It was a long drive for us today (355 miles).
We spent the night south of Phoenix and took the bypass loop around the west of Phoenix. It was a fairly easy drive with not much wind all the way into the CA Coachella Valley (Indio - Palm -Springs). The wind picked up the rest of the way until we arrived at our stop for tonight in Banning, CA at a KOA about 25 miles west of Palm Springs.
We will travel to Visalia, CA tomorrow then up 99 to home on Monday. We are ready.
Not much to report today.
We got on the road about 9:00 am and headed west on I-10 to just south of Phoenix (Eloy). It was a long and uneventful drive across the desert. This section of I-10W is very susceptible to high winds and blowing sand. There are lots of warning signs, but thankfully no high winds today and we made it across without any problems.
After stopping at the Texas Canyon rest stop in Arizona, just east of Benson, AZ for lunch we arrived at our RV park for the night in Eloy where I-8 and I-10 intersect.
After sleeping in and having a late breakfast, we did some shopping. Our first stop was the local chili pepper store. It isa funky store mostly outside and open to the air. You can buy chili peppers by the bushel as well as an eclectic collection of just about everything Mexican and chili pepper related.
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It was an interesting day today.
The plan was for an easy 160-mile drive to Las Cruces, NM arriving around noon (with the time zone change into MDST). We were then planning to do a few things in Las Cruces and have dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant La Posta de Mesilla just down the road from the RV park.
Alas, life happens when you are making other plans. About 55 miles SE of El Paso, (essentially the middle of nowhere) and close to the Rio Grande River, we had a blowout on a rear tire in the RV while travelling about 70 mph (the speed limit was 80 mph) with our truck in tow. It was a bit scary but was able to maintain directional control and pull off to the side of the road.
I called Good Sam Roadside Assistance and they dispatched a service truck from El Paso with a new tire. It took about 2-hours for them to get there and another half hour to replace the tire.
Our plan was to replace all the tires on the RV before our next trip as they were approaching the end of their designated useful life. Since the blowout may or may not have resulted from something we possibly ran over along the way, or just material failure, we decided to replace all the tires in Las Cruces if we could. We were able to do that at the local Big O dealer and they got us right in. That took some time after we arrived and all of a sudden it was after 5:00 pm when we finally checked into the RV park, hot and tired after a long and somewhat stressful day. So, we decided to spend another day here to rest up and do the things we wanted to do while we are here.
We got an early start today due to the longer distance to travel to Van Horn Texas (330 miles). It was a fairly easy drive, straight west on I-20 then 40 miles west on I-10. It was mostly 70 mph with a light easterly tailwind.
Enroute, we travelled through the Permian Basin and the cities of Midland and Odessa, TX, the centers of Texas oil extraction and processing since the early 1920s. We observed a lot of activity going on there, with wells pumping, lots of trucks on the road and visible signs of people doing things.
The Permian Basin is a large sedimentary basin in the southwestern part of the United States. This sedimentary basin is located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. It reaches from just south of Lubbock, past Midland and Odessa, south nearly to the Rio Grande River in southern West Central Texas, and extending westward into the southeastern part of New Mexico. It is so named because it has one of the world's thickest deposits of rocks from the Permian geologic period and contains large deposits of oil formed through complex geographical activity over millions of years.
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Back on the road today.
The front passed and it was sunny with light wind this morning. We left the RV park around 10:00 am and headed south through Wichita for a short 170-mile trip to Oklahoma City. The weather was good, and the wind is now out of the north, but not too high. It became cloudy as we approached Oklahoma City and remained overcast after we arrived at our destination, an RV park pretty much in the city.
You know you are in Oklahoma when there is an oil derrick next door, and the RV Park has tornado shelters in the ground.
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Remaining flexible, we decided to stay here another day due to weather. There were still strong winds forecast along our next route to Oklahoma City from the south-southwest, 25-35 mph sustained with gusts to maybe 50 mph. Also, as the cold front is passing there is the threat of severe weather. We decided there was no need to push the journey since we are not on a deadline schedule.
