The todo list for today:

Upgrade our satellite system to improve our entertainment ability with the switch of our traveler from Direct to Dish and the addition of a second receiver that will record selected programs for later viewing

Check – traveler switched to a Dish system, the new receiver with the ability to record two programs as we are watching live tv, should add to our viewing pleasure and allow us to see that 10 o’clock shows which are past my bed time….lol

Sanitize and flush the fresh water tank, we will be on the road for over a week on the trek north, so need to have it all clean and sparkly

Check – have added chlorine to the fresh water system, flushed it through all drinking lines, topped fresh water tank and drained, will now refill the fresh water tank for the trek north next week. Our objective is to get a chlorine concentration on 50 – 100 parts per million which is strong enough to sanitize the system and then flush and dilute the chlorine level to no more than chlorinated drinking water. And of course we run all our drinking or cooking water through our Berkey to remove the chlorine and fluoride.

Start packing the Sport-Trac, kayak rack, kayaks, scuba gear, tools, etc.

Partial Check – Installed the newly noodled kayak racks, replaced the thumb knobs with new nuts that I could tighten to avoid any shifting on the roof rack crossbars, then loaded the kayaks and strapped them to the racks. I also got the Mickey Mouse lamps placed on the cab roof, because we carry our bicycles on the hitch of the Sport-Trac and they partially cover the tail lights so we have a pair on the cab in the name of safety. Also swept the truck box to remove the sand and had started with the scuba gear until we got a little liquid sunshine which has put the rest of the day on hold.

Repair left rear fender mount – has worked it self loose

Start Thunder to build air and check everything for the 1600 mile (2500 km) trip north (this allows me to lift the left rear jack to repair fender)

And as things come out of the basement to be packed into the Sport-Trac I can start packing the basement, it becomes an easy but precious operation of what fits and goes where with the first items needed going in last and the most important items always accessible.

Our last day trip to a Florida beach and Laurie chose a return trip to Lovers Key State Park, it is located between Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach and is about an hour east of LaBelle. This is our third trip to the park, the last being with Ray and Karen to kayak the park with the manatees, gators, dolphins and other wildlife but today was to enjoy the warm spring day mid 80’s (27c) degrees, light off shore breeze, the white sand beach was busy with spring breakers. But it is a large open beach so it was no issue to find an open spot to set the chairs and pop up the umbrella. Bob and I enjoyed a few cold beers and a little lunch Shari and Laurie put together, lots of boats in the gulf today and the fish seemed to be biting today as the fisher people was busy catching a variety of fish even a little shark about a foot long. A great last beach day to prepare us for the cooler days ahead, and the trip back was uneventful and only had one little detour to the Boathouse Tiki Bar for a couple of adult beverages and for Bob to hook up with a co-worker from the marina to discuss strategy for the upcoming boating season.

The park looses a few more each day, we can now see the Ward’s picket fence, as well as the Bannon’s across the lake, from the coach. The count down seems to be speeding up as our departure date is just a few days away, and I didn’t get anything checked off the todo list today and the weather looks like the next five days are going to be hot and humid with thunder storms….oh well, I know our northern friends are feeling bad for us as hit temperatures above 30c, I can almost hear the collective ahhh.