Finally got on the road for our 2018 Florida trip. Stalled by projects, appointments, and of course weather.

We got 3 inches of snow on Sun and high of 20 degrees. Sky cleared but Mi roads were sloppy. We left at 8 AM with 14 degrees. Sunny all day btut both coach and VW got trashed with salt. Never again.

Both VW and tow bar worked great. In spite of the sunny weather we saw 3 wrecks 2 were bad. Little warning on one, had brakes locked to stop on one. Thought sure I would shake the VW loose. Tow bar seems good no sign of loose bolts etc

Drove about 11 hours made 675 miles to Tennessee. Pulled into the Welcome Center, security guard said we can't stay for the night in the car side truck side already full by 7 pm. Nice welcome, NOT. Parked on an entrance ramp a few miles down for the night...

600 miles more to Starke. Plan to stay Tues nite in S Georgia, arrive Starke Wed. Hoping to see Rusty for dinner Wed

More when I get to wifi.

Good job Steve, not Steve Jobs ..lol making your tow bar a bit on the sturdy side did well for you. 60 MPH is not a bad average on sloppy roads.

Is it a Walmart night tonight??

Well once you get warmed you can wash all that salt off.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:
Finally got on the road for our 2018 Florida trip. Stalled by projects, appointments, and of course weather.

We got 3 inches of snow on Sun and high of 20 degrees. Sky cleared but Mi roads were sloppy. We left at 8 AM with 14 degrees. Sunny all day btut both coach and VW got trashed with salt. Never again.

Both VW and tow bar worked great. In spite of the sunny weather we saw 3 wrecks 2 were bad. Little warning on one, had brakes locked to stop on one. Thought sure I would shake the VW loose. Tow bar seems good no sign of loose bolts etc

Drove about 11 hours made 675 miles to Tennessee. Pulled into the Welcome Center, security guard said we can't stay for the night in the car side truck side already full by 7 pm. Nice welcome, NOT.

600 miles more to Starke. Plan to stay Tues nite in S Georgia, arrive Starke Wed. Hoping to see Rusty for dinner Wed

More when I get to wifi.

Enjoy being out -4 this am. Need to haul firewood in shed to start getting stuff done when the temp moderates.......

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:


Drove about 11 hours made 675 miles to Tennessee. Pulled into the Welcome Center, security guard said we can't stay for the night in the car side truck side already full by 7 pm. Nice welcome, NOT.

I have been having this same trouble a lot. Rest areas are full of trucks by 5:00-6:00 PM. If you do find a spot you may get blocked in for hours!

Safe travels, see ya in June I hope!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Steve VW:
Finally got on the road for our 2018 Florida trip. Stalled by projects, appointments, and of course weather.



More when I get to wifi.[/QUOTE

God Speed

Got up this morning 39 degrees. Cummins fired right up. On the road by 815. Light rain, actually OK it rinsed off 100 lbs or so of salt.

Overcast all morning, smooth sailing. Made it to Atlanta around 1 pm. Smoothest day trip through Atlanta yet. Slowed down a couple times but no stop and go. Partly for that reason we kept going for 10 hours total, made 580 miles all the way to Starke Florida KOA just after 6 pm. 63 degrees and drizzle but it feels wonderful.

Overall a good run. 675 miles 11 hours Monday, 570 miles 10 hours Tuesday. A nice test run for my new seats and the VW toad. Both worked great.

Now to pressure up the water system and see what I froze...

We will have lunch with Rusty tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing him again, it has been some time.

2 nights here, heading for Eustis Thursday. I will post photos soon.

Have Barth, did travel

Spent hours rinsing/washing coach and VW. 65 degrees and sunny!



Rusty drove in to see us and we had a good seafood meal in Starke.

Heading for Eustis tomorrow. Life is good.

Have Barth, will travel

The VW looks right at home behind the Barth.

I still think that is a beautiful rv.

Always great to see Liz and her driver. The Barth and VW were relatively clean, so Wotizname had been busy. Looks like they'll have decent weather (finally) for the next leg.

Left Starke at 1030. Headed for Eustis about 92 miles away. Took 2 hours and 40 minutes, good grief.

I hate central Florida. Nothing like 30 miles of stop lights and traffic. Very tedious.

Here at Southern Palms for next 4 nights. Photos when I get wifi again.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:
Left Starke at 1030. Headed for Eustis about 92 miles away. Took 2 hours and 40 minutes, good grief.

I hate central Florida. Nothing like 30 miles of stop lights and traffic. Very tedious.

Here at Southern Palms for next 4 nights. Photos when I get wifi again.

I bet isn't going to be -1 tonight there. Flick is back in the house tonight! I'm ready for warmer.........

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:
Left Starke at 1030. Headed for Eustis about 92 miles away. Took 2 hours and 40 minutes, good grief.

I hate central Florida. Nothing like 30 miles of stop lights and traffic. Very tedious.

We set up those because young twerps from the Great White North want to race around at 30 mph.

Sadly, once south of Lake City in the west, or Yulee in the east, bottlenecks and traffic lights are de rigueur. As SteveVW noted, even the usual escape routes the locals use are getting more and more cluttered.

Normally I preach that staying on 75 whenever possible is always the best way, but from where you are I'd take 27 to 29. Still quite a few towns and lights but a lot of open cruising too, especially once you get south of Sebring.
I always like seeing different scenery anyway.

Awesome Dinghy!

With a matching paint scheme it'd look like a baby bus following it's Momma.