Perdido Key FL to Biloxi MS
Day 8
Jim walked. I didn't.
We packed up and left the Perdido Cove at 10:30 and took the scenic route, first by the beaches, then up US59 through Foley, to US98 again until we reached I10 to cross over Mobile Bay. We dropped down to US90 in Moss Point, and continued on it to Biloxi.
The ravages of Katrina are everywhere, of course. Something of that magnitude...some things have been repaired, rebuilt, but so many things will never be the same. Fortunately, the majestic oaks are still hanging on, well...most.
It is warm and a little humid. We had heavy clouds and showers, but not heavy rain on our drive of only a few hours. Finding campgrounds here is a little more difficult. The place we are in is okay, the WIFI is great and that isn't always the case, even in expensive places. The ones nearest the beaches here are bordering some not so great neighborhoods...and RAILROAD TRACKS. Geez, really dropped the ball on this one, we knew about those tracks and forgot. Our site is about....oh, 300 feet from an active track. Could be an interesting night!
We went down to the Beau Rivage Casino tonight. I was told that we were 'just going to walk around it'...of course I knew that Jim could not walk by those video poker machines. He got his fix, we walked around some more and went back to the RV.
Ya know...they don't build those ELABORATE casinos because everyone wins!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Day 7 Perdido Key Florida
I begged off the forced march this morning. My legs were really tight, at this age that should be a good thing, but they felt tired. I keep telling Jim that I don't want Lance Armstrong legs....well, unless I get the rest of Lance!
Jim had already finished the laundry by the time I got up. The laundry room is nice here, and it makes it difficult when laundry piles up and some RV parks don't have a lot of machines...waiting for a washer is a huge pain Plus, men seem to have a thing about running out of underwear. Jim starts to get tense when the underwear count gets below....oh, maybe a hundred or so.
Jim does all the laundry on our trips. Sounds reasonable. I've done all the laundry for 44 years and he does it on the last four RV trips...
He got a little testy at me on last year's trip, when I suggested that *I* do the sorting and he could do everything else. He would NOT hear it, told me that he knew what he was doing. Let's just say that he and I don't sort quite the same. He pulled it off quite well... until he did the laundry in Las Vegas. I was in the pool when he came by to ask me how to 'fix' pink socks, t- shirts and underwear. They were very pink. I don't know how anyone can load a washer with all white cotton and somehow miss an extra large, maroon shirt. He's much better at it these days...
So he went for his 4 mile walk while I worked on adding some things to the blog and finally being able to get to my new email. I'd forgotten my password, duh.
Spent the rest of the afternoon, just relaxing here by the river. The weather is still a little too breezy for the beach, but apparently, most people are way more tolerant then me and the beaches are filling more each day.
Didn't think I could get away with no walk at all, and this evening we walked a good two miles. We went down the street to walk through the residential neighborhoods nearby. They are on canals, not far from the bay. So many vacant lots with only driveways, concrete slabs and broken trees left. Very sad.
Spotted on walk
Ivan Was Here
Evening Walk Done!
Tomorrow we pull up stakes here and head a hundred miles or so down the coast to Biloxi, Mississippi. Now...if I can just keep Jim out of the casinos....
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Beautiful Beaches and an April Fools Story
Perdido Key, Florida Non Travel Day (sorta)
Day 6
We are staying at the Perdido Key RV Resort until Saturday. The weather is cooperating with brilliant sunshine, low humidity and it finally is warming up.
The forced march was FOUR MILES LONG this morning...my 'trainer' is going to kill me with all this exercise!
Later, after lunch, we sat out in the sun by the Intercoastal. We don't spend too long 'soaking up the rays' these days...at this age we seem to soak up skin cancer too. Then we climbed in the car for a drive along the oceanfront, through Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Spectacular beaches continue for miles. We drove about 25 miles to the end of the island and then back on the canal side. It was a perfect day for a ride. This is a great vacation spot that sometimes gets overlooked in favor of Panama City beach, or Pensacola Beach. This really is the gem of the gulf coast.
