January 22, 2006 (Sun)
Englewood, FL to La Belle, FL (85/1545 miles)
This was a travel day but we took our time getting ready to go. Among other things, Q had to be reloaded with all the things we'd off-loaded last Sunday and piece by piece during the week. At 9:45 we said good bye to Bom and Frannie (hard, but softened by knowing we would be back in a few weeks) and headed south on SR776 toward Punta Gorda where signs of the 2004 hurricanes are still apparent. We stopped for groceries in Port Charlotte and for gas in Punda Gorda.
On the way to this campground, we stopped at W.P.Franklin Campground a few miles east of Fort Myers - very small and crowded but nicely maintained. There were no sites available, which we expected, so we came on to Ortona South Campground several miles to the east. We got here at about 2:30 (83°) to find the campground booked solid also - through the end of March. But since we're small there was one available site, half of a "buddy site", if we didn't mind being close to another camper. We are sharing the site with a nice couple from Maine in a pickup camper.
Q028773 Ortona South Campground. #46 e/w $10.00g A
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January 23, 2006 (Mon) Ortona South Campground (2) - Although larger than W.P.Franklin, this campground is also quite small. There are 51 campsites spread along a quarter mile of waterway connecting Lake Okeechobee with the Gulf of Mexico. One of several locks build by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers is also located here. Although the road and other campsites are between us and the channel, we can see the boat traffic moving up and down the waterway. Opposite is a large expanse of flat Florida landscape splattered with occasional palm trees and cattle. It's beautiful today, a sunny 85°, with big puffy white clouds. It's a good day to get a sunburn so we're being careful.
There is an armadillo living in a hole under the hedge near our picnic table. He (or she) is quite small, perhaps a youth just setting up housekeeping. We see him occasionally scrounging for grubs around the grounds. Cute little guy! From the bridge crossing a small stream that divides the campground in half we watched two otters slithering in and out of the water. They appeared to be hunting for food but had no interest at all in the 20 or so turtles warming themselves on the rocks along the stream.
People observation: The rest rooms are no further than a few hundred yards away from any campsite, but there are a surprising number of people who use their cars to get there.
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January 24, 2006 (Tue) Ortona South Campground (3) - We almost over did the sun yesterday! We were both a little red last night and this morning - Mark more so than Joy, as always. It was quite foggy this morning but it had burned off by about 10:00. The day was devoted to reading and watching the armadillo while following the the shadows around the campsite - to avoid more sunburn. Across the fields we could see the smoke from fires burning off of the sugar cane fields. At times the flames were high enough for us to see them.
In the evening we played RummiKub. Joy won!
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January 25, 2006 (Wed)
La Belle, FL to Ochopee, FL (89/1632 miles)
Before taking off this morning, we walked out to the main road and back - 3 1/2 miles total - providing entertainment for the cattle lounging in the fields along the way. The horns of these animals varied widely, from none to very long. There was a cow with one horn curving up and the other curving forward giving her a rakish look. After showering and eating breakfast we snuck out of our campsite as quietly as we could - after accidentally setting off Q's panic alarm!
State Route 29 down through south Florida is almost dead straight. Only occasionally did Q's steering wheel come in handy. Traffic was light most of the way. What there was seemed to be mostly trucks hauling huge loads of oranges. Among the driving hazards on this route is the possibility of hitting an endangered Florida Panther - although we wondered how likely that might be since there were only 30 of them left as one sign informed us.
Big Cypress National Preserve has one dump station for all its 5 or 6 campgrounds. Although we didn't need to dump, having done so before starting out, we did need to take on water. The water at Ortona South Campground was heavily chlorinated and tasted terrible. There would have been a fee to dump but the water was free.
Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress NP #5 dry 8:00g B-
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January 26, 2006 Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress NP (2) - Faithful readers of these humble epistles may remember our telling, last year, of a cow shaped kite falling into the small lake and being chased by an alligator. We are at the same campground again. This year there was a fellow flying a shark shaped kite - a more logical dinner for the alligator had it fallen in the lake. It didn't.
For our morning "intentional exercise" we walked 4 times around the lake and once out to the main road - about 3.4 miles total. (unintentional exercise consists of walking to the rest rooms which are on the other side of the lake). We found it interesting that in the 30 units camped here we counted 17 different state and one Canadian provence (Saskatchewan) license plates.
The Miami PBS TV station has some interesting programming. Last night we watched two different shows (2 hours) about Dale Chihuly, glass sculptor whose work we saw in Tacoma, WA last Summer, and tonight there was an hour documentary about Alaska.
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January 27, 2006 Monument Lake Campground, Big Cypress NP (3) - It was cool again this morning - 52° (47° yesterday) - and windy. It makes sitting out, even in the sun, a little unpleasant.
We were going to go on to Flamingo campground in the Everglades from here but it's closed due to the hurricane. We've been told there was as much as 12 feet of water in the campground - enough to flood the second story of the buildings that had one - the visitor's center, lodge, marina, etc. It might be interesting to see what the place looks like now - it's open for day use - but it's a long way to drive just to satisfy our curiosity. Instead we'll probably hang out here for a few days.
