December 5 and 6 - The Final Chapter

The temps are getting colder now again. The trip to Tallahassee was easy. We had our morning stop at the Florida Welcome Station. For lunch we ate the rest of the ham and cheese on the rest of the French bread loaf we bought at the Farmers Market in Gulfport behind the gas station where we filled up. It was a lot of chewing but it sure was a good sandwich.


Once we got close to Tallahassee we lost another hour as we got back on Eastern Standard time. The Tallahassee RV Park is on the east side of the city and really nice. We arrived around 3:30. The spaces are not big by any means, or cheap for that matter, but the setting is really nice in the tall pines. There are only 2 toilets/showers for 68 spaces so I guess most plan to use their RV facilities. There were a lot of snow birds there.

Jean and Paul picked us up for dinner around 5:45 and we visited in the RV for a bit then they took us to Ted’s Montana ???. It is owned by Ted Turner and they serve a lot of buffalo in addition to everything else. Bill and I were very happy with our meals. One of the best dinner salads I’ve ever had. We really enjoyed visiting with Paul and Jean. We last saw them both in April when we met in Florala camping, then Jean was down later for a girls get together. Too bad we live so far, they’d be a fun couple to camp with. We’re going to try and get together for a few days when Bill has spring break.

After they dropped us off we watched some TV and read and mentally prepared for the last day on the road. The temp was to be 29 so I made sure I turned the tank heaters on before bed.

December 6 - Last day, BUMMER! Since it wasn’t a long drive we didn’t plan to leave early, Bill wanted to be on the road around 9. It took a little longer to get packed up since he had to drain all the tanks before we could go. We did manage to leave around 8:30 though. It was COLD out for sure.

We stopped mid-morning and it was still pretty cold out. At least the rest area had heat today. At lunch time we stopped at a TA for the last fueling but they didn’t have any spaces we could park in for lunch as they were all back in spaces and I was not going to try that in front of all those truckers. So we pulled in to one further down the road and I parked while Bill went next door to the Kentucky Fried Chicken place. Since I was parked at an angle I looked in the passenger side mirror to make sure I wasn’t sticking out too far in anyone’s way and saw something hanging down from the roof. I got out and the slide cover was unrolled and just hanging there. When Bill walked up he noticed it right away. It was not like that we filled up so it must have just sprung. Well, this place wasn’t ideal for opening the slides and working on it so we went across the street where there was a big truck service place and plenty of space so we pulled along the fence, ate our lunch then discussed our plan of action. We had a ladder with us but would need two if we had to hand roll the cover up so I thought we could borrow one from the garage. Then I looked over there and they had 2 of those huge rolling ladders. We went in and asked if we could use them and they said OK, just don’t fall off. Duh! So we wheeled them over to the side and decided it was sprung and would not stay rolled so I got a utility knife and cut it off of the roller, then we slid the other end out of its bracket, folded it up, rolled the ladders back over and headed on down the highway! Once we get settled in I will call our mobile service guy who installed them and see if he can use the old cover if I get it re-stitched and have him order what parts he thinks it will need.

From there it was less than an hour to Winter Garden where we went by the warehouse to weigh the RV. I need to check the numbers but I think we’re about 2,000 under the loaded limit, so that is good. Then we came home and I pulled in the driveway and left it for Kurt to come back in the space after work. We emptied the fridge and freezer and most of the clothes and linens. Molly was so happy to get out on the porch again. She must have gone out 10 times but didn’t stay long since it was cold and getting colder.

We arrived home to several dilemmas. There was no water, no heat, no phone, the garage door opener was only working from the pad, no electric along one wall in the living room, no direct TV….. Yikes! Should have stayed on the road! I discovered someone had turned the water off outside, so that was easy. Once I checked the overflow pan under the AC/Heater unit, I checked the breaker and it was off, so I was relieved to hear it kick on once I flipped the switch. Bill called Direct TV and an hour later that was working. Funny thing about the phone, the internet was working but not the phone but I left it for Tuesday. I also realized I forgot to call State Farm to activate the coverage on the van and Bill’s truck, so that was a do first thing in the morning item. I did 3 loads of wash and yippee, the washer and dryer both worked. Bill hooked the batteries up to the vehicles and both started so that was another plus.

Kurt came to back it in and for a while it went well, then it happened. The truck got stuck like it did the last time. So the RV is way back in and needs to just be turned to the right and pulled forward but that will have to wait til Kurt can bring the Bobcat over to pull it out. Then Bill is renting a tamper to pack the new gravel down. It’s always something!

Now to get ready for Christmas and start planning our next adventure.

