Arrival at MacDill Air Force Base

Sunshine Bridge

March 1st - Thursday Hot - Breaking Heat Records 86 degrees

We arrived at MacDill Air Force Base on the 28th of February. As Estee and I sat in the RV, awaiting Lou’s return from the office to tell us where we would be assigned, I prayed that I would have the grace to accept the assignment that we would receive. Knowing that there was a very good chance we would have to dry camp for a few days. I had made sure all of the laundry was done us along with the ironing and the RV had been cleaned, so I was prepared for the worst, I thought.

Lou returned with the news, it would be six days of dry camping in an open field with no shade and we had made the joint decision before leaving Pennsylvania that we would not spend the extra money and purchase a generator as we wouldn’t dry camp this year. We left the office towing the car and found a spot that was close to a paved street that we could pull into and then disconnect the car, it would be close, but our awning would nearly touch the 5th wheeler next to us. When we camp with our friends Lew and Joanne, we park that way intentionally, that way giving each other shade and protection.

We started to disconnect the car and a lovely lady in the next row came over and introduced herself to us and offered to help us, she is from Columbus, Ohio. We all chatted and lou and I continued the process of setting up and eventually took Estee outside along with our chairs. Lou and I always sit facing each other when we sit and read and it wasn’t long before our neighbors in the 5th wheeler returned home. We spoke to them and “Mr. and Mrs. Bear” grunted to us, as they went into their unit. In a few minutes “Mr. Bear” came out and growled that we were pretty close to them and then “ Mrs. Bear” approached us and told us we HAD to move immediately. Lou and I looked at each other and neither of us said a word, too stunned to speak. “Mr. and Mrs.” Bear got in their truck and left…… Lou and I got up and walked around and finally decided we would go to the back row near the storage of the boats and RV’s and the dirt roads and park there, so we packed up again and moved. So here we are.

Now I tell you that really upset me to think that an elderly, military couple would be that nasty to another elderly, military couple. We talked about it during the evening and neither of us slept well that evening and we prayed for the couple that evening at dinner. Today, God let us know that He still has his sense of humor, as “Mr. and Mrs. Bear’s” number to transfer to a site with water and electricity came up guess where they where put? Yep, back row (dirt) across from us. When I saw them pull in, I couldn’t help it, I was sitting in the sun reading, and I threw my hands in the air and said “God’s sense of humor is alive and well”. The first thing “Mrs. Bear” did was get the hose out and water down the dirt road!!

It hasn’t been all that bad, except we can’t go anyplace, because it is so terribly hot and we can’t leave Estee inside. There is a breeze, so we sit outside with her and she enjoys that, and we love to sit and read.

We have each gotten our hair cut and we got our groceries early in the morning, before it starts to get hot. Lou got water added to all of the batteries today. He also went to the office to make arrangements for while we are gone to driving school so we don’t lose our number in rotation. When we return we should have a space with full hookups.

Internet access is very limited. I thought I would do posts and take them with me to Lazy Days and post them while we are there. So they may all appear at one time. We only turn on the generator for Lou to see the news in the morning and to cook our dinner in the evening and for the evening news. We did get to enjoy NCIS on Tuesday evening and will watch our favorite programs on Friday evening.

By the way gasoline on the base is $3.62.9 which seemed pretty good compared to what we had been paying, we paid $3.84 prior to getting