This afternoon we took a field trip into Everglades City (population 677) to pick up a few groceries and visit an ATM. In the evening we went to the campfire program here. Joy did a great job of being North America as the ranger explained how Florida is actually a piece of Africa that broke off millions of years ago.
To Big Cypress - #61-04
To Englewood, FL - #61-03
January 13, 2006 (Fri)
Lakeland, FL to Plant City, FL (20/1364 miles)
A lot of folks travel with dogs and some take along their cats. There are probably those who share their adventures with their pet birds, fish or turtles. Winnie and Joanne have two horses. Since they - the horses - are a little big to curl up on the seats, they pull a horse trailer behind their Allure class A motorhome. (Their toad is a scooter which shares bunk space with the horses.) At about 9:00 they - Winnie, Joanne, and Dorothea - pulled out of Ed and Kathy's yard and headed for the pasture a quarter mile away where the horses had spent their time in Lakeland. We pulled out at about 10:40 leaving Ed and Kathy industriously packing their motorhome for a weekend camping trip. Thanks Ed and Kathy for the use of your yard and your good company.
We had 16 miles to go today and managed to get lost anyway! Our intent was to travel to Plant City on the "back roads" since it and Lakeland are both north of I-4. We didn't think we were doing too badly until we found ourselves southbound crossing over I-4. We'd missed a turn somewhere. In spite of the detour, though, we got to Ruth and Gordy's at about 11:30. We packed up our suitcases, disembarked and deposited Q in the swimming pool parking lot - poor guy! We spent the afternoon in good conversation. In the evening they generously agreed to endure a slide show of our trip to Alaska.
Q028592 Swimming Pool Parking lot (x2)
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January 14, 2006 (Sat) Plant City, FL (2) - Henry has an assistant. Hildene (for want of a better name right now) won't be replacing him, much to his relief, as he will continue to handle the heavy duty trip planning and overall routing - things he is much better at. The new unit will do the on-the-road point to point navigation because it is small enough be attached to the windshield or hand-held and can be on duty full-time. It has simple navigational instructions in an unintimidating female voice and is easy to program. It is our Christmas gift to each other and to our marriage.
While Mark and Gordy were in Circuit City seeing to Hildene's purchase, Joy and Ruth "shopped" in a nearby mall. Before that they'd tested the comfort of various chairs and benches at another mall. Lunch was TGI Friday's fare. In the evening we compared notes on dominoes rules and played a few games. (Their rules include splitting the train at the doubles.)
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January 15, 2006 (Sun)
Plant City, FL to Englewood, Fl (96/1460 miles)
We didn't have far to go today so we lingered. It was so good to be with Ruth and Gordy. After breakfast we sat at the breakfast table and talked - until almost lunch time. Then we sat and talked some more. We finally got off at 12:55.
It was sunny but a cool 60°. The trip down was straight forward and uneventful. Although we know the way and don't need help, Hildene was up and running - for training (ours mostly). She did very well with one exception. We were instructed to exit I-4 at one point and, although we knew better, we did. We were then instructed to proceed straight across the road at the end of the ramp and get right back on I-4. She must have gotten her programming while the overpass was under construction.
We were greeted warmly in Englewood by Bom (Joy's mother) and Frannie (Joy's sister) at about 3:00. We again off loaded our clothes and a few personal things and sent Q off to the bank parking lot making him most unhappy.
We will be here a week.
Q028688 SunTrust parking lot, parked. (x7)
Arriving in Lakeland - #61-02
January 9, 2006 (Mon)
Mars Hill, NC to Savannah, GA (338 /1020 miles)
36° overnight - That's an improvement - and up to 41° when we started out at 9:08. Thanks, Bob and Pat for a relaxing 4 days. You are so easy to be with. It was too bad we all had colds (off and on)! We will miss running into you as we travel in Florida.
Not much can be said about our travels today. It was Southeast on I-26 then South on I-95. The temperature climbed steadily as we came down out of the mountains and progressed further south until it settled on 70°. We stopped for gas ($2.17/gal) at about 11:00 just over the state line into South Carolina.
As we were finishing up our lunch in a rest area further on, a Chinook Concourse (like Q1) pulled in next to us. They were from NJ and had bought the motor home where we had bought Q1. We would have liked to have chatted with them but they took their dog, walking him we presume, and disappeared. They passed us I-95 just north of Savannah.
We stopped at this Walmart on our way north last year. The customer service people still don't understand Motor homing. When Mark asked if it would be all right to spend the night in the parking lot, the response was a blank stare. Spend the night in the parking lot? How absurd!
