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Post by jbone on May 8, 2020 7:07:16 GMT -5
Speaking of groceries, in Little Rock area we got used to Kroger. Good brand. across the nation we used Walmart, which is adequate but not high end by any means. When we lived in Tulsa we discovered Reasor's, a more or less local chain that was good. Texas has H-E-B, another fairly high end grocery. With food sensitivities and general health concerns we've come to really care about food quality. So the good news is that Kroger is very close by here.
Weather here currently is cold as hell. And I have some logistic concerns to deal with before we can explore at all. But once we're set I expect we'll be looking around and going in, mask and all.
Even with the perceived negatives so far, I am optimistic that this is going to be a good place to be for the summer season. Weather will warm up and the smaller concerns about getting settled will be dealt with. I think we may already have a lock o a gig too. The GM over this and several other properties here really perked up when I told her what we do. And the fishing should be good! Free pond at the park here and charters on the lake.
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Post by whitefang on May 8, 2020 9:39:56 GMT -5
KROGER? "High end" no doubt. Especially when it comes to PRICES! And 'round these parts, the Krogers I've gone to had far worse produce and dairy and at higher prices than Meijer's and even Aldi. And the only time I hit a Walmart grocery is when I need restock of the Cream Of Wheat with the 1 minute cook time. For some reason the Meijer's I shop quit carrying it in favor of the 2 1/2 minute cook time. Not that I can't spare an extra minute in time, but as I'm an "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of guy, I don't see the sense of changing something I've used for over 40 years for no intelligent sounding reason. And that goes for how I've done certain things too.
Whitefang
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Post by earleg on May 9, 2020 14:25:53 GMT -5
Kroger stores can really vary apparently. The 2 closest here are very good overall but there are some others that are so so and are getting or are . worn out . I use the digital coupons which automatically apply when my Kroger card is scanned. So far YTD have saved $113 plus used a lot of gas points. I still buy certain things at Walmart or Sam's that have a slightly better price. Where each one has a better price on some items they usually make up for it on other things. One thing they all do is when there is a price increase they advertise a sale at the former price then next week revert to the new higher price.  |
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Post by earleg on May 9, 2020 14:41:01 GMT -5
In Ohio one of the main supermarkets are Giant Eagle ones. You can look on the map for some close by. Those are pretty much like a Kroger type but
with their own format and layout. I've shopped at one in the Pittsburgh area when visiting and okay. They also have apparently a smaller version
called Getgo.
In Pittsburghese, Giant Eagle = Ghant-Egg-L, Yinz!
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Post by jbone on May 9, 2020 16:15:00 GMT -5
True Fang, the older Krogers are not so good. But like in Little Rock Kroger built 2 new superstores that were great and then with coupons they beat the hell out of everybody. Plus gas points. There's a Kroger and a Walmart in range here so that's the choices.
We aren't yuppies or anything but quality food translates to less health issues. If a store carries Boar's Head meats we're all good.
Earle, we're at Marblehead. You?
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2020 18:57:46 GMT -5
Krogers in this area are Fry's Market. Nice stores, we go there for some stuff here and there.
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Post by whitefang on May 10, 2020 9:47:33 GMT -5
Kroger recently took over the structure in neighboring Southgate, MI that used to be a "big box" K-Mart for several years. Still no improvement on prices or quality. Just bigger. Plus, people also prefer some places over others for different reasons. For instance...
Both me and my wife required handicapped parking. And easier access to the store. All the closest Walmarts to us had the screwiest parking lots in regard to handicapped spaces. And once in the front door, a still arduous(for us anyway) trip from there to the actual store entry. And woefully sparse on the powered Amigo type scooters. And BTW...The Meijer's I patronize was a previous K-Mart up until the corporate screw up in 2002 or so, and closed up and moved to the "Big box" site I mentioned that's now a Kroger. Meijer's took over the Lincoln Park K-Mart site less than a year later. What sucked for a while was....
We had a bank account with GREAT LAKES BANK which we opened when it was located just aside of the K-Mart entrance. After a few years it became TCF bank, and when the K-Mart closed and left, we had to go several miles to the TCF branch in Redford, MI to do any banking(as I limit anything I do in that respect on line). After a couple of years, TCF finally opened a new branch in next door Southgate, MI in front of the Meijer's store there, which we never shopped at due to the aforementioned one being much closer and laid out better(to us) than the Southgate location.
