Weekend RV Trip with Pictures

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Kind of a last minute get away on Friday, up to Cedar Key about 130 miles north of here. The area is called the Nature Coast. It's a laid back, coastal shellfish community, accumulating tourists, studios and all kinds of oddball stores. It's on the tacky side in a good sort of way - think Archie Bunker in Martha's Vineyard.

Here's our little RV from the pier along a tidal marsh off the Gulf, about 7:30 Saturday night.

There are sunsets, and then there are sunsets. Low tide, a world of sand crabs emerges, frantically catching some tiny dinner-critter and occasionally becoming dinner themselves for a few shore birds. High tide - herons, osprey, pelicans, an eagle, a wood stork. Here is the sun:

And never one to omit a catchy business slogan:

It was a breezy 80 degrees during the day, mid-60s at night. Walked, read, napped, ate, drank wine, repeat. Nice.

 

[Mwsinron]

Fantastic sunset sounds like you had a great time!

 

[Martha]

Great pictures! We have those same chairs--Lafuma. Where do you store them? They don't fit in our bins.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Great pictures! We have those same chairs--Lafuma. Where do you store them? They don't fit in our bins.

Those chairs are amazing. They put me to sleep in minutes. They fit nicely under the sofa-bed from the rear doors, stacked.

I'm experimenting with storage - the Sprinter is not big. If you look closely you can see a cargo carrier cantilevered off the hitch. I now stow outside stuff (except the chairs) in a waterproof box on the cargo carrier: electric and water hookups, tools, outdoor mats, sewer stuff in its own water tight bag (the hose stows elsewhere under the chassis, anything that goes outside the RV. This has freed up tons of space inside.

The carrier is called Everthere and it is light aluminum, folks up itself and stores in my garage. I think this will be the storage answer for us. Still, I see a slightly bigger rig in our future when we have time to do more of this.

 

[Khan]

Is Travis McGee still on Cedar Key?

My parents almost moved to Cedar Key in the '80s.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Is Travis McGee still on Cedar Key?

“Travis McGee’s still in Cedar Key. That’s what old John Macdonald said.”
- Jimmy Buffett, Incommunicado

I admit it. I’m on the Travis McGee retirement plan. I read once in a battered pulp paperback about a beach bum who subscribed to his own peculiar philosophy that retirement could be taken not all at the end as an old man but as early and as often as fortune allowed. In short, our days are numbered and not to be wasted battering away at some tedious task for damned fools. It’s not a prosperous life but you get to spend a lot of time in the sun.

And the Travis McGee Retirement Plan ties it all nicely to this forum.

 

[Outtahere]

Dh and I love the Cedar Key area, we have relatives not far from there that we visit in the winter. Great pictures

 

[Sarah in SC]

Beautiful pictures!

If anyone needs any John D. MacDonald trivia, just let me know. I have his entire collection with many duplicates in hardcover and the original mass market paperbacks from the 60s. Plus the two big reference books. Great stuff!

It would be fun to take a trip in the RV to all the places John D. wrote about, in the Travis series and otherwise, and see the changes since the 60s. Or maybe not!

Glad y'all are having so much fun with the RV--my DH took ours to Santee State Park this past weekend for a boy's trip, and they had a blast. Only had to make one repair for this trip! Gotta love that 1976 technology!

Sarah

 

[TromboneAl]

Thanks for posting the pictures!

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

I'm a little let down by the board -- no one had a perverted remark about the sign for the clam store. I guess there's still time.

 

[Nords]

I'm a little let down by the board -- no one had a perverted remark about the sign for the clam store. I guess there's still time.

After spending yesterday morning at the doctor's office ("routine" appointment) I have to admit that those guys are probably right.

But geez, I hope they didn't pay an advertising agency for that slogan...

 

[REWahoo]

I'm a little let down by the board -- no one had a perverted remark about the sign for the clam store.

Why mess with perfection?

 

[SteveR]

I just saw this. Nice photos! We were on the Left coast for a few days but stayed inland 20 miles near Paso Robles, CA. No photos as I have not had the time to download them yet.

Rich, you needs som Tacky lights so your campsite is less "sterile". LOL.


I will not comment on the Happy Clams sign...but is is a huge strain to not do so.

We did a SLC to Paso Robles back to SLC trip towing the car for the first time. High cross winds and even a snow storm in the high Utah mountain passes on the way there but hot (100 degrees) while there and in the upper 90's coming back. We spent a couple of days in Las Vegas on the way out but had to drive hard to get back here in 2 days.

I am looking forward to retirement when I don't need to drive 450+ miles in a day.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

High cross winds and even a snow storm in the high Utah mountain passes on the way there but hot (100 degrees) while there and in the upper 90's coming back.

How'd she handle, with the toad?

 

[Sandy]

Great pics, glad you had a nice time. I love Cedar Key.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Why mess with perfection?

 

[SteveR]

How'd she handle, with the toad?

The rig is 32 feet long and weighs around 19,000# fully loaded. The toad adds 5200# (also loaded) and extends the whole rig to around 52 feet long. That is a lot of weight and side profile for winds to affect and it does to a great deal. 20-25 mph cross winds are not trivial and it takes full attention to keep it in the lane.

I had an anti-sway bar installed on the front before the trip and now see I need one in the real as well. The greatest amount of sway comes from the rear due to the long overhang and the toad. Otherwise, it did OK. We had to go up and down many 5-6% grades over extended distances and while the engine had to work hard we stayed close the the posted speed limit most of the time.

I have a supplemental braking system on the toad that is adjustable from the coach and that helped a lot too. I almost nailed a red Civic who darted in front of me as I drove into a gas station but the combined brakes kept me from making him a bumper ornament.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

If anyone needs any John D. MacDonald trivia, just let me know. I have his entire collection with many duplicates in hardcover and the original mass market paperbacks from the 60s. Plus the two big reference books. Great stuff!

I love your diverse interests, Sarah. You remind me of me when I was your age.

We're talking about a summer trip to SC to sightsee a little more. Might hit you up for some advice, esp. the Beaufort area.

PM me if you know anything more about our mutual friend, and say hey to the DH.