Return to Kentucky

Nice trail in the woods in our camp at the state park in Georgia
Our RV and Julia lost in thought or waiting for dinner I don't know which :)

Our rig next to an eighteen wheeler at our night camp in Wal-Mart parking lot GA, the photo below is the Wal-Mart store front

Julia and our dogs after a hard day enjoying our camp site at the state park in Georgia
We have departed Florida and went north on I-75 to Georgia. We stayed at a Georgia State Park for two days and enjoyed the atmosphere of a family camp ground. For most of the stay the weather was cloudy and breezy. The last night we were there we had a camp fire which was fun until the wind came up and caused some problems with the fire so we doused the fire and went to bed. The last day it cleared and was sunny for our departure Sunday morning.
One interesting event was we had dinner at a local restaurant called the Cat Fish House. I had fillets of fish and fried oysters, Samantha had catfish and something else. I loved my oysters and fillets she didn't like her dinner. While eating I told Samantha I was out of one of my medications and wasn't feeling well, she got concerned and insisted that we find a drug store right after dinner. So after dinner we headed back to town and found a Rite Aid Pharmacy where the pharmacist went over my medications and found he missing meds, seems they changed my Rx to generic and didn't tell me so I thought it was for something else. Then I took my pill and felt much relieved.

Sunday we broke camp and 0n our way back to I-75 we stopped at Huddle House for breakfast, I think I ate to much so I asked Samantha to do the driving. We traveled north on 75 right through Atlanta and its traffic on Sunday afternoon and now we are five miles from Tennessee and will dry camp for the night at Wal Mart. Samantha got an email from our house sitter that her Mother had been to flown to the big city hospital in critical condition and that her son was taking care of our place in her absence. We feel we should get moving early in the morning and get back to Kentucky as soon as we safely can.

We arrived back safely in Kentucky and motored right over to the Lee RV Center to talk with Philip Lee about trading our RV for a larger RV. After three weeks in a Class C we were convinced that two adults, two dogs, and two cats need a lot more room to be comfortable. Our old dog a large Labrador needs something easy to get in and out of so we are thinking about a 5th wheel. That will be the subject of the next post.

Whispering Pines Ocala FL

RV Park Road
Duck Pond
Evening camp fire
We had reservations at an RV park near the Ocala National Forrest Florida. The trip to Ocala was long and expensive as far as fuel was concerned. Oil prices have increased and immediately the Gasoline Stations increased their prices. We got 'Taken' when we stopped at a fuel station just off the interstate, it was very busy so we thought that the price must reflect local conditions and filled up at $3.45 a gallon. Ha! Just down the road a few miles it was twenty cents cheaper. It didn't help to know many others were ripped off by that sucker. On the other hand we were treated very nice at a Flying J, the hostess heard that Samantha's steak and eggs hadn't come out right and took five bucks off the bill. Flying J is a must stop for us now and RVs can often over night in their parking lot and get LP tanks filled and dump waste tanks also.

Finally after some convoluted directions we arrive at Whispering Pines RV Park. This is a small place family run and reminds me of the old time RV parks in the old movies like Pajama Game (the original one with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, Gee I would like to watch that movie again). We took a walk around the park and met more people in that walk of about half an hour than we did in three days at Top Sail State Park or at the five days a tthe Escapees Park in Livingston, maybe we have been traveling in the wrong circles this isn't a Tony place just down to earth regular folks and not one million dollar rig, some nice rigs and some older ones and a few real old ones.

Today 111308, we went shopping at Wally World once again and after we finished shopping we went to the National Forest visitor center and picked up a map and some brochures. Thinking it would be a good idea to drive around the Forrest and check out the camping sites and other attractions we headed out. First highway 40 goes right through the forest and you have no feeling your any place special and your not. Later I took highway 19, that bisects highway 40 and followed it until we got to Salt Springs.

Thinking that Salt Springs was a nice place to check out we pulled in and went to the office. We were informed that we would have to pay a day use fee and only I with the Senior Pass would get a reduction in the fee. That was the first of many unpleasant surprises, next was that we couldn't take pets into the site nor could we take alcoholic beverages in and our coolers were subject to search.

