Day 54
The day started on a high note, but then came crashing down. More on that in a moment. We are so ready to put Central Florida in the rearview mirror. Orlando is a nice place to visit, however we certainly don’t want to live here. Traffic is absolutely insane! It takes at least 30 minutes to get absolutely anywhere. We started the morning out well with a wonderful bacon, egg, sausages brekkie using the flat top for the last time here. Vicki found a flea market about 30 miles away with a farmers market. Got there a wee bit after 10 after leave at 9:15. See what I mean about traffic. Although this one was more about distance. On these roads at least there wasn’t a traffic light every 2 miles!
Any who, we picked up some Xmas presents and Vicki got a neck fan for when she is taking the dogs out on these warm Florida days. We also picked up some awesome beef steak tomatoes, Pablano Chilies, Jabenero Chilies, and Haas Avacados for less than $20! The Plastic bags were so heavy they cut off circulation in my hand. Upon returning enjoyed a thick slice of the purchased tomatoes with mayo on a sandwich for lunch. Took an afternoon nap and then the train went off the rails.
Elisabeth, who is doing a wonderful job caring for Frank, called and said that Frank’s flip phone had completely died and was at the Verizon store trying to purchase new replacement. This is where Verizon screwed the pooch! Verizon’s customer service absolutely stinks. Niz calls and with the Verizon agent right there says she cannot purchase the phone as she is not on the account. Since it has been 7 years since we’ve used the pin number to access the account, it is long gone from our memory. Hell, half the time I cannot remember why I walk into a room. And they expect me to remember a pin number from 7 years ago? Get Real!! So, the store guy says I should call 611 to add Elisabeth to the account. Not a problem….yet. I call and the guy at 611 says no problem, I’ll send a link to the cell phone so you can add Elisabeth. Recall earlier in this rant that I said the phone had completely DIED! How in the hell are you going to send a text to it? Then the idiot at 611 adds Elisabeth to my phone number as an account manager, which does nothing to solve our problem. We get disconnected and I have to call 611 back. The next guy puts me on hold for 30 minutes and then comes back and says I must go into the store where Elisabeth is to prove my identity. Seriously? I’m in Florida and she’s in Washington dude! That ain’t happenin’!!! Out of frustration I tell them to just cancel the damn account and I’ll get my 90 year old father-in-law a phone from a different carrier. 611’s reply? We’ll send a text to the phone with a code to cancel. Really? The phone is still F***ing DEAD! Not even a Zombie! It broken, kaput, non-functioning in other words DEAD!!! His reply? Oh?
But wait, there’s more! In a more heightened state of frustration I hang up. Elisabeth walks out of the store and goes to AT&T and in less then 10 minutes has secured Frank a new flip phone for less than at Verizon with the same features, AND Cheaper! But we still have the issue of canceling Franks’ account. So a final call to Verizon 611 and I speak to a supervisor. Being totally patronizing he says he cannot help me unless I know the pin number unless he can send a text to Frank’s phone. Back to square one, the phone is still DEAD!! These people are complete idiots!!! He then puts me on hold for 5 minutes and say I can go to a Verizon Corporate store and cancel the account. There is a store near me. Only 12 miles, which means a 30 minute drive with traffic. (Side bar, another reason to get out of Orlando) so into the car I leap. To make matters even more exciting, we have fallen under a tornado warning. Yep, a perfect storm! (Pun intended) So I get to the corporate store and meet Joe. Another corporate schill who addresses the problem with his tablet, but doesn’t explain or include me with what he is doing. After 20 minutes he says he can override the system and cancel the account. When I ask for proof he flips his screen towards me and says, here see. So I get my phone out to take a picture as proof the account is cancelled and he pulls the screen away saying I can’t take a picture of his screen. So I say “then print me a receipt” of the action. He then says I cannot do that. This leads to a discussion with the supervisor who says you have to trust us and yaps about how when ever any action is taken or an account is touched it is documented in the account. Why can’t you print me a copy of the action??? This is a situation that Verizon definitely needs to use a case study to learn how to better handle such a situation. They lost a good customer and will probably lose 2 others as we may switch as well. Have been a loyal paying customer for 20+ years and this is how we’re rewarded?
