Leaving Kansas For the Winter

[SmokerBill]

Tomorrow I'll start packing up my 26BH for my winter trip. I'm leaving Kansas, and don't plan to return until it's time to mow the yard next spring.

First stop will be in Arkansas, to the Crater of Diamonds State Park. I plan on a couple of days searching the dirt for gems.

After that, it's on to Georgia where I'll spend a month with my brother and his family. Next stop, the panhandle of Florida for Christmas. My sister and her family will be there (got the sites reserved at St. Andrews state park, just south of Panama City). The niece and her hubby will bring their rv along.

When that week is up, my brother (maybe both brothers) will head further south to the Keys. Maybe try some fishing or whatever. Then back to Georgia for New Years celebration.

After that I'll head west to be in the Phoenix area for a couple or weeks (or whatever seems right), then meander west to California. Then a bit north, then start heading back east to Kansas. I haven't got a plan on the "back east to Kansas" part of the journey, but I heard about an area in Nevada (or is it Utah?) where you can dig for black opals. That sounds like fun, but it might be too cold there. Don't want my pipes to freeze, but I guess I could dry camp.

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on my progress, successes and failures (learning experiences). And I'll post pics. Lots of pics. This will be my second outing with my new TT, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Have a good one, and wish me luck.

[Denise]

Wow... keep us uprised of where you are! Looks like you are going to have a nice road trip planned! Where in Calif will you visit?

[1mtnman]

Sounds like a good plan. Have a safe trip and i hope you have some exciting events.

[yogi154]

Bill have a Safe Trip enjoy.

[Derek700]

Enjoy your trip, my daughter went to college in Dodge City. We visited twice and really enjoyed our stays there, lots of friendly people.

[maromeo]

Bill,

Have a safe trip. We are on the Scottsdale/Phoenix border. Let us know when you head towards Phoenix. If there is anything we can help you with let us know. We are picking up our new Jayco Flight 26RLS on Friday. We are really excited to get it. We will then head up to Payson and camp for 4 days for Thanksgiving for our maiden voyage. Quite a big change from the PUP.

Mary

[Denise]

We are pretty sure we will be on the road starting early March for our Spring road trip. Keep in touch. PM me when you have a better idea on dates for our area. Happy travels! and post some pics along the way. We can camp vicariously through your adventures

[Seann45]

If you end up near the Slabs let me know... maybe meet for coffee..

[SmokerBill]

What's the Slabs, Seann?

I finished loading yesterday, took a shower and winterized the house (forgot to empty the water heater tank in the basement, though. I think it'll be ok). When I got done, I put on my coat to go outside to hook up the trailer, and it was SNOWING! I procrastinated one day too many!

Here's a a pic of my trailer on the way out of town yesterday.


The temp was hovering at 31-32 degrees well south of the Kansas border, so I decided to skip Arkansas diamonds this time. All I wanted was to make it to someplace warmer. I ended up making it to the east side of Shreveport LA last night at around 2AM. Found a nice, and full rest area to sleep a few hours. Must've been 30 or 40 semis there.

Today I made it to Oxford Alabama, where I'm at now. First night ever in a Walmart parking lot. It's noisy from auto traffic, and I think air traffic too. Must be an airport nearby. But it's nice to be here when there's no beer in the fridge. There is beer now.

Tomorrow I'll make it to Sylvania, GA where little brother lives.

The truck pulls the TT really well, but interstate traffic can suck, especially when it's dark and you have to drive an 8 mile stretch of twisty and narrow 2 lane road, with barricades on one side. That did me in, so I had to stop for the night.

I think I'll pick my guitar for a bit before I turn in.

Have a good one,

Bill

[SmokerBill]

It's almost three weeks into my trip so I thought I'd give you all an update.

It took me an extra day to get to Georgia. I spent the night just past Talladega, AL, at a nice rest stop. Made it to Georgia the next morning. While there, I helped cook a whole hog over a pit, smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving, and had a general good (too good many nights ) time with the brother's family. I parked my TT in his backyard, hooked up to electric and water. There's a little RV park in town that I dumped at a few times. Cost just $5 each time.

When the cold started bearing down on Georgia, I decided it was time to go further south, so last Saturday morning I left and ended up at St. Augustine, FL. I had no idea it was such a historical place. It's the oldest city in the US, has an old Spanish fort, built in the 1600s, and cool spiral painted lighthouse. I actually climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse... all 256 or so steps. Coming down was much easier...

I stayed three nights in St. Augustine (at Anastasia state park), and left there this morning about 5AM. Now I'm in Miami!!! I'm at a really nice private park called Miami Everglades Campground. Kind of pricy, but great location. While here I'm going to check out the Everglades, cruise down to Key West, then Check out Miami and see what's going on there. Maybe I'll see Horatio (CSI Miami) prowling the streets in his Hummer.

After that it's back northward towards the Florida panhandle, where I'll spend a week with family at the State park just south of Panama city.

Here are some pics, so far...

[SmokerBill]

Some more pictures...

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

What's the Slabs, Seann?
Bill

Slab City USA you can google it. it is an old Marine base near Niland Ca. when the Marines pulled out they took everything except the cement slabs the buildings were on ... hence Slab City. I am here for about 5 months. Got my solar for power, haul my water and haul out the nasty stuff.. got Satellite internet.. what more could a guy want?