Thursday, June 30, 2016

Driving

Today was a lot driving!
A few weeks ago I decided to sterilize the fresh water tank. This is an easy procedure, basically you pour bleach into the tank and let it sit, then flush it out with fresh water. After I put the bleach in I ran that tank of water through the system and then refilled with fresh water. What I should have done as run that new tank of water through the system and dump it, then refill again. But I didn't. As a result all my water tastes like Clorox. That doesn't make good coffee. Although, I'm sure everything is super clean! So, my first stop of the day was to buy coffee. Luckily I needed fuel too so it was one stop shopping.
It was about 70 miles to Lewisburg, which is where I was dropping off the flood relief supplies. From the highway there's little evidence of the flooding. There were a few spots where there must have been a mudslide, and I could see that the streams were up. The town of Lewisburg wasn't harmed, but it was busy. It's the only town around and has the only grocery store, Walmart, and almost all the relief supplies are being delivered there. I quickly found the church I was supposed to drop the stuff off at and parked nearby. There wasn't anyone around, but the door to the fellowship hall was unlocked so I started unloading. I was surprised that there wasn't more that had been donated. There were about 10 empty tables waiting donations and small piles of food, cleaning supplies, diapers and clothing. Maybe they'd distributed stuff as it came in? I know there's a lot of poverty in West Virginia, maybe folks don't have the resources to help each other? Whatever the reason, it looked like they were in real need of some help so I was glad to leave all that I had.
After my delivery it was just driving. The other two times I've gone west I've returned this way, with West Virginia coming at the end of several boring driving days. I think I like it better that way! Going 64 & 81 is very scenic and it's welcome relief after so much flat. Today it was more "enjoy it while you can!" When I take the northern route it get more progressively boring faster, it's more like ripping off a bandaid. I think I like that better, just jump into the boring stuff early on the way out, then enjoy the scenery on the way back. I stopped at Tamarak, near Beckley, WV for lunch. Then later I stopped at what I'm sure is the biggest Kroger in existence near Frankfort, KY and picked up some Greater's Ice Cream. There was horrible traffic in Louisville. I decided to call it a day in Coryden, IN.
It was only 5:30 when I arrived here. Much too early to sit in either the Walmart or the Cracker Barrel parking lot. Luckily I'd located a nature preserve about 5 miles from the Walmart and headed over there to check it out. Turned out to be a very nice place! There were picnic tables, a pond, ducks, and some walking trails! I got dinner together and took it out to a picnic table to eat. After dinner I walked both the 1 mile paved multi-use trail and the gravel walking path. Then, since it was a nice evening and I still wasn't ready to head back to Walmart I sat at the picnic table to write my blog. Too bad the park closes at dark and I can't just sleep here!

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Plans? Who needs 'em?

Today did not go as planned, even though I had about 50 different plans...none of them happened! Each step of the day, I kept revising my plan to still include everything, but then even that didn't pan out! I'm taking it as a lesson in don't overthink things because it's all going to work out the way it does whether you've planned it that way or not!
The big thing on the agenda today was getting the tires replaced on the RV. The tires were approaching 6 years old and it's recommended that you replace them at 5 years, regardless of wear. The service writer at Mercedes of Chantilly wouldn't give me an estimate because he said they were fine. I wasn't sure I trusted him since they messed up my tires a few years ago rotating and not adjusting the pressure. I'd found Alban Tire in Springfield and they seemed quite knowledgeable about Sprinters - said they work on them all the time since a lot of delivery trucks are Sprinters. He knew exactly which tires were best and ordered them for me. They arrived this morning and I went up there to have them put on.
Once I got back was when things got a bit crazy! I was planning a stop in Lewisburg, WV to drop off some supplies to help out the folks who lost everything in the flooding, but I had to go buy it all, then I needed to finish packing the RV. All this took a lot longer than I expected and it was 4:00 before I was ready to leave. I still had one more stop...Wegmans!
Since it was 5:00 when I got to Wegmans I decided to eat dinner so I could just drive until dark. I really miss Wegmans when I'm gone! I was also able to pick up the 1st thing I realized I forgot...balsamic vinegar!
I left Wegmans right about 6 and had a lovely drive down 81 to Lexington, VA where I'm staying at the Walmart. I have 70 miles to go tomorrow to Lewisburg to drop the cleaning supplies off, then who knows! I'm planning to ride a section of the Katy Trail in MO so I'm hoping I can get at least 500 or so miles in so I have more time for riding on Friday, but Indiana & Illinois don't have many overnight options!