So, we just relaxed in the RV today and I caught up on some paperwork that doesn't wait until we get home.
The weather was as predicted, strong winds and some rain but the skies started to clear in the evening as the front passed through. the wind remained fairly strong but should subside overnight.
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Hopefully we will get back on track tomorrow with a relatively short trip to Oklahoma City, then the southern route home. ETA next Sunday.
As forecast, it was overcast, not real cold, and high winds already blowing from the south when we got up this morning.
We got on the road about 10:00 am after refueling and our morning truck stop Mocha. To get to Wichita, KS, our stop for the night we had to head west on I-80 for 70 miles before turning south. It was a two-hands-on-the-wheel experience, not very pleasant, fighting a direct crosswind from the south of at least 20-25 mph with higher gusts.
After turning south, we expected it to be an easier drive with only a head wind to deal with. It wasn't quite that simple. Even though the wind was from the south and the highway was mostly straight south to Wichita, the wind stayed pretty constant at 25-35 mph with occasional gust much higher. Consequently, between the headwind and the need to slow down to manage the wind, it was two hands, intensive driving the rest of the way to Wichita. With high velocity winds, even with a head wind, a slight variation in direction can cause vehicle instability for us.
Consequently, it was a long and stressful drive today. Anyway, we made it safely to our destination RV park in Wichita around 5:00 pm.
Our plan is to continue south to Oklahoma City tomorrow. The weather and wind forecast remains unstable, so we will check the situation in the morning and proceed accordingly.
Slept in a little today.
Had a little fog this morning and we did laundry - our last until we get home. It went well. The RV park here, always busy during the summer, was pretty quite and there were no delays getting the laundry washed and dried.
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It rained pretty much all night and was still raining in the morning. It was actually raining pretty hard, so we waited awhile before getting started. We did by 10:00 am with a short stop at a nearby Camping World to replace our electrical hook-up surge protector that failed.
It was still raining most of the day as we travelled north around the Kansas City east loop and up I-29 through Missouri and Iowa then across the Missouri River into Nebraska. We arrived at our destination; a KOA campground close to Omaha. When we arrived , the sun came out and it is very pleasant at the moment. It was dinner again in the RV, simple but delicious - hot dogs and fixins.
We gather with our youngest son and family tomorrow for dinner, and getting caught up with everyone's' lives.
Looks like we will be heading south instead of west on Friday.
A big difference today.
It was clear and cool in the morning and the wind was not very strong. We got to see the arch in the morning sunrise then worked our way north through St. Louis then west on I-70 towards Kansas City. It was a little too long of a drive for us to go all the way to Omaha today, so we stopped about 35 miles east of Kansas City in Odessa, MO. Nothing fancy RV park but easy-on-easy-off I-70 for an overnight stay.
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We will take a look at it all while in Omaha and probably head south from there. Depending on weather and alternative routes, our ETA for home may be extended.
Safety first.
Tough drive today.
It rained all night with thunderstorms (no lightning) but when we got up it had stopped. It was overcast however, and windy and cold. We got on the road about 9:30 am and headed basically north and northwest towards our next stop E. St. louis. It never did clear up very much and the wind didn't subside. It seemed whatever direction we were going the wind was always a crosswind. So, it was one of those "two-hands-on the wheel" days all the way to East. St. Louis.
After several stops for gas and lunch at a rest stop in Illinois, we arrived at our destination in East St. Louis around 4:30 PM.
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We left Oxford about 9:30 am and headed north/northwest to our next stop Nashville, TN. It was overcast when we left and shortly started raining, mostly light to moderate for the first part of the trip. After turning west at Chatanooga, the rain mostly stopped but the skies remained cloudy with occasional showers.
We stopped for lunch at the Tennessee Welcome Center for lunch in the RV. A very nice, well done rest stop.
