2nd Lazy Daze Trip - Southbound!

SATURDAY.
Jeannette awoke this morning saying, "Let's drive into New Orleans and see the status." Didn’t take long and we found ourselves on the I-10 inbound, crossing over Lake Ponchatrain, with New Orleans on the horizon. Upon reaching the southern shore, we began seeing row after row of destroyed and damaged houses/buildings. Then it became entire neighborhoods and housing projects…mile after mile… until we entered downtown and drove around the SuperDome.

We were simply flabbergasted; not prepared for the impact of seeing thousands and thousands of homes damaged/destroyed, with abandoned streets…water-logged automobiles... looking like a movie set or ghost town. And not just the ninth ward... very nice middle class neighborhoods didn't escape Katrina's wrath.

As we drove out of town, heading for Mississippi, we both commented, almost simultaneously: “New Orleans will NEVER recover….NEVER be the same….EVER!

Soon it was behind us, we turned up I-59 for the final 500 miles to home. About 40 miles along, we suddenly saw hundreds and thousands of FEMA trailers parked in fields next to the freeway. Other motorists were slowing down to take pictures also.

Meridian, MS. After stopping at the Welcome Center to get RV camp site information, Jeannette read about a stage play tonight in Meridian’s Little Theater. Not finding any attractive state parks or RV sites along the way, we decided to head on to Meridian. I exited downtown to ask directions and eventually, about 5:30 pm, we found the Little Theater on the north side of town. Sure enough the British play was on the marquee, so we headed back to town, found an eating emporium and returned early to see if there were tickets.

“Yes, we have just 4 tickets left – your choice!” said Bunny, one of the matron volunteers. She was so helpful, that I asked the next question: “May we stay in your parking lot tonight?”

“Of course…no problem” was her reply. Now… that’s good southern Mississippi hospitality. After everyone had gone home, we parked the LAZY DAZE in the back corner, under a lamp post and settled in for our 1st night of dry camping – boondocking as some refer to it when you’re totally self-contained; no hookup to anything.

The LD’s coach batteries provided for all the lights and water and we snuggled down, as a terrific wind storm blew through in the early morning hours. (Next day we heard on the radio that tornados had struck about 50 miles away but no deaths).

SUNDAY Morning...
Our 15th day on the road since driving away from our son Mark’s in Redlands. We still had 2 days available to us, so we decided to look for a midway campsite. However as the miles rolled under the LD’s wheels, the draw of getting home became too much. At 6:20 pm, we pulled into 2313 Guinevere Pkwy, home-sweet-home.

We thank the Lord for incident-free 2,835 miles, consuming 293 gallons of gas, at prices ranging from $1.99 to highest $2.35/gal (average was $2.16/gal). The LD, though almost 11 yrs of age, proved more than adequate for the trip. Each day we were grateful for those first days and all the help from Linda/Earl and Kate/Terry; don't know how we would have made it without their friendly and helpful assistance.

We quickly opened the house and unloaded just what we needed for the evening. Next was sorting through the hugh pile of mail that Rhonda, our sister-in-law had kindly collected for us during our month away. Finally up the stairs and to our waiting bed.

But you know, next morning, we both said the bed didn’t feel as good as we thought it would. In fact, the LD beds were really pretty good after all.

“When do we leave next?” was Jeannette’s question over coffee the next morning.


Feb. 25 – March 6...was a blur of to-do lists, spend time with Dad, Jeannette cleaning out her mother's things, etc. etc.-- so we could leave for the SouthEast Lazy Daze Gathering at Hanna Park, Jacksonville, FL.

TUESDAY (Mar. 6). We had decided to leave by noon a day early and stay about half way, which became Perry, GA and LONE HARBOR RV park… about 300 yards west of I-75, but still plenty close enough to hear the big trucks!

There was time for some chores, so I washed the LD rig of the road grime from now almost 3,200 miles since leaving CA on Feb. 10th. Jeannette cleaned good inside, using a neat portable vacuum she found at Target. Believe it or Not: I hadn't cleaned the windshield even one time on the entire cross-country trip. Unbelievable. Granted it was spring and mostly the desert. However, perhaps the LD’s cab overhead, plus the bugsmasher above the grill actually did the job… who knows?

We learned another lesson last night: choose a camp site that isn’t on the entry road… cause duallys and cars come/go until the late hours, and crankup at dawn.

WEDNESDAY (Mar. 7)...
We dumped tanks, took on half tank of fresh water and headed south for Hanna Park. We decided on the longer route via freeway. In fact we met up with our ol’ friend I-10 that took us into downtown Jacksonville at going-home time. Bad choice. Never again! Should have followed the directions the wagonmaster had emailed days before. (Seems like we’re learning a lot of lessons)!!

