We've moved on down the road.

We've traversed the wondrous roads of Louisiana..  Did we tell you we stayed one night at a Walmart in Sulphur, Louisiana..  That's right - Sulphur.   It was right outside of Lake Charles, which is home to one of the biggest oil refineries in the U.S..  We entered into Texas and stopped at the Texas Welcome Center where we made the decision to head to the Padre Seashore near Corpus Christi.

From the welcome center, our route took us toward Houston.   A stop for gas and a McDonald's gourmet meal prepared us for the long trip from Houston to the Padre Island area.

I think it was Tom Cunningham who told us that in certain areas of Texas, there was a "whole lot of nothing."   We found one of those areas, driving on State Route 59 through Victoria and then getting on route 77.   There's a lot of scrub brush and not much else.  It was dark by the time we arrived in Corpus Christi.  After quite a bit of re-routing ourselves, we finally got on the road to the Padre Island National Seashore and the campground that we wanted - Malaquite Campground.

 
 But when we arrived, we discovered it was full, so we headed back up the road and across the island a bit to Bird Island Basin Campground on Laguna Madre Bay for the night (it was first come first served).   Some helpful folks from upstate New York helped us get parked and we got to bed.   The next morning we left the trailer at Bird Basin and drove the truck back to Malaquite, just in time to see some people pulling out of their parking spot.  We jumped out of the truck, claimed the spot for our very own (just in time 'cause some others had the same idea), wrote out a check for the lot rent, and Sheryl stayed on the lot while I went back to Bird Basin to hook up and bring the trailer over.

The first few days here have been cloudy but warm enough to enjoy.   And there's always a wind.  We stopped at the Visitor Center and got the information about camping on the beach for free.  We drove down the beach to check it out.   After looking at the seaweed and thousands of jellyfish on the beach, we decided to keep paying $4 per night (with our senior pass).   We have restrooms not far way if we need them, and there is water available.  Here's our view of the Gulf of Mexico from our door.

Here are some more pics that will give you and idea about where we are:

These ducks were always hanging out in this pond right by the road in the park.

Notice the Coyote?

Nice Buck - he knows he's safe from hunters as long as he stays in the park.

Something really special we got to enjoy for two nights was bio-luminesence in the breakers as they headed onshore.  The crash of a wave creates a neon blue light effect, and a free light show in the water for spectators.   It is awesome - like an electric light show in the water.

We went down on the beach and watched for awhile.  It was in view out of our back window when we went to bed.   Totally awesome.

People are here from a wide variety of geographic areas:   New Hampshire, Maine, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas and other places.   And they come in all sorts of RV's.   While at the visitor center, we talked to a couple from Minnesota who are volunteers for three months at the Visitor Center - They both work 24 hours a week each and get free lot rent including full hookups.  Umm???

We're hoping to tour the WWII aircraft carrier USS Lexington which is docked at Corpus Christi - maybe on Monday.  It's sunny today and we're enjoying the warmth.

We are travellin' AGAIN.....

Sheryl and I left the Fort Pickens Campground near Pensacola Beach three days ago.. but first, one more sunset on the beach.

We headed for the Davis Bayou Campground at Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  We got on I-10 west.  When we got to the Mississippi border, we stopped at the welcome station.  Not only was it very nice, they had GREAT COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE. 

WOW!  True "Southern Hospitality."

We finally got to the Ocean Springs area, got off of I-10 and headed toward the campground.

 There were two RV's in line in front of us as we pulled into Davis Bayou.  We quickly noticed that the park was almost full and it is "first come, first served.."  the two RV's in front of us kept on going around the loop in the park, leaving behind the parking spot we took.   They found spots but we really like ours.

Davis is a beautiful little National Park Campground nestled in Ocean Springs but still part of the Gulf Springs National Seashore. We are parked next to a huge Live Oak tree with water and electricity for $8 per night (with our senior pass). 

Davis Bayou Campground has nice restrooms that are heated, with showers and everything.

Yesterday was DAY TRIP to New Orleans.  Take I-10 and follow the signs to the French Quarter.  Here's some of what we saw.

We drove Bourbon and Decatur Streets. We saw the Mississippi River.  We went from the French Quarter to the area around Tulane University.  Would you believe they have street cars.

