Perry KOA & St. Andrews State Park

Perry KOA, Perry FL

3 hrs 15 min. - 182 miles

The ride today along Rte 27, the Florida Turnpike, back to 27 and finally to Rte 19 was very nice. As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, my travel times between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm always seem to hit just the right amount of traffic. Today I followed a blue Sonata for about 60 miles playing leap frog as we each took turns following the speed limits. Most of the trip was 65-70 m.p.h. and reduced through small towns that lasted no more than a mile or two. I finally lost her when I stopped for diesel a mile before my exit. Again, if you've read any of my past blogs, you know that whatever I paid for at the station I stopped at, the very next station was a penny cheaper. Happened again.

The route I took, as it is in all of Florida, was flat and straight to the horizon ahead of me to the north and northwest. When I reached that point and went around the bend or over the crest, another horizon was there to greet me. It reminded me of the days my son, Chuck and I drove I-10 through Arizona and Texas: straight and forever.

It could have been a very tiring, boring trip were it not for my fascination with the scenery along the way. Places I've never seen before and will never see again. No, it wasn't the endless view of pine trees or breathtaking, expansive horse farms and ranches whose painstaking well built and painted fences run the perimeter of their acreage; rather, it was catching glimpses of abandoned, dilapidated and crumbling structures that stood in stark reality along the side of the road. Not just one or two...many. There was one in particular in the Salem, FL area that looked as though an explosion within the structure blew the entire contents out onto the front and side yards; lamps, furniture, chairs, etc. Yet the building remained intact. No windows or doors, it had a partial roof, otherwise the structure was just opened and empty. I regret not stopping and taking a photo; traffic was that light. I've never seen anything like it. 

Anyway, Stephanie greeted and registered me at the Perry KOA. Like all others I've encountered in the KOA franchise, she was pleasant, spirited and aimed to please. Nick escorted me to my back-in site #A-09. It was 85° and overcast when I arrived. All I did was to fill my fresh water tank and hook up electricity for the AC. I set up nothing else. Tomorrow, Wednesday, after my shower, with minimal packing, I'll take off for another 3 hour, 20 minute, 158 mile drive to St. Andrews State Park where I'll hang out for four days.

I love the feel of being among these old trees full of Spanish moss.

St. Andrews State Park,

Panama City, FL

3 hours 20 minutes - 182 miles and in Central Time Zone; 1 hour behind

Fortunately, it struck the passenger's
side about 3" from the top.

Another day of very pleasant driving. Like yesterday, the route was flat from horizon to horizon. Many log-carrying trucks were going in the opposite direction. Also in the unending parade of 18-wheelers were semis with who-knows-what under covered tarps. One stone managed to make its way free to escape, flew over one lane and greeted my windshield with a resounding pop! A call to the insurance company is a project for tomorrow.

I struck it rich with a desire to have a real lunch at some small town (Bristol, Florida) mom/pop restaurant. I was determined not to include the fast food chain variety, of which there was no end. I almost missed it but the number of cars in the parking lot was my tip off to stop and try Apalachee Restaurant. They had a buffet which attracted the local over 60 crowd and they loved it; everybody seemed to know each other and there were very few empty tables/booths. My "people watching" took over as I sat in an out of the way table along the wall and took in the "local color." From accents and overalls to girths that took up most of the plush seats with wheels, it was delightful experience. I had their pulled pork w/barbecue sauce sandwich on a very soft bun and some fries.  It hit the spot and before I knew it, I was on my way content.

I've been looking forward to my stay here at St. Andrews State Park. Along with the others:

Table Rock State Park, SC;

Hunting Island, SC;

Hampton Beach, NH;

Fishermans Memorial State Park, RI; and

Jim Hogg State Park, TX

I've found them to be exceptionally clean, beautiful, inexpensive and well worth the hassle to try and reserve the block of time desired. Letchworth State Park in Castile, NY will be another I'll visit in August.

A very short walk to the Grand Lagoon (30 yards)
A very long walk to the Camp Store (880 yards - ½ mile)

Very shady and quiet (except when the roar of the fighter jets from Tyndall Air Force Base return from their runs -- more below); lots of friendly passersby.

No more than 100' away from me is a clearing that allows a clear view
of the Lower Grand Lagoon looking north.

