Bright and Shiny

I wish I was still feeling the frustration that I felt earlier today because then you could feel like you were there with me.  I have recovered and my laundry is done for the week and I am relaxing – but that wasn’t the case earlier today.

I used the public showers at our RV park this morning and when I finished I checked out the Laundromat.  It was empty and shiny and bright and clean.  What a pleasure!  I went back to the rig and began to sort my dirty laundry and collect my quarters and detergent.  Then I enlisted the help of my husband to carry it over to the Laundromat.  Darn, I had 3 loads and in my absence someone had put their laundry in and there were only 2 empty machines.  I grumbled and groaned and then excused my assistant.

I opened the two machines and loaded them up, knowing I would have to come back later to start the remaining bag of dirty laundry.  Then I started trying to figure out where and how to insert the quarters.  It didn’t take too long to realize that quarters were not used.  I started reading every sign in the room that I could find and finally I saw it - instructions telling me that I had to go to the main office and buy a special card to use.  So, my 2 loads were ready to go and I had to leave them and walk all the way to the office.  When I walked away I saw someone heading there with his arms loaded with bedding.  I sort of panicked that he would take mine out and put his in.

The lady in the office said I would have to pay a deposit of $5 just to use the card plus whatever I thought I would need for my wash.  I purchased a card.

When I got back, my luck had changed.  The man with the bedding was nowhere in sight and someone had moved their clothes into the dryers so now I had 3 machines to use and all was right with the world again. 

I really need to learn to just have fun with this laundry stuff. It all works out.

Cross Town Laundry

Meridian, MS

We are staying in an RV park that we didn't plan to be in and also didn't plan to stay so long.  Our plans changed, the place we wanted couldn't fit us in so we came here.  We tried to leave but got stuck in one of their muddy sink holes.  So here we are and I couldn't put off doing the laundry any longer...I was running out of clothes.

So Kirby helped me load up the clothes and we went to the RV Park laundromat.  When we found it, there was a sign on the door stating the machines were broken and to use their second laundry building.  We followed the directions and when we got there, there were only 2 washers that worked.  I had 4 loads to do.  So, on to Plan B.  We returned home, got on the intranet and looked up laundromats in the area.

I made a list of 3 or 4 and we got in the truck and I plugged the first one into the GPS.  Four miles later we were driving in circles looking for this little place.  GPS kept telling us we were there but we still couldn't find it.  Finally, we were pointed the right direction to be able to see it!


It really wasn't too bad.  A little cramped and expensive but the machines worked fine and when I got home and went through my stuff I had 2 more hand towels than I went there with.  I have no idea where they came from.

Open Air!

A new Laundromat today!!  We are at the KOA in Ladson, SC and glad that it is a warm day.  As you can see from the picture, this laundromat is pretty much open air!  There were enough machines but none of the dryers matched and they were pretty old.  It was amazingly uneventful doing my four loads and I was grateful for the folding table - which was covered with yellow pollen!  Our RV is parked just across the road so it was easy to get there and no one to wait on.  In and out in an hour.  Pretty cool!  But did I mention that I spent $14 on those 4 loads of wash?!

Last Time at Oak Plantation

We have an appointment tomorrow and on Saturday we will be leaving Oak Plantation Campground and going to Buck Hall Recreation Center where there is no laundromat.  So today I knew I had better do the wash.

We ran errands in the morning and then after lunch I asked Kirby to help me take the bags of dirty clothes over.  It is close and we can walk but I couldn't carry it all.  He was in the middle of taxes and asked for a few more minutes.  In that few minutes the same lady as last week showed up at the laundromat (I can see it from my RV).  I know she leaves and doesn't come back very soon.  So we decided to wait a few more minutes and darned if someone else didn't show up so I missed my opportunity!

Kirby had an appointment today also (for a massage!) so he helped me out and then left.  I finally got it all going in 3 machines and there was only one washer ahead of me now for the 2 dryers.  Her load was about finished so I gave her extra time and then went to put my wash in the dryers only to find out that she had feed lots and lots of quarters into her dryer and left for an hour to an hour and a half!  More waiting.

So - laundry took extra time today!  And when I did finally finish, Kirby was still gone so I had to make two trips carrying all the nice clean clothes.  Not an exciting story - just what happens when you use a laundromat!

Week 4

Not a thing to report!  Laundry was laundry.  Only exciting thing that happened this week was the appearance of Kirby and Jake in my doorway while I was reading.  Scared the heck out of me!  I went during mid day and decided I liked it much better than first thing in the morning.  First thing in the morning is a rather depressing way to begin a day!  And - Kirby promised to do the sheets during the week so I didn't do them.  One less load!  Ah, the simple pleasures!  See you next week!

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!