#140 (71): To Florida once again in November 2024

 #140 (71): To Florida once again in November 2024: Arkansas, South Carolina, Galveston, etc.

#140: To Florida

Friday, Nov. 1 - Left the most beautiful weather in Santa Fe to drive as far as Littlefield in Texas, a bit before Lubbock. Of course just before we left my toilet busted a hose on the last flush and squirted all over the floor so that had to be mopped up.) Stayed at Waylon Jennings City RV Park, right next to Ace, how cool. Take a free pumpkin they said, so we did. Best gray-blue punkie ever. Weather was kinda nice and cool that evening, so after walking to Ace we did a short walk in the neighborhood, cutting it a bit short when it felt like someone was following us. We cut thru the projects and ditched him. Weird. Maybe we have vivid imaginations, but he did follow us. Went to sleep listening to trucks racing up and down the boulevard.

Saturday, Nov. 2 - Littlefield to Lake Arrowhead, south of Wichita Falls. The rain started in Littlefield and never stopped. Mostly took hwy 82 past Guthrie, stopped along the way in the little town of Benjamin for a quick break only to find water was leaking in the front window; no wonder, it was being blasted with water for 2 hours. A quick tightening of the latches did fix that, then the overhead fan was leaking, also no biggie but something to caulk someday. Sitting there in Benny, seeing the skinny water tower, all I could think of was Twister, or the MGM studio lot tour, that kind of tower. All gray skies all day, finally made it to the park later in the day, perfect spot #11, water and electric, and level! Which was good because the rain started and didn't stop, well, maybe for 5 minutes as we tried to take a walk but that didn't last long. Went to bed early, it was daylight savings turn clocks back night, only to be awakened at about 1:30 with the loudest crack of thunder and pouring rain and lightening. All I could think of tornadoes, so I checked online only to see one had just touched down outside of Oklahoma City without warning (later found out there were 3, an F3, 2 and 1. No one killed, but destroyed neighborhoods.) So with that on my mind, who could get back to sleep? It was loud as hell, and stormy as all get out. Finally did get to sleep...

Sunday, Nov. 3 - Happy birthday dad! Expected rain in the am, but it wasn't as bad as all the storm chasers said it would be. Of course we did try to outrun the yellow and red radar blob, but we seem to always be on a collision course with the radar. We got some rain near Gainesville, once again on Hwy 82, but as soon as we turned south at Bells we FINALLY got out of the storm path. Whew. Getting tired of this shit. And I'm not driving. Set up at Lavone Lake (this is outside Dallas; Wylie actually) where the host at the gate for this army core park his MAGA hat! Readied for the visit to Rick & Molly's then headed over to their place for a most delicious dinner, which we appreciated since we have been eating pretty lousy lately with all the rain and no grilling... our Cinderella selves had to be back by 10 or get locked out of the CG (spot #39) which we did with about 20 minutes to spare. Had some 'excitement' at Ricks with a medical emergency, nuff said there. Scary to say the least. A warm and windy evening, did a lake stroll to calm our nerves and off to bed after writing this; phone says more rain is expected any moment. Just a few things to keep my mind off the election.

