Just Drivin' Day 1

Up by 6 but it was too dark to do anything outside.  We are anxious to get moving but have to wait until it is lighter.  At 7:00 we were able to finish packing up and loading the car.  Our first stop was the Pilot Station in Haines City where we had already scouted out the layout and location.  Arrived at 8:00. There are two RV lanes and both were occupied by four-wheelers.  One of the trucks did have a trailer attached.  They were a lawnmowing business and were filling up the lawnmowers in the trailer.  While one man was filling, the other employees went into the station.  I guess they were buying breakfast or snacks.  So we waited, and waited, and waited.  Finally, the lawnmowing truck starts up and pulls out but before we could pull in, a second lawnmowing truck pulled in.  Needless to say, we were not happy!  Finally after about 30 minutes we were able to pull in and get gas.  I know it is a free country, but I sure do wish people would be a little more  considerate of others.  They could have fueled up and moved from the gas bay while waiting for the other employees to get their shopping done.  

As we were driving Highway 27 to our campground, we passed a lot of  construction and this ice cream cone was in two pieces.  Today when we came by the ice cream was on top of the cone.  That is progress!

We drove Highway 27 to the Turnpike to I-75 north.  The turnpike toll booths are no longer occupied by people.  Now to pay the toll, you must use the Sun Card or pay "toll by plate."  A picture of your license plate is taken and in some big data base somewhere, the name and address attached to that plate number is found.  And invoice is sent to that address from which you pay.  Hopefully, we will be home before that invoice becomes too overdue!

We took I-75 north to I-10 west.  Traffic didn't seem too bad.  Our campground is Hitchin Post Corral RV Campground in Cottondale, Florida.  It is only 338 miles from where we were but I neglected to figure in the fact that we would gain an hour when we crossed from EDT to CDT.  We pulled into the campground at 2:30.  That is the earliest time we have ever stopped for the night.  This is a very small campground with only 25 sites.  Our site was very level and the hookups easy to hook to.  The only negative is that there are no restrooms or showers....that is right, no restrooms or showers.  Only self-contained RVs came camp here.  This is a first for us.  Of course, it isn't a problem for us but I have never been in a campground that did not have restrooms and showers.

This is site #9.  It is warm so we plugged in as quickly as possible and got the air running.  It is feeling much cooler.  After the sun drops down a bit, we can sit outside in the shade of the awning.  It will be nice to relax the rest of the afternoon and evening.  Tomorrow we have a 400 mile day to Natchez, Mississippi where we will be staying for three nights and two days.

I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Hippos make me happy...you not so much."  I don't know how many hippos that fellow comes in contact with on a daily basis but I would say that it is very limited.  I guess it is a rare person that would make him happy.  Traveling makes me happy so for the next few weeks, I am in my happy place!