March 26, 2007 (Mon) Savannah, GA to McClellanville, SC (171/3261 miles) - It was surprisingly noisy during the night. There seemed to be a party going on somewhere in the parking lot and trucks seemed to be constantly coming and going. In spite of that we slept pretty well, when we slept. After on-board showers and breakfast we got off at 8:15 (cloudy 67º). We were in the wrong lane as we left the parking lot and had to turn right. Hildene protested but after a mile or so of trying to turn us around, calculated a new route back to I-95. We think it may have been a better one than the original.
On I-95 we think we may have seen the couple we met in Hillsborough SP (FL) going south. How many Chinook Glaciers towing gray HHRs could there be on the roads? The Wisteria and Azaleas are out in force along the highway and in the surrounding landscape. Beautiful! In Walterboro, South Carolina, where we left I-95 to head East toward the coast we saw a topiary shaped like a pickup truck - actual size with real wheels. Interesting!
After a stop at the Charleston Costco we pulled into the Buck Hall campground at about 12:30. The gnats, so small they come right through the screens, are as bad as they were last year. It's warmer this year and it's going to be hard being closed up.
Q037336 Buck Hall CG, Francis Marion National Forest #1 e $10.00s A (x1)
March 27, 2007 (Tue) McClellanville, SC to New Burn, NC (336/3510 miles) - We pulled out of the campground in a cloud of gnats at about 8:15 (57º) without bothering to dump or take on fresh water. US 17 North was four lanes and relatively light on traffic. We took note of a Wal-Mart Supercenter and a Costco on the Myrtle Beach bypass - there is no telling when one or both may come in handy. At 10:19 we crossed the border into North Carolina and immediately noticed a 15¢ per gallon increase in gas prices. We had plenty for a while.
We lunched in a Food Lion (supermarket) parking lot and soon after turned off US 17 at Jacksonville where we passed Camp Lejeune Marine Corp Base. All along the fences protecting the base from the public are hand painted (in most cases) welcome home banners. The most poignant was "Welcome Home Daddy" in big letters next to a big red heart.
We pulled into the Neuse River Campground (Croatan National Forest) at about 3:00 and picked a site away from other campers at the far end of the loop. After a time to relax from the rigors of the road we took a walk on the trail that overlooks the river and circumvents the campground.
Q037585 Neuse River CG, Croatan NF #24 dry $6.00 B+ (x1)
March 28, 2007 (Wed) New Burn, NC to Franklin, VA (164/3674 miles) - We got off at 9:08 (Hazy 63°) and made our way North on US 70, US 17 and State Route 43 to Greenville, NC - about 50 miles. Nephew Jake met us in the Wal-Mart parking lot and after a short visit we all hiked up the highway (crossing a busy intersection two ways) to a Mexican buffet restaurant. We'd seen another one somewhere in our travels and had wondered what it would like. It was actually quite good. The selection was small and the table was kept fresh. We'd do it again. After lunch we went with Jake to his apartment and hung out for an hour of so before getting back on the road. It was real good to see you, Jake and to hear about what's going on in your life. Thanks for taking the time for us.
Scotland Neck, NC on US 258 uses the center of their street as a parking lot. There are perpendicular parking spaces all the way through the town. There was also parallel parking along the curbs. Wide streets! We crossed the border into Virginia at 4:19 (70° cloudy) and pulled into the Franklin Wal-Mart parking lot at about 5:00.
Q037749 Camp Wal-Mart, Franklin, VA
March 29, 2007 (Thu) Franklin, VA to Home (396/4070 miles) - It rained during the night but we could see clearing in the East as we headed for our McDonald's breakfast at 7:50 (50°). The Red Bud trees were in bloom and periodically lined the road with beautiful purple displays. There is a rest area at the North end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel well set up for overnight parking - a sign stated that there is a 48 hour parking limit. We may consider stopping there next time. US 13 up the Delmarva Peninsula is getting quite built up. When we first traveled this road it was a bit depressing with many falling down buildings and overgrown farm fields. Overnight, it seems, there are now many new buildings and businesses along with a general sprucing up.