Finally, we found Hanna Park and whow… it’s like Sherwood Forest! See the pictures. We wound our way toward the back rows of RVs, where eventually some 22 Lazy Daze rigs would gather, coming from as far north as Vermont, Mass., and southward thru Florida.

WEDNESDAY night was prime-time Hamburgers by Bill and Dorothy and others, with a variety of junk food on the side table.

THURSDAY (Mar 8), and each morning, coffee and munchies were available from 8:00 am onward, at Don and Dorothy’s. They came in their van and towed trailer, because they’re ordering a new Lazy Daze, and wanted to check-out various things. They were great folks to host the mornings!

Thursday evening dinner was free time, with an ice cream social about 7:30 pm. While the afternoon had been pleasantly warm, the evening brought brisk chilly winds, whirling around our legs as we dutifully consumed gallon after gallon of Mayfield’s Ice Cream.

Then Joe Ellis introduced a dollie-covered roll of T.P. and began a naming contest for this inaminate object. Joe explained that he would hide it in someone's LD, and at the next Gathering, that couple would tell of their travels and funny happenings. Competition quickly broke out between two tables and some highly interesting names for this glorifed roll of T.P. were suggested... finally reaching a compromise on the ubiquitous moniquor of LDTP. Just how original could we be!

FRIDAY (Mar 8) - Bill Wockenfuss came to help me with our belligerent awning; it didn’t want to crank out. His experienced touch and technique, coupled with copious amounts of silicon spray (donated by Terry [Cholula Red] and voila… the awning now works. He and a few others showed us numerous “tricks of the trade” about our Lazy Daze. We learned tips we’d never heard of nor read… just one of the reasons we were glad to be here.

Friday evening was potluck dinner, with various couples bringing meat dishes, vegetables, salad and dessert. Again the chilly winds tried, but were unable to dim or dampen the fun time enjoyed by all.

After the tables we’re cleared, it was time for Helen’s Silent Auction. Mr. Auctioneer – Paul Woods- showed us all his hidden talent for bringing out the best in us all! After everyone had cast their 10 bids in the cups beside each item on the auction tables, Paul and Helen proceeded to draw the winning bid for each of the 23 items.

Now… here it get’s a little personal. The first name drawn was….. Jeannette Walker! She and I were totally shocked!! We never have won anything, anytime, anywhere! As if that wasn’t enough, the 2nd prize drawing from new slips brought the winner: Jeannette Walker! Somewhat to her chagrin, twice more her name was drawn, thus becoming the Queen of the Hanna Park SE LD Gathering SILENT AUCTION of March 2007!

There was a special item in the auction, a scale model British Spitfire airplane, molded from brass machine gun shells taken from various Spitfires, by a RAF pilot who was shot down on his 18th mission over Germany. Jeannette and I had bought this at a Rummage Sale in Oxford, in the late 70’s, from the pilot’s family member, who was saving money to visit America, rent a Winnebago and tour the USA for a month. Kathy Rawls was the Lucky Winner!

SATURDAY (Mar 10) morning – several campers headed toward the beach to watch the aircraft carrier JFK steam into port from Boston, to be decommissioned on March 23,2007.

Saturday evening was Pizza for everybody at the Clubhouse. Afterwards Jack and Dorothy, who have many years of experience, gave a most interesting overview of Florida State Parks. They ably answered scores of questions and passed out brochures and flyers.

SUNDAY (Mar 11)...
morning was our turn to provide morning munchies over at Don and Dorothy's campsite. I carried everything Jeannette had brought and said our goodbyes. We pulled out about 9am, after dumping tanks, and headed for First Baptist Church Callahan, FL, which has been a partner in the China OUTLINE Bible project for two years. So we wanted to worship with our friends.

This was also the morning that clocks “sprung ahead” 1 hour – 3 weeks early by congressional decree. Fortunately a good friend in Callahan called Saturday to alert us that the morning worship would be 11:15 “new time”, rather than the regular 10:15 am. Have to say that as we drove northwards, we began wondering if we had misunderstood Raymond on the phone. That would make church ending after 12 o’clock noon. And goodness knows, Baptists have to be out and to the restaurants, right?

Well, as we approached the church, sure enough the parking lot was full. However they found a place for our LD and we had a wonderful morning of worship. Afterwards, Brother Raymond took us to lunch, even offering us our choice, in this thriving metropolis of about 5,000 people! No Question – Our instant pick was CedarRiver Seafood…and the most delicious fresh scrimp imagineable!

