KOA, W. Memphis, to Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  Well we made it here.  Encountered a lot of fog.  In Sikeston, MO, we stopped for fuel and food, and we couldn’t believe the brutally cold wind as we got out of the truck.  After filling up both the truck and our stomachs, we reluctantly left the warmth of Denny’s and Mike took over driving. Unfortunately, the fog seemed to get worse.  It wasn’t until 90 miles south of St. Louis that it finally cleared.  And warmed up a bit as well.  Left this morning at 8:30 and pulled into Sundermeier RV Park and were set up by 3:30.  We’re on a cement pad, but it’s covered in an icy slush.  Wish they’d cleaned it off.  By tomorrow it’ll be ice since the temps are going to plummet. After setting up we headed out for dinner and drinks. It took us 10 days to get home, what with the weather delay and the kitchen slide malfunction delay.  But we’re here safe and sound and now we’ll go see the damage to our house and go on from there.

C

Check out this fog!

KOA, W. Memphis:  After checking the weather, we’ve decided to head home tomorrow. Looks like the weather will be worse here later in the week than in St. Louis. So, come what may, we’re making a dash for it. It’ll be raining, but at least it will be warm—sort of. 41 here today.

Heading home tomorrow.

KOA, W. Memphis:  Looks like we’ll be stuck in Memphis for a while because of the weather north of us.  Yet another storm is moving across the country.  Looks like it will be Friday before we strike for home.  Until then, it’s a waiting game. Cold and rainy all day today. A motor home on each side of us waiting as well. They’re on their way to Texas. Upper 30s today.

Norma Miller at age 92

Watched a PBS documentary about this amazing woman, Norma Miller. She was called the queen of swing and started dancing at 14. She was an incredibly energetic dancer. Her specialty was the Lindy Hop. Her milieu was The Savoy. At the ripe old age of 92 she's still incredibly energetic and still dancing.

Some of the energetic moves.

In her younger days.

More dance moves.

I love her hats--and her outspokenness.

Indian Creek RV Park, Amite, LA, to KOA, W. Memphis:  Left pretty early this morning at 8:30.  Good thing, because when we left the campground I said we should turn right, and Mike said we should turn left.  We turned right and of course I was wrong.  This park is in the middle of nowhere on little country roads.  So, now we had to find a place to turn around so we could get back on I55.  I found a side street where we could turn around, figuring there wouldn’t be very much traffic.  Turned onto the side street and started backing up, without the help of our walkie-talkies. Mike was back there somewhere trying to guide me, but I couldn’t see him.  In the meantime I’m in the middle of the intersection and Mike is holding off traffic.  Finally I gave up and pulled onto the side street and waited for the traffic to get around me.  A guy stopped and asked Mike what we were trying to do.  He told him we were trying to get back on I55, and he told us to just continue on the side street we had just turned onto and we’d run right into it. Okay then.  That’s what we did. I drove until we got through Jackson, MS.  I hate driving through Jackson, but I did it. Then we stopped for fuel and food and Mike took over. We didn’t get to W. Memphis until after 3:00.  A long day today. And we hit some major pot holes.  It’s a wonder we didn’t blow a tire or something. A stressful and long driving day today. We’ll probably be here a couple of days since there’s bad weather north of us. As soon as we feel the weather is clear from here to STL, we’ll make a dash for it.  59 today for the high. But it’s going to get cold here tonight. 

Our 96-year-old Lazy Lakes neighbor, Carmen, along with Howard Livingston of the MM24 Band. Carmen loves to dance.

KOA, Milton, FL, to Indian Creek RV Park, Amite, LA:  Sunny today, and a good travel day, but when I was pulling out of the KOA in Milton this morning, I didn’t make the turn wide enough and the fifth wheel tires went over the stone wall around their landscape bed.  Not a big wall and the tires were just scuffed (whew!). Wasn’t paying attention which always spells trouble. Stopped at a Flying J, topped off the tank and had some breakfast.  Mike took over driving and we arrived at Indian Creek and were set up by 3:00.  We checked the weather and will try and make it to Memphis tomorrow.  Then we’ll have to sit tight a couple of days as there is yet another winter storm heading through the mid-west. Is it ever going to end? 54 today.

Pensacola--home of the Blue Angels.

KOA, Tallahassee East, to KOA, Milton, FL:  Pulled out this morning at 10:30 under low grey clouds. Temperatures in the 40s. Remained in the high 40s most of the day. A wicked thunder storm rolled through the area last night at around 8:00. A lot of wind, rain and lightning which freaked me out. That’s all we need right now is damage to our fifth wheel. Stopped at the Flying J Truck Stop only about 35 miles down the road this morning. Fueled up and had breakfast at the Denny’s there. There was a stray dog last year that had lived on the grounds of this Denny’s for a couple of years. No sign of him today, but we were told they see him around once in a while. No more dog bowls of food and water outside the entrance. Poor thing—hope he’s okay. We arrived at the KOA in Milton and were set up by 3:00. But we gained an hour, since we’re now back on Central Time (yay!) so it was really only 2:00. We continue west to Amite, LA, tomorrow which is just north of I10 on I55. Then we have to see what’s happening north of there before we continue on. A good travel day today--no mishaps, breakdowns, or problems with the fifth wheel. All is good.

The little homeless dog that has lived on the grounds of Denny's just west of Tallahassee

Wildwood KOA to KOA, Tallahassee East:  A short driving day today. We left at 9:30 and were set up at the KOA in Tallahassee by 1:00. Cloudy when we left and we started hitting rain after we left I75 and got on I10 heading west. A dreary, miserable day. Only in the 50s. Of course, it’s only going to get worse.

A dreary, rainy drive on I10 today.