The end is near

 April 23, 2024

Suwannee River Rendezvous - site 177

Mayo, Florida

Can you believe a month has passed and our caravan trip is drawing to a close?  And what a wonderful last day everyone enjoyed!!

The day began with a bit of a chill in typical Florida spring weather style but with the hearty breakfast that was served, no one uttered any complaints at all.  Not only were pancakes and sausage served fresh off the griddles

But with grits on the menu, Louise stated that there just had to be eggs as well in true southern style.

Top off the pancakes with Michele's fried apples, and it was a breakfast feast.

Not being raised southern, Momma just couldn't believe the dish that Louise dug into, savoring each bite.

I'm not sure if you would call it scrambled eggs smothered in grits or grits smothered in eggs.  Either way, Momma took a pass as there was plenty of other choices being served.

The day was also full of games including Beanbag Baseball.  The teams only had 6 players but the scores still racked up into the double digits. 

The bottom of one inning had to be cut off as the blue team had reached 5 runs in one inning.  The blue team may have started out slow, but once they warmed up, they pulled in the runs.  Momma, surprisingly enough, had several home runs.   

The campground had a nice set of corn hole that was put to use with several play offs.

Then a group of 6 gathered for a quick game of Mexican Train before the pot luck dinner.

Once again, the Golden Triangle Campers filled the serving table with delicious, mouthwatering, tasty dishes for everyone to enjoy.

The evening ended around the campfire.

Tomorrow everyone will pack up to head further south as they head home carrying with them a bucket full of new memories made on this year's spring caravan.

I'm Chloe

Tell it all

 April 22, 2024

Suwannee River Rendezvous - site 177

Mayo, Florida

I was telling Dad I really didn't have much to share today, as it was an uneventful travel day on some of the best roads we have experienced this trip. He reminded me of what happened after the doorbell rang last night.  I'm not sure I really want to share that story.  The ending is rather sad.

You see, my good friend Louise, who loves to toss my ball for me, rang our doorbell and handed Dad a plate with a couple of pieces of that cake Dad had enjoyed at the pot luck dinner in Pensacola.  I just thought that was the sweetest thing.  She knew I had burned up quite a few calories and I was sure she was thinking of ME when she delivered that plate.  Dad set it on the counter so I really had to stretch a bit, but I was able to scarf down a piece in the blink of an eye.  This is where the story gets a bit sad.  Dad raised his voice at me and asked, "What do you think you are doing?"  And then he followed that with a few more choice words and a 'you better go lay down!'  Well, there was still a piece left for Dad.  So what's the big deal anyway?  I was willing to share....well, until I tasted that savory cake that was like heaven on my tongue.  But of course I didn't tell him I had plans for the other piece as well, although I'm certain Dad had read my mind.  That's why he got so upset with me. l think Dad was trying to give me indigestion, making me feel guilty.

So this afternoon, at happy hour, Momma's phone rang.  The number was a Mayo, Florida number.  I guess Dad knew there wasn't much going on today to blog about, so he gave me plenty to tell as well as a first hand experience for his sister-in-law, Pam, of what not to do. 

 The gal on the phone told Momma that they had a report from another camper that there was water running under our rig.  Well, it was really running from under our rig, like a rain storm...raining from the belly of the rig.  Momma was in shock!

Now you may be thinking, that's not good.  Then another camper stopped by who said he was a plumber and offered to lend his expertise.  That was when dad had to sadly admit that his expertise wasn't needed today.  If you leave your back flush on and go to happy hour, your toilet will overflow when the tank gets full...and the water will run all over the bathroom floor and down into the return floor vent and where ever else it can find to flow.  Momma wasn't around to remind Dad to turn off the water before he headed over to happy hour as she and Pam had gone to the office to finish checking-in and to pick up their wrist bands.  I was just oblivious to it all as I was napping in my favorite spot.

Fellow RVers are the best.  A camping neighbor showed up with a wet vac that he had borrowed from the staff.  Our neighbor Lew loaned Dad a fan to use in the bay area after all the water had been sopped up. Pam brought over another hairdryer to use.  Needless to say, dinner was a bit late tonight.  

And all this happened just as Momma was about to pull the Fast Track game out of the bag.  So the game was played this evening instead...after Louise and Michele had been to the lodge to play 'Show Me the Money'.  That game began at 6:30 and only lasted about 30 minutes or so with Louise winning $7...but I think she said it cost $10 to play. Not a very profitable night for them.

As it turned out, with all the wet excitement, there are no pictures to share.  But I'm sure you can conjure up a good picture in your mind without having to splash around in the water.

I'm Chloe 

Oh no, the thunder is rolling

 April 21, 2024

Eastbank Campground - site 18

Bainbridge, Georgia

I sure am glad today didn't end the way it began.  Momma's weather app predicted rain to begin around 3pm.  Well, they certainly got that wrong.  The rain along with....do I dare even think about it....THUNDER started up in the morning.  It had me quaking on all fours and breathing heavy.  I REALLY don't like thunder....at all!!  Luckily, by lunchtime, the racket had stopped along with the rain so I could enjoy the rest of my day.

Momma used her recipe from the New Orleans School of Cooking to make a batch of Pecan Pralines to share with everyone at happy hour.

And by 3pm, the weather allowed everyone to gather for happy hour. 

I think you'll notice that the attire is very different from the day before when everyone was in short sleeves and shorts.  It was so warm yesterday, Dad even dug out the box fan to stir the air a bit. 

Today, everyone was bundled up to stay comfortable with the lower temperatures in addition to a bit of wind adding to the chill.  Time to pull the hood on.

