Ms. Days Ease RV Life #99

Happy LEAP DAY – it’s February 29, 2020.  I am situated at a beautiful State Park in Snead, FLORIDA!   I left last Sunday and I’ve finally made it to FLORIDA!!!!!  I am so happy!  Daisy has been a DREAM!  She drives so well!  My only issue was on my way through San Antonio construction and she started to screech!  I could not figure out what that noise came from  SO when I asked the expert – brother Bill, he said it was probably a rock that got stuck in the brake between the wheel and the pad or something.  Anyway, it finally stopped screeching when I pulled into the KOA and hasn’t been an issue since.  I can get her all checked out at the Ford Fleet dealer in Naples.  It is where they repair big trucks and it is on Domestic Avenue.  I plan to take her in and get her totally worked on.  Afterall, this is the perfect time to have the work done since I have the house to stay in while they work on it.  See how that works!  God is definitely thinking and providing for me! 

I need to check in at the campground between 4PM & 4:30PM.  When I made this reservation, my site was the last one available but as I walk around, there are a few empties.  They all say “reserved” so I guess the people just haven’t come in yet.  I am so glad I got here early – 2PM so I can enjoy this beautiful day and view from Daisy!

This is how I’m facing in my site – I see the Lake and it is beautiful!  It is Lake Seminole.  It’s the first time I’ve looked out the front windows onto another site.  I think we’re far enough away, not to bother anyone by looking through their campsite.  Here is the view out the driver’s window!

This is so nice.  When I drove in Dee Green – volunteer told me that this Park was devastated from Hurricane Michael 2 years ago.  She said that they lot 90% of their trees!  I can see that but it makes for good views of the lake now.  I noticed that the neighborhoods in Snead, seem also in disrepair, but there was a church on every corner and they were mostly Baptist or Pentacostal churches, so God is alive and well in the panhandle!  

Here is the video of the ride into the park – it shows the devastation:

I just signed in and bought some firewood and MAY try to build my own fire.  That will be interesting.  I’ve never done it before and it’s pretty windy so we’ll see.  A fire would feel good even though it’s 65 degrees outside, it still is chilly when the wind blows and in the shade.  Anyway, it will be a first and you’ll see the results if it works!

On this trip, I decided to stop every two hours and walk around.  So this is one of the Texas Rest Stops:

This was a really nice one, well maintained and informative:

Daisy and the girls and I parked here, next to another camper and a big rig:

The couple in the camper were on their way to the Panhandle of Florida also and had come from Portland, OR.  They were freezing too and said they hated driving through the mountains.  They were traveling with their 2 Chihauhuas name Peanut and Jelly.  The guy said if they got another one they would name it Butter – Get it?  Peanut Butter and Jelly!  CUTE!  Being on the road is really fun because you can strike up a conversation with someone and never see them again.  There is something freeing about that.  So my fire was a major success!

I took a video of it “roaring”!

So more about my trip to North Florida from Texas.  Let’s see, my last post was about my trip to San Antonio I believe, so from there my next stop was Oaklawn RV Park in Biloxi, MS.  This little gem was right off of I 10 and there was a Camping World within about 1/2 a mile from it, on the way to it.  I thought I would drop in on my way to I 10 but decided I would probably buy something I don’t really need right now.  Maybe next time.  This place was a tiny campground with about 40 sites.  The 2 closest to the office were reserved for people like me who were stopping in for a night.  The rest of the sites looked like there were some permanent people, not just vacationers.  Evelyn and her husband Phil, run the place.  Actually, I think it’s Evelyn that runs it and Phil just helps a little, like showing you to your site which I could see from the office, but I guess it keeps him busy – he’s definitely retired!  They live in a 5th Wheel right at the entrance.  I felt comfortable there and was happy I was at the furthest end of the park away from the highway traffic, although I could hear it somewhat.  Anyway, there is nothing to do at this park, it’s just a place to park for the night – no amenities, although the bathrooms were spotless and the laundry room looked nice too.  I thought about using the shower, but decided not to.  If I can’t get into Sanlan tomorrow (I need to call in the morning to see about availability) I might use the showers here.  I may do that anyway.  Now that I smell like a campfire.  I would have time to do that before I have to take off after 9 since I can’t call until then.  I could take a shower at 7 or so and I’d be set until I get back to Naples.  We’ll see how that goes.

