Winter 2019-2020

We DID take our October trip up and along the Lake Huron coastline in the eastern portion of Michigan!  A mix of gray, rainy, windy weather greeted us but soon gave way to bright, sunny, colorful few days of exploring the oft visited Scenic River Road that runs along side the even more scenic AuSable River that curves and winds thru the colorful northern woods.  Before heading back home to prepare our house for our annual winter jaunt to Florida, H chose to follow the 2-lane blacktop road that

encompasses the “thumb” of Michigan.  The eastern side of Michigan is much more relaxed than the rest!

Thanksgiving was fast approaching and the push to remove the mega amount of leaves from our yard, to get the trailer winter ready and the bright blue truck road ready was upon H.  He WAS planning on pulling out on Sunday, December 1^st but our Good God had other plans for him.  On the Monday before Thanksgiving he was admitted to the hospital once again - with severe chest pains that after extensive testing, proved to be blood clots in his lung.  His pain relieved and meds secured, he was released after 5 days.  On this Thanksgiving Day we are thankful the attack happened when it did instead of Monday December 2^nd – when we were to be driving in the mountains of Kentucky and Virginia.   His doctors also released him to do ANYTHING he wanted!  Rush and stress ensued but the “train” pulled out only two days after the original departure date.  Yes, a whole bunch of things got forgot!!  But that’s why we have super neighbors at home and Harbor Freights along the way!!

Paintsville Lake State Park is always the intended 1^st night stopover and like our dear friends, B&C, who left Michigan several weeks before us, the bushy white bearded, Santa looking, host greeted us and we parked in the usual pull thru site nearest the clean, warm bathhouse!  The next morning as we were heading

south on our favorite US23 we saw a dusting of snow on the distant mountains.  As we approached the top of a 3500ft mountain crest a snowplow/salt truck was going north and spewing salt as he went.  Over the crest we saw flashing lights at the bottom.  Cautiously passing them and slowly going around the wide curve at the bottom, we saw the reason – the mangled car was being removed from the snowy ditch and drug up onto a flatbed truck.  All the way thru Kentucky and the top half of Virginia the mountains and roadsides were snow covered-but not the roads.  Starkly pretty but not without concern when you are pulling a “train” behind you!

I NEVER enjoy running the gauntlet thru Ashville NC but it is still way better than the treacherous north/south route of I75 – including the danger of truck filled Cincinnati.  Peaceful Georgia was on our minds!

Tallulah Falls State Park is perched on a knoll, high above a 300 ft deep gorge with its handful of rushing waterfalls. Hiking paths are a plenty for viewing them all -IF you have enough stamina!  The

campground is nestled deep in a pine and hardwood forest.  A great place for a 2^nd night out stay!   At the visitor center, the center court area is filled with wildlife dioramas that are surrounded with gently sloping ramps to exit and begin your hike to the falls.  We managed to view 3 of the prettiest falls! 

About 30 miles west of Tallulah Falls is the small Frankenmuth Michigan wannabe town of Helen Georgia.  Each Christmas season the Swiss style town is decorated with a multitude of white and twinkling lights and various other holiday displays.  Too bad we went to revisit them on a Wednesday evening and all the shops were closed!  But they still wanted $5 to park!  We took a chance and parked anyway (without paying) to walk the empty street and still enjoy the bright lights on the gazebo in the park on Main Street!

On Thursday we set out once more with high hopes of a good travel day with sunshine and blue skies.  We were hit with 2 near misses of what could have been tragic traffic accidents - neither of which would have been our fault.  The brakes on the truck and trailer got 2 heated up workouts that day. A lot of friends have been praying for our travel safety and believe me - the prayers (and H’s reflexes) have been working.

Little Ocmulgee State Park, just outside of McRae Georgia is weird to pronounce but is another good stopover place for the night!  The campground is hidden behind a pristine golf course and rustic lodge but the sites are generously sized and the magnitude of crunching brown oak leaves had been freshly blown off of the gravel parking pads.  Jim, the friendly camp host from Illinois came over quickly to see if we needed anything!  It quickly turned into “happy hour” because Jim smoked his cigar and H enjoyed the forbidden odor! (He’s not enjoyed his favorite bad habit since before his June surgery!)   He did enjoy his beverage of choice tho!

Friday noon we finally crossed over into Florida and we drove over the swamps and the St John’s River via 295, up and around Jacksonville proper to Kathryn Abby Hanna Park.  Now our days can relax a little!  We’re here!