2018 - Our Murphy's Law Beginning

Our campsite at Miller's Ferry Campground

We’re on our way!  We left on May 1^st and our first stop was at Payne’s Prairie State Park just south of Gainesville, Florida.  Our first day on the road and we already had made two changes to our so carefully planned out itinerary.  The first change was due to a drone repair snafu and the second change was partly because of all the telephone calls to resolve that issue, making us leave later in the day than we had planned to leave.

The “drone incident” began when Jerome finally got the “drone of his dreams” to take on the trip with us.  The camera didn’t work properly so he had to send it back to be repaired.  The rep assured him that it would be back to him before we left on our trip.  Well that wasn’t true and thus the return delivery dilemma ensued because Jerome would not be in Venice to sign for it.   We finally got them to agree to send it to our friends in Arkansas and let them sign for it.  We changed our plans so we could go to Conway, Arkansas to see our friends there and pick up the drone there.  As we were on the road that first day Jerome checked on the tracking number and realized that the company had screwed up and had the drone to Venice!  After many more phone calls and determined discussions with almost-English speaking reps, we think and hope that they will be able to retrieve in route and re-route it to Arkansas.

Carly traveling in her "truck tent"

Fortunately,   the change in our itinerary was an easier problem to resolve.  While we were on the road to Manatee Springs State Park, we found out that we weren’t going to make it there before they closed and locked the gates.  Without a gate code to get in we had to find another place and quickly.  Thankfully, we remembered how much we love Puc Puggy Campground in Payne’s Prairie State Park just south of Gainesville.  It was even closer, we could make it before they closed the gates there, and it really wasn’t much of a change in direction.   We wanted to visit the Marjorie Kennon Rawlings (she wrote “The Yearling”) homestead which is nearby but found out it was not open while we were there.  Instead we visited the little town of Micanopy and thoroughly enjoyed it.   It’s a picturesque little town full of artist galleries, antique shops, and cafes.  We plan on returning here on our way home so we can spend more time seeing it all.

Carly feeling right at home

After leaving Payne’s Prairie we headed northwest into the panhandle to Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna.  We were almost there when we heard loud bang and quickly realized it was one of our trailer tires that was instantly flat.  It was our first time ever to have to change a tire on the interstate.  Luckily the flat tire was not on the highway side and the shoulder was grassy.  However, it was really scary with semi-trucks barreling by at 80 mph and rocking the trailer while it was up on the bottle jack.  Jerome had to crawl under the rear of the trailer to get the spare but he was able to get the tire changed and us back on the road in about 20 minutes.  Jean was so busy keeping an eye out for errant drivers that she even forgot to take a picture of Jerome’s side-of-the-road heroics for our blog!

Unfortunately, we got to Florida Caverns State Park just in time to get the very last available campsite and for only one night instead of the four nights we had planned on staying.  Sadly, we weren’t able to take the caverns tour either.  At least there was a tire store just 3 miles down the road and we were able to get a new tire on the rim and Jerome was able to get it back on the trailer before dark.  He said that laying on the course gravel at the campsite to put the spare tire back up under the trailer was actually the worst part of the whole ordeal.   All of the nearby campgrounds were full too so we learned an important lesson…. that even though “season” is over in Florida, the campgrounds still fill up quickly, making reservations very important.

just when you think you have seen it all.... an air-conditioned tent!

Once more we had to change our itinerary and figure out where to go next.  We decided to head to Miller’s Ferry Campground near Camden, Alabama.  It was one of our favorite campgrounds on our trip last year so we were really happy to return and “let down” a bit, read, and paint. 

While we were here Jerome decided to fix our “flickering” rearview camera so we headed into Camden just 12 miles south of the campground to find the parts he needed.   In downtown Camden, with little  to offer and many boarded up buildings is the BIGGEST True Value Hardware store, packed full with everything you could ever possibly need.  There is merchandise in room, closet, storage area, upstairs, and even in the basement.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for you just ask the store clerks and hope they can remember everything is.   No need for a Walmart in this little town!

eating breakfast and enjoying the view

yes, Jerome really is painting again!

the slough at Miller's Ferry Campground

Tomorrow we head into Mississippi.  We’re pleased that you are taking the time to follow our escapades along with us.  ‘Until next time, we send a hug across the miles.   

 Jerome and Jean (and Carly, too)