Arriving in Ocala, FL (4/29/2023)

Woke up in the middle of the night and edited some web pages on my phone. Persisted enough to get pretty close before getting a bit more sleep. I was awake early and aware that if I left early and made good time I should beat the afternoon thunderstorm to Ocala. Kickstand up at 0715 and down again for gas, coffee and Egg McMuffin at 0830 in Georgia. Some early fog, but the near 70F temps matched my riding gear nicely.

The ride only had one interesting event. While traveling about 75 mph, two cars passing on my left well over 80 found the far left lane blocked by something like a peice of metal siding or pickup truck side. It fully blocked the lane between their lines standing 2 foot high and on edge. Both cars joined me in my lane breifly. The second car tagged the right edge of the metal, making a horible sound, but all three of us continued along our journeys. All wondering what and where that came from and who elses day it might wreck somewhere behind us in the next few moments.

Joining Interstate 95, wasn't the highlight of the trip. Neither was leaving it for a Florida highway with towns, lights and 45 mph sections. Highway 75 was better, and quickly took me south to Ocala and towards the thunder clouds. But they held off until well after I arrived at my step mothers winter home.

I had a key, so getting into the house was not an issue. Nothing smelt good and I needed the car key to go get cleaning supplies. The water bill was high, so the water had been turned off at the main. I turned it on and decided the water leak was at the toilet. Isolating at the toilet valve, so it would be easy to turn on and flush when necessary.

The neighbor had the car key, so I sent a text and eventually called her to get it. My first stop with the car was the dump, to check their hours and that they took matresses and maybe a couch and love seat. Closed sundays, but otherwise it just looks like a long line, might add some cost to the hourly truck rental. Next stop was the nearby Walmart to get some groceries and cleaning supplies, then off to Home Depot for supplies to fix the holes in the screens so I can air out while keeping the lizards, squirels and bugs out too. Ate at Steak & Shake while out. During my ride across Ocala the rain (more like a monsoon) hit. Lots of water on the road and very hard to see, even at full flapping windshield wipers. Glad I wasn't riding in it.

Like a propper old dude I decided to use the toilet upon returning to the house and found the floor wet. Nothing happened when I flushed, so the local water shutoff worked. With the toilet water shutoff opened up I was able to flush it. Now to mop up the water, but where's the mop. I eventually found one, at Publix grocery store a mile down the streat. Obviously my full search of the house and garage for one had failed. With the water mopped up I quickly noticed water by the toilet shutoff valve. So the water main has once again been turned off, until I can go buy a new water valve and toilet. And I thought I just had screens and a door jam to fix on Sunday.

This is my first time at the Ocala residence. When my step mother said "everything is right there", she wasn't kidding. Everything commercialy available is on route 200 just outside their park. Doctors, Lawyers, Golfing, Home improvement, martial arts, planting, Jaguar dealer, every restaurant. I might just hunt down something just to prove there isn't one. Wondering if there is a green coffee been supply store? Google shows many but only 3 look like they at least roast their own green coffee beans, but not sure they sell them green. Might have to check that out after turning on the water and taking a shower.