“Best Kept Secret in Mississippi”

We completed perhaps our longest slog of driving on this trip yesterday, from Carrabelle to Edwards, MS, hopefully on the worst roads we will experience. We thought we were in Michigan for a bit as we passed through Jackson, MS., bouncing around the interstate. 

Then it got weird. Seven or eight new Bluebird school buses en route to Indiana swarmed around us, weaving in and out, and, it seemed, over and under and through us. They tailgated, sped, slammed on brakes, and sped some more. It was like a bad movie where criminals steal buses and, while running from the cops, say “Hey, let’s have a little fun messing with that RV up there.”

But they finally moved on just before we landed at our overnight RV Park.

“Best Kept Secret in Mississippi” is their motto.

Funny thing about secrets. They aren’t always as exciting in reality as they seem when you first hear them.

Lots of permanent residents, “stars and bars” flags, muddy sites, bathrooms that looked too ick to use, smelly water, and flies the size of elephants eyes. Our “neighbor” was a hoarder with more under her trailer than could possibly fit inside.

Oh well, a night’s sleep behind locked doors and we are 400 miles from Mabel, Chip and Katie.

And we get to add another state sticker.

We earned it.

Fixer Upper

Gulf view. 

We love this area of Florida for its rural beauty,  incredible beaches, and fantastic seafood. We returned to Carabelle Beach RV Resort which is a little tight, but nicely landscaped, clean, and above all, has location, location, location. 

We drove to Appalachicola and walked around, ending up eating lunch at Up the Creek Raw Bar. Great view, fantastic food, open windows, and George can join us.

Breakfast was a different story. Let’s just say we took a chance.

Their sausage was outstanding!

And They’re Off!

It never starts this smoothly.  We must have forgotten something, somewhere, but we are off, and earlier than we hoped. Just 300 miles today, landing in Carrabelle, FL. We will be right across the road from the Gulf of Mexico, and it will be good to let George run and for us to sit and listen to waves.

Made it. Love this place, but George is not a salt water fan.

Grey Day Go Away

Well, I made it.  1400 miles with 14,000 of those miles miles with gusting wind from left to right, west to east.  Two hands on the wheel at all times kind of driving. Arrived to about four inches of snow in Pentwater, and that is the most positive description of what I saw. It was more like 4″ of ice and you couldn’t even appreciate the white snow because of the limited contrast with grey skies. The Village seems to be surviving winter just fine, but the people – they’ve had it, and so had I after 40 hours at home. It isn’t winter any more!!!! We are a month in to Spring!!!!

My Uncle Stan passed away while I was in transit:  my dad’s eldest brother, and character of the best kind, a presence, a role model, and my Godfather. He was 91 and lived 90 and 3/4 of them with gusto. Thinking so deeply about my cousins and my Aunt right now.

Kevin drove to Pentwater to visit and drive me to the airport today.  We had a great time and I so appreciated being with him! I am now on my way back to Florida so that we can lash the Wendy House to the truck and head to Carabelle, one of the cutest little rural Florida spots I have seen.

And so it begins. I am ready for the road, and I hope the road is ready for us!

 

Supertramp

We are preparing for our journey back to Michigan (by way of the Grand Canyon), leaving in one week, but first we need to deposit a vehicle in Michigan. So, what do you do when the state of Michigan is crying sleet and freezing rain wondering where spring is? Of course you choose to drive right into the storm! Won’t be the first time.

I am driving the KIA home, then flying back for final preparations before we hook up the Wendy House, fire up the blog, and, as Supertramp once sang, Take the long way home.

Take the Long Way Home

Wipers

It started raining just south of Shelby, and we drove straight down the edge of this ridiculously long front the entire day. Finally stopped raining at 4 a.m., and once we headed out of Bowling Green KY, we drove back into the same damn front, so it is rain all day today as well.

Enough.

I can ride 1300 miles

Sorry Proclaimers, I can’t walk 500 miles, but I can ride along for 1300 miles while we drag our winter home to its spot in the Great Outdoors. It seems we left just in time as the first snow flurries of the season are predicted this weekend.

I actually don’t mind snow. I can dress for cold, but what really gets to me are the endless dark nights, followed by dimly lit gray days. It is worse each year. I feel fortunate to get away to tbe south where there is sun, and where there is (are?) nearly 90 minutes more daylight at Winter Solstice.

But this transition is not without angst. I don’t love not being a day trip from my sons, but they are adults and I need to be better about giving them the space they need to live life their way.

And I miss our Village! I would be so much more involved if I were there all year. This year I have a village project I can do remotely. Loving that!

And I miss our house. It’s not the fanciest place, but it is homey and its flow matches our ebb.

As the miles roll there is much to think about. Glad to have the time.

Rolling, rolling, rolling -not rolling

We are leaving Ft. Worth after a wonderful visit with Chip and Katie. Their house is adorable and they seem really happy, just not in love with Texas. They noted that every store and restaurant is a chain, and once you notice that, the area doesn’t have much identity. We learned about go drinks, longhorn cows, road construction, and,  the Ft. Worth definition of cold when I got a pedicure and was asked if I wanted the hot stone treatment now that it was cold- it was 72 degrees outside.

 
Loved the RV Park -The Vineyards at Grapevine.  George fell in love with a young visla named Baylor. They ran and swam and frolicked for days.

We are keeping our eyes on Matthew and hoping he is as gentle as can be on the Caribbean people and stays at sea when approaching the U.S. Our resort is on the west side of Jamaica,  and he seems to be heading east, so fingers crossed.
Currently pulling our house through the spaghetti junction of Dallas. Looking forward to rural highways in an hour or so. We are hoping to drive 500 miles toward tomorrow’s destination in Carabelle, Fl.. A stay in Mississippi tonight would give us a new state sticker (yes, that is a thing).
Shreveport LA – another blowout! Tire changed and now at Firestone Tire buying THREE NEW tires. Maybe we won’t make 500 miles after all. We’ve done 300 so far.

Missouri likes company

Beautiful day of driving, and all eight tires in tact. I spent too much time looking at social media rather than out the window. Tomorrow I plan to put the phone away for anything other than navigational purposes.

BUT….. a single facebook post has had me giggling all day. In response to a friend’s post about last night’s debate, his friend defended Donald Trump’s lack of payment of Federal taxes by saying,

“O.K. Do you know anyone who denies themselves tax breaks? I remember a scene from ‘The Beverely Hillbillys’ where the banker was….”

WHAT? We are getting economic advice from a 1960s sitcom? Nooooooo!  This is not how it is supposed to work!

I will say, I giggled all day about this and reflected that Miss Jane was the brains behind any advice Mr. Drysdale shared with his clients, including Jed Clampet.

In other news, Eric joined me in the 28 day plank challenge. We are up to one minute.

And, in Missouri,  we sadly discovered how the word pride means different things in different areas.

Sad but true.

 

But there is good news, it is 20 degrees warmer here than at home.

 

Starting off with a bang!

A series of changing details, having no car for now, and needing to pack our kitchen up for winter demolition, we decided to head out two days before schedule for our trip to see Chip, my mom, and meet siblings in Disney.

Planned, packed, organized, and ready to finally be on the road together, we made our way 50 whole miles until BAM! A blowout on the right front axle tire

Eric skillfully maneuvered to the side of the freeway, and we called AAA. Spare transferred to Wendy Montana’s right side and we found a lovely tire shop in Holland who helped us with new rubber. Best One Fleet Service is aptly named. Friendly and Fast should be their motto.

Decided to call it a day in Michigan City, IN tonight. Michiana Family Campground here we come. Better travels tomorrow I hope.