After lunch, Raymond took us by his family’s Ace Hardware where Adam, his son-in-law, was working on a major computer system upgrade problem. Stephanie, his daugher and Adam’s wife were coming to help. Raymond kindly helped us with some needed tools and RV supplies, then took us back to our LD, where MIMI had been patiently waiting in the shade.

Our friends the Blackmons had invited us to visit before leaving town, so we headed out north to their place. Patick and the kids are installing a big deck area out back, with fountains and all kinds of good things. Christie and Brittany showed us their 7 little 2-week old puppies that had increased their canine count to 11, no less. And also in the backyard were two (2) burros (shades of Woody/Jean in Texas).

After hugs and pictures, we pointed our LD eastward toward the Atlantic coast… which eventfully ended in the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center – downtown ST. SIMONS ISLAND… about 75 yards from the beach and at the base of the famous lighthouse. Every state park and camp ground was full, as Biker’s Week in Daytona also ended today. I-95 was full of Harleys headed north, many of them in trailers or pickup beds.

This was our 2nd night of no hookup; i.e. dry camping. The silence was golden. We had driven around town, looking for a spot near the beach. But every site we found was posted NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING. And we didn’t feel like tempting fate! However this parking lot has no such Postings and no one said a word to us. So,,, if you wanna have an enjoyable time in St. Simons Island, 1 block from downtown, try the parking lot at the base of the lighthouse.

MONDAY (Mar 12)
Cars began arriving in the parking lot by 7am, however no one paid any attention to our tan LAZY DAZE neatly parked at the base of the lighthouse. I walked downtown and had a hearty breakfast at Dresser’s Café. While the place is small and the door is weather-beaten, the hospitality is warm, lots of locals present, and the food is fabulous. They fixed a cup of decaf for me to take back to Jeannette. Last night about 9 pm I had walked the length of Main street (3 blocks) and found a Dairy Queen, which provided a Blizzard to end the day; taking half of it back for Jeannette.

Jeannette had decided she was going to climb the 129 steps of the lighthouse, and wanted company. Actually it wasn't that bad, and the panoramic view was breathtaking in all directions. We learned this is the only working lighthouse on east coast that is painted pure white. Appartently each lighthouse was painted different color and pattern, for visual identification in the old sailing ship days.

Shortly after noontime, we crept slowly out of town (25 mph enforced), back to I-95, and headed for Savannah. As Jeannette began calling State Parks, they were all full. Reading the travel books, she came across TALL PINES RV park near Townsend, GA. A quick phone call got us a reservation and we arrived about an hour later. We had chosen a campsite with WiFi, as it had been more than a week since we could check email. However, our site was too far from the antenna; couldn't get a strong enough signal.

TUESDAY (Mar 13)
Savannah was today's destination, less than 2 hour drive @ 58 mph LD-speed. However as my eagle-eyed navigator was reading the brochures, she came across TYBEE ISLAND - the furthermost east you can go, before getting your feet wet in the Atlantic. After calling RV Shores Campground and getting a reservation, we toured this quaint, historic beach community, including a restful hour at the Atlantic beach, watching sea gulls and sea birds glidding effortlessly in the breeze...watching the water below for lunch.

Jeannette remembered that her hairdresser had come here often on vacation. So she calls him and asks for a dinner recomendation: THE HUNTER INN - by reservation only. So we arrived tonight for our 6:30 pm date. Jeannette had a scrumpuous lobster and scrimp dinner, while I ordered the Atlantic salmon. Both were gourmet exquisite and melt-in-your-mouth. We shared a piece of key lime pie to complete our date evening and drove back to #49 RV site.

The Florida Amateur Radio Club is holding their RV rally in this park this week. Several of the RV's have ham radio antennas pointing skyward. As I walked amongst them, it brought back memories of my 17 years using ham radio everywhere we lived in Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica. It had been our life-line many times to the outside world, plus keeping in touch with our families and friends via "phone patch" connections. Everywhere, I built cubical quad antennas from bamboo - and Jeannette planted rose bushes. We left them behind for those who came after us.

Jeannette is grumbling: What is this interference on the TV... messing up her favorite program THE CLOSER! Ah.... ham radio! Still causes TV inference, when those RF waves radiate outward without appropriate filters.

On a different note: tonight we prayed for our dear friend Dr. Chung, Chairman of AGI with whom we volunteer in the China project. Tomorrow, he flies to China with modified and updated digital files, for the first printing of 10,000 Chinese OUTLINE Bible volumes. It's been over a year since the official license to print was granted by the Chinese government. Barrier after barrier has been thrown in the way. However, at last, we're trusting the actual printing will begin soon.

Tomorrow - back to Savannah..and then westward... one day at a time.