As we approached Nashville our stop for tonight it started to rain a little and the traffic got much heavier,
We are staying at a KOA near the Grand Old Opry complex NE of town. We stayed here last year and wanted to come back for another visit. But due to our travel delay, our stay has been cut short to an overnight stop. We had a take- out dinner from the restaurant in the RV Park and early to bed.
East St. Louis tomorrow.
It started raining during the night and was raining heavily when we got up. Since we had a short drive of only 145 miles today, we decided to wait out the rain that was forecast to end in mid-morning. It did and we left the RV park around 11:00 am and headed north on I-75 towards Atlanta.
Getting around Atlanta is never easy despite an extensive freeway system. It is a very busy city and today, even on Saturday was no exception. We travelled around the south loop and then headed west on I-20. The RV park where are staying is in Oxford, AL and not too far into Alabama. We have stayed here before and the park is now owned and run by Camping World, just down the road.
Our high school friend, Paula, lives about 15 minutes away in Anniston. She just recently lost her husband. He was a retired Army helicopter pilot and she is a retired Colonel from the Army Reserve. She and Judy were best friends in high school and we have stayed in touch since then. We met for dinner at her friend's restaurant and had a great dinner and reminiscing about everything.
Feeling much better, we left the RV Park in Savannah around 10:00 am and headed northwest towards Atlanta. Our destination today was a KOA RV park just north of Macon, GA and about 60 miles south of Atlanta. It was a relatively short drive of 175 miles but a good test of driving while recovering and on antibiotics. It went well and we arrived around 2:00 pm.
Dinner was an RV park pizza and wings. The weather remains good.
We are headed to Oxford, Alabama tomorrow to visit an old high school friend who just lost her husband. Oxford is west of Atlanta around the always busy south loop and just into Alabama. It is only a 150-mile trip but could take some time depending on Atlanta traffic.
We were planning to spend two nights there but will only be staying overnight due to our extended stay in Savannah.
We are also keeping our eye on the weather forecast west of Omaha when we arrive there. There is the possibility of high sustained cross winds across the Rockies and maybe some ice and snow in Wyoming. We will remain cautious and adjust our schedule as needed.
My recovery from my urinary infection is going well but we decided to stay another day here to rest a little and let the antibiotics do their thing.
Not too much else to report. We just relaxed and rested.
We will leave tomorrow for a KOA near Atlanta and hope to be back on schedule, weather permitting, when we get to Omaha.
We planned to leave today to our next stop at Robins Air Force Base half-way between here and Atlanta, I woke up this morning not feeling well and experiencing symptoms requiring medical attention. So, we delayed our departure and headed to a hospital ER in downtown Savannah. After spending the rest of the day there and being tested, treated, and medicated, we returned to the RV for dinner and rest.
We will probably spend another day here for rest and recuperation. Our travel schedule will be adjusted as needed.
Since we have not been to downtown Savannah before we decided to take a guided bus tour of the city in combination with a riverboat cruise on the Savannah River. Each tour was 90 minutes long and gave a brief overview and tour of the historic downtown district and activity along the river.
Savannah escaped devastation during the Civil War. As General Sherman was advancing towards the city near the end of the war, the Confederates evacuated, and the city was occupied without a fight. Consequently, most of the colonial buildings and infrastructure has survived and has been preserved and grown since then.
There were several battles in the area during the Revolutionary War in 1778-1779. The most significant one was when the French and colonials attacked the city occupied by the British. The site has been restored near the visitors center with memorial to the soldiers killed there.
The Siege of Savannah 1778 -1779
The city is laid out basically with north/south and east/west streets in a grid. There are at least 30 parks and squares in the city offering plenty of opportunities for urban relaxation. Many of the streets are also center divided by areas of grass, plants and trees. This is similar to many southern cities we have visited and what is called "neutral ground" in New Orleans. It is a very beautiful city historical district and would be best enjoyed through walking tours if you have the time and the ability to do so. Which we did not.