Monday, Nov. 4 - One more day till election day!!! Can't wait for this to be over, with a win, of course. And a sunny, breezy morning with clue sky on the lake today, feels like the keys. Slept with the windows open, a rarity but had to. Takes a bit to get used to it (will someone crawl thru the window?), but I finally fell asleep after 12:30. Just a quick note of Bill's day from hell, sorta. Not his best. First in Greenville, the roadway was wide but he thought it was narrow with the far lane open, which he took, then I look up only to see three lanes of cars coming at us -- he turned the wrong way. Fortunately everyone was letting us know and left us room to do a big U-ee and continue on our merry way. Reason I wasn't looking was I wanted him to go right, then the dumb bitch gps said left. She was WRONG. So after getting gas in the tightest of Walmart stations, he was able to drive out perfectly, until I said, hey did you put the cap on? Nope, he didn't. That's 2. Midday I navigated us onto Good Water Road in Oklahoma, it was FINE, paved but rough, not even potholes, but he whined the entire way probably cuz he couldn't drive 65. Hey, Apple Maps said to do that. So we finally make it to the camp, Crater of Diamonds about 3pm, the typical Arkansas we know, thick spindly trees where you hide the bodies. I pulled the truck hitch off the trailer as always, but bozo forgot to undo one of the 2 chains so we stuck. The hitch head turned in the process so there was no backing up or pulling off. Fortunately he could unscrew the chain hook and release it that way. What a day for Billy. But he totally redeemed himself by being able to set up the Dish for FULL coverage of the election tomorrow. With these thick, tall trees I was very afraid I would be spending tomorrow night in a bar in Murfreesboro. And I would too. Other exciting things today including see some amazing old houses in Paris TX, wow, an old city going back to 1844. We went to the Red River Valley Stadium of some college, no idea, to see the Eiffle Tower. No exactly worth a special trip, but we hit the Kroger there so no problemo. Snap snap move along. As I type this, the news is saying Idabel in OK is under a tornado warning -- we just went thru this afternoon, now they say 1" hail. Yikes! Oh, and btw, there might be a hurricane, Rafael. WTH? And, We are on the edge fringes from some activity tonight. Believe it or not, we are running the A/C right now here in Diamond Crater CG (#44, inside the loop, WITH A VIEW FOR THE DISH, FULL hookups, incl sewer. And 2 nights! We need a rest, we have flat asses. Took a short walk on the paved trail to the river here at the park, exciting and damp. And just now my Storm Shield went off with an alert for TORNADOES IN THIS COUNTY & CITY. PERfect. Wouldn't take much to make any of these thin branches to snap off -- In fact, we heard a crack while walking and saw something fall, weak stuff, probably water soaked. So, probably won't sleep much tonight between worrying now about falling branches, hail and yes, 'nadoes. The good thing is earlier I paced off the run/walk to the bathroom/shelter and it's 100 steps, in case we can't see our hands in front of our faces. Good to be prepared, then nothing happen, right???? Yes??? Yes.

Tues - NOV 5 ELECTION NIGHT, till 3am! WE WON! I stayed up late till three in the morning to make sure it was real and that they didn't steal it. Took the day to go on the park’s crater of diamonds dig, what a muddy waste of time! I had not the boots or equipment or will to take the full day it would require to even come close to finding anything. So after trudging thru the field of mud my work was done in 45 minutes. Never even made it to the wash tables. You MUST have boots here. Ugh. awful

Wed - "JOY IN THE MORNIN'!" Weird Hot Springs, site 5, full hookups gray skies. Took a while to figure out what Hot Springs was all about, the most unusual of National Parks, more about buildings and it's part of a city, by day 2 we will have this figured out. A visitor center is one of the buildings, while others are hotels or shops or pools. My guess is that Mr. Mather liked coming here and started the ball rolling for the government to take it over, which they did. Later the mob moved in, Capone liked it here too. Guess they all thought they were hiding out in the woods. Adding to our confusion was that we went to Bath House Row (even that sounds weird) from the campground the back way which felt like we were climbing in altitude, but then it dumps out back in the city town, never not a confusing moment here. Couple of rock shops and no marbles, while twice Bisbee has come through. I need to message Asia, the supplier. Anyway, had dinner out, chose an Italian place -- fine dining -- and it was very nice, very dark, very mob feeling, very busy after we were the first ones there, and the prices were all $10 higher than they show online. Oh well, I think I got a box of pasta so had it for lunch and dinner the next day.

Thurs - Day 2 Hot Springs, started cloudy, ended blue skies low 70s. Learned more about this place with some reading, so knew a bit more as we walked the Promenade walk saw hot spring mountain springs, some shops, and found a Trump CBD store, finally got some election swag. Bike ride, screaming match, dinner

Fri - heading to Tupelo. Got 3 days to wing it to Charleston. Early start, 8:30 and light rain. Good time to go. Pretty good roads on this highway, I think though, that I've had enough of Arkansas. Maybe it seems better if the sun is shining, but that has never been the case when we are there in the fall. 