I-195 across New Jersey and the Garden State Parkway are never fun but they weren't bad today. We got home at about 2:50 and began the tiring job of unloading Q. Is it good to be home? Yes and no.
Q038145 Home
Home at last - #71-12
To Savannah, GA - #71-11
March 21, 2007 (Wed) Englewood, FL to Plant City, FL (104/2776 miles) - Mark brought Q into Quail's Run from the bank parking lot at about 8:00 and we loaded him with all that we'd been offloading over the last 12 days. We were amazed at how much we'd managed to carry into the house even from the parking lot. We said a tearful good-bye to Bom and started North (sunny 69°). It was so good to be with her but the time was too short and our next visit seems so far away.
Our first port of call was Mobil Services of Florida in Sarasota where we stopped to have the circuit board in the refrigerator replaced. Hopefully that will put an end to our having to worry about keeping things cold when we're dry camped. Early indications are that the problem is fixed.
Gordy and Ruth were out when we got there. But we made ourselves at home anyway. We'd barely settled in with our books when Ruth showed up. This is another place where Q isn't allowed to mingle with more stable abodes so we off loaded suitcases (actually duffle bags) and moved him to the swimming pool parking lot.
March 22, 2007 (Thu) Plant City, FL - Our adventure for the day was a trip to Alderman Ford Park where there were several walking/hiking trails. We took the 1.8 mile one. There were exercise stations along the way which would have been good had we been in shape for them. As it was they turned out to be more embarrassing than helpful. On the way home we saw an eagle trying to cross the road with his kill - it looked like a rabbit. It was too heavy for him to lift and he risked his life crossing two lanes of a busy four lane highway struggling to get airborne. He was in the median when we passed.
Q036850 Pool parking lot (parked) (x2)
March 23, 2007 (Fri) Plant City, FL to Lakeland, FL (16/2792 miles) - Since we had such a short distance to go and we weren't expected un till afternoon, we didn't get off until after lunch (Sunny mid 80s). Thank you Ruth and Gordy for a wonderful two days. It's always so good to be with you.
16 miles doesn't provide much chance for adventure and there wasn't any. We pulled into Ed and Kathy's yard at about 1:30 and found they had just gotten home from a week of camping in Georgia. Bud and Gladys, friends of theirs, where already there in their Bounder. Later we all went out for an early dinner at the Red Lobster. The wait was longer than we expected, because we were a party of six, but the the food was good.
March 24, 2007 (Sat) Lakeland, FL - Today was spend taking care of chores. Our lunch was the leftovers from the last night's seafood platter, dinner was pot luck for six.
Q036886 Ed and Kathy's yard (x2)
March 25, 2007 (Sun) Lakeland, FL to Savannah, GA (304/3096 miles) - Last night was comfortable for sleeping at 60° and was about that and clear at 8:45 when we got on the road to head North. Thanks, Ed and Kathy, for your hospitality and advice. We hope all goes well with the snake and code problems.
We had hoped that we could get to Georgia where the gas is a lot less expensive before refueling but couldn't make it. We stopped in Starke, FL and took on 8 gallons, enough to make it to the state line. Back on the road again we traveled a while behind the national Vice President of the Family Motor Coach Association or so stated the plate on the back of their motor home. The dogwood was blooming and the Magnolia trees are budding. Beautiful! It's definitely spring in northern Florida!
Gas at the first exit in Georgia was $2.37/gal - 12¢ less than what we'd paid in Florida (which itself was below the state average). We pulled into the Savannah Wal-Mart at about 4:30. We plan to be home on Friday (unless we decide to put in a long day on Thursday).
Q037171 Camp Wal-Mart Savannah, GA
To Englewood, FL - #71-10
March 4, 2007 (Sun) Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park - Last night and the night before we were awakened at about 12am by loud shouting in the men's room - our site is near the rest rooms. At first it sounded angry but it turned out to be exuberance - probably from the consumption of beer. We seem to find this kind of behavior more often in state parks than either national or private parks. We should have gone over with the horses as we'd planned! We won't have had that problem tonight. All but a few of us older folks have gone home now and we are free to sit quietly in our yard and watch the deer bound through the fields. In the afternoon we took our bicycles out a way on the access road. It was a sandy dirt road, so somewhat treacherous and dusty. But it was good exercise, especially coming back against the wind.
