Celebration

When our friend, Charlie, was staying at a site close to us at Elite, one of the first orders of business was a trip to Ari Sushi in Celebration. It had been quite a while since he and I enjoyed Japanese cuisine together. "G" joined us, and was disappointed that Sesame Chicken was missing from the menu, but he settled for some Chicken Teriyaki instead. I had my doubts about obtaining quality sushi outside of NY, but was very pleased with the rolls we ordered. We had a "Celebration Roll" and a "Mango Tango Roll." There was a third, but I can't remember what it was, but regardless, it was delicious.

Charlie, AKA, Mr. Sushi

This afternoon we made a return trip to the beautiful little town of Celebration, which was created by Walt Disney for the architects, designers and engineers in order for them to be able to live with their families near the future Disney World site. 

It is like stepping back in time to the 1950's. The buildings are all restored and quaint shops line the street. We had a late lunch at the Market Street Cafe, which was really an old fashioned diner with retro chrome accents, linoleum flooring and leather booths with gold tack boarders.

Once Upon A Time, how appros

Cuban Restaurant and red brick road

Believe it or not: Bank of America!

"G" in front of another clock!

Just a pretty fountain in a square

The Post Office of Celebration

At the corner of where we ate lunch

A fabulous water fountain

Wednesday, we had an appointment to take Allie up to Alliance Coach in Wildwood, FL, about an hours drive from our "home" base. Lucy wasn't too thrilled with the trip and it was anything but pleasant for "G" and I. We had to get up at 6 am in order to get the stakes pulled up and arrive there by 8:30 am. We ended up sitting in the parking lot until 2 pm when a tech finally came out to look at the two issues that brought us up there, the broken privacy shade and furnace (tempermental is an understatement) that was not working, yet again. After checking the automatic shade manual ("G" had already done that), calling the manufacturer and then calling Tiffin Motorcoach, the tech determined that it must be the motor, which had been our assumption all along. The tech removed a screw that held the molding against the left windshield and discovered that the gear mechanism was missing two pins, and it needed to be replaced by a part that, you guessed it, needed to be ordered.

Okay, one problem down, next order of business was the furnace. "G" explained everything that he had already done to troubleshoot the problem, but the tech went ahead and did all the same things himself, all to the same result...furnace does not work. He "believes" it is the main circuit board and that part will be ordered as well. Another trip will be required for the installation of the parts once they arrive. It has become obvious that all our problems are electrical in nature, making me wonder if the electrician who wired Allie was working his first (or last) day or was "wired" himself. 

If we strike out with Alliance Coach, my friend, Pauls suggests a side trip to Red Bay, Alabama, where all issues will be addressed by the builders of our Motorcoach. They have a reputation of standing behind their product. We may have to see. A long letter to Bob Tiffin has already been drafted.

Tuesday, we met with Carl, the property manager, who helped us design a layout for our lot. Each site has paving bricks of slightly different colors. Ours is grey and camel and are typical brick shape. Some have squares and some are patterned-shaped stones. I like the fact that they are similar, yet once you create your design and plant trees and shrubs, your site is unique. I've added a photo of tthe lot layout as it will look with the additional pavers. The pattered area indicates additional pavers to the ones that arleady are in the center area...The RV fits with plenty of room on the left side towards the back of the lot. To our left is an open space that we can incorporate as our own, if we want to invest $$ to do so.

Style of pavers. Ours will be grey and camel color, with a grey border.

Today was a rainy day and we decided to get out and do something fun. I chose the Titanic Artifact Museum. We paid $22 per ticket and saw mostly items from the Red Star Line, opposed to original salvaged items from the ship. When you arrived at the museum, your receipt was a boarding ticket that was a description of a person who actually sailed. At the end of the tour, there was a wall where you found your name to see if you survived or not.

I was issued Ticket # 17606, for Mrs. Edward Candee (Helen Churchill Rungerford), a 53 year old woman who was sailing alone, First Class from Cherbourg, her destination was Washington, DC. She was a novelist traveling in Europe doing research for her latest book, Tapestry. She was rushing home to attend to her son, Howard, who had been seriously injured in an automobile crash.

"G" was issued Ticket # 8471, for a Mr. Daniel Danielsen Gronnestad. He was 32 years old and also left out of Cherbourg, but he and Helen probably never met since he travelled Third Class. His destination was Portland, North Dakota, which became home after he immigrated to American with his brother Bertil in 1900. He had been returning alone from his 16th visit to Norway.

Helen survived, but like so many other men aboard the RMS Titanic, Daniel had no chance to board a lifeboat being a man and sailing third class. Seeing the list of names was disturbing and unsettling. After viewing the "Tribute Wall," you entered the gift shop for the Titanic. I had no desire to purchase anything at that point, but it did instill a desire to research the woman on my ticket. What I found was a unique person, quite ahead of her time who divorced her abusive husband and wrote for magazines to support herself and children, then advanced to novels. She became an activist for womens' rights and even marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Novelist, activist and Titanic survivor, Helen Candee

Nosey Nellie.

People watching.

  

Deep thought for the day: Whether you venture across an ocean or just down the street, you never know if it will be your last. Make the most of each venture and take advantage of every adventure.