Sat, Nov. 9 - Trump still your president. From Whitten Park in Mississippi for one night, not an easy thing to do on a holiday weekend - Veteran's day so most parks wanted a 2 - 3 day reservation. Drove to Franklin, GA to Brush Creek Park, waaaayyy the heck down from I-20. SW of Atlanta. Nice place, very quiet yet very busy with 5th wheels who look like they like it here, lots of fishing. The drive here: a Baptist church every 4 blocks and beautiful rolling hills with what I don't know, small farms? Former farms? Read the land is not good for growing. So cows. Warmer today and 83% humidity as always, with a stop at east of Birmingham, AL at a Buc-ees, and then a Walmart. (Time to make kitty blankets, very boring in the passenger side.) Saw the first Publix semi on the highway...

Sunday, Nov. 10 - 63 this am, 86 humidity. Glad we left the truck on the hook, just get in and go, to.... where ever... toward Aiken, GA, last one-nighter before 3 days in Charleston. In Sandy Aiken State Park, arrived very late about 4:30 parked in time for it to get dark. It rained all night starting about three so it looks like a sandy wet mud bog out there but this is sand without clay so hopefully not like crater of diamonds mud! There's a river somewhere around here but we'll never get to see it this time around. Gotta move on to Charleston! Then about a steady 63° and was 83% humidity I gotta check it now. Yes 93%.

Monday, Nov. 11 - Left a foggy Aiken SC to head to Charleston. Another long-ish country drive on hwy 78 until we cut up to I-22. Many navigation fights as usual; I am always right, he just hasn't figured that out yet. Messed up the 526 bypass exit when we had to choose to go left or right (east or west), so went thru the edge Charleston once again to get to James Island. Anyway, the sun is shining and we made it safe and sound, which is what's important. Will get up to 80 so we took a park bike ride. The park is all set up with it's annual holiday festival of lights so we can walk that on Wednesday, our last night. This is a huge park, we rode all over the paths and roads, but still not enough with an e-bike! Gotta try it without power, but it weighs a million pounds. Had dinner at Florences's Low Country Kitchen; somewhat lame, rushed service tho it was half empty. Why can we never find the good places, thought I had with this one, and it's right in the area. Afterward, got in our first stop at a Publix, yes prices have climbed, so now they do the 2 for 1 deals. Can't hide it that way Pubes! Went to bed early, stressing over maps & routes makes me tired apparently.

 

Tuesday, Nov. 12 - Morning in Charleston: 65 degrees and 90% humidity; thought it rained but it didn't. Today we go to town and see what's shakin'. Just can't get myself (or ourselves) into any of the tours... a horse carriage, Sumter which is mostly a boat ride, I've read not much is left over there, a plantation (we did the smaller FREE Pinckney one last year), so we will walk. Looking at the incredible mansions and houses is pretty cool. Last time we did the coat, this time in this cooler weather (low 70s) we just walked around aimlessly, but really enjoyed Anson Street, one mansion after the other. The Visitor Center on Meeting Street says the style of narrow side facing the road with a long balcony the length looking in to the neighbors yard is a style that came from Barbados. Went to the City Market on Meeting, saw a vagrant cause a ruckus with police and ambulance arriving (he looked rough, not sure what happened), other than him we felt pretty safe. Had lunch on the roof at the crab restaurant, then hit the streets again going toward the old city jail. Again, no thanks on the tour. Just wish this place has a hop on hop off bus tour but they don't allow that here, weird. Just as we found our parking garage at The Charleston Place, I noticed a small graveyard jammed in next to what turned out to be the oldest Church in Charleston, from the late 1700s. Bill found Jean Eugene Passailaigue who died in Indian Key in 1846 at the age of 28. I spent the remainder of the night researching what could have happened! No answers, but learned a LOT about Indian Key, coolest little 10 acre island.

 

Wednesday, Nov. 13 - Vic's birthday and another Charleston walk. This time parked at the Visitor Center lot on Meeting and headed to the visitor center for Sumter, as close as we'd get. Gorgeous day, the coolest yet, prob high 60s - cool by the water in the wind. Had lunch at Juanita Greenberg's on King, discovered King for the first time, shop and shops and restaurants. Came back to camp about 3:30 and later did a short walk in the Christmas lights for the first day of the annual walk/run for those who find that fun. Last day here, tomorrow we move on. Been nice in one place for 3 nights.

