April 12 - 14 Packing Up, Closing Up!

SUNDAY, April 11, the packing up, cleaning up and closing up started. It seems to take a little longer each time. Wouldn’t you think I would have it down to a science by now? It is amazing how much junk I accumulate and have laying around during a 4 1/2 month stay in one place. Started raining, fortunately I had most of my outside stuff done prior to the rain.

Once the slides are in, it is hard for my fat ol' body to get into the living room area. The table pulls in right close to the kitchen counter. I either have to crawl OVER the table or UNDER it! So needless to say, I move everything I might need while traveling and maybe a day or two extra on or under the table or available on the top of the bedroom dresser! The bed pulls in to close off the dresser drawers, so it is much easier to survive with anything that may be needed to be in a box, handy and available.

I made meals for a couple of days and have them in baggies in the freezer. Really don't need to get this "ready" just going to Gatesville, it is only 5-6 hours but I'm ready if I don't get unhitched right away and it keeps me in practice for the 3-days to Iowa move!

MONDAY was cloudy, dreary, and humid but I refused to turn on the dehumidifier. I had already cleaned it and put it away! Vacuuming was finished and the plastic carpet runners were washed and rolled for storage. With the runners up, I could see how really dirty/dingy my carpeting had become. Need to shampoo it, but will wait until I get to Gatesville and hope for a dry day. Tinga's cage was cleaned and moved to the table, ready to be strapped down.

I think I want to get rid of one of my reclincers. It would make it easier to move and I could store Tinga’s cage back there instead of having to move it to the table.

I talked with Allison before I headed out to lunch about help hitching up.
There are just a few 5th wheels left in the park so I'm going to have to be ready when they are, especially if they are leaving this week, too! While in the office I made my reservations for next winter, November 29 – April 11.

Met the RV lunch bunch for our last lunch together for this winter. Looking forward to seeing them all next winter.

My Acer laptop died tonite. I plugged it in and to make sure the battery was charged; it wouldn’t turn on. It's getting electricity, but the on-off swich just clicks! Computers must be allergic to me. I seem to have more trouble with them than anyone I know! I may have to run to WalMart and get me a mini-notebook or something. Can't be going without a computer when I’m on the road.

While I had Li'lBit out Tuesday morning, I took off the wooden steps. They are heavy buggers but easily came apart for storage in the back of the truck. Now I have to be careful not to fall going out; sure is a different! Li'lBit doesn't like it either. When I first took them off, she went right in, but the next time she had to come out, she wouldn't go down the RV steps. After carrying her down the steps a couple of times, she finally caught on!

Greased the hitch and then proceeded to reach across it while I was putting the steps in; so much for THAT tee-shirt! And it didn't even have any holes in it!

No sustained winds predicted for the rest of the week, some gusty periods but I can get off the road for those if they are too bad. But we have drizzle and showers all week...try to hitch up between the rain drops!

WEDNESDAY I met Deryl and Elke for one last lunch before I head north. We went to Jalisco’s for a great lunch. They are going east for a vacation this summer. I tried to talk them into thinking about stopping by the casino in Tama, Iowa for a couple of days on their way back to Texas. That would be about 10 miles down the road from me during the summer.

Just a few odd jobs left to do. When I got back from lunch the plants got moved to the under-compartment and to the shower. The holding tanks were emptied and the slides were put in. Electric was the only thing left. Allison said someone would be by about 3PM to hitch me up and move me forward for the nite.

By 4PM I was moved up front, ready to roll in the morning. Plugged in electric for the night.