December 30th 2012

We have arrived at the condo and all is well. We now have the internet up and running and have started to settle in. Tomorrow will be a full day as we finish getting settled and buying groceries. The new years Party at the club house sounds like a lot of fun and we look forward to seeing friends from last year. Tonight we spent a bit of time at our neighbours Mike and Deb's catching up and having a few laughs.

Off to bed . Talk to you all soon.

Carol

December 29th, 2012

Up early and on the road by just after 7 a.m..We looked at our vehicle and could not believe the salt and mud on it. It looked like we had been off roading through a mud bog. No car wash could be found close by so it would have to wait until later in the day.

 

Today we traveled through the Ozark's as we twisted and turned through Arkansas. The rock cliffs lined the road showing the layers sediment formation. As the early morning haziness lifted the hills in the distance started to take shape. It was strange to see trees rising from the rock. Even stranger and out of place were the high communication towers perched on an otherwise beautiful mount. A trip through here in the fall would be gorgeous, especially if you took the back roads. As the sun rose and the skies cleared we could see a vast mountainous landscape that was breath taking. The look and feel of the warm bright sun infused me with a renewed sense of calm. Oh, how I do love the sunshine.

 

The long day took us past Fort Smith and little Rock, AK., Tupelo Ms., to Memphis TN. We crossed the wide Mississippi via the iron bridged and rolled on through Memphis to reach Birmingham, Alabama.

As we made our way further south we saw the country side become less rolling and the flatness of the world return. The road stretched out mile after mile luring us farther south to the warm sun.  When we reached Birmingham we stopped for supper at Ruby Tuesdays and met a lovely waitress from Ireland and a young fellow previously from Florida that was curious about our salt and sand covered car that obviously had been through a snow storm. We had been looking all day for a car wash as we stop for gas, but people told us it was too cold and the car washes are not open when there is chance of freezing. We found that kind of strange. Needless to say our car looks dreadful making it a real conversation piece today. We will definitely wash the car tomorrow before getting to the condo.

When we reached Birmingham we felt the pull to push on a little further. We sit tonight in Tallahassee Florida.  Tomorrow will be a short 5 hour drive to the condo in Fort Pierce. It has been a long day winding through 6 states so sleep beckons,

Goodnight all!        

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 28th, 2012

Second day on the road and was still kinda cold and wet. when we woke up. The roads were a bit better than yesterday though and it wasn't long and we had an open clear highway. Temperatures rode quickly to minus 6 C. ,which felt down right balmy. It seemed like a long drive today with the late start due to the weather. It was about 9 am before could hit the interstate. This left us driving in the dark for the last hour or so, but we made it safely to Joplin MO. I guess it’s actually  Neosho just outside Joplin.  After a wonderful Mexican supper we are ready for an early bed as tomorrow is an early start. 

I promise to post some pictures as soon as I can take some.

Cheers!

 

 

December 27th, 2012

Well the journey south has begun as we head to Florida for the winter.  We actually had a prompt start this morning meeting our goal of pulling out of the driveway at 7 a.m., the green lights of the digital car clock read exactly 7a.m..  The drive went quickly with only the occasional stop for gas and a washroom.  I had no problem activating our USA cell phones and adding the minutes with the help of the lovely lady Barbara from Verizon tech support.

We stopped for soup and salad at a small town diner right off the interstate and then forged on towards Sioux Falls.  It became evident that the weather was taking a turn about an hour and a half out of Sioux Falls at Watertown. We asked around at the gas station and everyone thought the roads would be fine. Not!  About 15 miles out the road turned slick and traffic had to slow down and we started to see cars and trucks in the ditch. With nowhere to turn around, we continued on until Sioux Falls. Our plan was to stay on the south side of the city, but we saw a sign for a Best Western and took the exit; so here we are safe and sound.

We had a good laugh at supper as the restaurant in the hotel must think they are feeding lumberjacks. I chose the "home-style meatloaf" and the plate was heaping. A family sized portion sat upon my plate. The baked potato was the size of a softball, add in 3 huge slabs of meat and a pile of vegetables the size of a small serving bowl. Roger was laughing until he saw his food. He thought he ordered pork medallions, which he did, only these medallions were the size of saucers and he had two, each about an inch thick. To top it off the salad was a wedge about a quarter of a whole large lettuce topped up with all sorts of veggies and bacon. I was tempted to offer the people at the next table one of our meals as I think even one full meal was too much for 2 people.  I had forgotten the size of portions served in the mid-south.  A sin to waste so much food as I noticed most people left food behind on their plates. 

Roger spent the rest of the evening checking on our driving route and the weather system moving through the area. I was very tired so checked email and sent a couple and then watched a half hour of TV and then lights out.  

The first day on the road is done and after a good sleep we will do it all over again tomorrow!

Cheers!