Fluffy Landing and other fine places........

Snow Birds and Canadian Geese share one common trait. They are both migratory species.

When the air gets nippy and the clouds move in and threaten to block out the sun for the rest of eternity, it’s time to pack the motor home and “Git Out-O-Dodge”. Our final destination is the Water’s Edge RV Resort in Punta Gorda FL where Irene and I have our own private camp site on the lake.

Punta Gorda is where Hurricane Charlie, with sustained winds of 150 mph, made shore in mid August of 2004. The devastation was complete….. I will post pictures of the resort after Charlie on another post. For about 2 years the Florida State Flag was the blue plastic tarp……

The shortest route from door to door is 1416 miles and according to Microsoft Streets and Trips, we should be able to make it in 2 days, 4 hours and 13 minutes (driving 8 hours a day). Gee…. That’s not much fun…. and that’s definitely not “Life in the Slow Lane…”

Since we don’t have to make reservations, we can get there whenever we want. Last year we decided to take a different route and visit the Florida Panhandle. We wanted to see some of the beautiful white sand beaches that the Panhandle is famous for. First a quick check of the map to see any points of interest.

Whoa!!..….. Hold everything!!……..What’s this…..?

Right there on the map, not far from our anticipated route is Fluffy Landing FL. This is a real place – I don’t make things like that up, Folks. I told Irene that visiting Fluffy Landing would surely rival the fun and excitement of visiting Toad Suck Arkansas – also a real place worth visiting especially during “Toad Suck Daze” in early May of each year.

I tried to do some research on the web about Fluffy Landing, but there is surprisingly little to be found. The burning question is “What’s behind the name?”

When we are on the road going from point A to point B we usually stay in a “Super Wal-Mart Campground”. Many years ago Wal-Mart made a corporate decision to allow overnight parking for RV’s. It sure was a good decision for them and they enjoy the genuine support and business of the RVing community. They have good security and everything we need for supplies and all the last minute things that we always forget when packing. We can even fill the gas tank before leaving the next day.

After a full day on the road neither of us feels like cooking. We go in to the camp ground store (Super Wal-Mart Store) and pick up something from the deli. Back to the coach, turn on the generator, heat up dinner in the microwave, and sit back and watch the local weather and news on the TV before turning in for the night. It sure is wonderful staying in your own home and sleeping in your own bed while on the road.

Wal-Mart camping works great for Gizmo and the cats too. No strange motel room to stress them out - they are in familiar surroundings all the time. Come bed time, all the animals have their own special place either on the bed or at the foot of the bed.

We always carry a full tank of fresh water. That way we can use the toilet, take a quick shower, make coffee, cook, and wash the dishes. Since we have a washer/dryer combo in the coach, Irene could even turn on the generator and do a load of wash while we were going down the road. All the waste water goes into the holding tanks. How’s that for convenience?

In the morning it’s “Up and at ‘em…” long before the sun pokes up in the east. I turn on the gas water heater and start the generator to make coffee. While the shower water is heating I take Gizmo for her morning constitutional. She sure loves sniffing all the strange smells and she has to leave a "pee-mail" for all the other dogs that come along. In the meantime Irene has been getting ready; she makes the bed, puts some oatmeal in the microwave and some English muffins in the toaster for breakfast. Milk and fresh fruit for the oatmeal is right there in the refrigerator.

When we stop for the night in near a big city we always try to hit the road by about 5:30 in the morning. We can take the interstate right through or around the city with no commuter traffic to worry about. This means getting up about 4:30 and it does have a downside. By 10:00 AM my eyes are starting to droop. Not to worry – we simply pull into the next rest area and I take a nap on my own comfortable bed (Gizmo has to jump up on the bed and keep me company and the two cats seem to think it is a good time to go punchy punchy on my stomach). I simply don’t have the heart to close the bedroom door and keep the zoo up front with Irene.

While I am taking a nap Irene will be on the internet checking the road conditions and the weather. All the time we are on the road I have the computer turned on and connected to the internet on my Verizon Air Card. The computer rides on the work station in front of the passenger seat. I power it with an inverter that plugs into the 12 volt system. I can drive all day long using the computer maps and the GPS and never lose my internet connection.

Lunch is always an enjoyable interlude. We pull into a rest area – quite often parking next to and visiting with other RV’ers. Gizmo gets to go sniffing and do her thing. Irene and I can walk around and stretch our legs. The first day on the road on the way south, we are in cold weather all day. We have soup and sandwiches in a nice warm coach while thinking about others who are waiting in the drive up lane at McDonalds, only to eat in their car and spill their French fries. And…….. isn’t it odd how the French fries seem to navigate (seemingly on their own power) to a dark place under the driver’s seat where they are impossible to find. They hide there for months giving off the odor of rancid fat. Ah ha…… you’re smiling…… You’ve done that too………. Wonderful, Huh……?

After lunch I will check my email, make a few phone calls and get caught up on office correspondence. How is that for telecommuting!!

And our journey continues. What a wonderful way to travel. Climb aboard and enjoy “Life In The Slow Lane…..”

Next stop…….. St. George Island State Park.