11/26/18 - I have been settled in at Tropical Gardens RV Park for three weeks.  It was warm and humid when I arrived and then one week got a little cooler but has been quite comfortable.  This week now it is suppose to get cold (high temperature only  in the 60's) for a couple of days.

I have been visiting family in Sarasota off and on.  I usually go there twice a week.  I have only 11 miles to their house so it is quite easy.  For Thanksgiving, it was very quiet and I was quite content since I started a puzzle.  The families in Sarasota were either out of town or had already made Thanksgiving plans and that was no problem for me.

Today is my Aunt Inez's 94th birthday so there is a dinner party planned.  I plan to leave earlier and run some errands before heading for Sarasota. 

11/5/18 - Today my back is finally much better.  I can still feel it but I don't have the sharp pain anymore.  I am still taking some Tylenol and Ibuprofen but can walk much better.  I even was able to get to the grocery store for a few items but soon learned I need to make more smaller trips instead of one big one.  The rest of blog is for my own information:

From Milford, Delaware to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina - 310 miles
From Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina to Walterboro, South Carolina - 311 miles
From Walterboro, South Carolina to Rest Stop in Florida - 333 miles
From Rest Stop to Bradenton, Florida - 140 miles - total miles --  1094

11/03/18 - I slept a little better last night until a semi truck parked right next to me and ran the engine all night but did drift in and out of sleep.  I talked with brother Daniel and learned what might be my battery problem so felt better about the red light.  I left the rest stop at 8:40 am and then stopped for gas.  There were signs that it was a Love's truck stop but when I exited off, I could not see any signs which was very unusual but had to make a left and so planned to turn around when two semi trucks came up beside me so I decided to follow them and soon we were at the Love's truck stop.  It really was farther from the freeway then I had ever seen before.  When I started off, my GPS decided to go blank.  I never figured out why but stopped off at the next rest stop and turned it off and re-started it and it worked well.  I got to the RV resort at 11:45 am.  Stopped off at the office, got checked in and told which site was mine. I got to the site and oh, my it was very, very small.  A van (all covered up) was right next to where I needed to back in!!  My back was better and I was able to get the car off without any problems.  I did make the site even smaller by parking the car off to the side but I tried to figure out the best way to start.  I started in and soon I found myself very close to the van.  I also was very, very close to the guy's gutter and awning across the street.  He did come out and helped me a little and I without hitting anything, I got myself in the space.  It is on a cement pad, so I did not have to put wood under the levelers which was wonderful.  I rested awhile and then hooked up the electric and water.  Rested some more and then did the sewer system.  Everything went together great.  I then rested some more, answered some text messages and finally got a sandwich made and a shower taken.  I do feel discomfort in my back this evening but have planned to just sleep, lay on the couch and maybe get some food to eat inbetween tomorrow.  After this writing I am off to the couch for the evening. I have attached a picture of the site:

11/02/18 -  I did not get much sleep last night since I was worried about the battery problem but did finally sleep from about midnight to 2:30 am and the light was still green.  I then woke up around 4:30 am and the light was red.  I did decide not to worry and get a little more sleep.  Woke up at 6:50 am and decided I needed to get things done and on road.  I left the Walmart at 8:10 am.  Around 10:30 am I stopped at the rest stop and sure enough the light was green and I was back in business.  I decided to take my time and get a little rest since I was planning on only about 279 miles.  Plans were to stop for the night at a Love's truck stop just north of Daytona Beach.  I got there about 3:20pm and even thought it might be a little early but it was a very small Love's and there were so many trucks already parked, I just left.  Since I did not want to drive out of the way, I headed for I-4 which was taking me west to Tampa, Florida.  When I arrived at I-4 I was the exit number 131.  I knew of another truck stop at exit number 55 so decided to head for it.  I drove for quite a while and all of sudden saw a sign that said rest area ahead.  I decided to check and see if there were signs posted "No Overnight Parking" and I did not see any and decided to stay here.  It does states there is night time security so not sure what that will mean for me.  I am going to stay and hopefully will be left alone.  There are a couple of trucks here right now and believe they are sleeping as well.  So hopefully will have a good night.  Anyway, I got parked about 4:30 pm and before I could get it together to turn off the car, it started to rain.  Soon it got extremely windy and just poured sheets of rain.  It was kinda scary.  The RV even shook from side to side and I kept praying that it would not overturn.  I did have a semi beside me and I am sure it shielded me some since it kinda came from the direction.  It lasted about 6 minutes and then just rained.  There is debris all over the road next to me.  I talked with Sue Bontreger and learned that Tampa Bay area had several tornadoes touch down and had damaged trees and some buildings and lots of people out of power.  I am about 100 miles from that area so I am glad I found this rest stop for many reasons. I plan to go to bed early and hopefully get more sleep. 

11/1/18 - This morning when I got up at 7:45 am, I soon learned that I had a problem with the house batteries since there was a red light instead of green and the refrigerator was off.  I then immediately checked to make sure the RV would start and it did.  I then got the car ready, got dressed, took pills and left at 8:05 am.  I drove for a while hoping that I was charging up the batteries so I stopped at a rest stop at 10:20 am and sure enough the refrigerator was on and the light was green.  I decided to rest for a hour since I left much earlier than planned and ran the generator.  I then took off again and next stop was to fill up with gas.  I stopped at the next rest area to waste another hour since I did not want to be too early at Walmart.  I got to Walmart at 4:05 pm.  I am at Walterboro, South Carolina. I soon learned that there were a lot of other RV'ers. I believe I have counted at least 10 and more have come in since then!! I did find a stop right next to one.  I decided to run the generator for an hour and when I did, I did not realize the RV next to me had their windows open and my generator was causing quite the fumes.  As I went out to get the car ready for the night, the female put her head out the window and wanted to know how long I would be running the generator and I told her at least an hour and then I realized why.  I explained to her that the car in front of me had moved so I could move up and out of their way and maybe that would solve the problem.  Sure enough, it solved the situation.  In the meantime, she started to talk to me and learned I was alone and we had quite the conversation.  Then the husband came out and showed me the route they were taking to Tampa, Florida but I informed them I had planned another route.  Next thing I knew I was offered this massive piece of fried chicken breast and at first I refused but they insisted.  I did have some for dinner.  I have checked everything and just can't figure out if something is draining the batteries.  I plan to run the generator one more hour before bedtime and see if I can keep that green light on. The RV is so nice and warm!  It appears today my back is not quite as painful so I am hoping it is going to go away soon.  Off to bed.