March 24,2014 Travel Day Home

We left the park about 8:30 am and headed home today. We didn"t get in any hurry and made an uneventful trip home. We made about 3 stops (breakfast,fuel, just to walk around)  and arrived home at 4:30 pm. Its always nice to get home even if its hard to start that way. I got the trailer set up and then mowed the front yard. The grass really growed while we were gone and I didn"t get anyone to mow. I will mow everything else in the morning before the next rain comes in. We had a good trip even though it was a rough start. It ws the first time ever that we broke down on the side of the road somewhere. The second and third time were because the first repairs were not done properly. Our Good Sam Roadside Membership paid for its self on this trip for the next 3 years.  Ever since we hit the road after Christmas we have had some nasty weather this winter. We look forward to nicer weather in April and May. We only have one small trip to Fredricksburg in May so there will not be many updated blogs till June. We plan to take the granddaughters somewhere for a week and then we will hit the road north for the summer. This year we plan to go to New Mexico,Colorado and Wyoiming., 

March 24,2014 Day Trip to Dauphin Island

We got up this morning to much cooler temperatures. It stayed cloudy with a brisk wind. We decided to run over to Dauphin Island, Alabama.  We had no reason , just looked at the maps and decided to go check it out. One thing for sure is you just don"t happen to get there , you have to want to. It is linked to the mainland by a very long bridge. It turned out to be a nice little place. In the west end there were a lot of houses on the gulf side and the bay side. The island was about 500 yards wide here for a long way. On the east end there is a ferry which crosses Mobile Bay. Kinda pricey as the auto rate was $16.00 a car.  There is also  historic Fort Gaines which was built about 1821. There are several places to fish and charter boats. We ate at the Sunset Grill & Bar. A very laid back place with maybe the best seafood we have eaten on this trip. All in all we had a pleasant day just wandering around.

Bridge to Dauphin Island

Fort Gaines

At the Sunset Grill & Bar

March 23, 2014 A Good Day in Mississippi

Ocean Springs is a small town just across the bay from Biloxi.  Davis Bayou Campground is a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore which starts here and ends in Florida. We like to stay here when we are traveling because its a small campground with places to ride bikes, kayak and fish if you want to. We really had good weather yesterday as it warmed up and the rain showers missed us. While riding around we found a little festival set up in the old downtown section of town. Not much that interested me but Susan found several things she liked. When we got back I almost had Susan convinced to go kayaking but the alligators sunning themselves changed her mind. For supper we drove to Biloxi and ate at Shaggys on the beach. It started getting cool when we left with winds out of the north about 20 mph. Hope to have another nice day tomorrow.   

Downtown Park

Festival

A good booth

Getting a suntan



Campground entrance

Our camping loop



Shaggy"s

March 22, 2014 Travel Day to Davis Bayou Campground

It was a travel day for us. Of course the weather was foggy and humid. We got on the road about 9:15. We stopped at a subway for a late breakfast.  We really didn’t know where we were stopping at for the night.  We only made about 3 hrs. as we decided to try a campground we like in Ocean Springs, MS. The campground is a first come first serve so we were afraid we might not get a spot because it’s a weekend. Turned out since we shut down early there were several spots to pick from.  As the evening wore on the campground filled up.  If the weather holds I am going to do some kayaking in the bayou. I don’t think Susan will go because of maybe seeing alligators.  We will probably stay till Tuesday.

March 21, 2014 Our Last Day in Florida

This was our last full day here in Florida. The weather was perfect. I rode my bike and walked the beach,. The water was calm and crystal clear, still a little too cold to get in and swim. Its easy to see why people want to live here. Tomorrow we pack up and start heading home.

March 20, 2014 Another Great Day

Great beaches



Evening Fire

We had another great day here in Florida. We didn’t do much today. We did drive the length of the island which is 26 miles of white sandy beaches. For supper I grilled grouper and asparagus. It’s pretty relaxing here.

March 19, 2014 A Pretty Day at the Fort

Today was just a pretty day. I cooked breakfast outside this morning and we sat in the sunshine for awhile. We drove to the historical section of Pensacola just looking around. We found a great seafood market and bought some grouper, shrimp and scallops. We may have to go back before we leave. When we got back Susan did some sewing and napping. I rode my bike to Fort Pickens and climbed around the old walls. There is a really good bike trail here. When I got back I took a little nap also. Maggie and I took a nice walk ton the bay side. She really wasn't impressed with the water. I cooked the shrimp and scallops for supper. We had just another relaxing day.


Seafood Market



Road to Fort Pickens

Bike Trail

Freshwater Marsh

Sewing away

Inside the market

This is as close as  Maggie will get to the water

Taking a break
 

March 18,2014 Finally, A pretty day in Florida

Gulf side

Bay side

Actually we got a little more rain last night but is was over when we got up this morning. It was cool with a little wind.  It was overcast until noon and then it cleared up. Finally we got some sunshine. We took a walk along the beach, it was nice. After lunch we  also took a short nature hike. Later I took a bike ride and then walked a trail to the bay side. The bay side is as pretty as the gulf side.  We just had a relaxing day. I  grilled steak and potatoes for supper. The rest of the week is supposed to be beautiful.  