Another place I stopped along the way to 3 Rivers State Park, was a Visitors Center in Iberville, Louisiana.  It was right off the Highway and I found it when I gassed up.  It was really quiet – the 2 women in there said it gets busier when spring comes and it’s warmer, so I was the only one there until the Police Showed Up.

They just happened to come in to use the restroom!  Anyway, nice rides!  So here is Daisy in their parking lot.

I think the 2 other cars belonged to the two volunteers!  But the place was interesting.  It was a new building (10 years old) made to be old.  The wood paneling and floors were beautiful.  I didn’t take good pictures of that, but the place was immaculate.  I still didn’t know how they stayed open.  Must have a good benefactor in town.  Here is the sign from the place:

This was a display inside:

That is my diet coke.  They had a coke machine in an “out building”.   Here is the beautiful tree at the Visitor’s Center:

So along this trip there were 2 traffic jams.  The first one was a travel trailer that flipped off the highway.  The driver must have fallen asleep or something – maybe a medical issue – but it was turned upside down and I didn’t see what the truck looked like, I was too busy watching the road ahead of me.  Then there was another accident at the same exit I was going toward to get to Biloxi.  Here is the sign:

I never saw any remnants of this accident, it was all clear by the time I got there.  Both times I lost about an hour, but that is the beauty of having plenty of time to get places and only traveling about 250 to 300 miles a day.  I’ve found that is plenty for me, and it gives me enough time to recover and start fresh the next day.

Since today was a short day on the road, I took the time to go here:

I think this is the one that Suzan and I stopped in on our way to Florida from New Mexico.  I had never been in one before – the place is incredibly decadent.  It has EVERYTHING you ever wanted and MORE!  Here is the video I took walking through the place to the bathrooms which are immaculate I must say!  Never been in a FAST FOOD place like this ever before.  I think they are only in Texas:

I bought a new coffee cup that is supposed to keep coffee hot for 6 hours for $8 and a praline candy for $1.50 and a snack of cheese, sausage and pretzels in a BUC-EES cup!  Another souvenier!  Anyway it is definitely an experience not to be missed.

So on Thursday night while I was camping at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, LA. the Naples Group was celebrating their 66th Anniversary:

Suzee sent me a couple of pictures of the gang!  Thanks Suzee!  I’m glad it was a success as always!  Sold out YET AGAIN!

I forgot to put in some pictures of the Sam Houston Jones State Park.  Don’t know how the name came to be – didn’t have a brochure from them.  The place was nice and RUSTIC:

It was a full hook up and I took advantage of it by dumping my tanks.  The weather was warm enough when I got there to do that so that will get me home without an issue.  Especially since I’m using campground and RV Park showers and toilets when available.  Here is another picture from SHJSP:

A neighbor – reminded me of Bette & Suzan and OLIVI@:

So far I’ve been really lucky.  My sites have been level and I haven’t had to worry about putting levelers under my tires.  I think I could have done it here at 3 Rivers, but it isn’t bad.  Just a tiny bit low on the passenger side.  One block would have done it, but I’m not going to worry as everything (the fridge) is working fine – no issues.

Well, that catches us up until today, LEAP DAY!  One more overnight and then I’ll be home with Daisy in my driveway in Naples, and the kitties and I in the house for the last time.  I know they will be happy to have the space – especially Metaxa – SHE LOVES THAT LANAI!  I’ll be happy to have a big bed and a nice hot shower that runs and runs!  Life is good!  Thanks for visiting and I’ll be back in a day or two.