Why So Quiet????

In case you're wondering, or even if you're not, there's a reason for no blog this past week. As you recall we left Alabama for Orlando to hunt in earnest for our newer motorhome.

  

                                               

Bet you've seen these before, just like us.  Well, that was December 4th when we arrived here.  The search was on.  Hours each day.  Miles and miles.  In and out of decrepit motorhomes that felt more used and beaten up than ours.  But we kept on looking.  Then we went into LaMesa RV in Sanford, Florida, just north of Orlando. 

We met Roger Nolen, a "product representative" of the absolute best caliber.  Larry and Gail had just arrived on Saturday and the next day we all drove up to take a "look see" at what they had in stock.

Every motorhome we saw was clean, not smelly, didn't make your skin crawl and basically a wonderful experience.  The first rig we went into was beautiful and expensive so we drooled and then moved on.

We trudged through new rigs, used rigs and a few potential buys.  But we were exhausted, we'd eaten a free lunch at LaMesa, drank their cokes and bottled water and headed home with a promise to return tomorrow bright and early.

  Okay early with Larry and Gail meant a shocking 7:30 departure, a stop for breakfast and a roll into LaMesa at 9:30.  Well done.  At least it wasn't noon.  We had narrowed our search down to three rigs.  All diesels.

A 2010 Journey Express 39 footer with a 340 Cummins diesel.  Miles 20000. Wonderful floorplan.  Pricey, newest, a Winnebago...a bunk model that would become my sewing room.  Loved it.  Detected rust along the passenger side and a lot under the chassis.  Red flag for the salesman and Bill.

 
Bye bye Journey.

Another choice might be this 2007 40 foot Monaco Diplomat with a 400 Cummins diesel.  This was the least expensive and carried a high probability of being the one.  Loved the exterior color.  Floorplan was very similar to Larry's Atrium.  We test drove this one and tore it apart in a field outside of town.  Found some serious concerns.  Off the list.  Miles, only 25000.

Last diesel under consideration, but pricey is a 2008 Monaco Diplomat, 40 footer with a 400 Cummins diesel.

This is the first one we went into on Saturday.  Black.  I don't want black.


Love the floorplan though.




I mean, who wouldn't.  The hall on the right leads past the full bath with a washer/dryer and into the bedroom.  Four slides.

 Slides in driving down the road.












Larry and Bill must be part monkey.  They climbed up to check out the roof.

Buyer's fear of commitment to a larger than anticipated loan and payments had us retreating and me throwing everything I could into the spokes of progress.  Then Jimmy came on the scene.  The Finance Manager with the big thumb screws had arrived.  First words out of his mouth, along with a hug was "I knew you in another life".  Now I'm wondering who the hell we're dealing with.  He was such a character.  Mr. Positive.  Mr. Wholesome.  Jimmy eh?  I fought for 2 hours while we back peddled to avoid sealing the deal and hoping that he would succumb to my brilliant strategic efforts.  Ha.  He fought harder to make it work. After Jimmy raced off in his golf cart back and forth at least 5 times, we actually had a deal that we could live with. So there you go.  We are the new owners of this 2008 40 foot diesel Monaco Diplomat.  Black/white and all ours.  Okay some bank owns it for a long time first.

Jimmy's parting words were "God wanted you to have this".  It was after we got home and I was reading my book that I noticed the date.  My mom passed away 22 years ago on December 9th.  Thank you mom for your guidance.  I know you're always there.

Just found out we go in Thursday afternoon for a 3 hour walk through and then it's ours to drive back to our site in Clermont.

We will miss you Miss Winnebago.  

You've been good to us.  We've had a wonderful time with you and we send you on your way to make another family happy and keep them safe.

Thanks for sharing this adventure with us Larry and Gail.  You're the best.

We will all return to more interesting adventures in the next weeks.  Now we celebrate with relief that this search is over.  We look forward to many, many years exploring the USA in our new rig, being with friends and meeting new friends. 

This Sunday we go down to Peace River for our week out and then back to Clermont for the holidays.

Merry Christmas to us...a little early but wow!