Arrived in Florida late Tuesday. After leaving Lousiana we traversed Mississippa again and then Alabama before entering Florida. Big rainstorms and high winds. RV handles pretty well in high winds however they will blow you around in your lane. When you only have about 12 inches on either side it makes any unexpected movement from the wind a real adventure. Not too bad except when you have an 18 wheeler blowing by you at the same time.
Arriving late meant no code for the WiFi so no internet access hence no blog update. MLA picked out a fantastic RV park, Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort, whose motto is "Home of Happy Campers and Beautiful Beaches. It's located about a 1/2 mile from the beach of Panama City Beach which is somehow different than the beach of Panama City. Haven't quite figured out the difference (the beach is just as beautiful in both locations) and quite honestly don't care.
MLA wanted a beach and now she's got it. The fact that it's been rainy and down right cold is just a temporary situation and an opportunity to enjoy some of the indoor activities.
This place is beautiful. Each site is individually landscaped providing a sense of privacy. All kinds of amenities. Most residents seem to stay for a couple of months so I guess we are officially in snowbird country. Very different experience from the State Park we were in previously. Camping is not the right term for this park. I think you have to head away from the populated coastal areas of Florida to get to more of a camping experience.People are friendly where ever you go. Last night a stranger (now a friend named Larry) out for a walk in the RV park guided us to our site and helped me back the coach into our site --without laughing, mind you, which shows just how friendly he really is.
Turns out that Larry, who helped us last night, and his wife, travel to a new part of the country and work for a year before moving to another part of the country and doing the same thing. He is a mail carrier and she is a registered nurse. I knew RN's are in short supply at almost every hospital in the US; apparently mail carriers have a lot of flexibility and are in demand as well. How cool. They live and work out of thier 5th wheel RV full time are getting to see the country as few people do. Lots of options out there.
Another example -- about 10 sites down from us are "The Cooking Ladies", two women who travel around the US & Canada in an RV giving cooking lessons at various RV rallies, shows, etc. Even have a regular segment on at least one RV television show that I know of. All about how to cook in the limited space of an RV or outdoors on the fire/grill. They are from Canada; somewhere in Ontario.
In any case, we appreciated Larry's assistance, With all of the rain it was black, black, black out, and the rear view camera didn't really show any detail. Add in that MLA is not yet comfortable with hands signals/radio commands and you understand why it was great having someone else to help.
You should see us when we arrive. Both of us bolt from the RV with radio's (capable of communicating up to 18 miles however they struggle with the 40 feet from the front of the coach to the back), cell phones, flashlights, and reflective material on our coats for hand signals. If we had helmets you'd think the Army was landing. Despite all of the equipment, MLA's preferred communication tool is to scream loudly to stop.
I have been trying to convince her that, with the diesel running, the distance between us, the sound of my heart beating loudly, and the fact she is standing out of view of the rear view mirrors, screaming may not be the best communications tool for her to use. In response to my gentle coaching she practiced some of her hands signals.
Speaking of Ontario - Went to Walmart for a few supplies and on the way out thought I'd pay attention to the license plates of the cars parked there. Where do you think the most non-Florida cars were from? If you said Florida I'll bet you didn't score well on your SAT's. Read the question -- Non-Florida plates.
Anyway, there were a few from nearby states like Alabama & Mississippi, one from Illinios, one from Kentucky, two from Wisconsin, but there were at least six cars from Ontario -- in just this one row of a crowded Walmart parking lot. Wow ! So I checked the campground and there are quite a few Ontario based RV's here as well.
Now everyone know's the Canadians are all above average in intelligence so this must be an exceptional place to spend the winter for a snowbird. As for MLA and I, we'll stay a week or maybe three but then we are off in search of.... well, were not really searching for anything other than pleasant weather and getting to see more of this country and it's people.
Love to all, regardless of your weather outside....
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