(maximize window for best viewing)
Author: Wolfgang
Travel-Journal March 02 - March 20, 2004
Travel-Journal
March 02 - March 20, 2004
If it weren't for the odd mechanical problem now and then, - it would be the perfect trip. But while trying to leave "TTN Verde Valley, AZ.", the engine suddenly quit while she was still warming up. I thought, - what’s going on? Out of diesel-fuel, - an airlock, - fuel pump kaput? I couldn't figure it out.
Our neighbor’s view Dagmar ‘in tow’….
First we asked Management for a free extension in case we were not able to leave that day (our last day) ….which was granted. Then we contacted our “FMCA Road-Side Emergency Service” for assistance. Those morons - they sent us a tow truck from Prescott (80 miles away) whose driver had not even seen an 8V71 Detroit Diesel….never mind fixing one. And towing me without a flat-bed....no way. Wasting my time as well as his, the driver still wanted to collect Mileage for the service call ....which is free as per contract. I refused, - so his boss came on the cellular trying to argue with me. I told him off too. Then I contacted my Emergency Service again to complain about the incompetent service call - and they became belligerent as well. Really, by this time I had to hold on to my temper….
So we went through the local ‘Yellow Pages’ to find someone in Cottonwood who could help us out. I found a heavy-duty Diesel Mechanic who came right away in his pick-up truck. As it turned out, he was the same guy who many years ago - with a different company - had worked on my Jake-Brake. He checked the fuel lines and primed them, - but the engine would not start. So he suggested I might be out of fuel….despite my fuel-gage showing over half a tank left ....which also corresponded with the actual miles driven (648 miles of an average 1200 miles range). Nevertheless, he argued, the Arizona Mountains might have taken their toll on my fuel consumption. So he came back with a 25 gallon drum of fuel and we tried again. WOW, she came alive. Hallelujah!!!!
By this time it was too late to leave, so we stayed overnight. Low and behold - the following morning she stalled out again while warming up. So back he came for the third time and eventually found the fuel-strainer to have a tiny leak causing air to be sucked into the fuel lines. He showed me a nick on top of the fuel strainer which prevented the gasket to seal properly. So out he went again to find the proper size gasket. Once this was done, everything seemed fine - she was running normal. I have to blame the last guy who (back when?) worked on the strainer and caused that ill-fated notch (small cause – big consequence).
Since we had now lost three days because of this problem and only had two days left to get to the FMCA Convention, we decided to forgo our planned revisit to the Grand Canyon and take instead Scenic HWY 260 (and 60) over the Continental Divide to Albuquerque, New Mexico. But first of course we filled up the 150 Gallon tank with diesel. And low and behold, we were not low on fuel at all ….and we - as well as the fuel-gage - were right on the mark in the first place. So it was that slow air-leak on top of the fuel-strainer which in due course caused the stalling problems.
The trip over the ragged Mountains into New Mexico took two days. As we entered Show-Low - a beautiful mountain town landscaped in red gravel instead of grass - Dagmar spotted an inviting ‘Wal Mart Superstore’ where we parked for the night. That was a good move…because the moment we settled in we noticed billowing black clouds in front of us with thunder and lightning. As it turned out, it was a spectacular light show that night and we were glad to be safe and sound curled up under our blankets in the midst of human habitation instead of being out alone in the wilderness with possibilities of flash-floods. This is something one has to keep in mind when traveling through those regions …..as well as twisters, since the hurricane season is now beginning. But the infamous “Hurricane-Alley” is still in front of us, lol.
Nice weather one moment … ….clouds forming…. with terrific ‘Light-show’
When we arrived in Albuquerque the following afternoon, I noticed a grinding noise emanating from the left front wheel. Now what? Arriving at the Balloon Fiesta holding area, I let Dagmar run beside the coach while I was driving slowly forward to narrow down the cause of the problem. She made me believe that at any moment the entire wheel might come off (while on-comers must have believed, she was running after me, lol). If Dagmar could drive the bus, I would have had a listen myself…..but this way I had no clue of what might be causing that noise. Now my concerns were twofold....(1) will the engine start after a one week shut-down, (2) can I still drive to a service shop without breaking something inside that front wheel (it is a loud grinding noise)? If we would not feel so attached to this bugger we would have traded her in long ago. It seems that every time I'm full of praise for the old girl...she lets me down. Dagmar is getting fits now whenever I feel happy driving along the highways. Because - she says - every time this happens, something goes wrong. This coach obviously does not like me to be happy…..