We drove by several ice cream places before we caved. It was only a minor indiscretion...both of us getting a small cone, but after the four mile walk, we deserved it. Funny thing we realized on the drive down to this area. We've visited this area often over the years and the ONE THING that we always have perfect recall on is where the ice cream shops are...right down to the brand.
Yesterday Jim pointed to a strip mall and asked, "Isn't there an ice cream store in that plaza, and didn't we stop there with Ray and Carol?"
Without missing a beat, I replied, "Yup...it's at the far end of the building, and it's Hershey's ice cream!"
Why we can't remember practically anything important these days, but CAN remember in perfect detail, exactly where we got ice cream, 12 hours away from our home and a few years ago, is pathetic! Must be hot-wired in our brains. I mean, if ancient man didn't remember where the good food could be found...well, we wouldn't be here! Right? Okay, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Today is April Fool's Day. No jokes here today. Besides, I got Jim so good years ago, that I could never top it and won't even try. Not to mention that he...um, doesn't have as good a sense of humor as me!
The year was 1974. Rhode Island was one of the first states to begin a Lottery. We had three kids, eight and under, a new mortgage and I didn't work. In other words, poor. Jim had bought a few lottery tickets, the top prize was $25,000, quite a sum of money back then. The winning numbers were announced on the radio. I copied a few numbers, then wrote one of the numbers that was on one of our lottery tickets. Jim can home from work and I asked him to check the numbers that I had written down on a piece of scrap paper against the tickets on the kitchen counter. I was watching through a crack in the door as he checked the first, second and finally the last ticket....the one I faked. He checked, stopped, looked again....his eyes bulged. I think I realized that I was in trouble when he started running in circles in the kitchen. Then I KNEW I was in trouble when he started squeaking in a little girlie voice, trying to say my name in a voice I'd never heard before...or since. "Kathy, Kathy....twenty-five THOUSAND dollars! We WON, We won!!! Twenty-five THOUSAND dollars...twenty-five THOUSAND dollars!!!!!"
I was so glad he'd already taken his gun off, because for a second there.... I had to come clean. So I said, "Yeah, right....April Fools." He kept saying, "NO, NO...NOT April Fools....it's true!" Then he realized that *I* wasn't getting as excited as he, over our good fortune, and again I said, "April Fools"
Poor guy. I thought he was going to cry. As I remember, he grabbed his keys and left to drive around and cool down...before he knocked my head off. It took a while before he could laugh about it.
Said he'd get me back someday...Nah.
Day 6
We are staying at the Perdido Key RV Resort until Saturday. The weather is cooperating with brilliant sunshine, low humidity and it finally is warming up.
The forced march was FOUR MILES LONG this morning...my 'trainer' is going to kill me with all this exercise!
By the Waterway
Perdido Cove RV Resort
Later, after lunch, we sat out in the sun by the Intercoastal. We don't spend too long 'soaking up the rays' these days...at this age we seem to soak up skin cancer too. Then we climbed in the car for a drive along the oceanfront, through Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Spectacular beaches continue for miles. We drove about 25 miles to the end of the island and then back on the canal side. It was a perfect day for a ride. This is a great vacation spot that sometimes gets overlooked in favor of Panama City beach, or Pensacola Beach. This really is the gem of the gulf coast.
We drove by several ice cream places before we caved. It was only a minor indiscretion...both of us getting a small cone, but after the four mile walk, we deserved it. Funny thing we realized on the drive down to this area. We've visited this area often over the years and the ONE THING that we always have perfect recall on is where the ice cream shops are...right down to the brand.
Yesterday Jim pointed to a strip mall and asked, "Isn't there an ice cream store in that plaza, and didn't we stop there with Ray and Carol?"
Without missing a beat, I replied, "Yup...it's at the far end of the building, and it's Hershey's ice cream!"
Why we can't remember practically anything important these days, but CAN remember in perfect detail, exactly where we got ice cream, 12 hours away from our home and a few years ago, is pathetic! Must be hot-wired in our brains. I mean, if ancient man didn't remember where the good food could be found...well, we wouldn't be here! Right? Okay, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Today is April Fool's Day. No jokes here today. Besides, I got Jim so good years ago, that I could never top it and won't even try. Not to mention that he...um, doesn't have as good a sense of humor as me!
