Home again!
We arrived home in mid-afternoon, allowing enough daylight for us to empty the RV and begin unpacking. It was rainier-than-desirable, colder-than-expected vacation, but still glad we did it! It's always good to visit with Kelly and to avoid being home for a big snowstorm.
Now to get caught up on laundry and accumulated mail.....
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Monday, February 1, 2016
Day 22: Laura S. Walker State Park to Lumberton, NC
We have come full-circle, spending the night at the same KOA we stayed at three weeks ago.While KOA's are never very exciting or scenic, they do have dependably level sites and good bathrooms. So here we are again, on the last night before arriving home. Also, they have a dog play-area, so Ranger got to play with his frisbee this afternoon until he was exhausted (but happy).
We traveled from southwest to northeast, cutting across Georgia and re-connecting with I-95 north of Brunswick. From there it was straight interstate driving, up I-95 to where we pulled off for the night just south of Lumberton, NC.
The weather is unusually warm for February 1, mid-70's in mid-day when we stopped for lunch and still in the upper 60's this evening, pleasant for sitting outside until sunset.
No photos today---nothing worth taking pictures!
Tomorrow will be a fairly short drive home where it will be warm, but rainy, until Thursday. Then we are back to winter weather.
We traveled from southwest to northeast, cutting across Georgia and re-connecting with I-95 north of Brunswick. From there it was straight interstate driving, up I-95 to where we pulled off for the night just south of Lumberton, NC.
The weather is unusually warm for February 1, mid-70's in mid-day when we stopped for lunch and still in the upper 60's this evening, pleasant for sitting outside until sunset.
No photos today---nothing worth taking pictures!
Tomorrow will be a fairly short drive home where it will be warm, but rainy, until Thursday. Then we are back to winter weather.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Day 21: Meaher State Park, AL to Laura S. Walker State Park, GA
There's not much to report about today's activities. We left early (7:45) from our campsite near Mobile and spent most of the day traveling eastward and northward, heading home.
We took I-10 across the Panhandle, not very inspiring views along the way. Shortly after lunch (and after changing time zones back to Eastern) we took a break for lunch, which Ranger seemed to appreciate. From there, we picked up US highways into Georgia, passing through Valdosta and up US 84 to Waycross where we stopped for the night at Laura S. Walker State Park. That was almost 400 miles of driving.
The park is small and very tidy, a good spot for an overnight. We managed to get a pull-through site so we did not need to unhook the car, which will save time in the morning. Easy dinner of reheated chicken (thanks for the use of your grill, Kelly) and the remainder of the black-beans-and-rice. Time for some rest before more travel tomorrow.....but not before we watch the next episode of Downton Abbey!
We took I-10 across the Panhandle, not very inspiring views along the way. Shortly after lunch (and after changing time zones back to Eastern) we took a break for lunch, which Ranger seemed to appreciate. From there, we picked up US highways into Georgia, passing through Valdosta and up US 84 to Waycross where we stopped for the night at Laura S. Walker State Park. That was almost 400 miles of driving.
The park is small and very tidy, a good spot for an overnight. We managed to get a pull-through site so we did not need to unhook the car, which will save time in the morning. Easy dinner of reheated chicken (thanks for the use of your grill, Kelly) and the remainder of the black-beans-and-rice. Time for some rest before more travel tomorrow.....but not before we watch the next episode of Downton Abbey!
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Day 20: USS Alabama
We met Kelly and Michael late in the morning to do the tour of the USS Alabama.
It was a good tour, more enjoyable than I expected, though we didn't even see all the exhibits but stopped due to fatigue. One could easily spend a whole day there.
We all returned to the campground for a late lunch. Then Kelly and Michael went home, taking Ranger along in order for him to play in their fenced backyard. Dan started putting things away in preparation for tomorrow's departure. Then back to their house, where Michael made delicious sourdough bread and a soup with black-eyed peas and tomatoes.
The drive back was a bit circuitous due to road closings for still another Mardi Gras parade, but we are back and ready for a good night's sleep before a long day of driving tomorrow.
The weather here in Mobile continued to be unseasonably warm and sunny, very pleasant for our last day before heading north again.
It was a good tour, more enjoyable than I expected, though we didn't even see all the exhibits but stopped due to fatigue. One could easily spend a whole day there.
We all returned to the campground for a late lunch. Then Kelly and Michael went home, taking Ranger along in order for him to play in their fenced backyard. Dan started putting things away in preparation for tomorrow's departure. Then back to their house, where Michael made delicious sourdough bread and a soup with black-eyed peas and tomatoes.
The drive back was a bit circuitous due to road closings for still another Mardi Gras parade, but we are back and ready for a good night's sleep before a long day of driving tomorrow.
The weather here in Mobile continued to be unseasonably warm and sunny, very pleasant for our last day before heading north again.
Day 19: Dauphin Island and Mobile
We picked Kelly up late in the morning and headed out to Dauphin Island. She had a meeting to attend at work while we walked the two dogs on the beach.
She also showed us around the Estuarium which is the venue for the upcoming (April 23) wedding reception, with ceremony on the beach (weather permitting). It's an unusual location, but who would expect Kelly to have a traditional wedding?
While Kelly attended her meeting, we also had a chance to watch the rays being fed in the tank outside the Estuarium.