It was time for lunch.  We were looking for authentic gumbo and jambalaya.   We read a review about a place called "Crabby Jacks."   A six mile drive to an "industrial area" produced this:

Crabby Jack's should have been on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives.  There was very little seating and lots of character AND lots of people inside.   10 minutes after ordering, we walked out with gumbo, jambalaya, and a king-sized pulled-pork "po-boy" sandwich.   We sat in the truck, eating our delicious food, listening to smooth jazz and contemplating New Orleans.

We saw a lot of people wandering around a zillion restaurants and joints looking for "something."   They probably heard that New Orleans is "the place to be" during Mardi Gra."   To put it kindly, the areas we checked out around the French Quarter looked kinda dirty and crowded and we noticed the voodoo shops and porn pits.   We're just not into "that kinda thing."   I will say this:  New Orleans is interesting.

We worshiped this morning at Crossroads on the Coast - a Nazarene church here in Ocean Springs.   It reminded us of New Covenant somewhat.  They were friendly and we heard a great message.   The nearest Free Methodist Church is 3-4 hours away.

Sheryl just did a load of laundry in our portable RV washing machine.   We are headed out tomorrow with the goal to get to Arizona eventually.   We're not sure yet where we will wind up before we get there.

It went down to 28 degrees HERE at Davis Campground last night and it's going down to 30 degrees tonight.  We are still looking for warmth.   Maybe we'll find it in Arizona or sooner.   You can find out during the next blog.

Fort PIckens and beyond.

We are enjoying another day at the Fort Pickens Campground on the Gulf Islands National Seashore.   Campers keep leaving and arriving.   It seems like there are a lot of people here from Illinois and Wisconsin with a smattering from other states, even Maine and California.   There is a motor home behind us from Oregon.

Evidently this campground was here for a long time until a couple of years ago when it got put out of commission by a hurricane.  It has been recently reopened, for which we are thankful.

Fort Pickens is one of three forts built in the mid-1800's to protect the entrance to Pensacola Bay.

We enjoyed the tour and learning about the fort.  It's an interesting place.   Fort Pickens only war action was during the Civil War, and there were very few engagements.  And would you believe that Fort Pickens remained in Union hands throughout the war.

There are many extra gun emplacements outside the actual fort itself, called "batteries."

We are standing on one of the gun emplacements with the Gulf of Mexico in the background.  Most of the guns are gone, leaving only the supporting structures.

If you google Fort Pickens, you'll find an interesting history and discover "a gentleman's way of fighting" during the civil war.  A better way for you to discover Fort Pickens would be for you to hook up to your RV and make your way here.   You can reserve a site online or there is a telephone number to call.  Make sure you get a long enough site as they don't allow parking your vehicle on the grass at your site - only on the pavement.

  

We were down at the Fort one day looking across the bay and we noticed this futuristic ship sitting at a dock over in the Navy yard.   Looking at it via binoculars only  heightened our curiosity.   When we got back to the trailer, we "googled" navy ships docked at Pensacola and discovered that the ship is the USS Independence, a "littoral" ship (littoral means "coastal").   It's the latest and greatest for the Navy - a "tri- hull" with all kinds of electronic gadgets.   The problem is, the ship has been out of commission with all kinds of problems - from propulsion to software.   Does anyone know of anyone who can fix it?  :) 

We have water and electric at each campsite but you have to go to a dump station to rid yourself of you know what.   This is a pretty classy way of making that trip.

I just tow ours with the Silverado.  That's classy, isn't it?

There was a guy at one of the churches that we pastored at who claimed that every missionary that came to the church and showed slides ended the presentation with a sunset.   This is for him.

Some people just parked across from us with a barking dog..  our stay may be shorten if the barking keeps up.   More to come..  Meantime, we are going for a walk in Florida.

A Beautiful Sunday

We left Big Bass Campground near Ocala with the intention of arriving a few days later on the east coast of Texas..  guess what?   We're NOT THERE YET..  (smile).    Sheryl suggested we check out the Gulf Shores National Seashore near Pensacola Beach, Florida.   We found a National Park Seashore Campground at Fort Pickens with lots of space and surrounded by water.  