 

Thursday, Nov. 14 - On to St. Augustine, Anastasia Campground.

All day drive, arrived about 2:30 

Bike ride, found lost dog.

Went to Columbia for din and drove around the tight streets.

Daryl hall concert next door to campground.

 

Friday, Nov. 15 - St. Augustine FL

Big day, walked all over town, screwed out of wandering Flagler college's Tiffany stained glass, visited Castillo de San Marcos fort where they took some Apaches (among other things), got Greek olive oil and smoked salt, had a fabulous Cuban sandwich, went to a treasure salvage store, biked up the road to the quarry for the Fort's Coquina construction, remembered this beach is hard packed so had a nice bike ride among the seafoam, went on a wild bike ride around the Anastasia Island park's perimeter trying to get a peek at the amphitheater which is hosting another concert tonight after Darryl Hall last night but did get a peek into a lot of backyards 😄, and made it over to the beach in time for a moonrise!

 

Next two weeks in Pompano Beach

 

Saturday, Nov. 30 - Big Cypress camping at Midway Campground on Tamiami Trail, 41. Site #5, surprisingly few mosquitos tho one did find me later. Anyway, left Pompano about 10 am after the great 2 week stay, got a lot done which was the idea. Detailed 3 car interiors, cleaned up the den house, chopped/rearranged all the vandas, misc orchid maintenance, reset some stepping stones, weeded, and much more I could have done but heck, often it was 83 degrees with matching humidity. Started out kind of cool, but worked up to almost 80 at one point. After losing a lot of time in a traffic jam on 41 at Miccousukki rez we arrived to camp about 2. Wanted to get that Everglades bike ride in so headed west on 41 to the visitor center, learned of some rides, and chose the famous Loop Road. Well, being TGving weekend, it had some traffic (well some) so lots of dust so took a pass on that, and moved a little more west to Monument Lake CG where they had a service road heading north so we rode that out about 2.5 miles, going thru several little muddy "ponds" but made it thru no problem. Good to see the swamp again! 5 miles total, would have loved to do more, but the sun was dropping and being out here too late ain't an option! Stopped at Clyde Butchers, was tempted by many pics, but moved on. Enjoyed Cherise's Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner and me to bed early, before 9, I've been so tired all day. Slept 10 hours!

 

Sunday, Dec. 1 - 58 degrees in the swamp! Wow, the cool finally comes and we are leaving. Oh well. Today we do the change of plan CG since Ft DeSoto still not open due to Hurricane Helene, so tried to find a camp closer yet out of the fray. Chose Little Manatee River SP, site 15 - unknowingly getting the smallest, in side loop site in the park and sandy; not suitable for visitors, not to mention is was (would be) VERY cold the first night, down to 27°. Got in a 5 mile or so bike ride before sunset, rode some equestrian trails. This is an old park, est. 1974, without much upgrade since it seems.

 

Monday, Dec 2 - St Pete day! Quite cool -- dare i say cold -- in the wind of the bayfront, walking the residential canyons of downtown, seeing more Frenchies in one place than usual. Arrived early prior to our 2pm Barb meeting place at James Museum and randomly chose an Irish pub for lunch, Mary Margaret. Tons of bars on this one block, looks like a fun place. Warming up on this perfectly sunny day, so walked several blocks, went to the museum and caught up w/ Barb as we were just about done. She took us on the grand tour out to the end of the new pier, had a bev, then across the bayfront to the Vinoy, another bev (h2O for boring me), then we met Roo for dinner at the Red Mesa Cantina, yet another bev. Great day, great city, and growing UP like mad, residential towers fill the sky. The city xmas decorations were up looking festive; also, an amazing lack of bums, tho there were a few, makes the area safe, so I am told. All the lone female dog walkers seemed to think so. Then the 40 min drive back to the cold camp.

