Week 3

Have you noticed the absence of Week 2?  That is because we were back at the house cleaning it up for the new owners and I got to use my washer and dryer.  Today someone I have never even met is using them.

So, today it was off to the park laundromat and this week I needed all 4 of the itsy bitsy machines.  It was really cold at 7:30 am and most of the time I was there I had to wear my gloves - it is not heated - yikes!  And I didn't realize that I was nearly done with my Kindle book that I was reading so I finished it within the first few minutes with nothing new to read. 

So, I think I will get into this and be fine with it but today I forgot so many things that needed washing.  I forgot to go looking around to find them.  I am so used to being able to wash whenever I needed/wanted to.  I will strive to do better next week.

We moved to a different location at the same park and from here I can see the laundromat parking.  All day yesterday there were cars there.  The park is full for Christmas week.  I think it will begin clearing out tomorrow - New Year's Eve.  Have a good week!

Laundry Memories

Here is an old posting from our cruising days.  You can see that I have laundromat experience!

 

Laundry Memories

 

June 20, 2007, Deale, MD
 

I went to the Laundromat today - the one that I used for 6 months while we were getting TOBIAS ready to go cruising. More than a year has passed since we left here and I was reflecting on different places that I have done my laundry in that time.

Greenwich, RI - At the marina - we were the last boat on the last dock (a really, really long walk) and as I was walking back to the boat carrying all the laundry (all the dock carts were being used) it started to rain. Wet laundry.

Newburyport, MA - A large facility very near the public dock where we were tied. Kirby found a nearby Bagel place for breakfast.

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia - No one told us there was laundry next to the marina. They only told us about the one that was 1 mile away. We strapped all the bags onto the hand truck and walked down the highway, feeling like street bums with all our bags, and then spent $6.00 a load to wash and dry. We would become accustomed to the price.

Mahone Bay - Nova Scotia - Kirby would drop me at the dock with the hand truck and I would walk to the other end of town. The Laundromat was really nice although small. To pay I had to knock on the door of the antique shop next door and tell them how many loads I was doing.

Scituate, MA - A favorite stop for many reasons, Scituate has a Laundromat very near the water taxi landing (no dinghies here). I had to buy a card to operate the machines - guessing at how much it would cost to wash and dry. I still have the card - with about $6.00 credit on it!

Onset, MA - One of my favorites - easy to get to and lots of machines.

Newport, RI - This one was a long walk with Kirby and I both trudging along. At least it was near the liquor store and the grocery. After all the washing and shopping we had to hire a taxi back to the dinghy dock.

Sandy Hook, NJ - Not too far to walk and not too nice a place but it worked. Clean clothes again!

Elizabeth City, NC - A long walk and the worst place of them all. Strange people coming and going and most machines didn't work. I would NEVER go back there!

Jekyll Island, GA - Two nice machines at the marina, near the showers and the caf�. So easy!

No Name Harbor, FL - You have to know where the machines are as the information is not made public. Almost free and so easy to get too. A real treat.

Bimini, Bahamas - This is where I started doing most of my wash by hand. For almost 4 months I went to a Laundromat about 2-3 times. Just call me the Washerwoman!

Georgetown, Bahamas - A very nice Laundromat but very expensive! As were all things in the Bahamas.

Alligator River Marina - Great facility and not too many quarters. Put your wash in and go to the shower. Great stop.

In a few months I will have my own washer and dryer again. What a luxury! When we were living in Mexico and finally got a washing machine (I didn't have a dryer so I was hanging things outdoors), I was so enthusiastic that our neighbor asked Kirby if I was taking in laundry! After doing without, you really appreciate having your own. I will forever appreciate having my own and forever remember my "Laundromat Days!" as some of my best days!

Week 1

First time in over five years.  I didn't want to go but I did it anyway.  I left the RV at about 6:30 AM on Sunday and drove all the way past little rows of RV's to the campground laundromat.  Dark.  Foggy. Quiet.  No one out but me. 

This little laundromat has only 4 washers (much smaller than the ones I had last week at my home) and 2 big dryers.  It was pretty clean and there were lots and lots of magazines with stories and pictures of movie stars I have never heard of and don't care if I ever hear of. 

I only had 3 loads to do - $1.50 each wash.  Not bad.  I got the machines filling with water and stared out at the dark surroundings.  It was still foggy and quiet so I picked up my Kindle and went back to my story.  There must be good water pressure because they filled fast and were done before I knew it. 

Now, how to get the wet clothes from the washer all the way over to the dryer without dropping some and getting them dirty again!  I managed.  It is the small successes in life that make for a good day!

The dryers were 25 cents for 6 minutes.  Six minutes is not much time! I just kept feeding in my quarters.  I also found out that some of our quarters don't weigh enough to trigger the machines.  They are not recognized and get shot right back out.  Cheap money!

Today was a first of many more laundromat visits and hopefully in many new places.  It really didn't hurt at all and was all done in not too much time.

Have a good week!