Thursday, April 14, 2011

Lazy Days Seffner/Tampaa FL 3-2011

Site: We had 3 sites here. The first was a back in with full hook ups, with cable TV.   The site and the roads are all paved. A newspaper is delivered to each occupied site.  The sites are big rig friendly with little or no privacy between sites. This site was a little short, as our truck was half on the road when parked in front of the RV side ways. The next site was in a repair bay. We stayed in our rig at night, then we left during the day while they worked on it. We did have a full hook up. Our next site was a lot longer. We were in one of the ends with a large circle turn around. A lot more room to back into it. The reason we went to this site was repairs weren't complete till about 4:30 and we didn't want to hit the road that late.  Mosts sites were level.
Laundry: There was a very nice laundry.  The laundry was clean and bright. They had about 10-12 washers and dryers.
TV,phone,Wifi:We had good cable TV. Over the air TV was good as you are in the metro area of Tampa. Great Verizon phone service.  Parks wifi was slow.
Dog friendly:Lot of room to walk your pet. There is a fenced in area to let them run off leash, not to large. They have dogie treats at the check in area.
Amenities:A large screened in pool and club house.
Location: Located right off I4 and about 1 mile from I75 . Easy in and out.
Summary: This is a large RV park at a very large dealership. We were here for warrenty repairs. They have about 150 repair bays. Because of its size we did not get personalized service. You are just a number. Most repairs will have to be redone.  We talked to people that had been here for weeks.  Good thing we went to the RV park after repairs were complete as we still had a leak that needed  re-repair, if there is such a word.
Bonus:Very large dealership to shop or just look at 100s of new and used RV's. They are all left open for your casual inspection with no pressure. Free light breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday. There are all types of free seminars each day at the dealership. They can rebuild your RV if you have the time to spend there. When we were there the RV park was near full, so best to have reservations in the winter season. All staff was very friendly. There is a Cracker Barrel and Flying J on the property. This is a great place to shop for an Rv, but we would not go here for repairs unless there was no other place near by. Our coast was $0.00 for our stay. First time visitors get two free nights. Also there was coupon on line for two free nights. Also at any RV show they are at you can sign up for two free nights.  While in repairs you stay for free while in the bays. Sorry only picture of last site.

Cracker Barrel Inwood WV March 2011

Not an RV Park but a good overnight stop along I81 in WV. Good food as most Cracker Barrels. We didn't put out all slides. There is highway noise, but for the price----on well.

Thousand Trails Carolina Landing Fair Play SC March 2011

Site: Our site was a paved full hook with 30 amp electric. There was a locked 50 amp plug that was 2 or 3 dollars a day extra. The site was very unlevel. Many of the sites were unlevel. It was just long enough for our rig, but no parking for the truck.  We did have room to park the car at our site.
Laundry: Yes but didn't check it out.
TV,Phone,Wifi: TV over the air was ok, we got all major networks. Our Verizon cell phone worked well. Didn't try the wifi.
Dog Friendly: Yes, lots of room to walk a dog.
Amenities: Many like all TT's.There is a indoor and outdoor pool. and planned activities.
Location;About one mile off exit 4 of I77 ,along Lake Hartwell, just 4 miles from GA
Summary:We stayed only one night as we were just passing through the area. It is a very very hilly park. This is big rig friendly, BUT you must choose you site and the loction to get to the site very carefully. Since we stayed here for free as TT Members, we may stay here again. But we would drive through and check out what sites where available and  we could get into before staying here agin. There is a great Corp of Engeeries Park we stayed at on Lake Hartwell about 5-10 miles from here.  To be fair to the park, we only spend one night here and really didn't get to check out the park very well.   We got in late and it was pouring rain.
Bonus:On large Lake Hartwell. Only one mile off the interstate.

GA Museum of Agriculture -short review-we didn't stay here

At exit 62 on I75 in Tifton GA. There is a small RV Park in the parking lot. It is a paved parking lot with hook ups for about 20 RV. It is right along I75 at the exit, about 1/4 mile off exit to entrance. Good for an overnight if just passing through the area. They have full hook ups for $20. a night, but do offer some discounts like Good Sam. See their web site for picture of the RV Parking at GA Museum of Agriculture.