 

Tuesday, Dec 3 - Left Lil Manatee, aka Parrish aka near sun city center to head north to White Springs aka Stephen C Foster SP, north of Lake City. Plenty of tree damage here from hurricane Hellene. Yes hell-ene. Busy drive north on 75, non-stop traffic but it moved. Passed G-ville, stopping in Lake City for swag, leaving the self-checkout with the theft device on one shirt, crap. Cold here too, but did a 4pm walk before that early sundown. This is the first of the 3 one-nighters to get to Galveston.

 

Wednesday, Dec. 4 - White Springs FL to Spanish Fort (Mobile). Low 60s and nice and sunny.  Good drive on I-10, not very busy. Been to this place before, got site 7 full hookups. They are building a big new office, so place must be doing well. Loud as hell w/ traffic on both sides. Caught a bit of sun, but clouds moved in.

 

Thurs, Dec. 5 - Mobile to Baton Rouge, about 210 miles. Cloudy and cool, 64°. Crappy weather incoming soon. Not a bad drive to Baton Rouge a little bit of sprinkles one traffic slow down in Mississippi, cloudy in Baton Rouge low 60s went to coffee call in Walmart then walk to the levy and later went to dinner at Mark Anderson or whatever the hell it's called

 

Friday, December 6 - Sunny in Baton Rouge 40° with the extreme low of 33. Leaving for Galveston. Drive was pretty good on 10, except for the 30 minute delay for a bridge in Lake Charles. Sunny and low 60s. Got off interstate at WINNIE TX, went south to Bolivar Island toward Galveston for the ferry. Perfect, yet wavy ride over to the island, beautiful perfect cool day except now it's 4:30 and too late to ride. Stayed in cuz we are freezing, and there was tons of traffic out there. Tomorrow. Can see the Gulf from my seat, how scary this must look in a huricane -- all the houses are on stilts, as they should be. Very tired, being a passenger knitting and navigating all day is tiring. Highlight of the day was picking at random a pit stop at the Iowa exit, and finding In-Law's Cajun store next to the gas station! Stocked up on some frozens and dined on an order of cajun fries--I hope the frozen gumbo and sausage are as good.

 

Saturday, Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Day. Galveston for 2 more nights. The rain started about 7:30 am, it is now 11:15 and it hasn't stopped so I have on a full-ish face of make-up, planned the stops and cleaned out a drawer, washed some makeup brushes and still it is raining. Gotta just go out and get wet. Oh, and it's 49 degrees. Got my list ready: Tea and Spice Exchange, Gumbo Diner, East End old homes restorations, Kettle House, Cordray's Drugstore (from the Restoring Galveston TV show), The Strand, and hoping to see the historic seawall markers, but not if it's raining. Found a street fair with a hefty price tag ($25 ea.) but Bill found an unmanned entrance through a hotel lobby. It’s the Dickens On The Strand... everyone dressed like Tiny Tim turn of the century and pirates. Pretty cool with a parade and stuff. Stopped at dive on the beach for Cajun food. Headed back to camp, at least we have 4 bars -- and lots more out there. This place is shop after shop after restaurant along the coast, need to see what's on the other side.

 

Monday, December 9 - Leaving Galveston still in gray fog and mist, low 60s. Near Freeport passed the first Buc-ees, the smallest regular looking gas station you wouldn't have known that is where it started. On to the west side of San Antonio and humidity is officially 35% just like it's supposed to be. and made it to Blanco SP. Walked the park a bit

 

Tuesday, December 10 – Blanco SP, edge of hill country. Walked the park a bit. But early dinner and bed.

 

Wednesday, December 11 - San Angelo SP, Walked the town streets but the Swig is gone. But got a tour of one boutique's incredible mosaic floor! Woke up to frosty 27°.

 

Thursday December 12 – Oasis SP, Portales. Went to town to get peanuts and to Walmart for ENMU Greyhound shirts for Barb & Lou.

 

Friday, December 13 – Homeward bound

 

5500 miles, 6+ kitty blankets

 

The healthy menu for the ride home: M&M's, Buc-ees kettle corn, in-laws Cajun fries, Mike Anderson Boudin balls, pretzel sticks, trail mix. 

 

RIP: Quincey Jones, Bernie Marcus (Home Depot co-founder), Michael Cole (Mod Squad), Duane Smith