So we looked for our friends at the Balloon Fiesta parking area and parked right next to them for the ensuing eight days. I wanted to be happy at the convention and tried to forget about what might be in store for me later. As it turned out, the event was a smash hit and we all had a terrific time at one of the biggest FMCA conventions ever (more later).
Today is Saturday and we parted our ways with our friends since we made an appointment Monday morning to have that front-wheel checked out. However, while driving off the grassy parking lot onto the pavement, I could not hear that noise again. So again I asked Dagmar to listen to any noise while passing her. There was none…. There is only one explanation, - I must have picked up a large stone which lodged itself between the thread of the tire. The grinding noise was probably amplified while I drove beside other cars on the highway. I suppose I was a bit paranoid as well, thinking worse case scenarios, - like a brake shoe coming loose, disintegration of the king-pin or of a ball-bearing, etc.…. Now I feel so stupid that a simple stone had me in stitches the entire week…
So tonight we are parked at the “Sandia Casino” just north of the city since the Fiesta Park wanted to charge us $15 @ night following the convention. Indian Casinos have special free parking areas for RV’s and this one right now is swamped with Motor homes…. most likely convention stragglers like us. I left a message with the garage canceling the appointment and we relaxed with a cocktail in the Thlur Pa Lounge while enjoying the majestic mountain views from a huge 30x60 picture window. Live entertainment keeps the lounge jumping every night of the week but we are going to turn in early because tomorrow (Sunday) we head for a TTN Preserve close to Fort Worth, Texas. It’s about 600 miles from here and since we love traveling the byways rather than highways with stops in between, it will take us at least two days to get there.
Here’s a question for you guys about New Mexico – “the land of enchantment”.….
What mile-high city is rich in natural and cultural history, has a mild year-round climate, is bisected by one of the most famous highways in the world, can be seen from the world’s longest tram, and hosts the largest and most photographed hot-air balloon festival in the world?
If your answer is Albuquerque, NM, give yourself a pat on the back.
Most people associate any reference to a mile-high city to Denver - which lies about 450 miles north of Albuquerque. Although that Colorado city has its share of outstanding features, Albuquerque has plenty, too…as we had a chance to find out.
A good way to begin a tour of Albuquerque is to get an overview – literally. That’s what we did. An aerial tramway climbs up the side of the Sandia Mountains that rise to the east of the city. The 2.7 Miles ride is breathtaking as the world’s longest single-section cable aerial tramway carrying passengers 3,800 vertical feet. When you reach the top, you’ll be standing on a mountain ridge that is 10,400 feet over sea level. Below, Albuquerque (population 448,000) sprawls up the sides of the valley where the sun shines an average 310 days each year. It is a magnificent view. (visit: http://www.sandiapeak.com/)
..cable car ….mountain view
Back in the valley in the northwest part of Albuquerque we went to see the Petroglyph National Monument. Here one can see evidence of the dawn of the area’s cultural history. Carved into an escarpment of the black lava rock are 17,000 ancient Indian petroglyphs. They reflect the lives of the people who occupied the area as early as 1000 B.C. Most of the figures and symbols were created around A.D. 1300 and 1540. Dancers, priests, shamans, mythical animal-like creatures provide the onlooker with an insight into the culture of the early Indian tribes who’s offspring still calls this vast high desert country their home.
In the Old Town we made a stop at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center were we continued tracing the history of the area’s first inhabitants. This structure is patterned after a traditional pueblo that surrounds an open, common area.
On our first Saturday afternoon we saw Indian dancers festooned with feathers und swirling skirts repeat the steps their ancestors handed them down over many generations. Each performance has a significant meaning.
..Indian girl dancing local Indians sell their wares on the sidewalk
In the Old Town we also found out that the community that became Albuquerque was settled 70 years before the beginning of the American Revolution by Europeans under the flag of Spain (it will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2006). The Spanish King Phillip gave the colonists permission to settle along the Rio Grande Valley. They named the town after the Duke of Alburquerque, - the viceroy of New Spain. (the first “r” in his name was somehow dropped over time) The town’s nickname, - Duke City, - commemorates that history and is still referred to by locals.