March 5, 2007 (Mon) Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP - It got cold last night, 41° during the early morning hours. We wished we'd gotten the electric heater out from under the sofa before we'd turned it into a bed. We had enough blankets to keep us comfortable though. We opted to save our showers until later in the day when the sun had warmed things up a bit.
We got to talking with the campground host (Bob) on our way to hike a "short" trail through the prairie that circumvents the campground. He suggested that we take water. Of course we should. We knew that. Just didn't think about it. As Joy went back to Q to get water he told Mark about a bicycle hiker who'd gotten lost on the trails and had to be rescued. Mark called to Joy suggesting that she bring the map. He didn't mention the compass which would have been a good idea too. He must have thought we were a couple of real novices, which I suppose we were, because we weren't on the trail long before he came along in his little golf cart type vehicle to tell us that we should make all right turns. "Don't make any left turns." he said. It turned out that there was only one opportunity to make a left turn and it was obvious that we shouldn't. We could see the campground off in the distance across the prairie most of the time. The left turn would have obviously taken us in completely the wrong direction. The loop was about 3 1/2 miles long and we never saw the Burrowing Owl that Bob said to look for. Robins, Mockingbirds and Red Shouldered hawks were the extent of our wild life sightings.
March 6, 2007 (Tue) Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP - This morning we set out on the longer - 6 miles by the time we got back - Prairie Loop Trail. We took water, a map, a compass and hats to keep the sun off our faces this time. Part of this trail goes through a palm/palmetto hammock (forest) and we were far enough away from the campground and the trail markings confusing enough for both the map and the compass to come in handy. Again we saw plenty of Robins, Mockingbirds and hawks but at one point we rousted a couple of wild boar. They must have been sleeping near the trail and our approach startled them. They suddenly jumped up and ran across the trail right in front of us, startling us, and charged off into the brush.
Most of the trail was sandy and a lot of it very fine and soft. 6 miles on that stuff is much harder then the asphalt and concrete we are used to. We were exhausted when we got back and spent the rest of the day recuperating.
March 7, 2007 (Wed) Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP - Our activity/exercise for today was to walk out to the Five Mile Prairie Trail. When we got to it, though, we turned right. Turning left would have meant hiking a 12 mile loop to get back - or turning around and coming back, of course. We weren't up to that. It might have been fun to do it on horseback but too much on foot. Bicycling would have been a real challenge because of the sand. Turning right took us eventually out to the entrance road which brought us back to the campground, a 4 mile walk. This was plenty with our sore muscles from yesterday's hike. Our wildlife sightings today included the Burrowing Owl (2) that we missed seeing the other day and an otter. The only water we saw was a lily covered pond that was supposed to be home for a couple of alligators. They must have been off duty because we didn't see them.
Q036597 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park #1 e/w $13.20 B+ (x6)
March 8, 2007 (Thu) Okeechobee, FL to Sebring, FL (54/2672 miles) Off at 8:39 (54°) Bob (campground host) said that there may be water and electric in the equestrian area next year - if the money comes through. That would be good. It's a nice area over there. We hope that means there will be a decent rest room/shower facility too - there's only an outhouse (albeit a nice one) there now. Along the very sparsely populated 20 miles or so across the prairie we passed one Cracker (cowboy) on horseback and his two dogs and no motorized vehicles. That campground is really out in the sticks! Once back in civilization we stopped at a Sweetbay supermarket. Some of the brand names were Hannaford. We wonder if Sweetbay is the southern arm of the New England Hannaford supermarket chain.
The gate keeper at Highlands Hammock State Park said he could give us a campsite for tonight - there were plenty - but he doubted there were any left for tomorrow (Fri) night. He found one though - specified for a 19' motor home. He said we could have it for two nights if we could get our 24' motor home onto it. It turned out to be the same site we had the last time we were here in 2004. We fit then. We fit now. It was about 11:30am when we squeezed Q between the trees and converted him into a home. We'll never know where we would have gone tomorrow night if Q had been any bigger.
