Columbus, GA and Montgomery AL

Columbus is on the Chatahoochee River, a main river that flows through the whole state and ends up in FL where we stayed a 3 Rivers State Park - the Flint, Chattahoochee and the Appalachacola (all big rivers we have crossed in GA).  During the civil war Columbus,GA was a major supply depot and the south's Ironworks factory, making cannons, bullets and ironclad boats.  We saw a lot of manufacturing-(Proctor & Gamble, wood mills) driving to GA and the empty Dolly Madison ( Hostess) factory.

We stopped at the Naval museum after a war with Alice the GPS.  She was still steering us wrong as we got to Montgomery,AL for the night. Mike had had it.  This nice campground, Capital City RV, had two bus-stop shelters on either end of the pond with cement walking path around it.  How unusual.  Wonder.

The Sweaky Wheel gets the Grease.

We were headed north into Georgia on a wooded two-lane road when we heard the screeching.  First we thought it was a train that was running parallel hidden by the trees.  As we continued north Mike figured it was the back wheel bearing.  There were no pulloverspots and with all the rain the last few days  (reason we'd staying in Cedar Keys longer) you couldn't dare leave the pavement.  When we got to Quitman (God does have a sense of humor) Mike unloaded the pickup and went for grease to fix the wheelbearing.  Would you have a clue?  Anyway an hour later we changed direction and went to closest town, Thomasville, GA.

Although not listed in Woodall's RV catalog, found an RV park on line with one review. We pulled in the soggy grass park  and after walking it, Mike practiced his backing skills and we headed to Walmart to boondock with a couple truckers.  If not in Woodalls, be wary.   He was in the mood for Pizza so I called for delivery.  They couldn't deliver to a mobile address for safety reasons, so after checking with Mike, cuz the Hibachi Buffet was in our backyard, I walked the .4 miles Trip Advisor said it was.  I went by 15 restaurants to get there including Dominos, but I'd already called it on.  The mile walk did me good.

The next morning we unloaded the pickup to see this historic downtown and the oldest oak this side of the Mississippi.  It was alive when the constitutions was written.  WOW. Block after block of Victorian homes.  In the 1830 Thomasville in the highlands was where the Northerers came and bought land and built plantation homes because there was no yellow fever.  After the Panama Canal was built and they'd found the reason (mosquitoes) and cure for yellow fever, Thomasville lost its draw but the homes remained and more added.  Even the new subdivisions have that southern appeal.  It's called the city of roses.   I'll bet if you checked, Thomasville has a strong planning board and a community foundation.  What a beautiful city.

Shopcat and Mike check out the biggest oak east of the Mississippi.  Notice the braces holding up the branches.

Tues, - still in Cedar Key but moving out

 
We like it here and stormy weather between us and home has us staying put.  Allthese dog owners cant believe Shopcat follows Mike on walkabouts.  Went to Manatee Springs Yesterday - AWESOME.  Altho some people saw a manatee, I didn't but was most impressed with cedar knees (roots).  Saw an ALLIGATOR IN THE POND AT THE RV CAMP.    Went to Cedar Key and enjoyed Key Lime Pie at the Pickled Pelican.  Had a bullshit session with several friendly neighbors.  I think things broke up when I was defending fracking cuz it's 10,000' deep so couldn't be spoiling ground water.  Maybe it's time to move on!

Manatee Springs - will add pictures taken with camera later

Planted forests all in a row - used for making paper.  Lots of cattle ranches in North central FL.

After torrential rains this morning, Sun is out so moving up to see Georgia and Alabama.  Will see my cousin Elaine in Memphis - Thursday if we can make it there by then.

Naval Aviation Museum- Pensacola

Japanese plane we got hold of and found the weaknesses so we could fight it as they caused a lot of losses to Allied fighers and property.  Touyr given by Veteran pilots that brought history to life.  God bless em.

Flew in Vietnam  but had great stoies about the planes of WWII.  He also steared us upstairs to the mainstreet of WWII - Rationing and stamps was a way of life.  Everyone helped in the war effort.  Margarine was sold with a yellow capsule to  add after sold so couldn't be mistaken for butter, a requirement from the strong dairy industry.  Didn't want black market fraud.  The camps in the jungles of the Pacific had  haircut and shave signs - fun sense of humor to survive the rigors of war..

We had some good planes and some designs that were a challenge to fly or to see the target unless you were in a nosedive these veteran pilots said.