Whitefang
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Post by earleg on May 11, 2020 15:04:46 GMT -5
True Fang, the older Krogers are not so good. But like in Little Rock Kroger built 2 new superstores that were great and then with coupons they beat the hell out of everybody. Plus gas points. There's a Kroger and a Walmart in range here so that's the choices. We aren't yuppies or anything but quality food translates to less health issues. If a store carries Boar's Head meats we're all good. Earle, we're at Marblehead. You? I'm here at home in Hendersonville TN, jbone, but am familiar with areas in Ohio and PA from past travels, visits and so on. I grew up mainly in Pittsburgh until I was 20 but still visit occasionally and usually travel through Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia when we do. Years back in the corporate world of sorts would fly into Cleveland as closer to a company location in Dubois PA. In the youth years traveled to Penn State main and other campuses, state parks, Lake Erie, other towns/cities and so on. Here in Hendersonville we have Walmart, Sam's, Kroger, Publix, Aldi and a some smaller ones like Whole Foods and Cash Saver. |
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Post by jbone on May 11, 2020 17:55:38 GMT -5
I was just curious Earle. Thought we might possibly be neighbors! This area is just north and west of Sandusky so between Cleveland and Toledo. We can see the lake from our window. Marblehead is just down the road here and Port Clinton is 15 minutes west. A lot of lake related businesses, marinas, boat storage, RV parks and motels, bars and restaurants, as well as a place I'm itchy to visit- The Cheese House, 125 varieties of cheese. And another one, Letty's Chili Dogs. Total gunk but damn!
I discovered a big variety type store yesterday, part Ace Hardware and part fairly nice grocery, Basset's. I was in for a hose and insulation last weekend and wife suggested I look at their RV stuff for a toilet valve yesterday- which they had, only one in town. Which I needed. Cashier told me to check out the other side of the store and it was a decent grocery!
Had a sister who lived in Findlay Ohio, near Dayton, in the 80's for a time but that was my only experience with Ohio until we came up here. Google put us north from Indy and east on I-24, mixed use highway featuring controlled access AND regular intersections out in farm country.
I check opportunities to "workamp"- work a few hours a week in lieu of a spot with hookups- and this one came up a couple years in a row. It's a kind of casual labor swap situation benefitting people like us who are full time on the road, and park owners who are looking for people to help take care of properties. I send out resume, cover letter, and all to a lot of places in areas we'd like to be for a season and these folks responded. We did a phone interview and email conversation and agreed on hours and start/finish dates and here we came. We've been to northern Cal, North Carolina, NY state, and Vermont, not to mention a couple gigs in Texas doing this. I do housekeeping or front desk/store 25 or 30 hours a week. Some are paid, most are not and you just work for the site, less hours usually. With the motel part still not open here I'll be mowing some as well. Zero Turn, easy gig.
Jo and I do well in coastal areas, northern Cal was good for us in '17, and last year we ran around the Florida Panhandle playing a few places, and had a cheap place to hook up the trailer. A year ago we were looking for gigs north of Myrtle Beach SC when Jo fell and fractured a vertebra. After some months of healing we moved to the Champlain Islands where I had a work gig and we played a few places there. Different than most places. Farmers markets, farm burger stand, farm wood fired pizza night, and a pub in town. Winter saw us pulling into Bandera Tx so I could work at a park there, and we'd just got a foot hold when the Crapola19 hit and the remaining gigs dissolved. We moved to Fredericksburg Tx for about 6 weeks and I think we'll be going back there for winter. Much more opportunity to play around there, it's wine country and there are everything from wineries to road houses and restaurants both in town and out a ways, We were about 10 minutes from Luckenbach. This area looks like good gig territory. Between Marblehead and Port Clinton there are probably at least 2 or 3 dozen places that hire musicians. IF the season can recover enough in the next couple of months, I think we'll do well. Things here, like other states, are officially opening back up, with protocols in place and caution. I'm hoping it will loosen up enough to need our services soon.
It was a 1500 mile tow from where we were. We have an easy tow, 26' travel trailer and full size truck to pull with. Still, a couple of 400+ mile days and a couple 300+ did wear us down a lot. We're beginning to feel rested again finally and now if the weather will warm up we'll be doing great! We may get to fish some here too. Park pond and possible walleye/smallmouth bass charters one or twice.
We're going to do this until we can't any more. Then either a piece of land with hookups or just sell off the truck and trailer and find something more traditional to live. Hopefully somewhere we can play gigs!
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Post by jbone on May 13, 2020 22:32:50 GMT -5
Jo pointed out that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is about 75 minutes east of here in Cleveland. Once it opens we're going babay!
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Post by earleg on May 17, 2020 15:59:29 GMT -5
There is an aircraft and vehicle museum nearby your location in Port Clinton. It is on the peninsula along with several parks. It is likely still closed but who knows, may reopen soon. Liberty Aviation Museum. |
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Post by jbone on May 17, 2020 18:28:28 GMT -5
Jo saw that on google today, we took a drive around Catawba a bit.
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Post by jbone on May 17, 2020 22:54:17 GMT -5
Things are about to reopen I think. campgrounds- this one included- open in 4 days. There have been a few essential campers have been here and the seasonal folks who rent their spots for the year have been coming out to lean up and get ready for the summer. We start getting the motel ready tomorrow, it's been closed all winter of course. Some campsites need a little attention but they are close to ready.
I'm hoping to get a non resident fishing license and get on some good cold water fish while we're here! This area is big fishing territory.
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Post by whitefang on May 18, 2020 9:21:15 GMT -5
What's the usual catches there?
Whitefang
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Post by earleg on May 18, 2020 14:24:55 GMT -5
What's the usual catches there? Whitefang I'll guess walleye is popular. |
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