David's December

Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Bathrooms

Next to my site

Side view of me at site #89

Front view of site #89

Welcome to another installment of "This is Your Life".Well it feels like that sometimes! So after dropping off the fiver on October 19 it was finally time to pick it up on December 3rd.You can imagine my excitement.So I pick it up,and it looks great.Hook up to the hitch in a matter of 5 minutes which is great for me.Its about a 20 - 30 minute drive from Florida Outdoor RV(the shop that fixed it) and Jonathan Dickenson State Park.Everything is going great I'm about 4 miles away from the park and stopped at a red light.I press the gas pedal and nothing happens.My transmission went Cablewie!!So now Ive got the trailer no truck.But I am parked at a beautiful park and the truck was towed to my brothers shop.Tomorrow I will find out the damage.

As I sit in my livingroom watching football in high def.Life doesn't seem to bad!But this little instance is going to make me change my 2011 plans.This will take up a good portion of my savings.I had scheduled going to Ocala to the RV Driving school but that is way up in the air right now.I might now put it off until March when I'm heading to Atlanta.But, we will see how long that I will be here in the park.I met a real nice couple a couple spots down from me that took me to the supermarket yesterday.I loaded up and should be good for a week.It just so happens that those same people are going to right near where my sister lives tomorrow and I am going to go grab my car from my sisters house so next week I can get out when I need to or want to..

The time at my sister's house went without huge incident but was kinda rough.My nephew is a smart mouthed 14 year old so its constant arguments.But that being said I am very thankful that they let me stay at there house for a little over a month.Other then that its just been life going on.I will see you next time.

Some September, October and a little November

Well Hello there to the few, the true friends, my followers! Alot has happened since my last post most of you already know. I went on a trip in the RV and had an accident.Sold my house and because of the damaged RV I'm homeless(Staying at Sisters).And reconnected with & got together with some old friends.

My plan all along was to go to the Daytona,FL area for a long weekend in October.I ended up asking my Dad if he wanted to go with me(thinking he wouldn't.Surprisingly he came.We left Thursday the 7th and spent one night in Jonathan Dickinson State Park.We got there alright but I had trouble backing into the site.So I cheated and cut across the field to get straight into the spot.Hey,I'm not proud but we got set up.We ordered this unbelievably great NY style pizza and watched the new Karate Kid movie.First time my Dad and I have just hung out forever.Soon after we were both ready for bed.I offered my Dad the king bed but he choose the queen bed in the living room.Kind of bothered me for some reason.Not a feeling of anger but it made me feel like he did not feel good enough to take the bedroom.Weird the things that affect us.Anyway the next morning we packed up and headed north to Tomoka State Park near Daytona.The entire trip was flawless until....I caught the awning on a tree and did a whole lotta damage to my new RV.It shook all of my confidence in towing altogether.Luckily I have insurance and alot of good friends.Everybody says it happens to everyone in the beginning.I still plan to go to a RV driving school suggested by a good friend.

One day I am home relaxing and I get a call from a neighbor saying that he knew someone that might be interested in the house.They came that day and after being there for 15 minutes or so we agreed on a price.Poof, it was done.After stressing out about selling my place for so long it was done.Now the hard part clearing it out.Had a yard sale and gave alot to the goodwill.Of course the RV is not done so I am staying in my Sister's house in the extra bedroom.Its nice but tough for me to get use to living in someone elses place.Hoping beyond hope that they finish my rig before turkey day.We will see what happens there.

Last night I went to visit my dad.Its about an hour south of where I'm staying.After being there I got together with my friend Carter.He is from Trinidad originally and knows I love curry chicken.So he picked me up from my Dads and showed me how to make the dish.It was so good! Chicken,potato,chickpeas and pumpkin.Trini curry is more flavorful and less spicy then other currys.It has a little punch but not like Jamaican curry.It was great catching up with Carter.We had not seen each other in a long time.I was actually able to help him out a little bit.He was paying for HD TV but did not have it hooked up through a HDMI cord.So after dinner we went to walmart to get the cord.The difference was night and day.

Well that's my story for now try and keep you up to date.Signing off as a fulltimer without his rig....

My new Home!!!