The year was 1974. Rhode Island was one of the first states to begin a Lottery. We had three kids, eight and under, a new mortgage and I didn't work. In other words, poor. Jim had bought a few lottery tickets, the top prize was $25,000, quite a sum of money back then. The winning numbers were announced on the radio. I copied a few numbers, then wrote one of the numbers that was on one of our lottery tickets. Jim can home from work and I asked him to check the numbers that I had written down on a piece of scrap paper against the tickets on the kitchen counter. I was watching through a crack in the door as he checked the first, second and finally the last ticket....the one I faked. He checked, stopped, looked again....his eyes bulged. I think I realized that I was in trouble when he started running in circles in the kitchen. Then I KNEW I was in trouble when he started squeaking in a little girlie voice, trying to say my name in a voice I'd never heard before...or since. "Kathy, Kathy....twenty-five THOUSAND dollars! We WON, We won!!! Twenty-five THOUSAND dollars...twenty-five THOUSAND dollars!!!!!"
I was so glad he'd already taken his gun off, because for a second there.... I had to come clean. So I said, "Yeah, right....April Fools." He kept saying, "NO, NO...NOT April Fools....it's true!" Then he realized that *I* wasn't getting as excited as he, over our good fortune, and again I said, "April Fools"
Poor guy. I thought he was going to cry. As I remember, he grabbed his keys and left to drive around and cool down...before he knocked my head off. It took a while before he could laugh about it.
Said he'd get me back someday...Nah.
Hop, Skip and a Jump Down the Coast
March 31, 2010
Day 5
Navarre Fl to Perdido Key Fl 48 miles
I did my forced march this morning under some of the bluest skies possible in this part of the country. Took the camera along.
Later we packed up and headed a little bit west, a very little bit west – less than 50 miles to Perdido Key, on the Florida/Alabama line.
We arrived at the RV resort just after noon. It is located on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, and at a marina. Oooooh, nice boats!
I spent part of the afternoon trying to get on-line. After three trips with this laptop, and this is only the second time I could NOT get connected. I even spent half and hour in the office here with an employee helping with no luck. I am getting messages that the campground’s wireless is a ‘hidden’ network, or that the ‘settings don’t match’… We even took the computer over the bridge to a hotspot and it connected just fine. The lady at the office said that ‘no one else has had any problems’…oh well. We choose these places because they have certain services that we want. If we didn’t care about wireless and cable, we’d stay at state parks and save quite a lot. This place is $55/night, we are prepaid and there are no refunds.
We rode the bikes for an hour and are still amazed at the reminders of Hurricane Ivan’s landfall here six years ago. Thousands of dead pine trees, some torn apart by the wind, but most killed by salt water intrusion…the ocean water washed in to the low lying areas and stays, killing the vegetation. There are driveways to nowhere, docks with only the pilings left, slabs of concrete, and asphalt by the roadside. We saw for sale signs everywhere.
Finished the day with a cup of coffee and a two mile walk. I feel like I’m in training for the Olympics or something.
The weather is still cool and windy, don’t believe it hit 70degrees. I hear it is warmer in Minnesota today than it is here…I have been wearing my cuddle duds (lightweight long underwear) to sleep in since we left home. What’s wrong with this picture?
Day 5
Navarre Fl to Perdido Key Fl 48 miles
I did my forced march this morning under some of the bluest skies possible in this part of the country. Took the camera along.
Navarre Beach Campground Beach
Campground Pier
Looking Back
Navarre Beach Campground
Our Site
Later we packed up and headed a little bit west, a very little bit west – less than 50 miles to Perdido Key, on the Florida/Alabama line.
We arrived at the RV resort just after noon. It is located on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, and at a marina. Oooooh, nice boats!