George Bush Sr. flew this plane in the Pacific at age 19

President  Nixon's helicopter.  See him in the window.

Newer planes.  They had a section on Vietnam War and POWs that touched your heart.

Saturday Flea Market Feb.23

FLEA MARKET

                We went to see Lyle's friend, Ed, in Spring Hill and he said to meet them at the USA Flea Market in Port Richey.  Traffic got heavier as we drove on Commercial Road closer to Tampa,  filled with malls and gas stations and billboards advertising lawyers.  Ed's girlfriend, Diane, has a booth at the Flea Market from stuff she buys at estate and garage sales,  She rents 3 booths and 2 center kiosks for $700/mo.  I found treasures at the  maze of a market.  My morning walk was good training to finding my way back,  Ed and Mike went to smoke cigars at a shop and found themselves in a food festival to get there.  Luckily after paying $10  to park and paying for the morsels they ate, they had a good afternoon.  

 Diane is perfect for her job.  She has a gift of gab, in fact talks nonstop, and an eye for buying bargains.   When it closed at 4 with talking Elmo and the car walker gone to a young family, Diane and I went to their new home, bought from a foreclosure for $73,000.  The previous owners had paid $205,000.  We joined the guys for dinner at Inn On The Gulf, eating outside listening to live music across the street.  As Melissa says when you can see the water, eat seafood. Great food.   At 8:30 headed back 80 miles to see Shopcat.  A few deer along the way.  Raining after 11 PM.

Lost in the Woods

I went for a walk early this morning, expanding from around the paved campground to a trail behind the campground.  A few wrong turns and I was in the back country seeing yards where strewn garbage, tires and no trespassing signs were prevalent.  If you wanted to hide out here in the thick woods, it would be easier than the Unabomber in Lincoln, MT.   I followed power lines and car noises  to come out on the highway 2 hours later a half mile from camp.  I hadn't taken my phone/camera so have no documentation of the adventure.  I did pick up garbage- God usually provides a bag or garbage can along the way,  I hardly made a dent.

Way Down Upon the Suwannee River

We drove through the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, stopping along the way.  Bird watchers  paradise.  Thus in summer -the "no seeums" and mosquitoes are prevalent.  The swampy woods seemed like they would be infested with gaters .  We didn't see manatees either but we did see the Suwannee River.  On the back roads trailer houses AND JUNKY YARDS  far outnumbered the nicer mobile homes.   OSHA hadn't found this area yet.

Way Down Upon the Suwanee River  or "Old Folks at Home" was written by Steven Foster so Florida even has a state park for him, one of 172 state parks.

Cedar Key,-Clam Capital

Cedar Key

What a quaint small town with no franchises. Keys are low islands made of coral and shells in shallow waters of Florida.  This town is famous for being the clam capital of the USA thanks to Southern Cross Sea Farm who raises and harvests clams and ships them across the US.  Clams are microscopic at first so they are raised in tanks for 6 months old. then they put them in net bags in the shallow waters where the clams dig down into the sand.  18 months later crews pull up the bags.  Our tour guide said they plant as many as they harvest each month.
 

 So of course we ate at Clammers, upstairs on the balcony overlooking the pier.   Mike had steamed clams in wine and garlic sauce.  I had a breaded oyster po'boy.  We fed French fries to the seagulls until we got in trouble; thus the pictures with the birds so close.   We signed up for a boat sightseeing trip to two uninhabited keys. Since 2PM was full we opted for sunset.  After sunning for a while and people watching --a 70 year old bald sun worshipper in 1973 short trunks although Mike was surely more interested in the young black bikini shaking out her towel; we drove up the Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.  Actually had to cancel the boat tour cuz explored too far away to get back by 5.

Cedar Key RV Resort

Cedar Key RV Resort

what a friendly place.  A neighbor RVer gave us advice on buying a bucket load of clams of 50 or 100.  He cleans them well, puts them on ice overnight, then uses Bay Spice and steams them  and serves with melted butter.  He also grinds fresh clams and veggies  for Manhattan Clam Chowder.  Cliff, the host, goes out of his way to help and visit. People walk themselves or their dogs; many before dinner walk with a drink in hand during cocktail hour.  No one walks by our campsite on the outside road across from the doggy run without saying  "hi".  Mike has gotten lots of compliments on the coach.  All that waxing was worth it and he's glad he washed it at 3 Rivers the day before we arrived.  He deserves the compliments. No one believes it's a 1996.