Here is a look from the front
Here is the backside of the RV .

Here is the entrance side.

The Front door. Come on in!

I will open the door for you.Kitchen from front door.

Kitchen . Everything and the Kitchen sink.

Me Chilling in my new Living Room.

My redone Entertainment center.
Love Seat.

Bathroom Sink

Shower and Linen Closet Wrinkled bed

Messy Bedroom. Bedroom TV and Dresser

This is my 2010 35' Open Range Fifth-Wheel.My plan is to move into it on November 1.It is parked out at my sister's house.I will most likely stay there until mid-March.Then after many stops along the way Workamp in Indiana in May.Just got back from a week cruise will post some pictures soon.See ya then...

Still June and Enjoying It

Hello to the few out there that will read this page.First I want to start out by saying a big Thank You to those of you that left me a comment in previous posts.It is about 1:20 Am on Monday morning, and my fingers just started typing.Tonight is the big night for me, front row seats to Monday Night Raw.For those interested it is a WWE wrestling show on at 9pm E.S.T. on the USA channel.Check your local listings to see what time it comes on in your area.I will be wearing a black and grey jersey style shirt.I will be a big guy next to a much bigger guy(Hibbie).

On Tuesday the 8th, Hibbie and I went to the Riverbank Zoo in Columbia,SC.

This bird's eyes are mesmerizing. Here is me in the Kangaroo WalkAnybody want to pet the Kitty-Cat?

Mike the Gorilla

Mike the Gorilla was my favorite animal of the day.He would run up and drum on the glass right in front of me .Everyone laughed, he was quite a ham.You could tell he enjoyed people and looked like he was smiling all of the time.We had a great time and I walked for 5 hours with my cane.I sat down occasionally but took extra pain meds and slept like a champ that night.

On Wednesday Camping World was suppose to have my travel trailer ready to go but it was not ready.As a comprimise they paid my hotel cost for the night.Actually it was not a bad thing because I was still sore and tired from the zoo.Thursday they still were not done but I just told them to finish up some basic things so I could go.So at around noon I headed north to Charlotte.NC.Mcdowell Nature Preserve was the destination.After owning my trailer for 3 1/2 years I finally made my first solo camping trp.It was a big deal for me after going through all the medical crap that I have and still deal with.Here are a couple pictures of my campsite.

It might not look like art but it is beauty to my eyes.So many days and nights I dreamed of buying my grill, chairs,tables,and all the other great stuff that goes into this lifestyle.

The weather has been really hot and rainy so I have not gotten to do much in the park yet.Tuesday I plan on going through the park and taking some pictures to share with you.Soon it will be time to travel south to Florida and go home again.Just writing that brings stress to my head and body.It will be nice to see Scott and other family members.If I drive the trailer down with me, I will go through all my stuff in my house.Then pack the trailer with whatever I am going to keep,sell what I can sell and trash the rest.Well time to try and lay down.See ya next time.....

June Already!

Hello to the few that will read this monthly installment of "WATCHDAVETRAVEL".Included are some pictures of where I have been staying for the last two months.This is a recap of the month of May 2010.I did not do alot in the way of traveling but it was a pretty good month anyway.Spending time with my best friend and his family has been fun. It is interesting to see how a healthier family interacts.They actually encourage each other with no hidden agenda.I'm not putting down my family,but we are a bunch of individuals that get together for holidays.My step brother Scott and I have a very special relationship.

All of the stuff I ordered came in and is being used.Ordered were a Samsung 55" LED 3D TV with 3D Bluray and surround sound.I also got 2 Sea Eagle boats. A one man fishing frameless pontoon and a motormount for up to 1200 pounds.I took the one man out on Lake Murray last week and caught one fish.Using just the oars instead of the trolling motor it was fun, painful and exhausting.Next time the motor will be cranking, for sure.But, I got a great tan, lots of exercise and it was just beautiful out on the lake.The TV system is fantastic and will be used for a long time to come.