We also saw Mariachi musicians perform their lively tunes on a stage in the center of the plaza. In keeping with their cultural traditions, Albuquerque’s Hispanic residents can in this plaza on weekends enjoy colorful fiestas and festivals with singing and dancing. It’s just like San Diego’s Balboa Park. It gets any jaded Gringo (or Canuck) swinging…..
Since its founding, Albuquerque has been an important trade center. With the American westward movement came two events which ensured the city’s importance: the arrival of the Railroad in 1880 ….and the building of US ‘66 in 1926. Yes, - Route 66 – the “Mother Road”, from Chicago to Los Angeles. On our way eastwards we will again travel this famous highway and keep our eyes open for the many diners, motor courts and service stations dating back to the heydays of the road. It’s a riot if you are a fan of this era in the Fifties ….as we are.
..signs on the “Mother Road”
Yesterday we visited an Indian Pueblo with our friends not far from here. Most of New Mexico’s Indian Pueblos are open to the public, but some are not. When you visit a pueblo, you are visiting someone’s home. One therefore has to observe all posted requests and regulations. When you are on Indian Land, you are subject to Indian laws….including cultural etiquette. For instance…pueblos prohibit the drinking of alcohol during visits. Some pueblos charge a photo fee, while many pueblos do not allow photography at all. One has to check with the tribal office on arrival. And don’t look into windows or walk into buildings, - pueblos are places of residence. Do never look or go into kivas because these underground ceremonial chambers are sacred to the Indians. One is also not allowed to applaud dancers after their performance, - one has to remain silent. One cannot ask questions to dancers or singers regarding the meaning of a dance or walk across the plaza (dancing area) or between dancers, singers or drummers. One has to be respectful, because dances are religious ceremonies.
Ruined pueblo…. Ruined kiva <holy place>
Although we were not invited into a pueblo home, - if you are and invited to eat, do never refuse. You must eat a little bit even if you just stuffed yourself or you’re not hungry at all. And never linger at the table after eating or ask questions of your host. And another thing, - never remove pottery shards, rocks or any other natural formations from Indian land…and don’t pick fruit from their trees. Alright, - there is another item you better keep in mind, - one has to be aware that public restroom facilities are not available at a pueblo and any bushes in the desert are not providing a screen for privacy. So travel light, lol.
Now let’s talk about the FMCA Convention. Like I said before, - it was a blast. I don’t know how many did attend, but I heard numbers close to eight thousand. It was just …..
….a Sea of Motor homes at EXPO….. as well as Fiesta Park...
…where unfortunately all balloon rides were sold out weeks in advance…
…(would have been nice to sip champagne in this one flying over our Coach, lol).
We took the free shuttle-buses to get to and from the EXPO Grounds which was much more convenient than driving the ten miles by car into town. On the first morning we met at the Morning Coffee Hour followed by attending two seminars, one about Global Positioning Systems and the other about Mobile Satellite Internet. Then we took a nice break during lunch time to listen to country music under the big, open tent in the main square of the EXPO site. We enjoyed performances of the “Flying J Wranglers” and the “Watermelon Mountain Jug Band” entertaining the huge audience with a variety of old-time cowboy songs, traditional Western favorites and selections of foot-stumping originals. This we followed with an “Ice Cream Social” and then headed for the vendor exhibition areas. It is just amazing what is nowadays on the market. There were three main exhibition halls with hundreds upon hundreds of vendors and related company representatives. They covered everything from fashion jewelry ….to the latest technological gadgets. I was close to purchasing a new Satellite TV/Internet system but Dagmar vetoed it on the grounds that we are going to get a new(er) coach anyway and that those technological gadgets get cheaper and better over time. Very true!!! But this is the same tenet one can apply with the purchase say….of a new computer ….or whatever ….things do always get cheaper and better over time. However, I did purchase a new “Co-Pilot” GPS (Global Positioning System) to make navigation (using my computer) a snap. It leads the way on a big map with pin-point accuracy and through voice-commands of when and where to make turns. And you can even ask questions like ….where is the next “Crocker Barrel Restaurant” or “Truck Stop”. It even makes reservations if you like. But we are still learning how to use it properly, - including how to program it for our personal itinerary like locations of TTN and RPI Resorts and special places we discovered while on the road…..like unique watering-holes, lol
On the second convention day we attended one more seminar in the morning followed by visiting the rest of the vendor-booths. At three in the afternoon we had an appointment to test-drive the top of the line Monaco Coach, - the “Navigator”. Motorhome chassis manufacturers like Spartan, Roadmaster, and Freightliner etc. are each and every year building more sophisticated chassis to get away from the ‘bus-like’ image.
