the Nautilus Grill on the waterfront -- but we also had some pretty great food at Darby's in downtown Belfast - more of a place where the locals hang out.
After returning home on the 18th, Peggy's birthday, we got back into our routines ... unloading WT2, visiting some with grandkids, and then of course -- preparing WT2 for storage.
Fortunately Winne was pretty clean before we left so we didn't have a lot of inside work to accomplish. I did get the water system drained and blown out in preparation for cold weather storage but put off adding any fresh water system antifreeze until later. Winne had to go visit the Allison Transmission shop last Monday to have some computer reprogramming recall accomplished and then got to visit the Freightliner Chassis Shop on Tuesday to have yet another computer controls reprogramming recall done as well as the normal lube, oil change, and filters change. With all that done she got filled with fuel and placed in her storage spot yesterday ... where she will sit for a couple months before being awoken for yet another Maineiacs in Motion Winter Get-A-Way.
Speaking of said Get-A-Way ... I was able to arrange our destination reservations last week also. New Braunfels, TX for a couple of weeks in early January, off to the SKP Rainbow Plantation in Lower Alabama for a month, over to the SKP Sumter Oaks Park in Bushnell, FL for a week, then down to the SKP Florida Resort in Wachula for 2 weeks. That will leave us a couple of weeks to take our time wandering home to good ol' Maine arriving back sometime around the 1st of April. Who knows if it will work out that way ... but we now have a plan complete with reservations ... which is no easy feat in that part of the country ... that time of year!
Maine
We live in Maine. And because we do we probably take its strong points for granted too often and focus on its negatives too frequently. While traveling up the coast from Topsham to Belfast and then our travels in the Belfast area, I was reminded that this really is a beautiful state. Although Maine has a diverse geography ... the Maine Coast really is a special place ... and I especially like it this time of year. Late summer to early fall - kids are back in school - tourist level is tolerable - leaves are starting to gain their fall splendor ... what's not to like! Even the morning fog is "special."
Being a "Part Time" RVer
I've probably mentioned this before but ... I really enjoy being a Part Time RVer. I enjoy the travel part, I enjoy the scenery part, I enjoy the learning part, I enjoy the visiting friends and relatives part, I enjoy the eating part, and I enjoy the getting home part. I don't enjoy the orange cone part -- but I do enjoy the smooth road part. I don't enjoy some of the "eventful" travel days or the unanticipated repair days -- but I do love it when stuff works the way it's supposed to work. I don't enjoy travel during "bad" weather -- but I do enjoy being able to sit still when bad weather happens.
We have been Part Time RVers for 13 years now and by my count (and you all know how I like to count things) we have lived aboard one Winne or the other for 1,414 days (3.9 years), traveled through all of the lower 48 states, parked in 310 different spots in 46 of those states, and have met whole bunches of great folks along the way.
I guess I'll continue being a Part Timer as long as Peggy puts up with me, as long as the $$ holds out, and as long as Mikee's body holds up. Wonder which limitation will catch up with me first?
New RVs
I read a lot of RV forum posts and I see a lot of posts from folks who buy a new RV and complain loudly about the lack of quality in the build of their new RV. I don't disagree that the quality of new RVs should be better. That being said ... I also believe that a new RV owner should be smart about how you get defects fixed. Some problems with new rigs can be fixed by a simple adjustment or by simply installing a screw the factory missed. I say ... if you can fix it yourself for little money ... Do It Yourself! You will probably do a better job than the dealership, you will know that it's fixed to your satisfaction, you may learn something about your new rig that will help you later, and it will get fixed on your schedule ... not some repair shop's schedule. On the other hand ... if expensive new parts or labor beyond your capability is required ... get it addressed as soon as practical taking advantage of every warranty you paid for.
Our new Forza certainly has had its issues that needed fixing during it's first year. So did our previous Adventurer. My experience with the Adventurer was that once the initial problems were identified and fixed right (usually the first time ... but not always!) our travels became a lot more fun. Stuff will still wear out and need fixing with use but that's to be expected with just about anything as complicated as a house on wheels bouncing down America's highways!
Our last couple of trips with WTT have been great with Winne's "Stuff" working just like designed. Let's hope she stays that way for years to come!
Respect
We sure have seen and heard a lot of talk lately regarding respect and more specifically respect for America. Respect for our nation's symbols like the American Flag and it's anthem. Respect for it's history and it's historical symbols. To some - it is OK to disrespect America and it's symbols because bad things have happened and continue to happen in America. To some - it is OK to sit, kneel, carry on conversations, and fail to remove one's hat (males only) because America sometimes fails to live up to its stated ideals. To some - it is OK to deface or remove symbols that remind them of something in America's past that they find offensive. Is it really OK?
Not to me.
I'll stand for the flag/anthem in respect to those that came before me to establish the greatest nation on earth. I'll stand in respect for those who fought and continue to fight for racial equality. I'll stand in respect for those on both sides who fought to preserve their way of life in the face of what they perceived as injustice during the Civil War. I'll stand for those who have their names on the Vietnam War memorial and for those who died at Kent State in 1968. I'll stand in respect for every President of the United States.
But that's just me.
