RV Trips: Winter 2015 (W15) Days 1-5

Day 1 February 14

Despite the cold and the chance of “trace amounts” of snow, we decided to leave at 6:45! It snowed through Scarborough then blew snow (it was so powdery) for hours. Hard driving.

After a quick check at US Customs in Detroit, we decided to stay at the Flying J in Beaver Dam, Ohio after we were stopped on the highway for 50 minutes due to a 4-5 car pile up.

It was a very cold night (was 0F IN THE MOHO!) but we had lots of covers and Mandy shared her warmth equally. Tough drive for David, but we’re on the road!

Day 2 February 15

The water in the cat’s bowl was frozen solid this morning. Yikes. So we were on the road at 4:30 to make up for driving time we lost yesterday with hopes of getting to somewhere warmer. By Cincinnati, there was no snow on the ground though it remained cold. There WAS snow on the ground in Kentucky and no golfers on Kenny Perry’s Golf Course (it’s kind of our talisman when we pass by). Grass got greenish in Nashville. We checked the weather and there was a Winter Storm Warning for Memphis (our original route), so we continued to Birmingham and sub $2.00 gas and relatively cheap Diesel. We saw our first motorcycle (brrrr, it was 30F) then first robins near the road sign for “Warrior Robbins”, home of Warrior Antiques!

We stayed at the Sunset RV Park in Cottondale, Alabama (Site 1, $29 full services) and were able to de-winterize, plug in the heater and stay warm!

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 3 February 16

We had a great and very long sleep and left around 9:00. It rained a lot, so the salt on the MoHo was completely washed away through Alabama. Temperatures rose from 39F to 51F in Meridian (and we once again enjoyed a Mississippi Welcome Centre, the best in the US!). The grass was getting green and the Redbuds were budding.

I saw our first Daffodils in Hazel, MS. We bought diesel and awesome BBQ, both from the same gas station in Hazelton. It poured but it WAS 73F!

We got to Louisiana and stayed at the Lake Side RV Park (Site 133, PA $17.50 full services).

Here’s the view from my chair of Canada Geese and a Swan!

Day 4 February 16

We continued along Highway 10 across Louisiana. We saw our first Great Egret, then many more since this route goes through Rice Country, great habitat for these birds. Great billboards, too:

“Best Hookers in Town” (for a towing company)
“Lust drags you down to Hell!” (shortly after the Hookers sign)

It was interesting how gas prices in West Lake, with its huge oil refineries, were the most expensive here.

We got in to Texas and continued to Brazos Bend State Park. We got our annual pass ($70) and two nights stay (Site 121, $30 total with 2nd night discount) and enjoyed the relative warmth and sun (50F).

David rested, and I went for a walk and saw my first alligators of the year, a Red-shouldered Hawk and lots of Egrets, Coots, and Ducks.

It was a good end to the day.

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 5 February 17

A sunny day, chilly to start, but warm enough by 9:00 for a bike ride. We rode 11 kms and saw some amazing birds and lots more alligators:

The highlight was a Great Horned Owl nesting high in a tree:

We came back for lunch and a rest. Since it was about 60F we headed out for another ride (and another 11 kms; believe me, regular visits to the gym and miles on a stationary bike do NOT prepare you for those first 22 kms in the saddle).

This time, we saw alligators in a whole range of sizes from huge, to medium, to small, to a Mama and her (at least) four babies.