Florida Mini-Trip 2021

This is really not a gripe session.  I am not trying to be negative.  I am just documenting this year's Florida trip.  Last year we came to Florida in February.  We had completely reserved our entire trip early and had no worries.  Then COVID came.  We got kicked out of all our Florida State campgrounds and ended up returning to OHIO.

This year, we didn't make any reservations, because who knows what was going to happen.  But right about mid February, we started hoping.  COVID antivirus shots were taken and we were still alive.  So during March, we started planning.  


So, the first order of business was the trailer and making it road worthy.  Upon looking at the tires, I noticed a tire looked worn and needed to be replaced.  The dates on the tires were over 6 years old on all but one.  That means replacement.  So the only tire that wasn't too old was a Goodyear Marathon.  



So I started looking up reliability of the Goodyear Marathon on the Internet.  Not good.  Many reviews online suggested that immediate replacement was advised even if the tire was brand new.  Suggested replacement was a Goodyear Endurance.  Every tire I had was made in China.  The Endurance was made in the good old USA.  

May 10, 2021

I was able to schedule the tire replacement on Monday, May 10, 2021.  As long as we were buying tires, I decided to buy a rim and put on the best Carlisle tire as a spare. Next problem, no rim until Tuesday.  That day was supposed to be devoted to packing.  

May 11, 2021

Because the sun came out, I was able to get the trailer's new rim and spend the afternoon with Russ, cutting down the planks. But no packing.  No way we are leaving.

May 12, 2021

This is supposed to be the day we leave.  Not happening.  Next issue was the sanitizing the tank.  Each year, when the fresh water tank is filled after winter, the tank needs sanitizing.  This is done by adding a certain amount of bleach in the water and allowing it to stand for a period of 4 hours.  



This is no big deal, but since we aren't leaving in the morning, not packed, I decided to allow it to sit overnight.  My directions in the Airstream manual said to fill and flush the tank until the Clorox no longer smelled.  Did I know that the new Clorox doesn't have the sodium hypochlorite smell anymore?

Water Pump Access - It's there.

Another problem.  The water pump turns on, and pumps, but it shuts off and then shortly turns back on.  Turns off, then back on.  Ok, need to determine the fix.  Appears that the water has a lot of  air.  My idea was the pump was sucking air while sucking water.  So connections to the water line and outflow were redone.  Found the outflow connection did not have teflon tape.  I wonder who did that?  Since I am the only one that has worked on the trailer, we must have ghosts.  That fixed the water pump problem. On to the next. 

So, if you didn't hear, there was a ransomware affecting the Southeast gasoline distribution lines.  People were hoarding gas and many stations were empty.  It was supposed to be solved by the weekend, but what do I do in the meantime.  

OK, we can carry extra cans.  I have two five gallon cans that I use for the lawnmower.  But they are tall and tipable.  As a matter of fact, on the way back from filling at the gas station, one was on its side.  So a means to keep them upright was in order.

It only took 4 hours to plan and build.  No way we are leaving in the morning.

Part 1 Florida Mini-Trip 2021

Part 2 We're off to the South.

Part 3  Arrived Georgia 

Part 4 Ahhh! Southern Living

Part 5 Onto the 'Real' Florida





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