We Have a Nice Day and Reach Florida At Last!!!!

Well, this morning dawned bright and crisp in Mississippi and I hobbled across the way to do another two loads of laundry (it seems I can never catch up - I can only do 1 or 2 loads at a time - especially with my knee making it difficult to walk and carry a full laundry basket at the same time).  While waiting for the machines I took a brief stroll down toward where the site map indicated the bayou was located so I could measure for myself how much in peril the two little boys who appear to live permanently in the park might be.  Happily, I saw that there was quite a goodly amount of brush and scrub before the water itself began and I felt better; having imagined Rippy the Gator wandering from RV to RV in the middle of the night hunting for leftovers or small pet animals that might've been left outside.  No, I think the campers were all pretty safe from Rippy.

Once laundry and work were done we took off as usual, riding through more wetlands and forest as Mississippi gave way to Alabama.

I'm not exactly sure whether these two photos were taken in Mississippi or in Alabama - but the scenery was the same in both so I suppose it doesn't really matter much...

We noticed that the sport of competitive tailgating is also played in Alabama but we declined once again to participate.

Traveling across Route 10 one only passes through the very bottom bits of both Mississippi and Alabama so it wasn't very long before we came to the city of Mobile.  Once again, we mostly skirted the city but as you can see in the below photo, the city itself is very pretty!  It also had something else we hadn't come across before in our cross-country journey - a TUNNEL!!  Not very long or deep but sort of fun, actually.

Mobile, Alabama

We've noticed that since the marshlands began in Louisiana, we've spent a lot of time on highways raised over swamps or waterways etc., and just after coming out of the tunnel in Mobile we found ourselves once again on a raised highway.

The tunnel at Mobile

This was a rather long roadway but made me think of the roads leading along the Florida Keys.  Long, low roads with nothing but water on either side.  Interesting, to say the least.  The waters were populated both by boats and by waterfowl - I'm unsure of which group was having the better luck at fishing...

Tree-lined highway

On the eastern shore of the bay we noticed that the swamplands seems to diminish and the land was more filled with forests.  Tall trees lined the highway and marshes gave way to dry lands, meadows, and woods.   We saw a sky filled with puffy little clouds - something one doesn't see all that often in Southern California, actually, and we enjoyed the sight immensely. 

Finally we saw the long-awaited sign ahead of us - we had reached Florida at last!!

Florida - YAY!

Soon after passing this sign we traveled over yet another raised highway - this time over Escambia Bay.and onward through lush meadowlands and forests.  We had finally reached the state that is to become our new home.

We made our way to a little town called Holt and located the RV park that had enjoyed the best rating according to the Good Sam Club.  As we pulled in, we looked around at the somewhat shabby surroundings and Al said he had a bad feeling about the place.  I shrugged and went into the little cabin-converted-into-an-office to check in with the two ladies behind the desk.  Well, one of the things I always check for at an RV park is the availability of Internet access, since Al needs to work for at least 6 hours each weekday.  This place was listed as having access, so I asked whether we needed pass codes to get online (this is standard procedure at most of the sites we've stayed at).  The girl looked at her colleague sort of blankly then said to me, "Well, the internet in the area I'm putting you in is working, so when you log onto your computer I can give you free access for 15 minutes."

Now I stared blankly.

"Is there a way we can buy access for longer than that?" I asked.  "My husband needs to work both in the evening and in the morning."

"Oh, well I can sell you access for two hours per visit," she offered.

Somewhat horrified, I asked if there was no way more time was available.  She made a phone call to her boss while I imagined having to drive another 160 miles to Tallahassee.  She came back stymied, as though obtaining more than 2 hours of access was something unheard-of, or super-human at the least.

I bit back a whole lot of comments but actually behaved and checked with Al as to whether he'd rather take the day off work or just find another place.  Of course he wanted to leave so I went back into the cabin-converted-into-an-office, got a refund and asked if the other RV park just down the road on the other side of the highway offered internet access.  The two ladies claimed ignorance but the first one suggested that we invest in some sort of internet access card because you never know which RV park was going to offer internet.  I smiled pleasantly and explained that in over 2000 miles and 14 different parks, hers was the ONLY one with such a paucity of service.  I then bid her a good life and went back to the RV.  As Al turned us around I phoned the other park and was assured that they offered high speed access. 

Five minutes later we were checked into what turns out to be an entirely charming little park, and what's more, I asked if we could have a space near the laundry facilities so I could maybe catch up some more, and they put us RIGHT NEXT TO THE LAUNDRY!!!!!  I can hardly believe it but I've just caught up with it for the first time since we left California!

Here are two views of the charming little RV park we ended up in.  The only thing that could have made this stay better (so far, anyway) was if there had been a restaurant that delivers but the host and hostess told me that Holt is a really tiny little town with only 2 restauarants in it and neither of them employs enough people to be able to deliver anything.  Luckily, we're prepared for such eventualities and dined quite adequately on stuff from our freezer.

By the way, in case you were wondering about it, we're still on Central time (I know Al and I were wondering about it!).  The panhandle of Florida is Central time until about the area where Georgia's western border lies.  About the town of Chattahoochee, speaking longitudinally, though we won't pass through that town.  I expect we'll see a sign along the road announcing that we really ought to catch up with everyone else and re-adjust our watches.

Tomorrow's goal is Tallahassee; as I mentioned above, about 160 miles from here.  Then the last push of 206 miles on Saturday and we're DONE with the traveling.  Not with the adventure, mind  you - we'll continue to live in the RV at least until closing on the new house, and Al is giving serious consideration to having workmen come and paint and replace flooring etc., which will mean I'll have to delay the delivery of our belongings.  I'll be keeping you posted day by day until the actual move-in begins!  Keep on reading!  

By the way, I want to most sincerely thank all of our friends and relatives who have been commenting, phoning, and emailing to us during this amazing journey.  Keeping in touch with you all has meant a great deal to Al and me - we look forward to hearing from you, and each contact is a treasure!  

Wish us luck and a good RV park in Tallahassee!