Hauling Shell . . .

With only 188 miles to go this morning, we pulled out of our site at the crack of 10am, heading for the Riverside RV Park in Robertsdale, AL.

Much better than yesterday’s 7:27am sunrise, let me tell you.

I had planned to get diesel at the park’s Marathon station like I did last time, but the place was a madhouse, with trucks parked every which way. At the pumps, in front of the pumps, on the shoulder, etc. And when I did find a pump that looked like I could get in and out of, it was bagged for diesel. But as it turned out, that saved me over $37.

Driving along, we quickly realized that the downed trees we saw yesterday was just a start. It was obvious that we were coming into the worst-hit areas, with solid lines of trees down along the roadsides for miles.

Hurricane MichaelTrees 1

Hurricane MichaelTrees 2

Then you’d come over a hill and there would be a whole forest of what looked like bare telephone poles. But a closer look showed acres of pine trees with the tops and the limbs just gone.

The first three Rest Areas we passed were closed due to the hurricane, but when we did stop and I did a walk-around, I found this sticking out from the passenger side of our rig.

Hurricane Michael Rig Limb

Don’t know how it got there, and don’t remember hitting or running over anything. It was just kind of wedged in between the bay doors with no damage.

Coming up on the Crestview, FL exit, I saw the sign for a BP station that said it had RV access so we turned off. We got 93 gallons at $3.19 vs. the $3.59 at the Marathon this morning, So a $37 savings.

Our Silverleaf Computer Display said we had 58 gallons left on our 150 gallon tank. So 58 gallons + 93 gallons gives us 151 gallons. A 1 gallon difference, so close enough.

Since this system actually counts the fuel injector pulses, it really is that accurate. Thus our MPG readings are also very accurate.

Since we gained an hour getting back into the Central Time Zone, we pulled into the Riverside RV Park a little before 1pm. Since we were given our site number when I called in yesterday, we went straight to our pull-thru and got set up.

Later in the afternoon, we drove over to Big Daddy’s Grill on the Fish River to have an early dinner.

Not having anything else today except coffee, we were hungry, so we started off with an order of their Fried Okra. Really good and crispy.

Big Daddy's Grill Fried Okra

I also had a cup of the Seafood Gumbo,

Big Daddy's Gumbo

then we both got the Shrimp & Oyster Basket with Sweet Potato Fries, with Jan’s shrimp grilled and mine blackened. The oysters were just huge.

Big Daddy's Grill Blackened Shrimp and Oysters

Just as delicious as last time, and well worth a visit if you’re in the area.



Catching up on a few things.

When stopped off at a Shell station to get gas this past Thursday, I saw this Gopher Tortoise hauling shell across the large parking area near the pumps.

Turtle 1

Since he had a long way to go and a two lane road to cross in the direction he was heading, I decided to help him out. Though he was moving along at a pretty good clip, he tucked in as soon as I got near and froze.

Turtle 2

When I picked him up I was kind of surprised how heavy he was, probably around 15#. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps before his head and feet came out and he started ‘dog-paddling’ in the air, I guess trying to help me out.

Turtle 3

I carried him across the parking lot and then across the road, putting him down in the tall grass over there. Without a thank you, or even a look back, he immediately headed out, aiming toward the trees in the background. Hope he stays off the roads now.

While we we passing through Titusville the other day, we turned into the Titusville High School parking lot.

Titusville High School 1

Titusville High School 2

Jan never went here since she had already graduated in Massachusetts before her father retired to Florida, but both of her sisters went here.

Although the place looked really nice, I was wondering if it was still in use, since it was a  weekday and the parking lot was mostly empty. But when we ask someone, she said it was an ‘in-service’ day, so just the teachers were there.


Thought for the Day: 

The fact that jellyfish have survived for 650 million years without brains should be great news for some people.

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