March 17, 2014 The rain finally stops in Fort Pickens

 It was still drizzling when I got up this morning. Maggie and I still took a quick walk. When Susan got up we just watched the morning news. After breakfast we decided to ride around since it was still nasty weather. When we got back the rain had stopped. We both took a little nap and then I rode my bike for a while. I checked my battery voltage and it was still good. I hooked the battery charger up to the old battery and it took a charge.  Hmm, we will see what’s going on.  Later I built a fire and we sat outside. The wind made it feel pretty chilly. We grilled hamburgers for supper. Pretty much a laid back day. We should have a much prettier week ahead.

March 16, 2014 A Wet Day

Yesterday before we left we got a low battery alarm on the trailer. I hooked my jump starter up and the alarm  went off. I had checked the voltage on the battery and it was low. After we arrived at Fort Pickens the battery was showing charged. I had bought a new battery so I  didn’t change it. Late last night it happened again so now I am not sure if my converter has failed or if the battery was old. I’m thinking it was the converter. I put the new battery in this morning and we will see if it stays charged. We have had lots of things happening on this trip. The morning  was very overcast and windy. I did manage a walk on the beach before the rain started. It has rained all day. Lots of folks moved out today and several more arrived. I’m glad we didn”t have to move in this weather. We got a small break  in the rain so Maggie and I got in a quick walk. Susan set up her sewing machine so she sewed and watched tv.  We just had left over chili for supper. The weather  is supposed to be nice the rest of the week.

The rain is coming, but a morning walk

 

Rain all day, my view from my chair

March 15, 2024 Travel Day to Fort Pickens, Fl

We  got up this morning and started picking up. We did our laundry and then we went and bought grocery's. We pulled out about 11:30. Its only about 63 miles to  Fort Pickens but its slow driving the coast. It took about 1 1/2 hrs. We got there and got all set up. We are in A loop and its a nice small campground. We have the Gulf on one side and the bay on the other side. This should be a relaxing week. We just chilled out this evening and sauteed shrimp,scallops and veggies for supper.

Doing laundry

Our campground

The Gulf is just across those dunes, about 200 yards from our camp

Our campsite

March 13-14, 2014 More trials and tribulations in Florida

We  got up Thursday morning to chilly weather, about 43 degrees. Still it was nice with a bluebird sky. Susan had a cousin and her husband  Alex/Vicky  coming to visit us and spend the night. They were headed back to Texas after just buying a house on the Atlantic Ocean south of Melbourne Beach. I went to my truck to go to the Ranger station to see what I needed to do to get them in. Uh O, my truck would not start. It turned over but no ignition. I called Good Sam and they sent a tow truck and arranged for a place for repairs in Panama City. That's about 35 miles from us.  I called a rent a car place there and rented a car. This is getting frustrating but at least we are where we need to be until Sunday. When Alex/Vicky  got here  we talked for awhile and then headed to Panama  City to pick up my rent car. Whew it was crowded there with all the spring breakers. Lots of sights I won:t mention.  After getting the car Susan,Alex, and Vicky headed down the beach road to find a place to eat supper. I headed to the Repair Shop to talk to them about my truck. It was about 5 when I got there and the guy said he had found the problem. After finally getting it started it ran with no leaks, but once he drove it the leaks begin again. He said the #6 cylinder line had backed off. He thinks the previous shop did not torque the fittings causing them to loosen back up.  He said he would keep the truck overnight, check all the fuel injection lines and make sure they were correct. I said great and headed to meet the gang. We ate at a place called Pompano Joe's. They had 1/2 price  drinks till 6 so I managed a couple in. The food was good and we had a great time visiting. The next morning we walked to the beach before breakfast. It was such a pretty morning.When we got back Alex/Vicky packed up and we headed out to eat some breakfast. After that Alex/Vicky headed on home to Texas and we went to pick up my truck. We have our fingers crossed cause we feel a little snake bit. On the way home we stopped at a seafood market and picked up some shrimp an d scallops to grill for supper.

Pompano Joes

That little Hyundai is not gonna pull that trailer

a

Susan Vicky Alex

Alex

March 12 2014 A tough day of travel,Made ito Floridat

We left this morning about 9 expecting a 3 hr drive. We stopped and ate breakfast just before we got to Mobile, Alabama. Our trip was going well till we turned south off of I-10 headed  to the Gulf. We started smelling diesel again and our fuel was dropping. We found a safe place to pull over. We had fuel pouring out the bottom of the truck. It didn't appear to be spraying like before so I figured  the new #6 fuel injection line  had cracked again. Called Good Sam and they had a mobile unit come out to look at it. It was about an hour and a half till he showed up.It turned out that they must not have tightened the #5 line and it backed off the threads. .Easy repair for now. If he couldn't have fixed it then Good Sam was going to call a tow truck to have us towed to the nearest facilty that could repair us.  The tech followed us to make sure we made it to get some diesel. I had never seen my fuel gauge that low. We made it and finally got on the road again. Arrived at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and set the trailer up. Decided to go out for supper and come back home for a long happy hour.

  

 Happy to be here

 Not happy

March 11,2014 Got My Truck Back

We got up this morning hoping we might get to leave by 2:00. It didn't happen as we didn"t get our truck back till after 3.  Since I didn't want to set up in the dark we decided to stay one more night.  It was a nasty rainy day today so we had some cabin fever. As soon as we got our truck back we headed to the beach and rode around. We ate an early supper and headed home. Our plan is to leave early in the morning for Florida,

A rainy day

A good place to eat

Ready to roll again