 

 

We got into the National Seashore free with our "America the Beautiful" pass-card.  Our pass-card also got us a 50% discount on the daily camping rate which went from $20 to $10 per night including  water and electric.   And as of today, you can stay 42 DAYS per year before having to move!  How great is that! 

We have been enjoying the sun, sand, and surf.

 

It's a six-mile drive from the city out a peninsula toward Fort Pickens and the campground.

There's water and sand on either side..  and what a sunset.

More about Fort Pickens in a later blog..

Today Sunday, January 28, 2012, began with a great sunrise, breakfast, and a fantastic church service at South Side Campus of the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.   It reminded us of being back at New Covenant - nice building, lots of people, a great worship team, timely video, and a great message..  all right here in the heart of Dixie...  well, the Pensacola, Florida area.

Before going back to the RV in the campground, we took a little sightseeing tour of downtown Pensacola.   And we love ships..  take a look at this one.

Our question was:  "What is it?"   We found out later that the Global 1200 is a pipeline laying ship capable of laying up to 60" concrete encased pipe.   Since we're on the Gulf of Mexico (BP OIL), a pipeline laying ship made perfect sense.   Speaking of ships, notice the bowsprit at the right of the picture.

The "Peacemaker" was tied up at the wharf and was open to the public.  Originally built in the 1980's, it was purchased by the Twelve Tribes in the summer of 2000, a religious group with 50 or so communities in North and South America, Europe, and Australia.    They spent the next seven years replacing all of the ship’s mechanical and electrical systems and rigging it as a barquentine. The refit vessel set sail for the first time in the spring of 2007, under the name Peacemaker.  The Peacemaker will be used to travel between the communities of the Twelve Tribes while providing an apprenticeship program for their youth in sailing, seamanship, navigation, and boat maintenance.

 

The ship has a United States Coast Guard attraction vessel permit and is available for festivals and dockside hospitality events.

Our plans for tomorrow are to visit the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum...   but, ya never know.   Something else might come along.

It's been a long time again since posting...

We have spent the past week at the Big Bass Campground in the Ocala National Forest.  It's a nice place to hang out and the weather has been terrific.   I think it used to be called Big Bass Lake Campground but the lake dried up!

 

Since we've blogged last, I've added a solar panel which helps keep the battery charged during the day..  we do run the furnace at night when its cold.....

... and a 2000 Watt inverter in the kitchen. 

The solar panel helps with the battery charging on sunny days and the inverter gives us enough juice in the mornings to heat coffee without starting the generator.  Okay -- we're spoiled.

Big Bass Campground has a trail around it's perimeter..

  

We were hoping to see some black bears (there are warnings about them everywhere) but all we saw was the "leavings" (bear dung).   Gerry (the guy camping across the road from us) went way back into the forest and saw 8 or 9.  So, we got in our 4x4 and headed out on one of the "washboard" roads near our campsite..  we went 2-3 miles (seemed like 20 on the washboard road) but we saw no bear..  oh well..

We are cooking on a open campfire (some)..

We are planning on pulling out Monday - Destination is South Padre National Seashore - After all, it's "the trip to warmth."

I can't believe it's 2012

I know I haven't written anything since November 24, 2011...  we've been seriously busy and haven't had anything outstanding to write.   Sheryl and I have been living in our mobile home at the Light and Life Park in Lakeland, Florida.  We've been getting the mobile ready for the renters, who, by the way, moved in yesterday.   

We had travel trailer bearing "issues" while staying at the campground in Ocala.   When we got the trailer unhooked here in lakeland, I called the travel trailer manufacturer and they referred me to the company that built the frame and axles - Lippert, Inc in Indiana.

I explained the situation and the response shocked me:   "We're going to send you two new axles, free of charge" the company rep said.  "Pick out a dealer you'd like to go to to get them installed.   And please write down the following tracking number _________."   BOY - was I surprised.   A couple of weeks later, we were rolling on two new axles complete with new bearings.

I'm still not thrilled with the way the braking system is working and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.   

We are looking forward to "getting on the road" and we are watching the temperatures along Interstate 10 to Arizona and the South Padre Island area in Texas.

Maybe the next post will have some interesting pictures..  maybe not.. :)