So spent another 30 minutes in traffic and returned home. Vicki had prepared a delicious meal of BBQ ribs, mac salad and baked beans which we ate while streaming Ghosts and So Help Me Todd. Both mindless comedies which we both needed after the level of frustration was at its zenith. Picked up the outside for travel to St Augustine tomorrow between raindrops as the thunderstorm was in full effect. Yup, will certainly be glad to put Orlando in the rearview mirror!
Day 55
Finally putting Orlando behind us. Florida offers lots of things, but one of them is excessive traffic. We drove a mere 143 miles from Orlando to St Augustine in just over 5 hours. Granted we did stop 45 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes getting gas at a Love’s, but damn, an average of 26 mph. Not cool! There was actually more traffic on I-4 and I-95 then northbound I-5 in south Everett at 4:00 pm! Also, making the drive during a high wind warning/gale warning which made the trip exciting when we were moving. Driving a 38′ RV with a side wind of 25-30 mph can be a bit exciting. Well I think I’ve bitched enough about Florida, time to move on to better things. We arrived in St Augustine Stage Coach campground. A very nice pull through and just behind my wingman Randy Bray and his wife Linda. They are parked right next to us so should be a great week of catching up.
Had a nice supper of Pot pies and chatted outside with Randy until sunset. Planned for tomorrow and decided to take the trolley and go around St Augustine and then plan what we’ll do for the remainder of the week. Looks like the weather is going to cooperate so looking forward to doing some exploring. By the way, did I mention we’re still loving retirement?
Day 56
The day started with calm winds, warm temperatures and a dog walk as the sun rose. Beautiful! Came back to the rig to enjoy some coffee with my beautiful bride and enjoyed a relaxing wake up to face the day. Fixed breakfast fracos as we prepared for our first exploration of St Augustine. We had purchased Hop on Hop off tickets for the guided trolley tour of downtown St Augustine. Around 11 a shuttle picked us up and took us downtown to the trolley. Got on board and the 22 stop trolley gave us a running summary of what we were seeing as it relates to the city of St Augustine. Definitely a huge amount of history between the Spanish, French and Native American occupants of the city. We jumped off at stop 16, walked across the street and enjoyed a lunch at the A1A Alehouse. I had my first experience with Shrimp and Grits. Sorry southerners, but that dish doesn’t even make it to the podium in terms of my favorite southern dishes. New Orleans still tops the list with Jambalaya, Gumbo, and red beans with dirty rice which takes Gold, Silver, and Bronze respectively.
After lunch we hopped back on the Trolley to finish the tour. It took us down to the “Fountain of Youth” While at the FOY, we had quite a show with Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow and a Peacock Displaying his feathers for a Peahen who was totally unimpressed. Sound familiar? We then went through Gator Bob’s museum which was a micro Wall Drug. Looked for a pirate flag to hang on the coach to no avail. Will continue our quest for that item.
The shuttle took us back to the campground where we enjoyed the spring breezes. A package for me finally arrived with my new glasses. I’ve added a photo, please comment and tell me what you think. We then decided to go to Bucce’s for Colaches so we reload the Escape and headed down the road to Bucce’s 4 miles away. Took Randy as he had never been to a Bucce’s before. We even bought a brisket sandwich which we shared for our supper. Concluded the evening watch 3 episodes of Yellowstone. So all in all yet another good day. Still…loving retirement!!
Day 57
Another good day in Northern Florida, mid 80’s (32 C) with 10 mph breezes keeping it comfortable. Spent most of the morning just waking up with sweet rolls and coffee. Fixed lunch and then went to the Lightner Museum in downtown Saint Augustine. What a wonderful museum with some very nice pieces of Crystal, Tiffany Glass and Antique Bicycles. It is located on the campus of Flaggler College in the heart of downtown Saint Augustine. Surprisingly easy to navigate our way there and back. Fixed stuffed Pablano and Jalapeno peppers for supper and it was delicious. Love a taste of Tex-Mex now and again.
Spent the evening chatting with Randy and Linda outside their rig. We put together plans for the rest of the week, so should have a good time. Planning on walking the Street of St George, the oldest street in America. Loaded with shops and such, should be a shopping and people watching experience. Watched two more episodes of Outlander and called it a night. Yet another great day of retirement!!!