Lower Grand Lagoon looking east

Immediately to the left of where I was standing was one of the "best seats" in
the house. I wonder how long ago they had to book that site.

A closer peek through the pines shows one of the casualties of a past storm. This is one of three I saw in the Lagoon. I was told whenever the owners arrive, they'll be in for a surprise. I'm sure they've been notified. Apparently it was anchored too close to shore so that when the tide went out, it bottomed out and was damaged by rocks.

Looking down Campers Drive

Found this painted shell on my picnic table. Don't know if it was a past visitor
welcoming a new arrival or a token given my the park staff. I'll go with the former.
I'll be leaving it for the next camper.

For me, one of the great mysteries in the RV world: Why such a preoccupation with pets? Practically every RV owner has at least one or two. A couple walked by today, each with their own dog; a beautiful and gentle German Shepard and a Dane. These two old-timers came up to their owner's hips. 

The appearance of dogs is a cause for an afternoon chat. Folks come out of nowhere. Note the size of these beauties. Then....

...hubby with a brown growth on his chest joins in and the conversation continues. Mind you I have no problems with dogs as pets; it's the owners who fawn over them that turns me off; more than they would their own child.

...and I'm left with "what da hell?" and "how da hell...?" These large animals are housed in an RV for the part-time or full-time pleasures of their owners? And to watch some others of their ilk push their smaller "children" in a baby stroller just sends me up a wall.

And if you'd like a discussion of the worth of animals vs. the worth of humans these days, check out this VIDEO. Anyway, as Lesley Gore sang in 1963, "It's my blog and I'll gripe if I want to;" Well, maybe not in those words. 

Thurday's Adventure

Because of my preoccupation with decals and stickers for my RV, I decided to walk down to the camp store to see if they had any. Big mistake. When you have lumbar stenosis, it isn't very long before your lower back lets you know about your lack of good judgment. A half mile later, I reached my destination and, thankfully, they had the sticker I wanted. Still, it was a "what were you thinking" moment. Lesson learned (again). Next up was the nightmare of making the 1/2 mile trip to the other end of the campground back to site 100. Miraculously (in my mind, anyway), along comes Tina and Woody in a golf cart. I stuck my thumb out, he slowed and asked, "Need a lift? Hop on." I couldn't emphasize enough to them how they "saved a life" today. They occupy site 42 and are locals. He originally from Massachusetts, has been here over 30 years and wife, Tina, hails from Alabama and works in the camp store for the group that won the bid to handle the concessions. Neither have lost their respective accents; it was a very pleasant (and relaxing) ride home. Some photos I took on the way:

Classic

Hanging out next to the Camp Store

Not at all fazed by my presence.

A nice selection of things for its size.

Tyndall Air Force base is about 8 miles away--as the crow flies--else it's 22 miles trip on land. It's home to the 325th Fighter Wing and where pilots are trained to fly the awesome F-22A Raptors. When they return for landing, their power is majestic and impressive. I tried to capture a couple as they flew overhead.

This is what it looks like. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF), $143 million per.

For those of my readers who would like to go back three years to my blog describing my stay at Virginia Beach in January, 2015, CLICK HERE. The same scenario played out as the campground was under the landing flight path of another type of fighter jet, the FA-18 Super Hornet at the nearby Naval Air Station.

  

Today, I gave considerable thought to what could be described as "A Perfect Day." Did you ever have one? This phrase has as many descriptions and interpretations as there are people who are fortunate to experience one. My stay here at St. Andrews State Park has been exceptional and memorable: The air temperature was perfect (76°) with no humidity, that gentle sound of breezes in the pine trees overhead, the shade, a chilled glass of wine, the silence in the midst of the surrounding humanity, the warmth of the sun shining through the canopy, the scenery in front of me knowing that just beyond is the clear water of the Lower Grand Lagoon. It just doesn't get any better than this. I'll say it again, I'm a very fortunate person.

On that note, I want to end this blog with just two more days left before I head 114 miles up to Ozark, AL, to the Ozark/Fort Rucker KOA. 2 hours 22 minutes away. Hope you've enjoyed your stay with me; your comments are always welcomed if you can figure how to get them "published" below. Drop me an email if you cannot. See you in Alabama Monday.