Builders are now using these much improved “School-Bus” chassis to build motor homes in price-ranges comparable to some of the high-line conversions based on true monocoque constructions (REAL buses like Prevosts, MCI, etc.). I wanted to experience the difference in handling and riding comfort to the REAL thing and have to admit that they are doing an admirable job. But if one has to dish out over half a million US dollars for a semi-monocoque construction motorhome, a second-hand Prevost or MCI is in my opinion still a far better choice for the money. Following this two-hour test drive into the mountains, we went to see the ‘Palaces-On-Wheels’ at what is referred to as the “Prevost-Alley”, - but we would never spend that kind of money for our dream-coach. Some of the Marathon Coaches on display are nowadays close to the Two-Million-Dollar mark. But they are selling like hot-cakes……
So all in all, the convention was very interesting and educational …..and did not cause any hang-overs either. But “Mardi Gras” is still more fun…….
March 21 - March 31, 2004
Once we left the “Sandia Casino” early Sunday morning, we went downtown to hitch up with the “Mother Road” (HWY 66). As mentioned before, our destination was the TTN Preserve “Lake Texoma”, - north of Ft. Worth, TX. As it happened….HWY 66 in NM was not what we expected it to be – except in the down-town area. We have been traveling on many stretches of that famous road before, - e.g. from Flagstaff to Kingman, AZ ….and down in the LA area. But up here it’s a lost cause trying to find and drive that mystical road. It just suddenly vanishes….literally. One moment we were on it and the next we were going in a different direction on a different highway. No signs at all or just dilapidated ones which were hard to read. If they want to save that romantic road (as they say they would) they have a big job ahead of them. The “Mother Road” is also nowhere to be found on modern road-maps. Alright, after having to turn around twice, we had enough and when we hit HWY 285 went south to get to Hwy 60 to connect with HWY 82 East. This was the highway which we intended to take right into Florida …..and one which we haven’t gone before.
On that Sunday we got as far as Lubbock….but not before having had a tire blow-out close to the border town of Clovis. A few miles before we reached Clovis we did hear a loud bang, but thought it was caused by a pick-up truck towing a dingy trailer. Passing through Clovis we heard another bang and I saw in the mirror pieces of rubber flying onto the road. Yeah….the inner left tire was blown to shreds. We were lucky to just have passed a truck stop, - so we turned around and had the tire replaced with the spare one.
Once we got to Lubbock TX. that evening, we took the loop road around town, found and parked at a really nice Wal Mart and went straight to the neighboring Applebee restaurant to ask if they had Draft Beer. I was ready for a wet one. But since I only drink draft beer (now Michelob Ultra Low Carb, lol) and never from a bottle or can….and Dagmar preferring a pitcher instead of single glasses (cheaper, lol) our options are somewhat limited since most places in the South do not serve draft beer ….nor have any pitchers. So we become beer-hunters, lol. This has become somewhat of a ritual since many times this is an adventure by itself. On occasion, we love to find way-out Saloons, Bars or Lounges to mingle with the town folks. This is educational and fun….
Anyway - get this - the Applebee restaurant Manager got into his car and drove us to a Sports-Bar some miles away, which did serve draft beer. Talk about helpful Texas people….. With a pitcher of deliciously cold Michelob draft we also had the best Nachos ever. And as a bonus I was able to watch a terrific boxing match on HBO. That certainly made up for the blow-out encountered earlier in the day…..
Monday morning we drove over the high plains of Texas to Wichita Falls, a beautiful Texan city.