Day 58
Yet another slow walk to wake up here in Northern Florida. Enjoyed a nice sunrise and walk about with the kids. Forced ourselves to look at our portfolio as the market continued its downward trend. (sigh) Met with Randy and sadly their 16 year old fur baby is not doing well at all. Please send some white light and healing to all three of them. Did get some household chores completed along with putting up our wind sock. Now it is easy to identify where we parked, simply look for the 20’ft windsock!
After enjoying a lunch of left overs, we went back to downtown Saint Augustine and shopped the infamous St. George Street. Basically a tourist extravaganza but enjoyable none the less. Didn’t make any purchases but did enjoy the shopping and people watching. Met a very nice lady coming out of the store who was wearing a happy birthday tierra, so Vicki and I serenaded her with our family birthday diddy! Put a smile on her face and joy to our hearts. To end our shopping day we made it to Whetstone Chocolate Factory planning to purchase some fudge or other chocolate confections to take home with us. Apparently, the chocolate gods were not favoring us as just before we walked in probably ten teenaged girls in daisy dukes walked in, cell phones in hand and there were only two teen aged boys behind the counter. Guess who got service? So needless to say, we just did an about face and headed home. Just means we’ll have to make another trip to Buccee’s for Fudge!
Sat out for a bit and enjoyed the evening breezes as the parade of park dog walkers passed. There are three of the cutest Corgis, a pair of Australian Shepards, two Beagles and a tri colored Coon hound that can do nothing but make you smile. Had a simple supper of Chili Baked Potatoes and settled in for another night of RuPaul. Man, this retirement gig is everything it’s cracked up to be!!
Still Loving Retirement!
Day 59
Day 59 finds us returning to downtown St Augustine to tour the Pirate Museum and Fort Castillo de San Marcos. The museum was totally cheesy with no history we didn’t all ready know, but it was interactive and totally fun. It brought our the inner child and pirate in both of us. The gift shop yielded not only a Jolly Roger flag, which by the way is proudly displayed on the coach and Vicki found a kick ass tierra with skulls. The day was good! Star wars day turned out to be even more fun as we walked the fortress at Castillo de San Marcos. Picked up a wonderful history perspective as well as an interesting book in the gift shop.
Returned home and had a wonderful meal with the Brays. Linda prepared a delicious pot roast and we enjoyed it a fresco on our sites picnic table. Chatted for a good part of the evening and then came in to watch the finale of InkMaster Season 15. Those artists are simply amazing. Tried to make it through an old favorite movie of Vicki, Nate and Hayes, to conclude our day of pirating. Arrr, no such luck, but did I tell ye? We arrrrreee still loving retirement!
Day 60
Feliz Cinco de Mayo, especially if you’re into beer. My Mom and Dad have been married for 68 years now and I hope they are enjoying each other in Heaven together. A quiet day under the Jolly Roger. We did go shopping in the morning at a Aldi’s here. Enroute we saw an interesting sight. Going through a construction site at 25 mph, they were working at a swamp/lake and while one person was actually working, the other 5 were on there cell phones, but one was innovative, he had his pole out and was fishing!! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, but there he was, pole in hand. Gotta love in innovation of Florida DOT workers. Hopefully he caught his supper while on the clock! Only in Florida!!!
After returning from Aldi’s we followed Randy and Linda to Camping World. Sadly, it was the most poorly stocked CW in all of America. Left with nothing! Still, at least everything was expensive. LOL. We then proceeded to Costco where we stocked up on things not available at Aldi’s or Publix. This restored our faith in humanity as the dogs were good for lunch, the lines weren’t to bad, and the crowds were bearable. Prices were still high though.
After walking the dogs, was able to pick up our replacement MiFi device which of course doesn’t work! Too late in the afternoon to call tech support so at least I’ll have something to do upon arrival our next 1000 trails in South Carolina.
Chatted with Randy the better part of the afternoon and demonstrated our Max television system. Started a new binge watch, Doc Martin, and then finished season 4 of Yellowstone. Total cheese, but so much fun. Enjoyed a dinner from Aldi’s of Burnt Pork tips over rice with green beans. Life is certainly going our way and did I mention we’re still loving retirement?
