2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 53

 Day 53, Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Cary State Forest, Bryceville, FL, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 2,532 Miles for the Trip

While there was no 5:00AM train this morning, one tooted at 6:00, as well as another one last night at 12:00. Again, not loud enough to discourage staying at Cary unless you are really bothered by trains.

Since it was raining this morning, I skipped my walk and slept in. After breakfast I read my usual forums, journals, and my Kindle, then changed the sheets on the bed. After that I headed to the closest Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions. All were ready and the correct amounts. I finished listening to Eruption by Michael Crichton & James Patterson.  A terrible book.  Far too many unbelievable or impossible situations, hyped "dangerous" situations, etc.  I believe the Patterson finished to book from Crichton's notes; the book is not typical of either author.

The next stop was a laundromat. As usual, my Garmin had no idea of where actual laundromats were located. The first might have worked, but it was an empty building in which the owner was waiting for machines. Said he would be ready in 2 weeks. Usually the Garmin sends me to dry cleaners or long gone laundromats; this was a first - sending me to a future laundromat. The next one was a house. Finally used my phone to find one & put the address in the Garmin. Lots of machines and not too many people. Chatted with a guy from NY that is now living here.

Back at the trailer is is cooling off fast from the morning high of 68°F. Down to 58°F at 5:00, and the expected overnight low is 35°F. I sure brought the cool weather to Florida!

Dinner was a Healthy Choice Lemon Parmesan Chicken dinner.

Until Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 52

Day 52, Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Cary State Forest, Bryceville, FL, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 2,532 Miles for the Trip

No 5:00AM trains this morning, or I slept through them. A warm night at 58°F and 68°F by 11:30AM. After my morning walk I ate breakfast, read some forums, paid some bills, then sat outside reading. No sun, but warm enough.

After lunch, more outside reading. Another RV pulled in - I believe the campground, with the exception of the group site, is full.

Around 3:00 I headed for a shower. I started with the small shower - there are two of them, one handicapped. I was never able to get any hot water, so I checked the larger handicapped shower and no problem. A large room with sink, toilet & shower. Two double hooks & a bench. A low 1/2" lip between the shower & the rest of the room (necessary for wheelchair access) but too low to prevent some of the shower water ending up on the drying area floor. The floor size is large enough that that is not a problem. Plenty of hot water from a 3" medium volume shower head. No shelf or soap dish in the shower. Overall, a B-.

Back at the trailer I did more sitting out reading. It hit 75°F during the afternoon, down to 71°F at 5:00. The prediction is for rain overnight as well as during the day tomorrow, so I stowed my chair in the truck & the small mat in the front storage box.

Dinner was a P. F. Chang's Orange Chicken bowl.

Until Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 51

Day 51, Monday, December 9, 2024, Cary State Forest, Bryceville, FL, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 2,532 Miles for the Trip

While the trains stopped running around 9:00, they started up again at 5:00AM. Loud enough to notice, but probably wouldn't wake up a sound sleeper.

I walked the campground loop, then had breakfast. Ordered some prescriptions at a Jacksonville Walgreens. Since it is almost impossible to talk to a nurse or anyone at my cardiologist's office, I hope I left enough information for the prescription to end up at the right place. 

I spent the rest of the morning reading forums & journals on the laptop or my current book outside on the Kindle. I finished Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George, and started another in the Lynley series, A Banquet of Consequences. I believe I only have two more of the series left until the 22nd due in September, 2025.

After lunch I did pretty much the same. Fewer trains today, one every three hours or so. When I walked the campground loop I discovered that there are only 6 serviced campsites, and one group site. Another trailer pulled in this afternoon, so there are 4 trailers and one tenter besides the host in a motorhome in the campground.

Dinner was a cheese brat & fruit salad.

Until Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 50

Day 50, Sunday, December 8, 2024, Cary State Forest, Bryceville, FL - 87 Miles, 2,532 Miles for the Trip

I stayed in bed until after the Sunday puzzle on Weekend Edition, then did a shortened walk around the campground loop. Lots of folks are leaving this morning. I headed out around 10:30. Most of the drive on US 17 & US 301. There are only 8 sites (other than 2 host sites) and a dump station in the campground. The largest sites I've camped in, and your neighbors are far enough away that you can't see or hear them.

I'm in site 2, a water & electric site on a concrete pad that needed 1" side to side and 2 1/2" drop on the tongue. The site has a large concrete pad, a fire pit, grill & picnic table. 8 nights at $15.29 per night. The bathrooms are .2 miles from the campsite.

Site 2

A View of the Whole Site

The check in time is 3:00, and I got here around 12:00. No problem getting to the site - no gate or check in. Someone must have been in my site since a smoldering fire was still going in the grill. The campground host stopped by and was upset that the previous campers left a fire going.

Warm at 68°F. I walked the .64 mile campground loop, then sat out enjoying the nice weather. While sitting, discovered that there are trains with horns going by close enough to bother those that are bothered by them. Not loud enough to annoy me. About one per hour. 

I checked both AT&T & Verizon - AT&T at 48.54Mbps down & 14.71Mbps up, and Verizon was 194.5Mbps down & 29.07Mbps up. It is open enough that I suspect the Starlink Mini would have good speeds, but since AT&T is unlimited, I went with them.

Dinner was a Barbar Chicken Kiev & creamed spinach.

Until Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 49

Day 49, Saturday, December 7, 2024, Rodman Campground, Palatka, FL, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 2,445 Miles for the Trip

The freeze never happened. It did go down to 37°F overnight but was up to 50°F by 11:00. 

I took my camera on my morning walk and found some birds in the water weeds next to the picnic area. All ids are from my iBird Photo Sleuth app.

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Little Blue Heron

Around 11:00 I headed to Walgreens to pick up a prescription. As usual, they only partially filled it. A 90 day prescription should be 3 2.5Ml bottles, but they only gave me 2. I asked for the third, but they didn't have it in stock - I could get it on Monday. Of course I won't be here. I'll be able to get a refill at 60 days rather than 90, but that means I pay the copay more often. I wish I could believe that this is a mistake, but my home Walgreens does the same thing, and only has 2 bottles even though they have to order them each time I get refills.

Still cool at 60°F at 3:00, too cool to comfortably sit outside. I played with my Starlink Mini inside. It works sitting on the top shelf of the cabinet over the driver's side drawer stack (an unlisted option when I bought my 2017 trailer). It works, although not as fast as when outside, and gets uncomfortable warm if stuffed in with other stuff. OK on the bare shelf with the snow melt turned off.

Dinner was an Amy's Enchilada bowl.

Until Tomorrow -