….entering a valley off the plains ….sign on a wall
…train operators blowing their whistles to greet us…I’m blowing back with mine, lol
We arrived in late afternoon at the TTN Resort “Lake Texoma”. This is one Resort in Texas which we had not visited before - since it is way up north. But we were told of its beauty many times before. Wow, - they were right. The 480 acres of this campground lie right on the shores of beautiful Lake Texoma (the striped bass capitol of the world), offering excellent water-skiing, boating, hiking and swimming. They have several boat ramps and fishing docks including some of the most beautiful lake front beaches one can imagine. But it’s too early for swimming (although Dagmar was tempted). We took instead long walks along the many nature trails. One finds here breathtaking views and the terrain is covered in acres of oak. It’s also a bird watching paradise. We had one mocking bird serenade us from morning till evening. It was so delightful that one can’t get enough of the many complicated songs these birds can perform. And their name is fitting….they are seemingly mocking you to join in their songs. Blackie was also fascinated and happily spent all day on her leash outside.
…look from inside the coach to a pond …another shot from the dashboard
…Dagmar spreading her wings like the Pelicans in the background
- and me ….by now 45 pounds less…
We spent Monday to Wednesday in this paradise very close to the Oklahoma border. On our second day we drove the adjoining HWY 377 a few miles north to a small place called Madill, OK.
Drive to Oklahoma... ...return in the evening
There we had a tour of their huge Peanut Factory. One is in awe at this facility …and peanut butter will never taste the same after such a tour. Literally train load after train load filled with peanuts arrives at this factory for processing. This is so typical of Americans doing things….always in a big way. Before returning home, we went to a Subway Deli and tried out two of their low-carb Atkins Wraps. They were delicious. This Atkins thing is surely taking off in the States – everywhere does one find Atkins food – in stores and restaurants alike. It not only works ….but one never goes hungry either. I’m on my half-way goal now and feel so much better already.
…here’s me pushing it <in a lot>, lol.
When we took off Wednesday morning, we dumped our tank…..
…and on the way out of the park I noticed that noise from the front wheel again. I stopped; Dagmar went out again and had another listen. It was not a stone after all ….but something much more menacing. I drove the short distance to HWY 82 and pulled into a nearby dilapidated looking truck-stop.
The boss had me drive forward and immediately found the problem. I had a broken bolt and several were loose enough to cause that grinding noise on the rim. Darn it!!!! I could have lost that wheel. Unfortunately, six new bolts had to be ordered from Dallas which took overnight. So we stayed there amidst the trucks with their engines running. Not much sleep. The parts arrived at nine o’clock next morning and Abel, the Mexican kid working on my bus, had us going again by eleven.
…as you can see, I watched him every step of the way like a hawk…
But when it rains at the Beimens, - it pours. By three in the afternoon, that same wheel was off again. It happened in the border-town of Texarkana (Texas/Arkansas)…
…..when I suddenly lost pressure in my air system. I was able to pull into a gas-station and asked the proprietor if he would know someone able to help me. Very quickly a young fellow came with a service truck which on the side had “Detroit Diesel” written on it. I was in good hands. He immediately determined that my front left air membrane had a leak preventing the brake to apply.
…Dagmar biting her tongue ….while mechanic works like a Dickens
In 20 minutes he had the correct spare part and shortly before five he was finished. He worked like a Dickens because his four-year old son had a baseball practice game he wanted to attend. He settled with me for a reasonable cash price and since we’ve seen another “Wal Mart Superstore” across the road, we settled in for the night.
Next Morning after a leisurely Atkins breakfast and me going for a walk with Blackie while Dagmar cleaned up the dishes, we crossed the border into Arkansas. This HWY 82 is a very interesting road ….without much traffic at all (no big trucks). The scenery is at times spectacular and the people are very friendly. The flat plains of rich farmlands reminded Dagmar of North Germany, especially when we drove through Hamburg, lol.