This week the trailer goes to Camping World to get some maintenance and upgrades added on.I will drop it off on Sunday.Then I will check in to a hotel for 3 days in Columbia,SC.The new TV will remain at my friends house until Tuesday night.On Wednesday I pick up the trailer from camping world and head north to Charlotte, NC.I am staying at a park for a week in the area.I will fill you in on the details in my next writing.Amongst other things on the following Monday the 14th Hibbie will drive up and we will go to WWE RAW.I mentioned it last writing that we have front row seats.I am very excited as this will be my first time in the front row.The only thing that I am not looking forward to is my friend Hibbie is a really big guy and I am big too.I have to figure out a way to say"I did not pay all this money for my seat to have you take up half of it". I will mention it in a nice way and tell him to squish the person on the other side of him.Crappie conversation but I would rather say it then be uncomfortable.I just hope there is a kid or smaller person on my other side.

We did get a few days of rain that left me hurting but for the most part I have been feeling OK.Not good still always in pain but OK.I do not think that I will be able to ever workamp.Some days no matter what I could not work.I guess the only way I could workamp is to have a very flexible schedule.I plan on heading home on the 22nd or 23rd and clearing out my house.I'm not sure if I will stay till my cruise in September.Oh! By the way, I am going on a cruise on the fourth of September for a week.The Carnival Dream is the ship.We are going to Belize, Honduras, Playa de Maya, & Cozumel.Never have been to any of these ports.I'm going with my buddy Hibbie,Dad & Sheila,sister Joy& BIL Mike & nephew Brandon.This time just Hibbie and I will share a room.I got a handicap room and will use a wheel chair most of the time.On the 3 day cruise last year I was to overtired and in too much pain using my cane.

Here are the pictures of my friends house and property:

Front of Driveway

You can see my Trailer on the far left side

View from my back window

Front of House

Sailboats and Tool Barn

Another Tool Barn

Open area on property

Sailboats

Front of House, Back of Trailer

The front porch of my trailer- 2 boats blown up

Back Parking

Backside of House

Front of Trailer

April Showers May Flowers

Hi again, I am going to try to write at least once a month.Of course this is April's entry and I'm late again.Last time I wrote I had not even left on my trip.My friend Hibbie and I left south Florida late on March 30.We arrived early on the 31st at his house in Gilbert, South Carolina.The first night I made a campfire and listened to relaxing music.

Originally my plan was to leave here on the 7th of April to go to the RV Dreams Rally near Myrtle Beach.Unfortunately, the pollen was at record highs and got me extremely sick.To the point that I could not walk straight.It lasted over a week, till a rain helped me out.By that time it was to late for the Rally and my plans were completely changed.

One advantage to being here is that there is a Camping World less then a half hour away.I went and got a bunch of stuff that I've been planning to buy for a long time.It felt good to buy the items that I only dreamed about getting.It is one time that spending money did not bother me.It feels good when you use your funds for the exact things that you have been wanting.Finally got my gas BBQ.I went with the Coleman Road Trip.I love it! While at Camping world either someone stole or on the way my license plate fell off.I think someone took it.So when I got back to my friends house I had to call the local sheriff to file a report.Then send that report with another form from the Florida DMV.Long story short it just arrived last Thursday in the mail.So my plans changed but I am hooked up actually living in my trailer for the first time after owning it for over 3 years.I Love IT!!!
My step brother Scott is actually helping me sell my place back home .I plan on living here in South Carolina several months of the year.Then go to Florida for the winter and a couple of other times a year.Then travel a few months a year.This gives me the best of both worlds.I get to still travel and see friends & family.
While I have been here there has not been alot of exciting things to report.But it has been great hanging out with my best friend.In the past 8 years we have not hung out more then a week a year.So we have been enjoying just simply hanging out.We did go to a couple of places in Columbia, SC that were featured on the TV show Diners,Drive-ins and Dives.In June we have front row tickets to a Monday Night Raw in Charlotte,NC.I still like pro wrestling, so that should be fun.I also ordered one of those new 3D TVs for the trailer.I planned on getting a new TV anyway so why not get a great one.That was my gift to myself.Well next week I get my satellite hooked up on the trailer at camping world.I will try not to make it a full month till my next post. Until then..........