Savannah is also a thriving seaport, primarily through exporting of commodities like wood chips used for making composite furniture and the like. Interestingly, Savannah is the westernmost seaport on the Atlantic Coast, making it an attractive choice for importing and exporting things inland by reducing transportation costs. If you draw a line due north from Savannah, it woud go through Ohio.
The riverboat portion of the tour was a narrated tour of the river, north for a short portion and south to Fort Jackson, a restored Civil War fort further down river. The cruise did not go all the way down to the mouth of the river, however. We have been there before, staying at Tybee Island and visiting the nearby larger Fort Pulaski guarding the river access.
After the two tours and a late lunch on the riverboat, it was back to the RV after a long and busy day.
On the road today. It was a fairly long drive for us these days (302 miles) from Patrick SFB to the Savannah, GA area. It was all Interstate (I-95 North) to our destination, an RV park about 12 miles South of Savannah. The weather was good, no wind, just lots of traffic around Jacksonville and very little road construction to slow down.
The park where we are staying is "rustic" but O.K. for our two-night stop here. We have reservations for tomorrow to take a combination trolley and riverboat cruise in Savannah and the adjacent Savannah River. We have stayed nearby on Tybee Island at the mouth of the Savannah River but have not been downtown. Without a lot of time for in-depth visiting, an overview trolly tour seems like the best way to get a taste of the city and things along the river.
The wind died down and it was a very pleasant day in the high 70s. Looking ahead to our travel plans, we decided to do laundry while it was convenient to do so. The FAMCAMP laundry is close by, all the machines were available, and it went well.
After a late lunch at the food court in the base exchange in the main base area, we returned to the RV after checking out the base marina and the Atlantic Ocean beaches across the road from the base. We continue to be impressed by the quality and condition of the base facilities.
While sitting outside the RV waiting for the sunset, we were treated to the presence of a number of birds, Egrets and Herons, that arrived for feeding on the small fish that are just offshore apparently every evening. At least the birds seem to think so and we saw them successfully "fishing" as the sun went down.
This was a great stop on the way home, and we can see why it is a popular destination during snowbird season.
We left the base around 9:30 am for the Kennedy Space Center about 20 miles north of here. Part of the Center, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, is open to the public. There is an admission charge and includes a large number of attractions exhibits and things to do, especially for children. Admission also includes a bus tour and visit through the restricted area to the Appollo/Saturn V Center not too far away from the actual missile launch complexes.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Other than the visitor center and the bus ride to the Appollo/Saturn center, the rest of the Space Center, is a restricted area closed to the public as it is an active missile launch complex with frequent missile launches, both military and civilian. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also is an active user and has exclusive use (ownership) of two major launch complexes. Other launch complexes are used by the military and others are reserved for public/private space launches. The future of space exploration, already well underway, is definitely going to be joint partnerships for many space initiatives and applications.
The major NASA initiative underway is the Artemis Project, the next generation of travel to the moon. The goal is to travel to and establish a permanent presence on the moon. It will include heavy lift rockets to establish travel to get there, the establishment of a gateway module in lunar orbit, to-and-from lunar lander travel, and the establishment of a living module on the moon surface. There hasn't been a lot of public attention paid to all of this but there will be as the project moves forward. The current plan is to all this in 5-years. An interesting footnote about the Artemis name: Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo in Greek Mythology and the Moon Goddess. And of course, Apollo was the name of the previous moon exploration project. Here is more information about what is coming.
While at the Saturn/Apollo visitor center we were able to see in the distance the Artemis-1 SLS rocket and Orion Spacecraft undergoing pre-launch testing at the launch complex. The first launch will be an unmanned trip around the moon in lunar orbit, presently scheduled for June 2022.
It was a long day but very interesting, informative and fun.
We left the Bay Bayou RV Resort, our home for the last month, around 10:00 am after topping off the RV propane and gas. It was a relatively short 120-mile trip across state to Patrick Space Force Base where we will be staying for three nights.