Thanks to all my family and friends for keeping up with us! I hope you enjoyed looking at our 800 photos!

December 4 Gulfport, Biloxi and area

Carved Katrina Tree

The party is really almost over! We had a great day today in Gulfport and surrounding areas. We slept in, well I did until 8:30 and boy was it nice. I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast and we finally left about 10:30. We drove to Biloxi so we could see what casinos were left and where we had my parents’ 50th anniversary celebration. Not many casinos left but looked like they were doing some building. Then we went to the 6th Annual Biloxi Christmas in the City event downtown. It’s basically an arts and crafts event with Christmas carolers and of course a food court. We browsed the booths but only bought some pusharate, which is a Slavic dessert thing that looks like a donut hole but is very yummy.

An abandoned house along the gulf

Then we drove west along the gulf coast and could see where some house were rebuilt or repaired and many empty foundations stood, mostly with for sale signs. It is very sad knowing what old majestic homes once stood there for a 100 years and now most are gone and the new ones are primarily being built on 12 – 16 foot poles. We saw some of the wood carvings in the median that were carved in the trees left standing but destroyed by Katrina. We stopped for lunch in Long Beach at Lil Rays. It’s a seafood place and I thoroughly enjoyed my grouper po boy. They indicated on the menu that some of the prices had to be increased due to the oil spill. Which reminds me, we looked for miles but saw no remaining evidence in this area of oil, at least as far out as our eyes could see. We stopped a couple of times and walked on the beach and took some photos too.

No oil spills here

We returned to the RV for an hour or so to put more laundry in and to take Xena out. We went to the matinee of “Unstoppable” at 3:45. We both really like Denzel Washington and he was as good in this as his other movies. It was a rather tense one to watch and I hid my eyes several times. Back at the RV I made fish for dinner with the left over mac and cheese and the last of our zucchini. We talked to Carole, who told us about their visit today with Kerry. I knew she had been invited to Tucson by friends she met in Alaska, but didn’t know she was definitely going so that was a surprise for everyone. Later I called Jean to see about meeting her and Paul for dinner tomorrow night in Tallahassee. We’re to confirm around 1 tomorrow.

I had my shower tonight to speed up the get away tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about going home. I’m excited to see everyone and sleep in my own bed and cook in my big kitchen but not at all excited about having to get ready for Christmas in a few weeks and going back to work and going to appointments. Oh well, you have to take the good with the bad.

Time to post this and read for a while.

November 30 - December 3 - We Finally Left Texas

It was nice not having to hook up this morning and nicer yet that the wind had stopped. It was 29 when Bill took Xena out first thing but the sun came out and it was warming a bit when we left at 8:19. I made bacon this morning, toast, fruit and scrambled eggs for Bill. We didn’t have to leave really early as this was our short day.


The ride was uneventful. We started listening to an audio book so that made the miles go faster. The scenery was very drab and lots of nothing. We stopped first thing at Flying J just outside of El Paso to fuel up and then again mid-morning for everyone a bathroom break. This time the bathrooms did not have any heat and those seats were cold! We stopped at a small rest area for lunch that did not have facilities, but that was OK, we used the RV. We had to go through a Border Patrol stop where the dog sniffed our truck and RV and they asked if we were US citizens but didn’t ask for ID. Seems kinda pointless to me. Later we saw two Border Patrol trucks with horse trailers along the road out in no where.

Trail riders outside of Ft Stockton

We arrived in Ft Stockton at about 3 today but that is after the times changed back to Central Time. We’re at the Ft Stockton RV Park. We stayed here last summer. It’s a few miles east of Ft. Stockton, but since we’re not going into town that is fine. We think they put us in the wrong place as according to their map, this area is not a pet area. Bill said they didn’t ask him about pets. Once again we didn’t unhook, but we did put the water and sewer lines on. I did 2 loads of wash. It was really nice out when we arrived. In the sun it was pretty warm, but still chilly in the shade. I called Dr. Cox and made an appointment for my knee. Can’t see him until the end of December so hope it doesn’t get super painful before then.

After we got settled in we watched everyone else arrive. We counted at least 12 more units in after us, mostly Class A’s. I was going to fix pork chops on the George Foreman for dinner but they had a small café here and Bill really wanted to eat there since we didn’t get to last time we camped here. We both had chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes, pole beans, a biscuit and a slice of pumpkin bread for dessert and a glass of tea. It was a good meal for $7.95. We got the last open table but it sat 6 so a single man came in and we asked him to join us. He’s from Michigan and now headed to CA for the winter near where his daughters both live. We had a nice time chatting with him.