Well no one offered to search our coolers or RV so we proceeded to the Salt Springs. Sheesh what a let down, in the office where we paid the fee the photo of the Spring looked huge and beautiful, in real life it was small and the walking area around it was in sad shape. The other thing that bothered me were all the negative signs every where, can't have pets, can't smoke, can't use scuba equipment, must us the approved Bear proof trash receptacles, no alcoholic beverages, no parking on side of the road, no fishing, so forth and so on. I did not feel like I was wanted there. After taking a few pictures we got back into our RV full of contraband (pets and booze) and visited the camping area. The camping area didn't seem special, no view of the lake or spring or anything else. Then on the way out I was supposed to place my permit in a box before passing through the electrically operated gates that close promptly at 5pm. I couldn't wait to get out of there, I felt like I was escaping some weird dream. What has happened to my Forrest Service? When did they become big brother?

Then as I visited other sites in the same area I was asked to pay the daily fee again WHAT THE HELL is going on? I found a boating ramp and swimming beach area the beach was closed looked nice no one around, went to the boat ramp no one around there either and there it was a big sign asking for a daily fee again only this time I had to monitor myself, the Hell I Will, I took a few pictures walked the dogs and chatted with another couple about RVing and left, just in time I might add as a Forrest Service vehicle passed us on the road out to the highway. I didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling about the Forrest Service or our Government today, not at all.

On the way back to camp we stopped in a strip mall and went to a dollar store for a few items, while standing in line I heard a conversation about how good the local restaurant was and when we left the store I suggested we have some dinner at the local restaurant. We had the spaghetti and meat balls with salad, garlic toast and beverage very reasonable if not memorable.

When we got back to camp we tried to set up our lights on the sun shade and found we had no electricity to the outside electrical plug nor to the refrigerator. After some head scratching and trying different things I had the brite idea to check the GFI plug and sure enough after resetting the GFI plug we had power to the both plugs. We got the lights up and took the dogs for a walk. Before we left for the dog walk we were invited to a St. Patrick's day dinner at the park by three of the ladies from surrounding RVs. We felt so welcome, not like some other places we had been, however we will be leaving in the morning. The dog walk was going good until a dog came charging out of an RV and attacked our little dog! Scary moment, but with lots of shouts and barks from our big dog the attacker was driven off and captured by its owner who apologized profusely. No harm was done thank goodness and we parted amicably.

When we got back to the RV we indulged in snacks and a little TV and some WiFi the end of another day. Tomorrow we plan to travel I 75 north to Georgia.

Top Sail State Park Florida

View of condos at the beach in Florida
The famous dunes at Topsail State Park Florida

The beach very nice
We had made reservations for Topsail RV park in Destin Florida and after what seemed a long trip arrived were greeted warmly by the registration staff. We found our sight without any problem and found ourselves surrounded by some very expensive RVs. This didn't bother us, however I think we might have miffed a few of the owners of the spiffy RVs. Our RV is old, 21 years old and looks it.

The park is a paved road down to the beach and of course dogs are not allowed on the beach so we took turns walking on the beach and taking photos. The weather was colder than we liked and in the mornings and evenings we had to wear our heavy jackets and gloves to stay warm and comfortable. The beach was beautiful and there were trails that wandered around giving one the feeling the place was very large.

On one of our walks we had a nice talk with a couple who owned an old RV and we exchanged our feelings about the park and how having an older RV caused some reaction to the other campers.
They felt they weren't accepted either, not bothered or treated badly just not as friendly a reception as someone in a nicer RV would get.

We didn't have WiFi at the park but in talking with another camper found a "Hot Spot" at Panera Bread and Coffee Shop. We spent several afternoons sitting there having coffee and catching up on our email and other chores like paying bills on line. When the technology works it is wonderful when it doesn't it is a pain in the Pa toot.

The last full day there we went shopping and I, after many stores, found some shorts to wear. I was pleased to find something that fit both my body and my wallet. The following morning we were to leave for Whispering Pines RV park near the Ocala Florida National Forest.

Florida Blue Angel Camp

Just by chance as we were traveling on route 98 in Florida I spotted a sign for the USN Blue Angel RV Camp. I decided to see if my retiree ID card was still good and followed the road to the RV park.

The entrance had a nice man checking the RVs in and there was a vacancy and yes my Army Retiree ID card was good there. We only spent a night at the park. It was well shaded had a beach and a sea wall a small store, LP fill up point, rented boats and other gear. Very quiet park and the rate was reasonable. No WiFi and as usual dogs not allowed on the beach. I wouldn't mind spending a few weeks there sometime.

We left the following morning as reservations had been made for the Topsail Preserve and State Park near Destin Florida.

