WATER IS OUR FRIEND, NAUGHT.

The subfloor in Scout is soft, which means there is or was water.  This is very, very bad news.  Unlike your home, my furniture is attached to the floor, not easy to move.  In fact, to repair the floor, all the cabinets, dinette, and bathroom need to lifted out of the trailer because the linoleum runs under everything.

YIKES!

This may be the harbinger of the end of my Road2Reinvention.   Sure, if I had a big garage, I could pull the Airstream into and do it all myself, but…

I can easily remove the dinette, but the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator are another matter.  Way beyond my capabilities. 

As you know, I have been considering ending my travels, but I had hoped it would be under different circumstances.

Writing this I am sitting at Blue Compass/Airstream in Orlando, Florida.  That is a story in itself, I called the nearest Airstream dealer, Orland Blue Compass, to arrange a diagnostic visit.  Patrick was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and we arranged for me to bring the trailer in on Monday December 11.  At least that is what I remember.  When I pulled in this morning, Patrick said he had no record of my appointment.  “Did you get an email from me” said Patrick, nope.  How is it that I had a distinct memory of taking the first appointment?  December 11, which I thought was amazing, because it is almost impossible to get an appointment for RV service.

What to do breakdown and cry?  Nope, I am exceedingly nice and beg them to look at the trailer.  So here I sit in the waiting area for the Airstream technician to finish his first job and squeeze in a look at Scout.  I hope I can get back to Port Saint Lucie before dark tonight.

Maybe it was a bad omen last night when I pulled into Wekiwa Springs State Park and there was no reservation in my name.  However, I did get an email confirmation, but it was for the wrong date.  I may be losing my mind.

Thankfully, the Florida State Parks hold one or two “emergency” campsites open.  For what?  Emergencies like me, who make reservations, but for the wrong date.

As Maggie and I walked around the campground loop last night and this morning, there were several unoccupied campsites.  Do campers arrive in the mid of the night and leave before the crack of dawn?  No, they make reservations and don’t cancel, or like me make reservations for the wrong dates.  This is one of the biggest grips I hear as a campground host, vacant campsites when the park is supposedly full.  When Virginia says the park is full, it is full.  They reserve every spot, not like Florida.

If the floor can be repaired, and hopefully if insurance will cover the cost?  Like when your basement floods.  I may be able to continue my travels.

I am scheduled for the winter in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and then off to Rutledge, at Georgia Hard Labor Creek State Park and golf course for April and May. I am really looking forward to free campging and golf.

Keep your fingers crossed.  Stay tuned.