Northwest towards home

 Well, Sorry for the delayed post.  We spent thursday afternoon in town with friends for lunch. I drove along the coast afterwards looking for a good place to enjoy the beach and let the dogs roam but sadly there wasn't a good spot to get parked when we finally found a nice stretch of beach.  We headed back to the park and spent our last night getting prepared for our return trip.  We awoke Friday morning and were treated to a visitor enjoying the local flora.

I had seen a few doe on occasion during our stay but this was the first I'd seen the buck.  So keenly aware of his surroundings, he wasn't sticking around to pose for me.  We got everything closed up and disconnected by 7:30 but making our way out of the park took nearly a half hour before passing the gate.  From there the GPS was in charge and it was a 6 hour trek to one of my favorite overnight stops at Mount Olive, Mississippi.  So much so that it is the background scene on the blog.  Being winter, we always have the place to ourselves and the boys really enjoy the freedom to run.

It's only an overnight stop, then back on the road again to our next stop and where we are currently for a visit with Lynn's brother Scott in Winnsboro, Louisianna.  This too was to be an overnight stay but winter weather was threatening our return as well.  It's still two travel days from here to Bella Vista and temperatures are expected to be about 5 degrees at home Monday evening then back up to about 20 degrees Tuesday overnight. With the Bitter cold comming down from the north and moisture comming up from the gulf, 3 to 5 inches of snow is actually expected to fall here in Louisianna monday afternoon.  

Our plan now is to head out Monday morning ahead of the snow and make out way north to Maumelle park again. Then make the final leg home on Tuesday arriving home early enough to get unloaded and winterized before nightfall.  Fingers crossed, Let's hope it all goes to plan.  Cheers!

Florida Panhandle

 We got up early Monday morning getting ready to make the final stretch to Florida.  This trip was all about escaping the frigid temps and snow which we accomplished but thats not to say we had escaped the cold. The same actic air was dipping down to the gulf coast as well with just a little less vigor.  For the most part, we've been able to stay above freezing temperatures but 40 degrees isn't exactly t-shirt weatheer either.  I really can't complain, Its good to get out and I'm happy not to be shoveling snow.  

The skies were cloudy when we were getting ready to pull out and a squadron of White Pelicans came up the bayou dipping for breakfast.  Of course, they spun around and headed back out as soon as they saw me but not before I got a good shot with my camera.

We had gotten under way by 10am and drove East on I-10 as far as Pensacola before dropping south to US-98 and following the Gulf Coast the remainder of the trip.  We had plenty of time to kill before check-in time and making an easy drive along the coast was better than racing traffic along the interstate.  After a few pit stops and a re-supply at Publix, we pulled in at St. Andrews State Park and got checked in.  We had been just ahead of another cloud system on our way east and it had caught up to us by the time we arrived.  It was overcast and with temps in the low 40s overnight but the clouds had cleared and we woke up Tuesday morning to clear skies and sunshine.  It's still a little brisk at 46 right now as I'm writing this but the high for today is 59 degrees. If not for the constant 12-15 mph winds out of the north, I'd be in a t-shirt now. 

Being on the gulf coast, there isn't a selection of forested campsites and, RV sites in Florida aren't exactly easy to find during the winter.  This will do just fine.

We'll be here till Friday.  I'll try and update again before we leave but there isn't any Wi-Fi and I'm having to tether to my cell phone signal for a connection.  Until next time, Cheers!

Sioux Bayou

 It's a cloudy gloomy Sunday, quiet aside from Bilbo wanting to play fetch.  Saturday was actually Sunny for a few hours.  The Sun came out about 2pm and although the temps were in the low 50s the sun made it quite nice.  I even broke out the lounge chairs and we sat out in the fresh air for a while to soak up some sun.

It's been many years since I lived anywhere near the coast and although I've not forgotten it, being here along the bayou reminds me that the moon does a lot more than light up the nights.  I've watched the tide rise and fall about three feet here.  Something I took it for granted so many years ago that now seems facinating to observe. The Sioux Bayou has a rich diverse fauna, although I'm limited to what I can observe from the campsite.  I always expect to see the cranes perched on tall stilts for legs on the banks, and half expect to see a gator poking out of the water but as cold as it has been I imagine they aren't moving around very much.  I did get to see a Belted Kingfisher, not a common bird in Arkansas.  A Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelicans, White Pelicans, and several other coastal birds have made appearances during our stay.  The beautiful sunset (below) Saturday evening was tranquil but another low pressure system moved in overnight blanketing dense clouds over the area and now we're expecting rain to start up and continue for the remainder of our stay here.

I'm going to start putting away everything I can before the rain picks up.  We'll be heading out tomorrow to make our way further east and settle in at Panama City Beach for the week.  Untl then, Enjoy the rest of your weekend and drop in again soon when you can.  Cheers!

Winter Storm Cora

 Well, we got it right.  We left Maumelle Park Thursday morning and stayed just ahead of the storm front arriving in Vicksburg Mississippi for our next overnight stop.  It pretty much rained the enitre time we were there and was letting up as we were pulling out Friday morning.  

Heading Southeast Friday we were on the trailing edge of the storm all day with a light misty rain.  My daughter is back home watching the house while we are away and sent us pictures from the back patio this morning.  Looks like we escaped just in time.  Six inches of snow in Bella Vista, and although it's quite beautiful, I'm happy to be down on the Gulf coast for the next week plus.

We're currently staying just outside Gautier, MS at a place called Sioux Bayou RV Park.  Like the name says, our RV Site is backed right up to the Bayou, and not more than 3 miles from the Gulf or locally Pascagoula Bay.

We'll be staying here for the next couple days, I'm not sure if I'll post again before we leave but just check back when you can.  Thanks for stopping by. Cheers!

Arctic Escape 2025

 After starting out the New Year with single digit temps and an inch of snow it was decided we would head down to the gulf coast.  Nothing exceptional but the promise temperatures above freezing.  Our plan was to leave on Friday but, another arctic blast and significantly more snow was forecast to begin on Thursday prompting us to scramble out Wednesday.  We're stopped at our favorite launching off point, Maumelle Park, just outside of Little Rock.  Watching the current forecast, Little Rock is expecting snow and ice to begin Thursday afternoon.  If we get this right, We'll be headed southeast early and should be out of the way of the snow and ice long before it arrives.  I expect we will still see some precipitation but, closer to the gulf coast it should only be rain. 

I filled the water tank about half way before we left home, purged all the air from the lines and turned on the water heater.  After several days below freezing, water was obviously unavailable in the park but all we needed was a spot to park with an electrical hookup. More to come, Thanks for dropping in.