Mon, Apr 1, 2024:  New Albany, MS, to St. Louis, MO:  Left New Albany at 8:10 this morning under cloudy skies heading for I55 and Memphis.  I55 going through Memphis is a real CF—especially since there’s a lot of construction right now. Going through the construction areas, I just took my time and figured everyone else could just kiss my grits.  After getting through the mayhem of Memphis it’s just an easy drive through rural Arkansas and Missouri.  At Sikeston, MO, we fueled up, had lunch, and Mike took over driving.  We pulled into our driveway at 3:00 under sunny skies.  And 82! 

Sun, Mar 31, 2024:  Dothan, AL, to New Albany, MS:  Left Dothan at 8:30 this morning.  I drove until just south of Birmingham where we stopped for some lunch and then Mike took over driving.  Pretty cloudy today, but warm and no rain.  Another 7-hour day.  We checked in to our hotel at 3:30.  Trying to talk Mike into flying down this Fall and then renting a car.  But it’s going to be a hard sell.  We wouldn’t even need to take luggage since we have lots of clothes in the fifth wheel.  Anyway, it was 80 when we pulled in here.  Tomorrow, we leave for home.

 Boat Ride to Indian Key

Florida Keys

 

Sat, Mar 30, 2024:   Ocala, FL, to Dothan, AL:  Left Ocala this morning at 8:30.  Only about 6 miles on I75 and then north on 27.  Much more peaceful drive.  When we leave Ocala on Rt 27 we pass many beautiful horse ranches—one more fantastic than the other.  Beautifully landscaped and gated entrances, acres and acres of green pastures dotted with massive live oaks draped in Spanish moss, surrounded by miles of brown or white flat-board fencing.  And of course the beautiful horses.  And this time of year, all the wild flowers along the roads and in the median are in bloom.  A riot of color.  A beautiful day weather-wise also.  Sunny with a few wispy clouds.  I drove for 3-1/2 hours and then Mike took over.  78 here in Dothan—and also in St. Louis.

The beautiful water gardens created by Monet in his Giverny home outside of Paris.  The inspiration for his Water Lily collection.

My favorite.  His home is in the distance.

  

Fri, Mar 29, 2024:  Glades RV Park to Ocala, FL:  Left this morning at 9:30.  This is the shortest driving day, but it took us 6-1/2 hours!  Traffic was terrible!  Florida’s Turnpike was backed up getting on to I75, and I75 was backed up all the way to Ocala.  Plus there was a lot of traffic in all the little towns on Rt. 27.  Then we realized it’s Good Friday.  A lot of people off work.  But it was a beautiful day.  Sunny with not a cloud in the sky.  No humidity.  77 here today.  But it’s 76 in STL. 

Door County - Lake Michigan

Oscar the handsome bulldog.

 

Thu, Mar 28, 2024:  Glades RV Park:  Rainy and really humid today.  I don’t know where this drier air is.  It finally cleared off early afternoon and the wind really picked up.   We have pretty much everything packed and ready to go.  We need to leave tomorrow morning by 10:00.  The first stop is Ocala.

Wed, Mar 27, 2024:  Glades RV Park:  Met Dale and Carolyn for lunch today at a Mexican restaurant in LaBelle.  Fueled up the truck, picked up our mail on the way back to our site, and then moved the table and chairs into the shed.  Covered the grill and put some moth balls in there to repel snakes and wasps.  Sat outside reading for a while and then played spades with Nomad.  87 in here today.  Supposed to get some rain with a cold front moving through with drier air.

Cana Island Light
Door County, Lake Michigan

Tue, Mar 26, 2024:  Glades RV Park:  Brandon, the RV handyman, showed up at 10:00 this morning.  He installed the new thermostat, fixed a leak in the water heater, and got the furnace working.  He left here at 1:00.  Mike headed to Clewiston for a Walgreens run and I started putting things outside away.  Then sat outside and finished my book, “Let Us Descend.”  Going to start a Randy Wayne White book next that I found in our library here in the park.  Upper 80s today and breezy.