Marching Through March

Hello to the Few, the Not so Proud,my Readers.LOL.I will be actually traveling soon, all though not fulltime as originally planned.This last month since Gary has died has been crazy. So here is my plans as I sit here today.Boy have I learned, not to write plans in pen the last three years.Whoever came up with that saying "Life is what happens, when your making plans" deserves a good kick in the keaster.It is so darn true!!!But on to the plans. On Thursday March 25 my best friend Hibbie is flying down from South Carolina.I know it is a silly thing but we still love the WWE.Fake wrestling, for those that do not know WWE.My mind is constantly going and wrestling is one of the few things that I can enjoy without thinking.On Sunday the 28th is the Superbowl of Wrestling called Wrestlemania.This is Wrestlemania 26, and every year since I know Hibbie we have watched it together.This will be the 12th year in a row we watched together.Including two years ago that we actually attended Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando.So it just turned out that it happened to fall close to the RV-Dreams Rally.My family loves Hibbie so he will hang from thursday the 25th until we leave on tuesday the 30th.When I say leave, yup that means a packed up truck and trailer.We are going to go to just north of Jacksonville to the KOA to spend one night.This will give me a chance to visit my cousin Rene.Wish it could be longer but Hibs gotta work on wednesday night.From the KOA we are going another 300 miles or so to Gilbert,SC(just outside of Columbia,SC).Hibbie has about 5acres where I will gladly plug in until the 7th of April.

On the 7th I will drive the 177 miles to Willowtree Resort in Longs,SC.Where after over three years of following thier lives I get to meet Howard & Linda Payne.This is a real big thrill for me because during my darker days I promised myself that I would one day meet them.It is one of the things that kept me going.I've bugged them with emails, in the chatroom and even on the phone.Just letting them know what an inspiration that they have been to me.Howard even wrote about me in the daily journal one day, which was a thrill and a half. Also I can not wait to meet Dee, who has been one of my best friends in the chatroom. It might not mean as much to her, but I have shared alot of personal things with her.It has also been very rewarding for me to be apart of her going from being just a Dreamer to a real fulltimer.If you do not have anything nice to say about Dee, it means that you have never been in the chatroom.I can not tell you how much you mean to me Dee.Thank you for all of your conversation and advice over the years.

After the Rally it looks like I am going to go up to Baltimore,MD for a week or so.My old college writing teacher and I have remained good friends.So I would love to go visit Dennis and his wife Robin.Funny story about how we became real close.My first year of college,I went to a Community College in Charlotte,NC.Thats where Dennis and I became friends.We would go to lunch once in a while, and have some fun conversations.He is extremely intelligent so I would learn while having fun.Anyway, right before spring break we were talking and the subject of where are you going during your break came up.We both said Florida! Ok no big deal it is a huge state, but his mother in law lives less then five miles from where my Dad lives.So for the first time ever he took me to the horse track for racing.I won my first race and the rest was history.We had a new subject to chat about and we became great friends.After I graduated College, I moved back to Florida, while he and Robin moved to Baltimore.I did get to go visit once years back, but it was strange staying in someone elses house.So I am real excited about camping there and getting to visit by day.Also I have never been to Wasington D.C. and I want to see an Orioles game at Camden Yards.Last time I went I was able to get a scalped ticket to the Ravens football game for like $15. From Baltimore, I have not made plans just yet.I might keep heading north or just go back to Hibbies place in SC.Alot is going to depend on how I feel physically, and of course those good old green backs.We will find out together.

Last friday I had my doctors appointment and found out on top of all my other physical crap, that I have fibromyalgia.I have been in lots of pain and did not know why.Well now I know! So we will see how much I can do over the next couple of months.Good news, I got all my registration,taxes and drivers license stuff paid.I am legal!!! Well most of the time.j/k Had to switch Garys home to my name, and alot of crap like that.It has been keeping me very busy.Planned yesterday and today to go to a local RV show.The rain had other plans for me.Today it was meant to be that I write because there is not much else I can do.When it rains my pain pours and I am just about useless.Well I better leave something to write about the next time. C YA THEN......

Happy New Year in Mid February!!

