It's time! The past couple of days in Beaufort have been pretty typical of winter here. 50+/- degrees, cold and wet. This is more typical for January and February, but it reminds us that it's time to start for warmer climates.
So, around noon Wednesday, we get everything ready to go and head South.
Wednesday night we made it to a Walmart just South of Wilmington. This gives us a chance to check all the motorhome systems and get all clothing and food stored.
Thursday we traveled on to just North of Charleston to an Army Corps of Engineers Buck Hall campground just North of Charleston that we stumbled on last year. It's right on the Intracoastal Waterway and is a very comfortable place.
Friday morning we continued to one of our favorite military RV parks, Pelican Roost on Naval Station Mayport. We've been here many times in the past and it's a great location. We're staying here 2 nights for two reasons. First, After three days of travel, we enjoy a break and second, recently I learned that a high school classmate and 3 doors away neighbor when I was growing up in Nashville live near here.
Martha Willey and I grew up and attended Nashville Elementary, Middle and High School which was just across the street for both of us. She lived 3 houses from us and we often played together as children.
We got together with Martha and her husband, Mark Saturday evening for a great evening of fellowship and renewing our last 50 years. We met them at their beautiful home and after drinks and appetizers, went to a wonderful restaurant near their home. They have recently purchased a home near Asheville, and we plan to get together again either there or here in Jacksonville.
Unfortunately, on the way back to the base, I realized that I had lost my military ID card. I've had a military ID card since 1972 (not the same one), and this is the first time I've every misplaced it. I know exactly where I lost it (coming out of the base fitness facility where I had gone swimming Saturday afternoon) and went back to see if I could find it. Unfortunately, no one had turned it in at the fitness facility or at security police, so I'll have to get a new one when we get to Key West. Really stupid on my part!
Sunday, we headed further South (and it's getting warmer - actually hot this afternoon) to Cape Kennedy area. I made reservations on the way down at a County Park.
Upon arrival around 1:30 pm, I found out that a rocket launch is scheduled this afternoon at Cape Kennedy, and this RV park has one of the best views around for watching the launch. The launch happened around 2:15, just in time for us to grab our camera and go down to the shore and watch.
It was impressive. We watched a NASA channel later the replayed the event and gave all the details about the launch. It was a commercial launch of a satellite for high speed Internet service. It's amazing to think that only 30-40 years ago, a launch like this would have been broadcast on National TV and attracted world-wide attention, and yet, here we were with maybe 50 other people at this RV park just passing an afternoon watching another satellite going into space.
Monday, we moved on further South, stopping for the night at an older resort in Florida City, only a few miles from entering the Florida Keys.
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| Seven Mile Bridge South of Marathon |
The RV Park is about 60% full, but in a week or so, it will be full as the other snowbirds make their way here.
Before setting up, we went to the on-base Car/Motorhome wash and cleaned up the motorhome. Afterward, we stopped by the dump station and completed all the necessary functions for readying for a couple weeks of dry camping.
Finally, we're settled in for at least three weeks (then we'll rotate to full hookup for a couple of weeks).
And the weather - perfect. Highs in the low to mid 80's and lows around 70. No need for air conditioning or heating.
