Retirement Travels: On the way to New Orleans

Friday, Jan 10

2014 is here! And we're off on new adventures.

This morning we finished all the moving aboard the motor home. It's always a challenge remembering everything that needs to be done to get the motor home ready, and then getting everything packed aboard for 6 weeks of living in 33 feet of rolling real estate.

It's a very pleasant day - hard to believe that Tuesday morning it was a chilly 21 degrees - miserable. That's good enough reason to head South.

Leaving Beaufort headed South - where I hope it's warmer!

We drove the ideal RV travel day - 4 hours and 200 miles.

Tonight we've settled into Myrtle Beach State Park. This place is a real jewel. Located on a one-mile beach almost in the heart to Myrtle Beach, I can imagine that in the summer, this place is jam-packed.

We took a nice walk along the beach in cool temperatures - which keeps people off the beach - perfect. Then we've settled into refreshing ourselves on all the things we've forgotten about living aboard.

A gray, cool day at Myrtle Beach

A beautiful oak tree at the park

Sat, Jan 11

I slept entirely to late this morning - 8:30. I had planned to get up earlier and head out. Sleeping in the motor home (in my own bed) is a great feeling - to good sometimes I guess.

After a slow breakfast, we brought up the anchor and head South again. On the way, we stopped by a Camping World (for some reason we stop at a lot of them - and spend money) and picked up a few "essentials". Then to the gas station and $232 of diesel fuel - we haven't filled the tank since our return from Canada last fall. Not bad.

Going over the Charleston Bridge - in the fog

About 40 miles North of Savannah we ran through a tremendous series of thunderstorms and wind, slowing us down considerably. It was definitely the worst rain we've run into while driving the motor home - and wind, as we learned out West, does wonders with 33 feet of broadside.

We've settled into the Biltmore - RV Park just outside Savannah. Tomorrow we'll do the touristy things around here then Monday we'll head toward New Orleans.

Sun, Jan 12

It sure is easy to get a slow start in the mornings when we are traveling. It's so different from being at home. Today we had no where to go and nothing special planned to do, and we had a great day.

This morning we drove down to the Savannah River front and walked around for a while. We have been here before and knew what to expect - touristy!

My Southern Belle! Anna enjoys trying on big hats, so Mimi tried this one on for Anna.

Then we decided to drive over to Tybee Island. I think I've heard about it before and it was only a few miles away - and we were hungry for seafood.

We ended up at the Crab Shack, which is obviously a very popular place. It's interesting that it is located at the end of a road through a residential neighborhood on a tidal creek. We found it interesting that dinginess crab was on the menu. It is a California native crab which we last had in Monterrey Calif last Spring, and found it to be fantastic - so we had it again - and it fantastic.

We find it interesting that many of the really neat little towns we visit have created beautiful murals on unsightly walls.

Tonight the plan is to start watching season 1 of Downton Abbey - for about the fourth time.

Mon, Jan 13

We traveled across South Georgia. I'll say it again, traveling in the East is not as exciting as traveling in the Western US. Perhaps it is because we've spent most of our lives here that takes away from the thrill of seeing another pine tree. It seems that out West, every turn unveiled a different view or something new. Of course, I do recall that we got rather tired of seeing desert for mile after mile.

We traveled inland toward Valdosta and a military recreation complex associated with Moody AFB, Grassy Pond. This is the first time we've stayed at a military RV park that hasn't been on base.

Grassy Pond is obviously located on a small lake, with the RV park and small cabins, along with numerous amenities that are available to the military families at Moody.

As we pulled into our site for the night we noticed a few yards in front of us that a crew was cleaning up a fallen tree. All of the trees are covered in Spanish moss.

Before I had the RV stopped, Clara was over talking to the crew asking if she could have some of the moss. Of course they were glad to get rid of it. So, for the next 5 or 6 weeks, we'll be traveling around with two tightly packed bags of the moss in our basement (which has been thoroughly fumigated with Raid).

Gathering Spanish Moss. It will be interesting to see if it gets back to Beaufort alive.

It has warmed up nicely, so we took out the little grill and had hamburgers on it.

Tues, Jan 14

After a "Rainy night in Georgia", we had a pleasant drive under clearing skies to Tyndall AFB's Famcamp (that's what the Air Force calls their RV Parks). This has proved to be an interesting place. For one thing, in our ride around the park this afternoon, we found it to be probably one of the most beautiful settings we've seen. A good part of the park sites are located in old oak trees groves with Spanish moss hanging from them. On most of the sites you cannot see the next RV site at all.

Unfortunately, because it is such a popular place, we had to stay in their overflow parking, which is certainly better than adequate. Even their overflow sites have water and electric hookups - and it's only $15/night.

As we checked in, we were told that there will be a cover dish supper tonight in their very spacious meeting room (which we later learned was built by volunteer "snow birds" who come here year-after-year). Clara fixed up a nice dish with chicken (which was pretty well cleaned out at the dinner) and we went and enjoyed a nice evening meeting other campers. One we met is headed for our potential destination in Key West, so we might meet again.

This afternoon after settling in, we visited a very nice commissary and BX and stocked up on provisions. In that I had forgotten to bring "dress up" shoes (dockers), I had to buy a new pair - which made Clara happy. She did not want me to be going on the cruise and to the elegant dinners in athletic shoes.

Wed, Jan 15

As we slowly head West along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans, we pick the next military RV campground to the West and head there. This morning, I saw an RV Park named Blue Angels Military Recreation Area. It sounds like a cool place, so we call ahead to make sure they have spaces and head out for the 3 hour drive.

Wow! Have we hit a spot! This park is located just outside Pensacola Naval Air Station (home of the Blue Angels) on a bay and it is absolutely beautiful - and hardly anyone is here.

On checking in, the host told me that there is a National Naval Aviation Museum about a 20 minute drive from here on the base. He claims it is better than the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB. So I have to check it out.

First, we get set up in a gorgeous site overlooking the bay. Then as soon as I can get the car unhitched, I'm off to the museum. Clara decides to enjoy some quiet time at the RV.

I only had an hour, so I almost ran through about a third of the museum. This is definitely worth a whole day, so we'll either stay here tomorrow, or come back by here on our way to South Florida.

Although I don't think it's quite as good as the Air Force Museum (because they have a B-52 on display), it really seems to be a neat place.

We are only about 4 hours from our destination in New Orleans, and we don't have to be there until Friday afternoon, I think we'll be staying an extra day here.

Thurs, Jan 16

We did stay the extra day and it was really worth it.

As much as I hate to admit it, this is probably the best museum we have ever gone to - including the Air Force Museum. There are numerous interactive exhibits and some great IMAX films.

President Nixon on Helicopter Navy One

As we entered this morning, we immediately bought tickets to the IMAX movie "The Magic of Flight". This is one of the best IMAX films we've seen. We had a few minutes for lunch and then to a second building that I had not visited yesterday. There they had a 4-D video experience and WOW! It was fantastic. The chairs banged around, the wind blew and we were immersed in a Blue Angel's aerial performance.

Mimi enjoys a moment at the ticket booth with a sailor

We immediately left that and jumped on a trolley for a narrated flight line tour. Then back to the museum for a few minutes of actually looking at some of the beautifully displayed aircraft.

Then I wanted to go back to the 4-D experience with the aerial demonstration flying (Clara decide to skip this one - it was rather realistic). Then another 4-D experience on the deck of an aircraft carrier, then another IMAX movie on helicopters.