Q028248 Camp Walmart, Savannah, GA
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January 10, 2006 (Tue)
Savannah, GA to Lakeland, FL (324/1344 miles)
It was 45° when we started out at 7:35. We got gas at Walmart's Murphy USA ($2.22/gal) then found our way to I-95 South. The Darien discount mall made a good place to stop for breakfast, although our favorite fudge shop wouldn't be open for another hour and a half. It was just as well! The scenery and atmosphere was only slightly better than if we'd eaten breakfast in the Walmart lot before we started. The temperature was up to 55° by the time we were on the road again at 9:30.
US 301 down through the center of Florida is peppered with little towns who finance their police department by strictly enforcing their speed laws. Someone who has probably contributed more than his share has bought billboard space along the road "SPEED TRAP! Waldo 6 1/2 miles". It tends to slow the traffic down. The cops waiting in the outskirts of each town weren't getting many customers.
We got gas at Flying-J in Dade City ($2.31/gal) at 2:45 and pulled into Ed and Kathy's yard at 3:40.
Q028572 Ed and Kathy's yard (x3)
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January 11, 2006 (Wed) Lakeland, FL (2) - Bob and Winnie, friends from many years ago, are camped nearby and came over for a visit. We, Ed and Kathy, Winnie, Joanne, and Winnie's Mom (fellow campers in Ed and Kathy's yard), and Bob and Winnie - did you follow that? - all went out for lunch at Applebee's.
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January 12, 2006 (Thu) Lakeland, FL (3) - Beautiful day! It was a warm 76° and sunny. This is what Florida in the winter is all about! We spent a lazy morning reading in the sun, went to lunch (with Ed & Kathy, and Winnie, Joanne and Dorothea) at Ling's Buffet. Then sat around most of the afternoon. Another early-to-bed to see if we could make some headway on Mark's cold.
Southbound Start - #61-01
January 4, 2006 (Wed)
Home to Winchester, VA (287/287 miles)
Off at 8:35 35° Sunny. Off for the second time (we forgot something!) at 8:45 still 35°, still sunny. Our route - down the Garden State Parkway, West on I-195, and South on I-295 - was familiar and uneventful. Q was happy to be out on the road again and purred along contentedly at just under 60 MPH. Our stop for gas, ($2.05/gal) at the Flying-J just before crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge into Delaware, was also uneventful. The temperature was up to 43° by then, even though the sun had retreated into an overcast. At around noon we were again headed West and looking for a place to stop for lunch. There were no rest areas so we got off I-70 East of Frederick, VA and found a supermarket parking lot.
Joy's father used to come to Winchester on business quite often. The company he worked for (Abex) has or had a factory here. Coincidentally, the Walmart parking lot is next door to that plant. As I write this, I can see the water tower out our dining room window. It adds to the interest of being here but not the ambiance! It's not a bad place to spend the night though. We're off in a corner with several other motor homes and there is very little traffic. It should be a quiet night.
Q025416 Camp Walmart Winchester, VA B
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January 5, 2006 (Thu)
Winchester, VA to Mars Hill, NC (395/682 miles)
The TV show we'd planned to watch last night wasn't on so we ended up turning the lights out and going to sleep before 8:30. It was a very quiet night, as expected, so we slept soundly and didn't get up until after 7:00. We must have been exhausted! We ate breakfast and got off at about 8:30 - 44° (up from 40° over night) and mostly cloudy. We hit light fog south of Winchester but in general traveling was good. We stopped for gas north of Roanoke ($2.15/gal) and for lunch later on in a rest area and got to Bob and Pat's about 4:30. Then followed much stimulating conversation culminating in a rousing game of Dominoes in the evening.
Q027910 Bob & Pat's yard
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January 6, 2006 (Fri) Mars Hill, NC (2) - The over-night low was 33° and we woke to a dusting of snow on the ground. In the morning Joy and Pat went off to visit a friend while Mark and Bob stayed home to work on some administrative chores. After lunch we all took off to a farm where a couple owns some 160 sheep - among other assorted animals. They produce (sometimes personally) wool yarns which she sells in a well-stocked shop in the basement of her house. On the way home we detoured through Burnsville where there is a quilt shop. Actually there are two but we only went to one.
We ended the evening with dominoes.
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January 7, 2006 (Sat) Mars Hill, NC (3) - It got down to 25° last night. Cold! But we survived - with the help of the little electric heater we bought on our way home from Alaska. The on-board furnace would have worked, of course, but the electric heater is a lot quieter. This has been kind of a lazy day. We went out to lunch (delicious reubens) at the "Main Street Deli" in Mars Hill (Dave and Jennifer will know where that is) then to the video store. This afternoon we watched Cold Mountain and after dinner it was dominoes.
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January 8, 2006 (Sun) Mars Hill, NC (4) - It was cold again last night, 22° outside but our little heater kept the interior reasonable. Bob was filling in for the priest at their church. It has been a long time since we've seen him in this capacity and being in the congregation gave us feelings of comfortable nostalgia, like coming home after being away for a long time.
This afternoon was another lazy one. Our major accomplishment was watching Inherit the Wind. And again dominoes.