March 9, 2007 (Fri) Highlands Hammock State Park - This is such an interesting park. In addition to all the hiking and biking trails, the people activity is so pervasive that it's hard to get a good night's sleep or any relaxation during the day. Last night at about 12:30 we were awakened by the sounds of voices and RV maneuvering. Someone had come in late and didn't care that everyone else had gone to bed. At 4:30 again we heard an RV jockeying into a campsite - this time into a site across from us. There are at least 3 (maybe 4) large family units spread out around us. The kids, from ages of about 2 to 13 are all having a great time riding their bicycles. Rigs were coming and going all day. Watching them set up and break camp is always entertaining. Some people do the strangest things!
We took a couple of breaks from the entertainment to bicycle around the park loop and out the county road toward the Western entrance. We had thought we might go out that way tomorrow but the road turned out to be washboard gravel with a weight restricted bridge somewhere beyond where we went.
Q036651 Highlands Hammock State Park #17 w/e $19.60 B (x2)
March 10, 2007 (Sat) Sebring, FL to Englewood, NJ (95/2672 miles) - We got off at 8:56 (65°) under high broken clouds. We have decided that we will probably never come back to this campground - certainly not to that campsite. During the late yesterday afternoon and evening all the sites around us filled up with large family units. The group that set up behind us backed their popup trailer right up close to our picnic table and used it to hold some of their junk while they set up. (It was still there this morning.) We had a very small site - hardly bigger than Q himself - so to have them encroach so closely was very off-putting. And the kids of all these families who seemed to know one another tended to use our site as a pathway. Kids are kids but parents should also be parents and enforce limits - or at least mention them.
The trip to Englewood was relatively unremarkable - except for when we passed through Arcadia, FL. They were in the midst of a rodeo parade crossing the main drag. Fortunately we got to the intersection just ahead of the parade and crossed with barely a need to pause - the first time! But Hildene was confused as to exactly where we were - road construction had created new roads - and directed us to turn left when there was no need to. By the time we (and Hildene) figured out where we were and how to get back on route we were headed for the same parade intersection again. We did some sitting this time!
We pulled into Quail's Run at 11:30 - in time to join Bom and Gail for lunch. We'll be here at least a week.
Q036746 SunTrust Bank parking log (parked)
Kissimmee Prairie SP - #71-09
February 26, 2007 (Mon) Flamingo, FL to Ochopee, FL (118/2378 miles) - Off at 8:30 (74° high clouds and humid) Our phone beeped as we neared the main national park gate which meant that we had picked up a Verizon (or affiliate) cell signal and that we had a voice message. It was good to know that we were back in touch again but a bit worrisome until we learned that all was okay. We stopped in Homestead at our favorite? laundromat and then went on to the Costco in Miami Lakes, FL. Then we began a search in earnest for a WiFi signal - even if we had to pay for it!
McDonalds sometimes provide WiFi service - as do Taco Bells, Starbucks, and others - so as we drove West out of the Miami area we stopped at a McDonalds to ask. They had not a clue to what Mark was talking about (maybe it was language - English vs heavy Spanish accent). There was a Radio Shack right there. Surely they would know and have some suggestions. They didn't! They thought he didn't know what he was talking about and tried to explain (again in heavily accented English) how he needed to have an internet service provider, modems, cables, etc. They couldn't seem to understand that all we needed was a signal. Libraries tend to be in heavily populated areas (without adequate parking for motor homes) and we didn't want to get any further into Miami. But desperation sometimes breeds adventure. We had work that needed a high speed connection - at least faster than a cell phone connection. The West Dade Regional Library turned out to be right around the corner (a mile away). They had a wireless signal and it was free! And a nearby municipal park would accommodate Q's extra length.
We pulled into Midway Campground at about 5:15 and were very surprised to find that there were 2 open sites. Usually you have to get here at 8:00 in the morning and wait for someone to leave. Today hasn't been good for either our nerves or our nutrition (what meals?), this was a treat.