I spent part of the afternoon trying to get on-line. After three trips with this laptop, and this is only the second time I could NOT get connected. I even spent half and hour in the office here with an employee helping with no luck. I am getting messages that the campground’s wireless is a ‘hidden’ network, or that the ‘settings don’t match’… We even took the computer over the bridge to a hotspot and it connected just fine. The lady at the office said that ‘no one else has had any problems’…oh well. We choose these places because they have certain services that we want. If we didn’t care about wireless and cable, we’d stay at state parks and save quite a lot. This place is $55/night, we are prepaid and there are no refunds.
We rode the bikes for an hour and are still amazed at the reminders of Hurricane Ivan’s landfall here six years ago. Thousands of dead pine trees, some torn apart by the wind, but most killed by salt water intrusion…the ocean water washed in to the low lying areas and stays, killing the vegetation. There are driveways to nowhere, docks with only the pilings left, slabs of concrete, and asphalt by the roadside. We saw for sale signs everywhere.
Finished the day with a cup of coffee and a two mile walk. I feel like I’m in training for the Olympics or something.
The weather is still cool and windy, don’t believe it hit 70degrees. I hear it is warmer in Minnesota today than it is here…I have been wearing my cuddle duds (lightweight long underwear) to sleep in since we left home. What’s wrong with this picture?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wisconsin People
Non Travel Day Navarre, Florida
Okay, I've been patient waiting for the wind to stop and for the temperature to get just a little warmer. The temperatures have been hovering in the high 60's. This morning it looked as though that would happen. There was practically no wind whatsoever early in the day. The water was beautifully flat here at the campground, yesterday it was nothing but whitecaps. We had all good intentions of going over to the island and enjoying one of the prettiest beaches in the country and getting a little sun.
We walked, ran a few errands, ate lunch and headed over. The wind got stronger as the day progressed. Got to the beach, and were surprised at how many people were there...IN BATHING SUITS. Not only that but some were actually IN THE WATER! And there were even little kids in the surf. I was chilled and I had a sweatshirt on. Jim decided that 'the water must be warm', so as we walked on the beach, he went in...up to his ankles, that is. And came running out a half second later, screaming, "It's freakin' FREEZING!" We both looked down the beach at the people frolicking in the surf and decided that were either crazy for 'from Wisconsin'.
We walked a half mile up and down the beach, in the wind. The bikes were in the car, but riding in a headwind was more than we felt like doing. So we came back to the RV and took a nap. Are we getting old or what?
We are paying close attention to the news reports of the flooding in southern New England, most importantly Rhode Island. The worst of the flooding is in and around the town where we raised our family. Our hearts go out to the people in the Warwick and Cranston areas.
Doing nothing gives me time to catch up with this blog, and to spend some time downloading and organizing photographs. Also, to catch up with things on the web.
Oh...and I checked the water temperature...it is 63 degrees!
Okay, I've been patient waiting for the wind to stop and for the temperature to get just a little warmer. The temperatures have been hovering in the high 60's. This morning it looked as though that would happen. There was practically no wind whatsoever early in the day. The water was beautifully flat here at the campground, yesterday it was nothing but whitecaps. We had all good intentions of going over to the island and enjoying one of the prettiest beaches in the country and getting a little sun.
We walked, ran a few errands, ate lunch and headed over. The wind got stronger as the day progressed. Got to the beach, and were surprised at how many people were there...IN BATHING SUITS. Not only that but some were actually IN THE WATER! And there were even little kids in the surf. I was chilled and I had a sweatshirt on. Jim decided that 'the water must be warm', so as we walked on the beach, he went in...up to his ankles, that is. And came running out a half second later, screaming, "It's freakin' FREEZING!" We both looked down the beach at the people frolicking in the surf and decided that were either crazy for 'from Wisconsin'.
Sitting in the cold sand, wind giving me a totally new do!
We walked a half mile up and down the beach, in the wind. The bikes were in the car, but riding in a headwind was more than we felt like doing. So we came back to the RV and took a nap. Are we getting old or what?
We are paying close attention to the news reports of the flooding in southern New England, most importantly Rhode Island. The worst of the flooding is in and around the town where we raised our family. Our hearts go out to the people in the Warwick and Cranston areas.