Patrick SFB was previously an Air Force base hosting the 45th Space Wing but was recently transferred to the new U.S Space Force and redesignated as Space Launch Delta 45 under new Space Force unit designation protocols. Its mission is providing support to missile and space operations at the nearby Kennedy Space Center and the Eastern Missile Test Range. The base is right on the coast on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean on the East and the Banana River to the West.
We were fortunate to be able to stay at their Fam Camp RV park. They do not take reservations for other than active duty military personnel and during the high season of October -March they are totally filled up. Most of the military retired campers are gone by now so they had some open spots. We got one right on the water facing the Banana River. Our plan tomorrow is to visit the Kennedy Space Center. Weather is clear, warm and sunny but very windy.
Leaving tomorrow. Heading for the Florida East Coast, staying at Patrick Space Force Base near Cape Canaveral for three nights. We will be visiting the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Sunday activities TBD.
Busy day today getting ready. It was complicated a little by heavy rain, thunder and lightning most of the day, but primarily the heavy weather was in the morning. I was glad I did most of the outside departure prep yesterday and finished up before the rain started this morning. It would have been difficult to do it all today and put stuff away wet. So, the prep time today was all inside with a shopping trip this afternoon for road food.
We are about ready to leave. Top off propane at the park before we leave and gas-up across the street before heading out of town. The adventure continues.
The last home game started an hour earlier at 12:05 pm today. We have been arriving at the games about an hour and a half before the start time when the gates open. There is a special entrance for disabled and suite section ticket holders (us). You go through the lower section under the stands near the umpire dressing room and the door to the visitors' club house. It is also adjacent to the loading dock area where vendor and park supplies are unloaded. The visiting players also enter and leave through this area to/from their buses that bring them to the park and back. There are also usually a fair number of fans of the visiting team waiting there behind a barrier, hoping to get autographs from their team players as they arrive/depart.
After entering, we travel to our seats on the third level by elevator. Judy is using her walker, so the elevator is a huge help. The park staff are friendly and have always helped. The same people have mostly been here at the same stations ever since we have been coming here.
After we arrive at our seating section, there is a complimentary mimosa stand (non-alcoholic) on the concourse. Each game, we have our morning mimosa then walk around the ballpark on the concourse on level two (field level). It is a nice walk, past all the concessions on the concourse and the open outfield area. Normally, the visiting team is doing batting practice during our walk and occasionally a ball lands over the fence on the berm seating area. There is a lot of eager fans, some with baseball gloves, waiting to catch/scramble after any ball hit that way. We have even gotten a few balls over the years (didn't even have to fight a kid to get one). The walk around the concourse is about a half-mile walk. After returning, we settle into our seats and normally share a great Cajun Bloody Mary with shrimp from the concession stand at our level.
The game today had a different feel to it. The attendance was only about 2,700 people, a lot of the concession stands were closed, and the visiting team (Pittsburgh Pirates) did not do batting practice. Many of the visitors/fans from the Philadelphia region down for a game or two have gone home as have a lot of the snowbirds down for the season. It seems just about everyone is ready for the regular season to start. The local team the Clearwater Threshers, the Phillies Class A affiliate will start their season her on Friday. Interestingly, then Threshers play all their games at night, except on Sundays, due to the summer heat and humidity.
After the game we travelled over to Dunedin for an early dinner at Bon Appetite, a favorite waterfront restaurant. We were too early to watch the sunset over the Gulf, but we have seen it many times before with fond memories. After Margaritas we had a light dinner, excellent as usual.
After dinner, we had a last ice cream dessert for this trip at the ice cream shop just down the street from the waterfront.
Pictures to Follow
Another nice day. Sunny. low 80's and not too humid. It was time again for our last laundry day before leaving here. It went all. All the machines were working and available and it was over a lot sooner than it has been. The RV park is thinning out a little as many of the snow birds are on the way home to Nova Scotia or wherever and fewer people are doing things here like laundry.
That was about it for the day. We have started prepping for leaving and did some trip planning and other paperwork. I cooked hamburgers for dinner after appetizers.
