Naples, The Beach, and Pier
Monday, Naples.
I think this is the longest we’ve been in one place so far on the trip — and probably about as long as we’ll spend anywhere on the trip. After a wonderful evening with J.C. And Nancy we had the day to ourselves.
So we cleaned up the trailer — especially the fridge which as a “cooler” with no circulation was starting to smell a little funky. Then we headed out with the best intentions to visit Koreshan State Park in Estero, Florida about 45 minutes north of our camp between Fort Myers and North Naples. Koreshan is a preserved village of a 19th century Christian cult. We were almost there when the fridge repair tech called. He had been scheduled to come tomorrow but was available to come in an hour. There’s a major weather system arriving here tomorrow and we’re expecting 5-8cm of rain and we want the fridge fixed as soon as we can. So we cranked it back around and headed back for the trailer. Koreshan will have to wait.
As we arrived back at the park Lorraine noticed a food-truck parked near the community area so while we waited for Mobile Trailer Repair to show up I grabbed Tacos and some Nacho Chips for Lorraine and I to have for lunch. Good authentic Mexican Tacos. I haven’t had those for a while!
The repair guy arrived at the same time that our lunch did so I alternated mouthfuls helping the guy to understand the problem and what has happened so far. He got on the phone with Norcold and then explained why he could help... He’s a Norcold “dealer” but not authorized to receive parts and because, apparently, they don’t pay him he doesn’t do warranty work for them. Pretty bogus really — out $150 bucks. But at least he had convinced Norcold of the part that needed to be replaced. Armed with that knowledge I got on the phone. To Norcold, to Jayco, to the half-dozen additional repair techs that Norcold recommended. One nice lady told me that they couldn’t help until at least the middle of next week but suggested others who might be better positioned. Hours of phone calls and e-mails later I found one dealer who was willing to order the part based on my triage and the tech who came in today. He’ll call tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath. This is a little bit like getting a car fixed back in the 60’s in a rural area. If the guy didn’t have a used part in his junk-yard you were going to have to wait... Ordinarily, we’d just leave the trailer with the dealer and they’d order the part and then send the trailer back with us until the part arrives. This works fine — unless you’re travelling. South Florida complicates things because it’s high season. The itinerant guys have started to go back ( yes, several of the trailer techs I spoke to winter here and then go back north to their more permanent business locations) and the snowbirds are all getting things fixed before they head north. I never imagined getting this fixed would be so difficult.
While this was going on I took the cookie dough we had in the fridge and that was getting a little soggy from the “cooler effect” and made 8 cookies... And then I ate about 6 of the 8 — stress eating, definitely not ready to go back to work! ( Lorraine ate the other two — although the lack of “settlement” due to the fridge makes her anxiety worse than dealing with repair guys does mine... ). It should just be an annoyance but really — if this was a home fridge it would have been fixed again 10 days ago.
That issue settled for the night we walked the dogs and headed down-town. Lorraine wanted a margarita by the water and I wanted a walk on the pier. We’re not terribly far from old Naples so finally on this trip after two weeks we made it to the beach! We parked on 3rd Ave S which is about a km north of the pier and parked and walked down the beach, along the pier and back. I love the ocean, Lorraine loves the beach, I love fishing piers and Lorraine loves people watching — much better way to wind back down than bad chocolate chip cookies.
I thought this bird was a least fly catcher, not so sure its not a mockingbird...
There were lots of Brown Pelicans on the pilings near 3rd Avenue. Brown Pelicans and the beach always remind me of my Mother. If we all have a totem animal these are hers. Like the pelican my Mom could be beautiful and graceful while ungainly and awkward all the same contradicatory time.
A cool sand sculpture half-way to the pier.
Lorraine on the Beach
An Osprey ( I think — I’ve seen a hundred Osprey’s but never this close)
After the truly wonderful walk — you could see the storms approaching out over the gulf. We headed over to the historic section of Naples and had dinner at The Parrot next to Tin City. We both had great Grouper Sandwiches — my favourite south Florida food — and they were perfect. Perfect cook on the fish, nice tartar sauce, fresh bun. And their Margaritas weren’t bad either.
And now we’re back in the trailer — content and waiting on the storms; 4 more days in Naples!
