May 1, 2016 – Wildwood, Florida
Our service advisor, Will, came out to look at the refrigerator in the morning. He asked if the fridge was leaking ammonia. We don’t smell any. Then he said you don’t always smell it and told us about a motorhome they had here in the shop that caught on fire from leaking ammonia. That got Andy worried. I said the back end of the fridge is only a couple years old; we had that repair done in Suffolk, Virginia. Will suggested replacing the RV fridge with a household one. I’d rather not spend so much money if we are going to trade in the motorhome within the year. I’m voting for a repair, if needed. Today, Andy decided that the fridge was probably acting up because our inverter was bad. We just got that replaced last week.
He did convince us that it is about time to start looking for a newer motorhome. Sao is a 2006. So, we ended up spending a good part of the day looking at motorhomes with salesman Dean. I even test drove two of them. But, they were too much money. Today I told Dean that I would rather buy a motorhome that is two or three years old and not have such large payments. I didn’t see anything I liked better than Sao. It is extremely stressful for me to consider large purchases. My gut was in knots.
Here is Sao parked in our space in the service department campground.
Late in the day, Dean wanted to show us a motorhome that I would love. And, I did. The problem was that it was gas and we want diesel. There is no rush. We can take or time and shop around until I find one that meets my requirements and is in our price range.
The day was hot. We waited until evening to take a nice walk when it was cooler. We got lucky as there were no mosquitoes. I was delighted to see some Passion Flowers. They remind me of my childhood stays with my grandparents in North Carolina. Passion flowers grew along the roadsides.
Occasionally Andy will point out something for me to photograph. This evening, he pointed to the view between the Live Oak Trees. It did make a nice picture. The Spanish moss is heavy in this part of Florida.
I love this Live Oak in front of the Alliance Coach building.
Dinata Misovec 
Gorgeous pictures! Hope your fridge is ok
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I think Andy has come around to assuming it will be OK.
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oh good!
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I hope all gets fixed as soon as possible to get you on the road. The pictures, however, are incredible!
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Thanks.
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I love being out on the road with you, Dinata. Hugs, Marina
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So nice to have you along Marina!
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Great post, I was in Wildwood, Florida about a year ago. Thanks, hope your day is a happy one! 🙂
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I was happy to get out of Alliance Coach witht he shirt on my back!
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I hope the motorhome situation is resolved soon, Dinata. Love that passion flower! I’ve never seen them before ~ so unique.
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I love the passion flowers too. I saw a lot of them as a child visiting my rural grandparents in North Carolina. Now that I am back on line I am going to look up some of the mythology (or significance) of the flowers. Here is what WikiPedia says:
Etymology and names[edit]
The “Passion” in “passion flower” refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion:[citation needed]
Blue passion flower (P. caerulea) showing most elements of the Christian symbolism
The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance.
The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ.
The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (excluding St. Peter the denier and Judas Iscariot the betrayer).
The flower’s radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns.
The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail
The 3 stigmas represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).
The blue and white colors of many species’ flowers represent Heaven and Purity.
The flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe since that time. In Spain, it is known as espina de Cristo (“Christ’s thorn”). Older Germanic names[22] include Christus-Krone (“Christ’s crown”), Christus-Strauss (“Christ’s bouquet”[23]), Dorn-Krone (“crown of thorns”), Jesus-Lijden (“Jesus’ passion”), Marter (“passion”[24]) or Muttergottes-Stern (“Mother of God’s star”[25]).
Outside the Christian heartland, the regularly shaped flowers have reminded people of the face of a clock. In Israel they are known as “clock-flower” (שעונית) and in Greece as “clock plant” (ρολογιά); in Japan too, they are known as tokeisō (時計草, “clock plant”). In Hawaiian, they are called lilikoʻi;[26] lī is a string used for tying fabric together, such as a shoelace, and liko means “to spring forth leaves”.[27]
In India, blue passionflowers are called Krishnakamala in Karnataka and Maharashtra, while in Uttar Pradesh and generally north it is colloquially called “Paanch Paandav”. The flower’s structure lends itself to the interpretation along the lines of five Pandavas, the Divine Krishna at centre, and the opposing hundred at the edges. The colour blue is moreover associated with Krishna as colour of his aura.
Passiflora ‘Soi Fah’ aka Krishnakamala in India
In northern Peru and Bolivia, the banana passionfruits are known as tumbos. This is one possible source of the name of the Tumbes region of Peru.
In Turkey shape of the flowers have reminded people of Rota Fortunae thus it called Çarkıfelek.
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Wow, I had no idea. I don’t believe they grow around here, in Minnesota. Truly an interesting-looking flower with a fascinating backstory to match. Thanks so much for the info, Dinata!
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You are welcome!
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Good luck on the motor home decisions. Love the passion flower – haven’t seen one in years.
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Yay! We’re sticking with the old one.
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Beautiful pictures! I hope things can be repaired on your motor home. I can understand the knots in your guts feeling. I am the same way.
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I resisted, but really love the new refrigerator now that all is said and done!
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