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Published: January 14th 2012
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Vista 26P
The RV of my dreams Thursday January 12, 2012 and Friday January 13, 2012
Florida RV Trade Association RV Show, Tampa, FL
Thursday was a busy day, and I had no time to write.
The morning started off with me and Winston and my herb pot trying to go out the door at the same time, and Winston won, the plant did not. It hit the bottom step inside the rig and bounced upside down on my mat. What a mess. The handy dandy prototype hanger broke. I used my broom and dustpan to clean up the mess. Not a smart idea, because I couldn’t get the dirt off the broom, and had to wash it several times before I could put it down on the inside floor without dirt and mud streaks. It was awful.
Ginnie and I contracted with AAL Brite to wash and wax our rigs. She took off for the show early in the morning while I waited for the washers. She returned and I took off for the show. I got on the tram from the campground which took me to the show, saving a .5 mile walk. But, boy did I walk. I mentally divided the
AAL Brite
The crew washing my rig. There were 4 working when waxing show into 2 segments, and walked all around what I thought was the smaller side. It was still huge. There are some very large RV dealers here in FL, carrying multiple lines of trailers, 5
th wheels and motor homes. I went in many, until my knees gave out going up and down the steps. Of course I had to look inside some of the biggies and drool and dream, but I know they are way out of my price range, and way too big for me to drive. I set my sights in tracking down the 26P Vista, a Winnebago product, 26 feet long Class A, picture herein. They totally redesigned this RV for 2012 making structural changes (engine, exterior finish) but not changing the layout. It has 2 slides, one for the rear queen size bed, and one for the dinette. I absolutely love this RV, but, as you can see, the price is way too much for me to consider, even if I sell my house in NJ, but, I can always dream. Have to hit that casino – maybe I can win $100K????? on a penny slot?
One of the major dealers was sponsoring a contest.
Collect 6 sets of different colored bead necklacess from 6 locations throughout the show and earn a turn at their wheel of fortune to win a nice prize. I got 4 on Thursday. I walked bag to the campground to find that Winston was a good boy the entire time I was gone. I left the windows open, and he peeked out at Ginnie and the boys a few times, but never barked. The RV washers arrived at 1:00 and took 4.5 hours to wash and wax my rig and wash Ginnie’s, they would return on Friday to wax hers. Picture. I am so pleased with the job they did – you know, my rig is actually white, not cream colored! The cab is so shiny I can see my reflection in it! They even waxed the grab bar at the entry way and my hand slipped off it the first time I grabbed it. Total cost, $168, $8/foot. I was totally amazed at how inexpensive. A wash at Camping World in NJ cost $150, total wax was another $150, and I am not even sure they did the cab when I had it done last year. I had left
some of the windows open while they waxed it – put the wax on with a polisher/drill type thing, and removed it by hand, and it made dust; clean the inside, again. A quick happy hour (Picture, me holding 3 dogs) and even quicker dinner, and at 6:00 all four of us were back off to the show area for a Doo Wop show. I felt like I was at the Count Basie Theatre for one of their 60s era shows. The Malt Shoppe group performed for 2 hours – Rvers who sing Doo Wop, go figure. They were quite good and played every song you might have wanted to hear, and had a few good comic ‘bits.’ The evening concluded with door prize drawings including T shirts, free weeks at campgrounds, cleaning supplies and other vendor given items. We didn’t win anything. We managed to get a ride on a tram back to the campground, and once again, Winston was excellent. Perhaps he has turned the corner on his barking while I am gone. I think it has helped a whole lot having Ginnie and the boys next door.
Slept like a log Thursday night, and Winston woke me up at 7:30. Wow! I took a shower, and think I only used 3 gallons of water; remember, there are no water or sewer connections here, so everything comes from my fresh water tank and goes into my holding tanks. I won’t get a chance to empty the tanks and refill water until Tuesday, so conservation is a must!!!! I think I am really doing well. I figure my holding tanks won’t be full until my fresh tank is empty, right?
Friday Malcolm and Judi took off early for more bead gathering and a seminar. Ginnie and I joined them later and purchased some gadgets and lots of coupons for free nights camping. We secured our last 2 sets of beads. I won a free Good Sam Club membership ($35 value) on my turn, and Ginnie won $13 in her 15 seconds in the money booth (flying money, gather all you can in your allotted time) worth of coupons to spend at Camping World. I gave her a tour of the Vista 26P and one of her comments was the lack of kitchen counter space, and she’s right about that. I have nothing now, and would have nothing in that either. But, a queen sized bed???? That I wouldn’t have to put away every morning…..I would suffer. I bought some leveling bubbles at Camping World, and Ginnie will use hers toward the purchase of a rocking chair.
The last picture of the day is one of the fun sites at the show. A scooterized one man band. What a hoot.
The waxers were just finishing up her rig when we returned, and both our rigs are stunning!!
Ginnie was going to the store and to check out a local vet to see if he would help her refill a prescription for George before her next visit to the goddess of veterinarians at University of FL, Gainesville, on Wednesday. She didn’t have any luck. George seems to be failing, and she has been unable to get any kind of diagnosis from her NJ vet, who referred her to the goddess knowing Ginnie would be in FL. The long awaited appointment is Wednesday. SHE DROPPED ME OFF AT THE CASINO on her way out. It ends up, the distance to the casino is less than the walk to the main part of the RV show, and it was all sidewalked. The nearest entrance was really an exit only, so I did have to walk around to the front, but I immediately went to look for that exit to lessen my walk ‘home.’ My luck was as it was in NJ. I had moments of brilliance, but over all lost. It really is a fun casino, lots of fun games, but not too many penny machines, mostly $.02 and $.05. Ginnie gave me $1 to play for her, and I came away with $.60 on the one spin.
The walk back was easy but by the time I took Winston for his walk around the loop, my hips were rebelling; I begged off going to the entertainment tonight, instead opting to blog write make my ‘breakfast before’ casserole for us to have tomorrow morning.
Randomness. I learned that our portion of the campground sits on the Truck Driving School. There are all kinds of what looks like markings for exercises for truck drivers painted on the roadways. Lots of tight curves, and practice trucks. Interesting.
Randomness. There must be some type of military installation nearby. Each afternoon 5 big green jets fly as if landing so close to us I feel I could reach out and touch them.
Randomness. It really got cold today. Freeze warnings until 9:00 tomorrow, I am afraid to bring my plant inside, because that means bringing it out tomorrow morning.
Kat out
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Diane Kuelske
non-member comment
Air Force Base in Tampa
Yep - you are right - there is an Air Force Base just south of the city - so those jets you are seeing that look like they are going to land - are!!! Sure do enjoy reading your blogs - maybe I will get back to mine some day. Diane