Seen on one of my walk’s arounds the park.

I got up early but only because the gas had run out in the night and the RV was freezing cold. I put on my tracksuit and braved the cold outside to change the tank. It was a very simple process of literally closing a valve and switching from one tank to the second one and opening the valve on that one. Daniel had told me a while ago not to open the valve very far as it wastes gas.

Later, when I was both fully dressed and wide awake, I changed the empty bottle with the always full back up that I have standing by and put the empty one out by the front of the rig for Daniel to fill when he has others, and it makes it worth his time. Not that he would not fill a single bottle if needed but it is so much more convenient for him to fill several gas bottles at the same time. 

I sometimes help him if he has a lot of bottles to fill but my help is limited to unloading the empties from his four-wheeler and then loading them back up when he has gassed them up. Then we drive around the park and I help to put the bottles by their rigs. Incidentally, Daniel must be licensed to perform this task as he is handling highly flammable material. 

We went out for that first walk of the day although there was quite a change in the weather. The temperature had dropped to the mid-fifties, and I was glad of my jacket. Both dogs were very lively with the brisk weather and obviously it agreed with them. However, my hip was hurting, and we only walked a half mile. I could almost read their thoughts that they disliked having to go home and wanted to stay out longer. 

I fixed breakfast which helped to compensate for the shortened walk as least as far as Sandy was concerned.  Mikey, as usual, turned his nose up at the food. Then it was time to sit and write, trying with much difficulty I might add, to remember what happened yesterday. 

We live such a quiet life that it is hard to remember what we did the day before unless it was something dramatic or earth shattering. Otherwise, one day is very much the same as the last and probably the next. 

I sat on the couch with the dogs just thinking about nothing in particular and generally relaxing. This is not hard to do as I lead a very stress-free existence and the only time, I get worried is when I am wondering where my next beer will come from. I’m just kidding of course and although my beer consumption has gone up dramatically since living at this park, three is usually my limit which spread over 1-2 hours is really not a lot. Besides, the beer drinking is normally associated with food at the same time. On the plus side, my weight is still the same at 158 lbs. although most of the muscle has turned into flab. 

We sat there for a while just enjoying the peace and quiet before it was time to harness up and go out walking again. This time, I was in better shape as the pills kicked in to help the pain in my hip and we managed to cover 1.8 miles for the day. Incidentally, the weather never got much above 50 degrees all day and was very windy which added to the coolness. 

Back in the RV, I received a message from Daniel to come over to the Commons and eat another of Malinda’s wonderful meals. I had to turn down a second helping as the first filled me up. This time, she cooked Bow Tie Festival with chicken and shrimp.  

We sat enjoying the food until most of the visitors left and among the last to leave was James, the Park Owner, who had joined us. This time, he did not have his wife and kids with him and the one that stole my hat for the evening before, was not there. 

With everyone gone, Daniel and Malinda, Jeff and Terri and me, stayed behind talking for quite a while just really chatting about nothing in particular until, eventually, we shut up shop or rather closed the Commons doors on the end of another fun day. 

Written 11/21/2023. Read my other blog at https://pondblog2011.com