The last baseball game tomorrow. It starts an hour earlier as many of the minor league players have left camp as their season begins on Wednesday at the various locations around the region. I am not sure if the west coast teams are following a similar schedule. Some will stay behind to play as substitutes for the last two Phillies games, Pittsburgh at home on Tuesday and Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. After that, they will join their teams where they are playing.
It rained all night but had stopped when we woke up (not "woke" in the contemporary sense, but in the traditional meaning of getting up in the morning). It was still overcast with a few isolated showers early, but later cleared up for the game.
We decided to leave early for the game and have breakfast at Lenny's again. We ate there right after we arrived and wanted to go there again for another "too much food" breakfast, East Coast style. The place was filled with Phillie Fans in team colors along with others who may or may not be going to the game. Even the balloon guy was there making funny hats out of balloons for the kids and the more adventurous adults.
After the game we stopped at Cody's Roadhouse, nearby the RV park for dinner. Nothing fancy, but convenient.
As the end of our stay here is less than a week away, we are thinking more about getting ready to leave and the things we have to/want to do before we depart. Time flies, as they say, and it has become apparent we are not going to do everything we wanted to do, visiting places and doing things, mostly activities we have done at least once before. I think however, we will accomplish our goal of going to all of our favorite restaurants again, and some more than once.
We will also have attended nine spring training games. Not as many in previous years but nine seems about right this year. Once again, lots of fun in a friendly and pleasant setting among other interested and knowledgeable Phillies fans, mostly visiting from the Philadelphia area or living here in retirement while keeping their deep Philly roots. Although there were only nine home games here this year, that is nine more than we thought we would potentially see when we left home to come here in the middle of a baseball labor dispute. It has worked out and are pleased we were able to be here and see some baseball his year.
So, getting ready: It was time to get go-home haircuts. We have been going to the same person every year we have been here. Carrie specializes in the mostly older RV crowd, but I am sure she can do others just as well. Nevertheless, Judy skipped the older lady blue tint special, and I have not yet needed the comb-over gentleman's cut. I am starting to get a touch of grey here-and-there, however.
After the haircuts we wanted to go to another Frenchy's restaurant on the causeway over to Honeymoon Island. Bad weather was on the way, and we hoped we could eat a late lunch and get back to the RV before it arrived. We didn't quite make it. We were eating with one eye on the dark clouds coming in over the Gulf when it hit - heavy rain and high winds with thunder and lightning. We were in the covered outside portion of the restaurant. The roll down sides were quickly lowered by the staff and we watched it all through the clear vinyl canopy sides, taking our time to finish lunch as we were in no hurry to drive back to the RV in the heavy rain.
Once again, another delicious Frenchy's meal: Key Lime Colodas, She Crab Soup, a Fish Pretzel and Key Lime Pie for dessert.
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It continued to rain all through the night, not much wind however after that first round of heavy weather although it was consistent with heavy and moderate rain for the most part.
No fooling around today, I did some first-of-the month paperwork and finally got around to start doing our taxes. They are not done yet, but they will be before we leave. The skies were cloudy and gray, and we had a few showers ahead of another approaching front with a lot of rain forecast for tomorrow. So, it was a pretty good "inside day" for doing these kinds of things.
Not much else to report. Dinner again in the RV and more relaxation.
The Phillies played the NY Yankees today. It was very windy, approaching 25 mph in the area as a low-pressure front was approaching the area. As a south wind we were protected where we sit, and it was also a warm wind. It did impact the game though as the wind was "blowing out" to left field and balls hit in the air to left field got a little extra boost, consequently, there were a couple of wind-aided homeruns today. The Phillies did win 5-3, boosting the record of games we have seen to 6 wins and one loss.
Rain was also on the way as the front approached but held off until about 7:00 pm. Not a lot of wind, but it rained pretty much steadily through the night into the morning.
After dinner in the RV it was early to bed again. Two days off then the next to the last game on Sunday. The last one is on Tuesday and we leave on Friday, April 8th.
