Another Monday

Well, I'll tell you one thing -- I am still tired! I did get ambitious enough this morning to empty my suitcase and to wash a couple of loads of laundry. It's been breezy enough that with the windows and door open, the clothes dried very quickly. Makes it much easier than those very humid airless days we had a couple of months ago when nothing dried.

We watched our usual morning TV, enjoying The View, Millionaire, and The Chew. Then we got our act together and headed into Kissimmee. Toad is a 2005 Jeep Liberty with 109 thousand miles under his belt. Last week before we checked out the route to the airport, he just didn't want to start. After adding some water to the battery and giving it a jump, we got him going, but it was pretty obvious that the battery was going to need to be replaced. He's had it since he was brand-new (he joined us a year later when the lady who owned him traded him in for a diesel model.).

We -- and some of our friends -- have had such good experiences with Interstate Batteries that I went on-line and searched for a store near us. The closest one turned out to be Tires Plus in Kissimmee. I called them to make sure they had what we needed in stock and to find out if we needed an appointment. I was assured they had the right battery and we were told to "just drop in."

They have at least five bays that were all full when we pulled in. The young woman at the counter was friendly, very efficient and got all of the paperwork done very quickly. We only waited about ten minutes for them to get to the Toad and it was all done within a half hour! They even made sure to check out the battery charge once it was installed as well as the starter and the alternator. They checked the air in the tires and made sure all of the fluids (coolant, washer, transmission, power steering etc.) were at their proper levels -- and then checked to make sure all of the lights were working properly. All of that without any additional charge!

If you're looking for great customer service and products while in the Orlando area, you couldn't find a better place. It's busy -- all the bays were again full when we left -- but they do good work. I think we'll probably drive back that way and get Toad's oil changed before we leave Florida at the end of the month.

Disclaimer - We have no relationship with either Interstate Batteries nor Tires Plus other than as customers.

Auntie Violet Gets New Batteries

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8. 2011

(I was unable to get an Internet connection last night where we were staying at Honey Bear Hollow RV Camp, so am posting this on Sunday.)

Auntie Violet was anxious to make her stop this morning at Interstate Batteries on our way out of Indianapolis --

 Her bank of 6 volt house batteries was exhausted and worn out --

It was already in the high eighties when we got to  the shop and Forry quickly decided that the $75 charge for removing the old batteries and installing the new ones was well worth it --

The tech brought out a cart load of shiny new batteries --

And was Auntie Violet ever happy when they were all safely installed in her battery bay --

While we were at the Interstate Battery store, I also got a new battery installed in my watch!  I saw this on the wall of the shop when I went in to pay for it --

It took about two hours to get the whole job done.  From there we headed out via State Highway 31 towards our Monday appointment in Elkhart.