Mississippi

Casinos in Biloxi MS

Fishing fleet
More Casinos
Mississippi

We left New Orleans and got back on I-10 headed east towards the Florida. We got as far as Boloxi Mississippi and pulled in to check out the Casinos. We needed to take the dogs for a walk and headed down the street pass the Casinos and suddenly I realized I needed a bathroom pronto, I left Samantha with the dogs and went into the Casino looking disparately for a restroom. After crossing the length of the Casino I found the restroom sadly not in time  I cleaned up as best I could and returned to the RV to clean myself better and change clothes. I guess I ate something that didn’t agree with my system.

Samantha and I had some confusion about where to meet and it took a while to sort it out she wasn’t well also. We decided to find Wal-Mart and get some medication to help us through the night. After shopping there we decided to stay at the Wal-Mart parking lot. Quite a few Wal-Marts allow RV parking and it is a great convenience.

In the morning we decided to go out for breakfast and we were headed for the Waffle House until I made a wrong turn and we ended up back at the Casinos. Having the Casino facing us we decided to have breakfast there and we enjoyed their breakfast bar and after stuffing our faces tried out their slot machines. Well breakfast became expensive, proving our luck doesn’t extend to gambling. We left the Casino and headed East.

We got to the Pass Christian exit sign and decided to take in the sights. Pass Christian was wiped out during hurricane Katrina. Today it is clean and back in business with lots of new buildings going up and some nice homes being built. The overall impression is one of progress and success much different than the 9th Ward in New Orleans.

We headed East again towards Florida just a few miles away.

New Orleans

French Quarter
French Quarer Iron Work
One of the Grave sites in the Cemetery section of New Orleans
Our RV in the camp located on the old water front New Orleans LA

Julia studying her cell phone for no particular reason while waiting for her lunch at the Gumbo Restaurant French Quarter NOLA

We arrived in New Orleans and followed the online directions to the RV
camp located in the old industrial area on the river. The RV camp was next to a Yacht Repair yard and on a channel leading to the river. Security was good with fencing and a gate operated by a code card or by the office.

Our camp site was located at the end of a row of camp sites and next to the river. Every thing hooked up fine except the electric the 30 amp plug was in use by the neighbor site so I trudged over to the office where they lent me a plug that allowed us to use the 50 amp plug.

When we arrived we signed up for the shuttle to the French Quarter so the next morning we got a lift by the camp van to the Quarter. On the way to the F.Q. we were given a tour of the lower 9th Ward and the upper 9th Ward. Our tour guides were impressed with the work that had been done cleaning up the neighborhoods. I was not impressed at all the work done in the 9th Ward. So much money has been spent and so little done in such a small space, in my mind something is wrong, very wrong the money went somewhere but not in rebuilding the 9th Ward. I thing the Government got ripped off.

The rest of the day we toured the French Quarter and enjoyed the food and the sights and sounds of the Quarter. We also took a ride on the trolley out to the Grave Yards and toured the famous New Orleans graves. Another trolley ride took us back to the quarter where we bought some takeout to bring back to the RV for dinner.

Upon returning to the RV we walked the dogs and prepared dinner something that was supposed to be Cajun but was’t that good. We secured the RV for the storm that was coming and went to bed. Later in the night the storm hit and we were rocking in the wind and rain for several hours. Every once in a while we would be lit up by the lightening. Quite a night to remember and the Old RV held together, yeah 

The next day we hung out at the RV camp and went shopping at a local Super Market located in the 9th Ward area. The Market was nice and clean had a great selection of fresh fish and Cajun specialties. We stocked up on food getting ready to leave the next day for Mississippi and the Casinos.

Houston Camp

Above bird shots by Samantha
Our RV parked at the Marina
I couldn't resist the opportunity to have my photo taken as a mermaid
Houston camp

After we left the Escapee RV camp in Texas we traveled to just south of Houston and stayed at an RV resort camp on a bayou. It was a very clean place and it was on a small bayou with some bird life. The resort was near shopping and restaurants.

The bayou had some interesting birds visiting it. Some of the photos of the birds are above. This camp was part of another camp next door that had a few permanent residents some with park model RVs. Except for the expense of the place it seemed like a nice place to live.

One of the restaurants was Pappa Deux’s seafood restaurant. We had lunch there, the food was good and pricey, I tried a different beer with some fruit flavor, it was okay, but not something I would order again. After lunch we took the dogs for a walk along the docks and watched the boats come up and down the channel.

We could see an amusement park across the channel and decided to drive over and have a look. We parked our RV right on the edge of a Marina and walked a few blocks to the park. After getting some coffee we sat in the shade and listened to the screams of a Roller Coaster, this didn't please us and we left and went back to our RV camp on the bayou.

After a couple of days we packed up and headed east on I-10 towards New Orleans LA.