QC91-02 South to Ocean Pond

January 5, 2009 (Mon) Mars Hill, NC to Savannah, GA (359/1045miles) - It was raining slightly when we woke up and continued off and on as we got ready to leave Mars Hill. The heaviest downpour came just as Mark was about to dump the holding tanks - of course. We synchronized walkie-talkies with Bob and Pat and got on the road at about 9:30 (41°). Pat had taken the car to do a couple of errands and we met her on one of the I-26 exit ramps north of Asheville. When we tried to start Q after they'd hooked up, it wouldn't. Not even a click from the starter solenoid! Same problem we had on our trip to Syracuse, NY this Summer. With a boost from house batteries we were able to be on our way again. Over the course of the day we found that if we put a CD into the player (which didn't work) and left it in the slot, half in half out, when it ejected there was no problem. Obviously not a very good solution but workable for now.

We crossed the border into South Carolina at 11:15 (61°), ate lunch in the parking lot of an abandoned boarded up antique store - wonderful ambiance, sighted our first palm tree in Greenwood, SC at 12:56 (64°)and crossed into Georgia at 2:06 (65°).  Gas in Louisville, GA was $1.65/g - actually there was some for less but that's what we paid. We pulled into the Savannah, GA Walmart parking lot at 6:15 and got ready to spend the night.

Q047026 Camp Walmart, Savannah, GA
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January 6, 2009 (Tue) Savannah, GA to Ocean Pond CG, Osceola National Forest (189/1234 miles) - It was not a good night. It was quiet and the light from outside was not too intrusive but we didn't sleep much. It may have been because we ate supper so much later than we are used to or the stress from yesterday's traveling, we don't know. We gave up at just before 6:00 and turned on the TV. Good signal, so therefore a good picture, from Savannah. We can't say too much for the content though. After some shopping in the Walmart store we got under way at about 8:25 (65° up from 62° over night) and proceeded south on US17.

In Darien, GA a sign: "Appliance Orphanage". (Used appliances?)
In Woodbine, GA a sign: "Dead People's Things For Sale" (Antique Shop?)

We got gas in Woodbine for $1.59 and crossed the border into Florida at 11:00 (67°) where prices tended to be 20¢ to 30¢ higher. We backed into site #44 in Ocean Pond Campground (our home for the next 7 days) at about 1:00 and spent the afternoon making it more livable - but mostly relaxing and enjoying the relative warmth.

January 7, 2009 (Wed) Ocean Pond CG (2) - We were surprised to find so few campsites occupied when we pulled in last night. About half of the sites with electricity were taken and only a couple of the sites with water only were taken. Unlike last time, we had plenty of choice. As I sit here looking out our dining room window I can see Spanish Moss draped pine forest to the east and the sun glittering off the lake through the trees to the south. Our living room window gives us a panoramic view of the campground road (paved) winding through more pine and palmetto forest. Bob and Pat's rig is snuggled up against the trees in the next campsite 100 feet or so to the west.

We took our time getting up and converting Q's bed back into a couch, showering and eating breakfast. Although the weather forecast called for rain later on during the day the clouds looked as if it would be sooner. And it was. Suddenly the sky opened up as if a bucket had been dumped. It was so sudden that Q's automatic roof vent couldn't close fast enough to keep the rug from getting wet. Several minutes into this downpour we saw Bob, Pat and Sheila (their dog) heading for their motor home walking very fast and soaking wet. They'd been out for a walk in the woods.

After the rain the day was pleasant, even sunny at times, warm enough for short sleeves on our walk - shorts would have been good if we'd thought to change into them. The 2 mile walk and a 3 mile bike ride was a start but a long way from what is needed to make up for the last several days of inactivity and eating.

January 8, 2009 (Thur) Ocean Pond CG (3) - The wind of the last two days was a cold front coming through - so say the weather people. It was colder again last night (43°) but not uncomfortably so but the sun and clear sky (and the weather forecast) held promise for another warm day. Joy and Pat took off early, about 9:00, to check out a yarn shop that we'd passed on the way in. In the afternoon we walked part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. The wind came up again later just as Mark got out his guitar - it's hard to read the music when it's flapping in the wind! Joy took shelter in Q reading and knitting. She is working on a pair of socks with yarn she bought in Alaska in 2005. Another rousing game of dominoes occupied our evening.

January 9, 2009 (Fri) Ocean Pond CG (4) - Another cold night for Florida (42°) and, again, the sun and clear skies this morning promised better things to come. It only made it to 59° but the wind has calmed down. This campground has laundry facilities so Joy took advantage this morning and this afternoon we all took off on foot to see if we could find our way to the docks that we can see part way around the lake. We started out East along a grass covered service road and around a chained gate at the campground boundary. A dirt road a little further on lead us past 4 or 5 small cottages scattered along a mile or so of what we assumed was the lake shore. But there was no lake access. The road was a dead end.

Ed and Kathy pulled onto our pad with their friends mid afternoon and joined us at the campfire for a while. They are camping in a park 20 or so miles from here. After they left we lingered at the campfire reading and visiting until just before sundown when it started to get very chilly. It's supposed to be cold again tonight. It's getting a good start.