Paradise Lake RV Park- Brookfield GA Mar 2011

Site: Pull thru site with full hook up on level grass.  Very large site, with 30 amp electric. They do have a few 50 amp sites for an additional fee of $2. per night.  Roads are dirt/sand that are deeply rutted.  This is a small park with about 35 sites.
Laundry:There is one washer and dryer, in a very dated rest room building.
Dog friendly: Yes with lots of room to walk a dog.
Amenities: A small washroom and laundry is all.
Location: About 8 miles off I75 along Route 82
Summary: This is a small no frills RV park. Its is a member of Passport America. The rate w/PA was $12.00 a night. Very friendly owner and camp host. There are about 6-7 permanent residence and two were very clutterd and take away from the whole park. We met friends  here to tour Tifton GA.
Bonus: About 30 small lakes not far from campground. Also the town of Tifton and the Agrirama center at the GA Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village.  There is a restored village with many working exhibits.

Pine Hill RV Park- Kutztown PA 3-2011

Site: We had a pull thru full hook up 50 amp site. Fairly level gravel. Most sites and all roads are gravel. There are many trees, but no privecy between sites.
Laundry:Yes in bath house. One washer and dryer in the mens and ladies room. Very clean, but not adequit when the park in 1/4 or more full.
TV, Phone, Wifi:They have cable TV but it is $2.00 a day. Our Verizone phone worked well. The wifi was much better than last year, but then the park was almost empty.
Dog Friendly: Yes and lots of room to walk your dog.
Amenities: A large hall for special events. A very small store in office. A small playground. Some planned activities in season.
Location: About 3 miles off I78, and 10 miles to Allentow/Bethlehem area. About 10 miles from downtown Kutztown. About 15 miles from Cabelas.

Summary: We call this our home park when in this part of PA. It is a very nice park with very friendly owners. It is the nicest park close to our family. Its about $40. daily and $575. a month plus electric and cable. There is road noise.  The new owners have made many inprovements and are working to better improve the park.

Monday, April 11, 2011

FL to PA for medical emergency

      Hi to all, just to let you all know we are doing ok. Thanks to all that emailed with kind words and prayers. We got a call, that  Linda's brother and sister in law were in the hospital and not doing to well. So we hot footed it back to PA. When we got the call we were with friends Barry and Donna in GA. We were touring the area around Tifton GA. The next day we left bright and early even though there was bad weather predicted.  We did run in to very heavy rains. We ended the day in Fair Play SC. We needed a break from the heavy rain that made driving very tireing.  We spend the very cool night there.  The next day we got up to light rain, but with bright sky's. So we took off. Not many RV parks open the farther north we went. We know of a flying J in VA on the WV  border that allows over night RV parking. So that was our destination. But when we got there, it was packed. I guess a lot of other Rver's heading north, had the same idea. Filled up with fuel and off we went looking for a Walmart for an overnight. For you non Rver's most Walmarts allow overnight RV parking. Driving on I81 we saw a Crackle Barrel with a RV parked there. Got off the next exit and went to the Crackle Barrel. Checked with the manager if  it was ok to park overnight. He said any Cracker Barrel, anytime. So we spend the night. Got up to a very cold 27 degrees.  We went into the Crackle Barrel for breakfast and again thanked them for letting us stay overnight. They opened at 6 and we were in having breakfast by 6:15.  After breakfast we walked Blazer and headed out. We called Pine Hill RV Park, the park we usually stay at when in PA(we call it our home park), to see if we could get in, as they weren't open till April 1st about 5 days later. They said  come on in. That was the trip home, now for an update.
      Linda's brother Tom is still in the hospital.  His wife Susan was released to a nursing care facility for rehab on Thursday the 7th. They are both doing better. We are working on getting them placed somewhere in a assisted/nursing home. This is a major problem. A very long story, that started 3 years ago when we tried then to get them in a retirement/assistant living place then. We won't bore you with all the details.
       So it looks like we will be spending the spring and summer here in Downingtown. For now we did not put the RV in storage. We need things like clothing etc that are in our rv, our home. Not sure what we are going to do with the RV in the future. If we can get them placed somewhere and find homes for the pets, one dog and two cats, we will spend time in the RV just to get away from here.  They have a very large home full of two generations of stuff. This will be a very big project.
    We will update every now and then, but won't be bloging about our travels till we can get back on the road.