I think this is the longest we’ve been in one place so far on the trip — and probably about as long as we’ll spend anywhere on the trip. After a wonderful evening with J.C. And Nancy we had the day to ourselves.
So we cleaned up the trailer — especially the fridge which as a “cooler” with no circulation was starting to smell a little funky. Then we headed out with the best intentions to visit Koreshan State Park in Estero, Florida about 45 minutes north of our camp between Fort Myers and North Naples. Koreshan is a preserved village of a 19th century Christian cult. We were almost there when the fridge repair tech called. He had been scheduled to come tomorrow but was available to come in an hour. There’s a major weather system arriving here tomorrow and we’re expecting 5-8cm of rain and we want the fridge fixed as soon as we can. So we cranked it back around and headed back for the trailer. Koreshan will have to wait.
As we arrived back at the park Lorraine noticed a food-truck parked near the community area so while we waited for Mobile Trailer Repair to show up I grabbed Tacos and some Nacho Chips for Lorraine and I to have for lunch. Good authentic Mexican Tacos. I haven’t had those for a while!
The repair guy arrived at the same time that our lunch did so I alternated mouthfuls helping the guy to understand the problem and what has happened so far. He got on the phone with Norcold and then explained why he could help... He’s a Norcold “dealer” but not authorized to receive parts and because, apparently, they don’t pay him he doesn’t do warranty work for them. Pretty bogus really — out $150 bucks. But at least he had convinced Norcold of the part that needed to be replaced. Armed with that knowledge I got on the phone. To Norcold, to Jayco, to the half-dozen additional repair techs that Norcold recommended. One nice lady told me that they couldn’t help until at least the middle of next week but suggested others who might be better positioned. Hours of phone calls and e-mails later I found one dealer who was willing to order the part based on my triage and the tech who came in today. He’ll call tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath. This is a little bit like getting a car fixed back in the 60’s in a rural area. If the guy didn’t have a used part in his junk-yard you were going to have to wait... Ordinarily, we’d just leave the trailer with the dealer and they’d order the part and then send the trailer back with us until the part arrives. This works fine — unless you’re travelling. South Florida complicates things because it’s high season. The itinerant guys have started to go back ( yes, several of the trailer techs I spoke to winter here and then go back north to their more permanent business locations) and the snowbirds are all getting things fixed before they head north. I never imagined getting this fixed would be so difficult.
While this was going on I took the cookie dough we had in the fridge and that was getting a little soggy from the “cooler effect” and made 8 cookies... And then I ate about 6 of the 8 — stress eating, definitely not ready to go back to work! ( Lorraine ate the other two — although the lack of “settlement” due to the fridge makes her anxiety worse than dealing with repair guys does mine... ). It should just be an annoyance but really — if this was a home fridge it would have been fixed again 10 days ago.
That issue settled for the night we walked the dogs and headed down-town. Lorraine wanted a margarita by the water and I wanted a walk on the pier. We’re not terribly far from old Naples so finally on this trip after two weeks we made it to the beach! We parked on 3rd Ave S which is about a km north of the pier and parked and walked down the beach, along the pier and back. I love the ocean, Lorraine loves the beach, I love fishing piers and Lorraine loves people watching — much better way to wind back down than bad chocolate chip cookies.
I thought this bird was a least fly catcher, not so sure its not a mockingbird...
There were lots of Brown Pelicans on the pilings near 3rd Avenue. Brown Pelicans and the beach always remind me of my Mother. If we all have a totem animal these are hers. Like the pelican my Mom could be beautiful and graceful while ungainly and awkward all the same contradicatory time.
A cool sand sculpture half-way to the pier.
Lorraine on the Beach
An Osprey ( I think — I’ve seen a hundred Osprey’s but never this close)
After the truly wonderful walk — you could see the storms approaching out over the gulf. We headed over to the historic section of Naples and had dinner at The Parrot next to Tin City. We both had great Grouper Sandwiches — my favourite south Florida food — and they were perfect. Perfect cook on the fish, nice tartar sauce, fresh bun. And their Margaritas weren’t bad either.
And now we’re back in the trailer — content and waiting on the storms; 4 more days in Naples!
Pelicans. Yup. They do it to me too. Thanks for the birthday song, btw. I'd know that voice anywhere.
ReplyDeleteDulcet tones, eh? With greatest apologies.
ReplyDelete