But Dad's bedroom clock was certainly telling a different tale...even after changing the battery in the outdoor temperature sending unit.

You had to divide that outside temperature of 113 nearly in half to get closer to the actual temperature of low 60's.  I think it's time to think about ordering a replacement unit.

Dad grilled dinner tonight.

But dinner was served inside rather than outside on the picnic table.

After dinner, I got in another game of ball in the grassy area behind our camper.  Loads of room to stretch out and get up some speed as I chased that swift moving ball.  I got pretty worn out and had to take a short rest break.

Then it was game on again before the sun began to set over Lake Seminole.

Travel day once again tomorrow as we head closer to home with one last campground stop on our spring caravan adventure for 2024.  I just love traveling and creating memories with my friends.

I'm Chloe

Eastbank CG - back on Eastern time

 April 20, 2024

Eastbank Campground - site C18

Bainbridge, Georgia

The campground was just about filled to capacity when we arrived.  The sites closer to the water were occupied by a group of friends from the Panama City area.  Now I'm not exactly sure of this story, as I received it third hand, but those friends camp together yearly and this year they are either celebrating the fact that most of them are turning 60 or else they have been friends for 60 years.  Whichever was the case, they are all friends who had spent Saturday fishing and cooking.  It seems they had generated more food than they could consume so we got a surprise bonus....an invitation to share a plate of food which some of our group took them up on, including Lew and Louise 

The other Louise shared with Dad who had already eaten his own dinner earlier.

 This is a pretty nice campground with ample spacing between sites that are grouped near Lake Seminole, not far from the dam.

I like this park because there is ample room to play ball.  Lots of grassy area.  And there are entertaining squirrels.

Every site has a fire ring.  Janice and Robin's fire ring was located with plenty of room for the whole group to sit around the fire.  We are down to seven rigs in our caravan now.

Tonight's fire was a challenge to get started with wood that had been purchased at the local gas station.

But once it took off, everyone enjoyed the colorful flames that danced above the fire ring.

With our 'marshmallow gal', Carol, no longer with us, the marshmallows and toasting fork remained unused for the evening. I think it had something to do with all that fish that had been consumed.

Today was warm and sunny, but tomorrow will be cool with rain.  Our timing is perfect for traveling and setting up without any rain interference and with our scheduled two night stay, we should be packing up and traveling without any rain as well.  The Lord has blessed us for sure.

Today was another marvelous day shared with our Golden Triangle Camping friends.

I'm Chloe

last day in Pensacola

 April 19, 2024

Pensacola RV Park - site 45

Pensacola, Florida

This campground has worked out real well for our caravan travelers.

Pleasing surroundings with a flower mural as well as honeysuckle in full bloom, adding a perfume to the air as the wind blows the scent our way.

Our pull thru sites are long and in a nice location in the campground near the laundry room and clubhouse,

not far from a nice shade tree which was perfect for the afternoon outdoor games of Beanbag Baseball

This game turned out to be very interesting.  The blue team took the lead early in the game but by the ninth inning, the score was tied 9 to 9 and the game went into overtime.  The red team was up first at the top of the tenth inning, scoring two additonal runs.  Then it was up to the blue team to meet the challenge..but they failed to score during the bottom of the tenth.  Go RED team!!  

Winners

The park has a nice set of corn hole boards that saw lots of action this afternoon.

Everyone was able to work up a good appetite for the Pot Luck Dinner, where once again, the cooks presented a varied menu of tasty dishes.  There were meatballs, chicken tenders, casseroles, salads and desserts that everyone dug into.  That's everyone but ME of course. Once again, I wasn't invited.  Momma tossed me a dog treat, told me to be good and headed out with that good smelling dish to share with the two legged.  

But the day didn't end after the plates were scraped clean.  It was game time with a table playing Swoop while the other table played Fast Track.

Dad informed me that we will be packing up and traveling once again tomorrow.  I know Rick and Louise will be breathing much easier as they travel.  The replacement mirror that Rick ordered had arrived at the campground so the 'project team' got to work this morning, removing the old temporary setup and installing the new, shiny mirror.

No one will be sneaking up on Rick's right side.  He'll see them coming a mile away.

More tales to come as we travel further east and back into Eastern time.

I'm Chloe

Pensacola, Fl

 April 18, 2024

Pensacola RV Resort - site 45

Pensacola, Florida

We relocated yesterday to a lovely park about two hours away but also two states away.

We are back in Florida, but still on Central Time

We are parked on nice, level, long pull thru sites with full hookup plus cable.  Our campground host is so cooperative and friendly.  She has given us use of the clubhouse for 2 of the 3 nights we will be here. Later in the day, long after a happy hour under the shade tree and grabbing a bite to eat in our rigs, we gathered for a game of Dirty Uno.  Momma said there was something definitely wrong with the game as the score keeper is supposed to have the lowest score.  Momma was the score keeper and she had the highest score for every round except the final one where Steve zoomed ahead by 5 points to become the all time loser of the game!  

I really like this park because I have been able to sweet talk Louise into playing ball with me.

I think she loves the game as much as I do!!  She's the BEST!!

Today, everyone loaded up to carpool to the Naval Aviation Museum.

There were planes on the floor of the building as well as hanging from the ceiling.

Everyone was greeted warmly by a gentleman who shared the layout

and another gentleman who became our photographer for a group shot.

Dad was impressed by this propeller with its curling tips.

Someone  mentioned that there was a Culver's close by.  Well, that was all it took for Momma and Dad to join Carol, Steve and Pam on a Culver's expedition.

Another satisfying experience. 

I only wish they had taken me along as well.

I'm Chloe