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Published: October 24th 2014
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No major stops on this year's trek from Ballston Lake to southern climes. Pushing along to get to Pine Island, put the "rig" in storage and fly home for a European adventure (hope you will stay tuned). Sleeping in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant (and eating their "white" food meaning high carb comfort food like biscuits, potatoes, dumplings, & pale gravy) or a "Flying J" truck stop with "shower call" announcements (customer #42, your shower is ready) all night long isn't high adventure, but the "pull through" spaces are free of charge, the security is good, and you can have your cocktail in the RV and get a decent cup of coffee in the morning.
I used a Woodward's RV Tour Guide to find us a very funky RV Park / Antique Shop / Stone Garden Statuary business for an overnight stay just outside of Savannah. When I called to confirm the elder of the mother/daughter team of proprietors actually yelled in a southern drawl "I can't be expected to know the Exit number, d'ya think I should know every exit on "the 95!" We should have taken the clue. Judging from the bars on the windows
and a prolific collection of bail bond and check cashing businesses in the neighborhood, the park was in an "iffy" part of town. The FAB antique shop is in a HUGE building is said to be a former Air Stream dealership which made a business adjustment during the gas crisis of the 70's when camping on wheels had a set back. I would have added to my garden statues if St. Francis had been easier to load and cart around for the rest of the trip. Why we listened when the two ladies suggested a restaurant where they loved to eat in the kitchen and the BBQ sauce is so yummy they could "drink it" is our fault. We should have order BBQ. We got off to a bad start when we were told it was happy hour and drinks were BOGO free. Wes ordered a very dry martini which came to the table (not one, but both) dirty and not to his liking at all. They were turned back and replaced with two more martinis which also did not meet standards. When they were sent back; the female bartender (who seemed a bit on the tough side) paid a
visit! So, Wes settled for a Merlot (by then the twofers of Happy Hour were over) and enjoyed a steak cooked to order. Meanwhile on my side of the table the broccoli was wonderful; but the crab bisque was fishy and salty and the crab gratin was fishy with a skim of cheese on top that could be peeled back and used as a slippery Frisbee! We were comped on a wonderful dessert "Birthday Cake Trifle" and departed. The restaurant is one of Savannah's oldest and has a colorful history as a speakeasy and gambling hall. The main dining room is round and cozy booths (with a call button for wait staff) encircliing the large space. The wood work is FAB and a mural, said to be painted by a homeless itinerant who worked for food, frames the ceiling. I'm not revealing the name of this place. Perhaps our visit was on "just one of those nights" which almost every restaurant has experienced but I don't think we're going to return.
Traditionally, our first stop in Florida is Saint Augustine's North Beach RV Resort! We love this indigenously landscaped park tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and a river. Sunrise...Sunsets
over water; a restaurant on each side, a heated pool (expanded deck with new pavers) and thanks to our Verizon jet pact good web connectivity (don't forget, i'm still working). We ate at the Reef and listened to great jazz and Aunt Kate's outdoors at sunset. On Sunday we went into town and, despite a tremendous street construction project on Spanish Street had a great late lunch/early supper at Barley Republic. Can hardly wait so see the project's completed look when we tool back through in the spring. 2015 seems far away!
We crossed from the Atlantic Side to Tampa Bay area on the Gulf of Mexico and camped for three nights at Fort Desoto, a Pinellas County park we almost always hit on our way south. We stuck around the campsite reading, relaxing and getting some work done. We ate on our picnic table with a gorgeous sunset view and ventured to one of our all time FAVS Pass A Grille once for a late lunch at Sea Critters and again for a beach day. The water is the same temp as the air; very relaxing; and the sand is soft & white. Bliss!
Stay tuned for
an update on our next stop Pine Island, an artsy barrier island inside of the Sanibel/Captiva group. I promise not to repeat myself; which makes blog entries to places already covered a bit more of a challenge; but we'll find new stuff. Promise! Happy Trails!
We've traded the Jeep in for a Honda CRV which will provide us with a smoother ride and AC (both absent with the Jeep).
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Crannster
Theresa and Dave
Craving some warm weather!
Thanks for sharing your adventures with the cyber-world! My wife and I will be doing a two week road/camping trip in Florida in mid December, and you've given us a few cheerful ideas. We are looking forward to the "Pine Island" adventure... Thanks for sharing. Dave and Theresa