Doing nothing gives me time to catch up with this blog, and to spend some time downloading and organizing photographs. Also, to catch up with things on the web.
Oh...and I checked the water temperature...it is 63 degrees!
Sometimes Boring is Good
Monday March 30, 2010
Non travel day - Navarre Florida
This is our third visit to the Navarre Beach Campground. It sits on the mainland side Santa Rosa Sound, looking directly at Santa Rosa Island. The place is always clean, and rules are enforced - a great place for families with small children. Highly recommended.
We took our 3 mile walk (or forced march, as I sometimes call it) in the morning. Then we did a little shopping for groceries...the hum drum part of traveling. It's very windy and although the sun is shining brightly, it is not a beach day. So, what to do? Go for a drive, of course! Like driving around the entire country isn't enough.
So we decided to head toward Perdido Key, to scope out our next campground. We know the area, Jim's brother and wife have a condo not far from there. Somehow, we managed to pass right by our 'must stop' restaurant, The Fish House. Best shrimp and grits around, their *Shrimp and Grits a Ya Ya*. But, we are trying to save on calories AND expenses...it was hard to pass by, but we did it!
It took a few hours, to go there and back by a different route, but we both enjoyed the scenic drive.
So far we have not eaten out, which is fine by me. We grilled salmon for dinner along with fresh asparagus, spaghetti squash, and baked potato. The cooking usually heats the RV up, but with the cooler temps, it felt good.
Later we just took it easy, walked again and watched TV. I spent time trying to figure out blogging again. Seems I took too much time off and there have been changes to Blogger. I'm sure they are for the better, but it will take me a little bit to get back into the swing of things.
Tomorrow, we hope to visit the island to walk the beach or bike...the weather will be the deciding factor.
Yep, some RV days are hum-drum...
Non travel day - Navarre Florida
Don't know what look they were going for here....
This is our third visit to the Navarre Beach Campground. It sits on the mainland side Santa Rosa Sound, looking directly at Santa Rosa Island. The place is always clean, and rules are enforced - a great place for families with small children. Highly recommended.
We took our 3 mile walk (or forced march, as I sometimes call it) in the morning. Then we did a little shopping for groceries...the hum drum part of traveling. It's very windy and although the sun is shining brightly, it is not a beach day. So, what to do? Go for a drive, of course! Like driving around the entire country isn't enough.
So we decided to head toward Perdido Key, to scope out our next campground. We know the area, Jim's brother and wife have a condo not far from there. Somehow, we managed to pass right by our 'must stop' restaurant, The Fish House. Best shrimp and grits around, their *Shrimp and Grits a Ya Ya*. But, we are trying to save on calories AND expenses...it was hard to pass by, but we did it!
It took a few hours, to go there and back by a different route, but we both enjoyed the scenic drive.
So far we have not eaten out, which is fine by me. We grilled salmon for dinner along with fresh asparagus, spaghetti squash, and baked potato. The cooking usually heats the RV up, but with the cooler temps, it felt good.
Later we just took it easy, walked again and watched TV. I spent time trying to figure out blogging again. Seems I took too much time off and there have been changes to Blogger. I'm sure they are for the better, but it will take me a little bit to get back into the swing of things.
Tomorrow, we hope to visit the island to walk the beach or bike...the weather will be the deciding factor.
Yep, some RV days are hum-drum...
Apalachicola and the Ugly Mermaid
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Day 2 Monticello FL to Navarre FL - 250 Miles
We left the area 20 miles or so east of Tallahassee, mid morning and drove under I10 on US19 south to US27 (Apalachee Pky) west to Tallahassee where we picked up US 319 south and finally US98. This is a lovely drive that we have taken many times. We follow it through the little oystering towns in the 'armpit' area of the north gulf coast of Florida all the way to Pensacola. It continues east and south, following the coast until near Homosassa where it turns inland, snaking through the state, along the east side of Okeechobee until it runs out of land between West Palm Beach and Lake Worth on the east shore of the state. We've driven parts of this route, I think it would be nice to drive the entire length someday...and stay OFF the interstates!