After walking the dogs through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary near the lab, we headed back to Mobile, where we left the dogs at Kelly's house and headed out to see the Mardi Gras parade.
We had a late dinner with some of Kelly and Michael's friends, picked up Ranger, and got back to the RV late, definitely ready for some sleep after a busy day.
She also showed us around the Estuarium which is the venue for the upcoming (April 23) wedding reception, with ceremony on the beach (weather permitting). It's an unusual location, but who would expect Kelly to have a traditional wedding?
While Kelly attended her meeting, we also had a chance to watch the rays being fed in the tank outside the Estuarium.
After walking the dogs through the Audubon Bird Sanctuary near the lab, we headed back to Mobile, where we left the dogs at Kelly's house and headed out to see the Mardi Gras parade.
We had a late dinner with some of Kelly and Michael's friends, picked up Ranger, and got back to the RV late, definitely ready for some sleep after a busy day.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Day 18: Falling Waters State Park to Meaher State Park
Today we crossed from Florida into Alabama.
The day started out wet and overcast....again. However, the skies cleared as we traveled the remaining 160 miles to Mobile, to visit Kelly and Michael. Late this afternoon it's around 60 degrees and sunny.
Meaher is a very small park, located off Route 98, but it has nice paved sites and is close to downtown Mobile. From the pier at the west end of the park, here's the view:
Interstate 10 runs just south of here, across the water, so we will hear traffic tonight.
After an early afternoon arrival, we had lunch and then went grocery shopping. Back at the campground, Ranger and Dan did some bird-watching while I vacuumed lots of sand out of the RV and did some basic cleaning. Now we're just relaxing, awaiting Kelly and Michael's arrival, to have dinner with us.
The day started out wet and overcast....again. However, the skies cleared as we traveled the remaining 160 miles to Mobile, to visit Kelly and Michael. Late this afternoon it's around 60 degrees and sunny.
Meaher is a very small park, located off Route 98, but it has nice paved sites and is close to downtown Mobile. From the pier at the west end of the park, here's the view:
Interstate 10 runs just south of here, across the water, so we will hear traffic tonight.
After an early afternoon arrival, we had lunch and then went grocery shopping. Back at the campground, Ranger and Dan did some bird-watching while I vacuumed lots of sand out of the RV and did some basic cleaning. Now we're just relaxing, awaiting Kelly and Michael's arrival, to have dinner with us.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Day 17: Rainbow Springs to Falling Waters State Park
Today was a day of surprises. The weather forecast had been for a full day of rain, which was all right as we were to be driving most of the day anyway. And the rain did fall much of the night. But by breakfast time, it had stopped and we were able to pack up and attach the car without getting wet.
We drove north on I-75 from Ocala past Gainesville, to where it connects with I-10. Heading west along the Panhandle, we were surprised to see the sun come out, so that by the time we stopped for lunch at a rest area it was bright and in the upper 70's.
I thought it peculiar that the weather for Chipley, the closest town to this state park, still said 59 degrees. As we progressed toward Alabama, the temperature dropped....and dropped...and dropped. Here in our campsite at Falling Waters it's currently 57 and overcast, and judging from the puddles, it must have rained quite a bit earlier.
Another surprise: I did not expect to be a campground that was hilly. This is the Panhandle, after all. However, the park is located on Falling Waters Hill, one of the highest hills in Florida, elevation 324 feet. With the car still hooked up, we're a bit aslant in this site, but it's only for one night so we'll just deal with it.
Ranger and I left to check out the hiking trails while Dan relaxed. This is indeed a very different environment from the ranches and horse farms we left behind this morning.
We followed a short trail down to the lake which has a swimming beach (but also a warning sign about the alligators).
From there, we followed a series of boardwalks that took you over swampy areas with sinkholes and finally to the waterfall for which the park is named.
Between the overcast skies and the change in time zone, it's already looking a bit dark at 4:00. It looks like we'll have a quiet evening before proceeding to Mobile tomorrow to visit Kelly.
We drove north on I-75 from Ocala past Gainesville, to where it connects with I-10. Heading west along the Panhandle, we were surprised to see the sun come out, so that by the time we stopped for lunch at a rest area it was bright and in the upper 70's.
I thought it peculiar that the weather for Chipley, the closest town to this state park, still said 59 degrees. As we progressed toward Alabama, the temperature dropped....and dropped...and dropped. Here in our campsite at Falling Waters it's currently 57 and overcast, and judging from the puddles, it must have rained quite a bit earlier.
Another surprise: I did not expect to be a campground that was hilly. This is the Panhandle, after all. However, the park is located on Falling Waters Hill, one of the highest hills in Florida, elevation 324 feet. With the car still hooked up, we're a bit aslant in this site, but it's only for one night so we'll just deal with it.
Ranger and I left to check out the hiking trails while Dan relaxed. This is indeed a very different environment from the ranches and horse farms we left behind this morning.
We followed a short trail down to the lake which has a swimming beach (but also a warning sign about the alligators).
From there, we followed a series of boardwalks that took you over swampy areas with sinkholes and finally to the waterfall for which the park is named.
Between the overcast skies and the change in time zone, it's already looking a bit dark at 4:00. It looks like we'll have a quiet evening before proceeding to Mobile tomorrow to visit Kelly.
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