Clearly, we overstayed our welcome in New England. By the time we left Cape Cod, most of the restaurants and seasonal shops had closed for the season...What were we thinking?? Our first stop in the race south was the coast of Connecticut. No warmer, cold and raining...keep going. We took a wide swing around NY City as the forecast was not good and we thought we'd avoid the mess of the city. Florida, NY provided some leftover ice. Snow in every driving direction marooned us for 3 days...burning LP gas at a rapid rate trying to stay warm. The Alabama-born kitties were not amused by the chill! Both resorted to burrowing under the bed covers to stay warm.
On to Hagerstown, MD where it was marginally warmer. We happened upon the Western Maryland Rail/Trail and stayed an extra day to bike. It is a really great flat, paved trail along the Potomac River. We did the whole thing-44 miles!! A new distance achievement.
With the Mason Dixon Line behind us, our confidence of milder weather increased with each mile. We stopped in Petersburg, VA to visit with some old friends from Maine whom also reside in an RV. We ate good food, drank champagne on our 34th Anniversary, laughed often and heartily, went happily down memory lane and had a great long weekend!
Next stop, Topsail Beach, NC just north of Myrtle Beach. Our RV site overlooked the Intracoastal Waterway, and we biked across the draw bridge to the beach. I knew we were getting close to our Florida home-away-from-home when a decidedly non-New England bird appeared at our RV site. Dolphin (or maybe porpoise) were feeding near the beach, the sunsets were beautiful, the sand between our toes felt good. There is a really cool open-air Catholic Church on the beach. I'm really anxious to get to Pensacola!
We overnighted in Columbia, SC and Auburn, Alabama and Al visited with some work friends in both places. Visiting friends makes a quick stop much more fun! Another pit stop to weigh the RV to ensure we're still running lean. The scales gave a good weight...the kitties can continue to eat. It was fun to pass the cotton fields in Alabama. Cotton fields never fail to tickle me!
Finally, we rumbled into the familiar Pensacola RV Park--our home for the month of November! Yes, a late-season hurricane is in the Gulf of Mexico and we're battening down the slide-outs...hoping it will be over quickly with minimal impact and the beautiful weather will return soon.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! If you are traveling, go safely.
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