As we came into the camping loop a couple on a tandem bicycle was ahead of us. This was not the typical bicycle "built for two". They sat side by side, one on each side of the two wheel frame. Each had a seat, peddles and handle bars although apparently only one of them was actually steering. Interesting.
February 27, 2007 (Tue) Midway Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve - This campground is the RV resort of the Big Cypress National Preserve. For a whopping $10.00 a night we have an asphalt pad with picnic table and grill, and an 8 foot strip of grass we can call our own. Best of all we have an electrical hookup - so we don't need to worry about the refrigerator going out during the night. In addition we have a huge, football field sized, pool with its own resident alligator. (swimming not allowed!)
It rained heavily last night. So heavy, in fact, that the folks a few spaces up lost their awning from the weight of the water. The sun came out during the morning though, and by noon the temperature was approaching 90°. What a day!
We got to Joy's friend Dorothy's condo at about 10:30 and after a short visit went to Sweet Tomatoes (a soup and salad bar restaurant chain) for lunch. It was quite good - especially the home made soup and bread. After lunch Joy was talked into going to the local quilt shop. On the way there was a horrific thunder storm and downpour. We heard later that there was golf ball sized hail and a tornado that took the roof off a house 3 miles south of where we were. Joy reports that the quilt shop was phenomenal with the fabric selection very much like what she carried in her shop but 5 times as big.
We pulled into the Fort Pierce Walmart at about 5:30, put our feet up and collapsed.
Q036476 Camp Walmart dry
March 1, 2007 (Thu) Fort Pierce, FL to Fort Pierce, FL (61/2558 miles) - It was a relatively quiet night even though the 18 wheelers in the truck parking area ran their motors all night. The biggest problem to sleeping was the uncomfortable warmth and humidity. The overnight low was 71°. We pulled out of the Walmart parking lot at about 8:30 and headed south toward Stuart, FL stopping at a bank, a Publix and a post office on the way. We got to Jack (Mark's high school friend) and Olive's at about 10:30. After some catching up on events in our lives over the last year and some reminiscing we went to an Olive Garden for lunch. Then it was back to the house for more visiting. It was so good to see them again and to renew friendships.
We're back in the same Walmart parking lot we were in last night. This is one of the very few, if not the only, Walmart on Florida's central east Coast where overnight parking is allowed. Local authorities have put a stop to such practices in other places.
Q036537 Camp Walmart dry
The Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Campground is literally out in the middle of no-where. The closest house is about 2 miles away and looks to have been abandoned 25 years ago - there's a tree growing up through it. Its closest neighbor - maybe another mile or so away - seems to be in almost as bad repair. The park itself is 54,000 acres in size pretty much all flat, open prairie with the campground in the middle. There is a 2 mile long washboard dirt road to reach it. We asked about campsite availability. "How many nights?" "6" "None available." "How about if we move around?" "Nope." "Are there any available for tonight?" "Yes. One" "How many nights is it available?" "One." "How about the equestrian area?" This is an area, without hookups, set up for campers with horses. In the times we've been here we've seen only a few camping units (usually tents) in the the 30 some sites. We've never seen any horses. "Oh you can move over there after tonight if you want to." "How long before the there will be sites in the Family area?" "Oh there will be plenty opening up on Sunday that will be available through Friday." So here we are sitting and watching the campground fill up with campers who all seem to know one another. Tomorrow night, when the parties will no doubt be the loudest, we'll be over near the horses.
Q036597 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park #4 e/w $13.20 B+ (x1)
March 3, 2007 (Sat) Kissimmee Prairie Preserve SP - It was another sticky night. The weather forecast for today - in Miami anyway - is for a record breaking 89°! After breakfast we walked over to the equestrian area (a half mile down the road) to pick out a site for tonight. We were surprised to find 2 fifth-wheel trailers and a couple of tenting units - and one horse in the coral. When we went to the office to register we learned that there had been a cancellation in the family area and site #1 was available for the rest of the time we'd be here. We took it. While we were in the office the sky got dark and the temperature dropped 10°. Amazing! It's been almost chilly all day - where is that record breaking high? It was warm in the sun though - when it chose to come out from behind the clouds.
Q036597 Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park #1 e/w $13.20 B+