After dinner we took Xena for another walk and I put chicken in the crockpot for overnight to make chicken and dumplings within a couple of nights. It appears our TV shows are not on due to “specials” so Bill is reading and I am going to try to get on the net.

December 1 – Only 24 more days until Christmas! It’s going to be a rough month when we get home.

We left at 8:45 this morning and again, it was pretty cold out. Some water that leaked made ice under the RV. We stopped for fuel first thing as there’s not a lot along the highway across Texas. I am so glad we have an audio book to listen to as there’s not much traffic and it gets really boring.

We stopped mid-morning for everyone’s bathroom break and again, there was no heat in the bathrooms and boy, those stainless steel toilets are cold! I guess it’s good in the summer! We stopped for fuel again in Junction, TX so after filling up we pulled around to the back of the station and had our lunch. Arrived at Boerne, TX at the Top of the Hill RV Park at 2:30. There are almost 100 spaces here and met people from Florida who are now full timers. Why you’d spend the winter here instead of Florida, I just don’t understand. They said it gets pretty full after Christmas and they have rally groups and nice facilities. It’s cold though!

We took Xena for a walk around the park and there are some nice units here but also some year arounders that I just don’t like. They tend to trash things up in my opinion unless they are closely monitored. I made pork chops, sweet potatoes and salads for dinner. Then we set up both laptops so we could each do mail and whatever else. I have been checking on seasonal jobs and volunteering in National Parks. We need to make some decisions and get our applications in for next year.

Watched a couple of shows and now it’s time to read.

December 2 – We left earlier than out deadline by 15 minutes! 8:15. No one should have to drive a big RV through 2 big cities in one day. Butthead drivers think you can stop on a dime and change lanes like you’re in a little sports car. I was glad to have them over with!

Just as we got on I-10 this morning we saw an overturned motorcycle on the westbound side and Bill said there was a body bag. Traffic was backed up a ways and there were tons of police turning it around and another bunch not letting any other cars come up the ramp. Later we learned that a guy challenged the police in the middle of the interstate after leaving home saying he was going to commit suicide. The police ended up shooting him on the highway.

Our morning break was in the nicest rest area we’ve ever been in in Texas. It was Guadalupe and it was a super nice stop. We spent most of our drive today listening to the rest of our audio book. That’s the only way to drive across Texas! For lunch we timed our stop for fuel also at Flying J. We also got our empty propane tank refilled at the same time and splurged on pizza slices for lunch that we ate in the RV.

The drive through Houston after that was LONG. It’s about 30 miles to cross the city and suburbs. We did see some Texas longhorns along the way and it was interesting that we were passed by a stream of Border Patrol vehicles again. We arrived at our campground, Hidden Lake RV Resort in Beaumont, TX at 2:45. It’s a really nice small park that is only 2 years old. It’s on a lake with catch and release fishing. There are about 10 back in sites on the water but we chose a pull through. Nice couple owns the place.

It’s easy setting up when you don’t have to unhitch or hook up the sewer! We took Xena for a long walk around the whole park and critiqued the RV’s. Then I made chicken and dumpling for dinner and fresh zucchini. The dumplings were not up to par since I used bisquick. Scratch are so much better! Went ahead and got my shower tonight and washed my hair so I don’t have to do it in the morning. Kerry called and we had a nice talk. I miss talking to her and Karen every day.

I spent some time tonight looking again for places for us to work at a National Park next summer, watched some TV and did my journal.

December 3 – I was not ready to get up this morning! This driving every day is getting old fast. We just had cereal for breakfast and a pear since we are out of bananas. Bill had to put some air in a couple of the RV tires so it was about 8:20 when we left.

Our potty stop was to fuel up at the same time but they had a problem with the pump so it took longer than planned. Then I wanted to stop at a Wal-mart along I-12 in hopes of getting some Hubig pies to take to my family and friends, so we planned it with our lunch break. I didn’t get the pies but got some bananas and subs from the Subway in Wal-Mart. We ate in the truck and kept on trucking...to another try at a Wal-mart down the road. Again, so Hubigs, so sorry to my family and friends.

My shopping stops caused us to not get to Southern Oaks Mobile Home and RV Park in Gulfport, MS until almost 4. It’s actually a mobile home park with one RV section and then several spots scattered throughout the park. It’s nice enough but not someplace you’d want to stay long as we gather most, even in the RV’s are permanent residents. It’s fine for 2 nights. I made venison cube steaks, broccoli and Bill chose Kraft mac and cheese for dinner. Then we took Xena for a walk and it’s cooling off outside. Guess we’re headed into that cool Florida weather we heard about.

Planned out our day in the area tomorrow, watched TV and read.