I wanted to share a monthly wrap-up this week, but I realized I had created four blog posts during the month and had already shared most of the details with readers. Nevertheless, February was a fun-filled month with a road trip to and through Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi, so I wanted to recap and share some pictures with you that were sitting in storage and needed to come out. There may be a duplicate or two from previous posts–if so, please forgive.
We left Knoxville on January 11, two days earlier than planned, to escape a snowstorm heading our way. We made it out and drove on to Cumming, Georgia, to see our granddaughter playing a soccer tournament. I realize the event was in January, but I like to show off my grandchildren at every opportunity.
We next camped at Pelican’s Roost Campground on the Naval Base in Jacksonville. We love this campground because it is close to the water and we can see the big ships float by. The beaches are lovely.
Eastpoint, Florida, and Coastline RV Resort were our next stops. We chose this location because of its proximity to Apalachicola, Florida, and the country’s best place for fresh oysters. We got more than our fair share. Every dozen was delicious.
After planning (and booking) our Florida trip, we learned that our granddaughter’s high school cheerleading team had qualified to compete for the National Championship at Walt Disney World in Orlando. We scrambled and found a campsite nearby in Kissimmee, Florida, because we HAD to be there. Readers know the story. Abby’s team won, and to say we were delirious with joy is a vast understatement. The championship was by far the highlight of the month.
The second highlight was a seven-night stretch of beautiful sunsets from our Keaton Beach, Florida, campsite. Keaton Beach is an isolated fishing village on the Gulf, and it is another entry into my collection of beautiful places I have never heard of.
The Navy Support Activity in Panama City, Florida, was the next stop after Kissimmee. We love the area but have only explored it a little. It was time for reading and relaxing. We ventured out once and found a favorite seafood restaurant in town. Hunt’s Oyster Bar has excellent gumbo and fresh oysters, shelled and served at the bar.
From Panama City, we drove to Gulfport, Mississippi, so Helen could get her casino fix taken care of at Island View Casino. She did surprisingly well, and we left town without having to pass the hat for gas money
We’re home now, but our trip and our February were terrific. Retirement is a great gig. We’re blessed, we’re grateful, and we’re still Easin’ Along.
Sounds like a busy yet fun month. Now it’s time to regroup, rest up, and get ready for the next adventure. 😊
Good morning!
Yep! That’s the plan. I enjoy coming home, seeing friends and family, while having an upcoming trip to look forward to. Have a great week. We’re finally warming up a bit here.
Joe, looks like you guys had another good month of mixing things up – fun, family, relaxation, and a little casino action on the side. Cheers to warming up in March as we head into Spring.
Suzanne,
We were busy and relaxed as well. Could have used a bit warmer weather, but that didn’t take anything away from the trip. We’re blooming here, and spring in East Tennessee is always beautiful. Hope you’re doing well. I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next for you and Malcolm. Please stay in touch! Joe
Sounds great.
Good morning!
Wen had a fabulous time, but it’s always good to be back in East Tennessee this time of the year.
Safely home – always a good feeling. As a fellow travel enthusiast, I had to laugh at the title of your post, Joe. Last fall, Alan and I enjoyed a quick overnight to New Hampshire, the sole purpose of which was to meet friends from Maine for dinner. There’s no such thing as a too short (or long) amount of time for a road trip! Happy to hear that you and Helen had a wonderful time. I hope she bought dinner in Mississippi!
Hi, there!
We had enough time to enjoy the things we set out to enjoy–fresh seafood, family fun, fishing, and fabulous sunsets. If you can do all that, you’ve had a fabulous road trip. Good to be home, but looking forward to the next one. Have a great week, and please stay in touch. Joe
Stunning images of the places you visited on your trip, Joe! Seafood gumbo on the beach sounds amazing. Seems like you both enjoyed doing different things too. Mortimer sure looks content. Love your avatar, too! Sure was a treat to chat with you the phone. Take care!
Good morning!
It was a delight to have the opportunity to chat. Your blog post was very informative, and made prodded me into some research on blogging and the tools available. Thanks so much for that. We had a great time in Florida. The gumbo was good, but my recipe is better. Nevertheless, I have to order gumbo whenever it is on the menu. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week and please stay in touch. Joe
Joe, you definitely had a very fun and full February. And how great that Helen wrapped up the month with a big win, LOL! Way to go, Helen!
I know exactly what you mean about being happy to be at home, while starting to plan the next adventure. We’re not even home yet and I’m starting to plan our next adventure. 😬
Good morning, Laurel,
A big win for Helen is leaving the casino with one dollar more that she had walking into it…definitely not a high roller. Would love to hear about our plans for the next journey. We plan to spend the summer on the west coast and have everything booked except for the trip home. We might just keep it flexible, which is hard for me to do, the control freak I am. Thanks for checking in. Looking forward to reading about your trip. Joe