Thu, Mar 30, 2023:  New Albany, MS, to St. Louis, MO:  Up early this morning, had breakfast, and were on the road by 8:00.  It was in the upper 40s when we left New Albany, but it warmed up quickly.  I started out driving and we were through Memphis and across the Mississippi by 9:15.  Not bad.  I drove for 2-1/2 hours and then we stopped at a rest area and Mike took over.  Stopped in Sikeston for lunch and continued on.  A beautiful, sunny day.  We were home by 3:00 and it was 73!  A front coming through tomorrow, but we’re home safe and sound. 

The St. Louis Arch

Wed, Mar 29, 2023:  Dothan, AL, to New Albany, MS:  A beautiful travel day today.  It was 50 when we left Dothan under beautiful sunny skies.  Continued north on Rt. 231 which is a four-lane, limited-access highway.  At Montgomery we continued on I65 to Birmingham and then west on I22.  They actually resurfaced some of I65 through Birmingham.  Big improvement!  When we got to the Mississippi line we stopped at the rest area/welcome center.  What a pretty place.  Dogwood trees were blooming and it was a pleasant 67 degrees.  Inside the welcome center was full of antiques.  They had a parlor set up with settees, chairs, and an old organ.  Very nice.  Hung around there for a while and then continued on.  We left Dothan at 8:00 and were in New Albany at a little before 3:00.  Tomorrow we leave for home.  Expecting bad weather on Friday.  So we lucked out this year—except for an hour or two of downpours in Alabama. 

LONDON

Buckingham Palace

Victoria monument

 

           

Tue, Mar 28, 2023:  Ocala, FL, to Dothan, AL:  According to the weather report last night, they were calling for severe weather along the I10 corridor.  Right where we’re headed.  After we left Ocala we took Rt. 27 north which is a limited-access, four-lane highway.  No signs of bad weather yet.  And this route is so pretty.  Plus there was a blanket of wild flowers here and there along this route.  Spring is in the air.  Just before we got on I10, Mike took over driving.  We were okay until about the last two hours of the drive when we encountered heavy rain.  At times it was raining so hard it was difficult to see.  Thankfully, Mike was driving.  There were several areas of flooding and some ponding on the roads.  We arrived at the hotel at around 2:30.  Fortunately, it had stopped raining by then.  Glad this travel day is over.  Tomorrow we leave for New Albany, MS. 

Sailing the waters off Key West.

Gopher Tortoise going through our site in Lake Manatee, FL

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 [JV1]

Mon, Mar 27, 2023:  The Glades RV Park:  We left this morning at 10:00.  Stopped at Lake Wales, had lunch, and then Mike took over driving.  Rt. 27 is 3 lanes each direction from here to Clermont.  Mike was not happy because there was a lot of traffic and traffic lights.  And the area around Interstate 4 and Rt. 27 is growing like crazy.  New building everywhere.  Probably because it’s close to Disney World.  Wouldn’t want to live there.  We were in Ocala at 3:15.  An easy drive today. 

Waiting for the boat to Little Palm Island for lunch.
Cyndie and Paul

Our ride...

 

Wed, Mar 23, 2023:  The Glades RV Park:  We met our friends, Cyndie and Paul at Dock 633 in Lake Placid for lunch.  It’s also Mike’s birthday today.  He’s the big 8-0!  Cyndie and Paul are lucky enough to live in this cute little town in central Florida.  Supposedly 27 lakes in 7 miles.  I’m not surprised—they’re everywhere.  And so pretty.  On the way back we stopped to see another friend, Larry Weikert, who winters at Whisper Creek RV Park in LaBelle.  Looking forward to seeing them again when we return in the fall.

The birthday boy!

The

Not a very good picture.  The thing in front looks like a large cobra.  

Sun, Mar 19, 2023:  The Glades RV Park:  We’ve had a great winter here this year.  Really warm days and cool nights.  Today is cool, but back up to the upper 80s in a couple of days.  We’ll be leaving in a week or so, depending on the weather north of us.  Hopefully we won’t have to deal with any storms.    

My sister, her husband Dan, and my brother visited for a couple of days.

Sandy, Ronnie and me.

Thu, Feb 23, 2023:  The Glades RV Park:  After my morning ablutions, I went outside and wiped down the tables and the back of the fifth wheel which were covered with dew. Then decided to wipe down the truck which was covered with pollen. After wiping down all the wetness, the truck looked like it just came out of the car wash. Went for my walk after that, and when I got back Mike was just getting up. Later in the morning we headed to Clewiston and had lunch at the tiki bar there.  Came back and FINALLY finished up the taxes and e-filed them.  Glad that’s over!    

Doors of Key West