Hello,It once again has been a long time since I have written.Since just after Christmas I have been the caretaker for my friend and neighbor Gary Grzelak.On February 16 at around 10:30PM Gary lost his fight with lung cancer.I am happy that he no longer suffers and I was able to grant his only wish, which was to die in his own home.After watching him decline so rapidly and become so pathetic I am happy for my friend.He told me over a week earlier that he wanted to and was ready to die.I will miss my friend but learned alot about the kind of friend and person that I am capable of being.So after not having a life the last 2 months and not dealing with my own health, it is going to be a struggle to recoup.

On top of physically,mentally and emotionally taking time to feel better, there is alot of work to be done.I in no way,shape or form got involved helping Gary with any plans of profiting in mind.But it turns out that he left me his home,car and a small banking account.More headaches too. Now I have to sell 2 side by side moblehomes.Neither worth much money at all.And with 2 times $600 for lot rent ,it must sell quick.Of course when my mom died she left me 25% of the worth of her moblehome in Clermont FL. Hers is beautiful in an adult park. So I own 3 moblehomes,2 cars,a truck and a travel trailer.You might be a redneck if you own 4 trailers.LOL
Wish they were all houses then I might have something.My vehicles are from 1993,95 &98 too.
Gary left me a 1998 Buick century.

I am also kicking around the notion of trading up from my Travel Trailer to a used 5er.If I do that then fulltiming is soon to follow.As of now I plan to be at the RV-Dreams Rally on April 7 in my TT or a new to me/used 5er.Most likely the TT for this trip but we will see.Even though I had set plans to workamp in Indiana May til Sept, it is looking like I will just be taking a couple months trip April & May.I am booked on March 27- April 7 at a State Park in SC but depending how things go the next couple of weeks I might just go straight to the Rally.After I am going to spend a good month or so at my best friend Hibbie's property just outside of Columbia SC. He has 5 acres of pretty wooded land that I could stay. Just run a couple of extension cords for power, fill up with water and nobody would even know Im there.I also might take a 4 hour trip to Atlanta for a week or more.I have some friends there plus Id like to go see a braves game and spend some time in the ATL.Its been a long,long time since I was there and its a perfect little get away.

My plan right now is to leave my trailer at Hibbies and drive just my truck home the end of May or early June.Then early to mid August go up for another couple months to escape the hurricane months in Florida.Leaving the trailer up there would save me a bunch of money on diesel.Plus, it gives me the option to plan trips from there rather then from all the way in south Florida.I am planning to go to the Dreamer get together in TN in October, so I will make it a fun trip maybe through Atlanta and Chattanooga.We will see what happens! I wish I knew what the hell was going to happen once in a while in my own life.

I am once again having trouble sleeping.I can lay down but just never fall in a deep sleep.I'm so overtired that I feel like the tail chasing the cat.Thanks to Facebook, another cousin of mine got back in touch with me.My cousin Rene who actually lives right in Jacksonville,FL.She is on my father's side of the family unlike my cousin Cory out in AZ from my mom's side.Rene and I have not talked in forever and really do not know each other very well.But our first phone chat was over an hour and I plan to give her a call soon.Planned on calling all this week but with everything happening with Gary, I have not had the strength. I plan on stopping for a couple of nights in a campground in Jacksonville on the way up to the Carolinas to spend time with Rene.

February 27th is my Dad's 70th birthday.We will probably go out to dinner on his birthday night since its a Saturday and then get together at my sister's house for cake and gifts on sunday the 28th. Also any day now I will become a great uncle again.My niece Brittani, who you might remember from her wedding in September , was due on the 17th, so any minute now. The doctor will not let it go past the 24th so one way or another my little great niece will be popping out to say hi real soon.My nephew Shane, the one in the air force, has to report at the hospital in Afghanistan by June 20.So that is scary but at least he plans on coming home for a week or two mid next month.His birthday is March 1st.My nephew Steve that I do not talk to any longer has his birthday Feb 24th.So a busy time for birthdays is getting even busier.

Its funny with being so overtired, and having so much stuff on my plate, time is just flying.I really need to be very effective the next 4 weeks to get as much done as possible.Everything just seems so up in the air that I'm afraid to try to make concrete plans.That being said I miss the football season terribly already.I am really going to try to begin to write daily again.Also catch up on reading so many of your wonderful journals.First I have to get over feeling brain dead.C ya next episode....