Day 2 Monticello FL to Navarre FL - 250 Miles
Apalachicola Waterfront
We got our morning exercise in by walking around the campground and even venturing out onto the rural road that runs by it. This troubled the buzzards that were dining on 'possum tartar' at the middle of the road cafe. Certainly have seen our share of roadkill this trip and it's only the morning of the second day. I even thought (for a nanosecond) about adding a 'roadkill meter' to the blog. Nah.
Packing up
All you have to say is, "Wanna go for a walk?"
Along this stretch of highway is the charming, historic town of Apalachicola . Doesn't the word just roll off your tongue? We all know how to pronounce it thanks to Jim Cantore on the weather channel!
We have driven through here too many times to remember, without stopping. Jim is one of those, 'Gotta Make Time' drivers...I need the 'rolling eyes' emoticons here. Fortunately, he was hungry so we had to stop. We walked a few blocks of the downtown section near the waterfront. It was a nice break and we enjoyed stretching our legs and stopping in some of the quirky shops.
Apalachicola's dual purpose planters
Perhaps the world's homliest (and lopsided) mermaid!
Floats at a funky, nautical gift shop
We were headed to Panama City Beach, but as usual, it didn't happen. Previous trips to stay there were thwarted by 'Bike Week' crowds. We already knew that it was too early in the year for that but....it's Spring Break time! Nothing against the cyclist or the college kids, but it's not what we are looking for at this point in our lives. We drove through, watched the bands of kids, the trash cans overflowing with beer cans, the beer tents and the cops on every corner and shouting on their PA systems for the kids to turn the music in their cars down...and thought that we'd ride on. Plan B was Navarre.
The last few weeks of stress showed up around Destin, only a half hour from Navarre, when we got into a shouting match with each other over a trivial matter. For a while we were both thinking that this may be our shortest trip. Ever. Wouldn't that have been a hoot? But we calmed down and came to our senses by bedtime.
It's chilly here but the weather is fore-casted to be sunny for the remainder of the week.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Do You Believe In Miracles?
March 27, 2010
Day 1 Summerville SC to Monticello FL
348 miles
Somehow we got everything pulled together and managed to hit the road by 11:00 this morning. A minor miracle.
We have been thinking of selling the house but one of the worst things about listing is living in a 'fish bowl' and always having it show ready. Ugh. We are NOT that neat! So we decided to list it while we are away. That meant getting it all spiffed up in two weeks...decluttering, remodeling and cleaning...REALLY cleaning and staging. The last thing I did before we left was to take pictures of the entire house, because it will never look this good again!
Oh yes, and on top of all that prepping the RV, taking the dogs for their yearly check and shopping for the redecorating and the RV supplies. Not to mention, stopping the mail, newspaper, cancelling the cable, pre-paying bills, arranging for 90 days worth of prescriptions, visits to the doctor, hairdresser...well you get the picture. Then packing it all into the RV.
By the time we climbed into the darn thing we were walking around like Michael Jackson in Thriller.
And so we begin our trip.
The weather cooperated, sunny and cool. We rode I26 to I95 south to US84 south of Savannah. The traffic was extremely heavy for a Saturday, which surprised us. The state road was much less traveled, and a nice break from the interstate. Thankfully it was pretty much uneventful, except for the poor, large, black bird that crashed into our windshield near Jessup Ga. First day and we killed something already!
This route took us through mostly rural areas, small towns, some charming, some, um...not so much. Pecans seem to be the crop of choice, we easily drove past a bizillion pecan trees...so why are they so darn expensive? We were pleasantly surprised with the beautification of the downtown area in Waycross, very nice.
The both of us were grouchy, tired and hungry and glad to settle into a campsite at a KOA just east of Tallahassee on I10. I had to laugh when we pulled up to the office and saw this camper in front of us. Reminded me of a dear friend in Fairbanks.
For some reason this KOA did NOT have WIFI. I didn't even bother to ask when I called, because they always have WIFI and CABLE. Except for this one...
Tomorrow head west toward the panhandle beaches.
Sorry, readers...I am way too exhausted to be clever, witty, or even form a proper sentence. It will come.
I need sleep....
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