In the afternoon we settled down for the night in another border-town, this time Greensville right between Arkansas and Mississippi. We found a really nice spot at a “Big K Mart” (they also welcome RV’s to stay overnight) where Dagmar did some shopping while I went with Blackie for a long walk all around the perimeter of the complex. Later in the afternoon we went to visit the “Las Vegas” Casino Barge anchored right next to an old-fashioned Paddle-Wheeler on the shores of the mighty Mississippi. We didn’t try our luck (which we obviously don’t have) but took advantage of some freebees including taking in the ambience of the place and scene. After that we went to a bar in the old town and enjoyed an evening listening to Blue Grass Karaoke….and a bottle of Michelob Ultra Light Beer, - ouch. No draft around here, lol. When we got home, Blackie wanted to get out again…so I went once more around the block with her pulling me on the leash. She behaves sometimes as a dog….
Blackie pulls like a dog on the line....
After a good night sleep we took off to drive through Mississippi to Alabama, where HWY 82 veers to the south-east and the weather is getting hotter. We noticed that most people in these parts of the US are very black folks. BTW, there was one stretch of highway both sides of Greenwood MISS., which was just horrible. HWY 82 is like most secondary roads in America in very good shape (thanks to Ronald Reagan), but this stretch was just awful. The concrete plates were so bumpy, that at times I had to slow down to a crawl. In other States those OLD sections of concrete slabs are somehow pulled together to smooth out the ride. It’s a very effective solution…but obviously no financial resources available for this remedy in this county.
We made stops in Tuscaloosa to visit an old train station (we are still on the look-out for old rail-road memorabilia for our indoor re-decoration) and intended to get a close-up feel for the city of Montgomery (where Governor George Wallace was shot) and where Martin Luther King held some of the more volatile civil rights marches. But we got as far as Booth (20 miles west of Montgomery) and guess what happened…..another blown tire. Yeap, - the other inner tire also blew with a loud bang. Folks…this is becoming a ride in hell if drastic measures are not taken. It was about three in the afternoon when it happened. I parked the bus to the side of an old gas station to cool things down…I mean us and the tires. We asked permission to stay there until the early morning when traffic was light and the pavement not hot.
…gas station in Booth, AL. …the other (second) inner tire blown
In our Trucker’s Handbook we found a truck stop (with tire sales) right at the intersection of HWY 82 and I-65. When we arrived there at 5 in the morning they did not have our size in stock. They sent us to another shop on the other side of town. I wanted four new tires…but they had only three. However, our spare tire was new after all and that made a set of four new tires for the back wheels. The front ones are still in good shape and well balanced for my sometimes high speed driving. So this is it…those 22.5 bus-tires are not cheap …..but what the heck, I had to bite the bullet.
The tire shop in Montgomery, AL. ….the second ruined inner tire
It was still early in the morning when we pulled out. Next on the menu is the State of Georgia, - the land of peaches (and of course peach blossoms). Like Ray Charles sings in his song: “I have Georgia on my mind” …so do we. I mean, what can still go wrong now? Oh yeah…I forgot to mention that on the last day in Albuquerque our 7 KW Kohler Generator quit also. No problem though…we don’t need it - having solar panels to replenish lost voltage in the house-batteries. I will have it checked out once we get to our place in Titusville, FL. It’s probably not a big thing. But talking about when it rains at the Beimens, lol……
We noticed in the last days of our travels, that everything looks so freshly green. Here in the south one can now see the magnolias in full bloom and beautiful floral colors are seen along the roadside or meridians, - in front of detached houses, - public places, - simply everywhere. It’s the most beautiful time to travel …..and we are enjoying every minute of it despite our mechanical quandaries. And now the bus is running great again…..but I better not mention it out loud to Dagmar…..
… just convincing myself, lol
So on this day I thought I would make up for some lost time and we drove from Montgomery, AL. through Albany, Georgia. From there we headed south taking HWY 19 into Florida. Georgia is a wonderful country. The moment you cross the Chattahoochee River from Alabama on HWY 82 into the state of Georgia, you enter the town of Georgetown. What a difference. It’s like entering an Estate inside a park. On both sides of this wide boulevard, lined with huge Spanish-Oak trees, are the homes of the most prosperous citizen of this town.
…very prosperous neighborhoods right on the highway…..
America is a mosaic, - and one can see abject poverty right next to such beautiful places. It is a paradox. Here you have the poorest people living right next to the richest people in the country. The “American Way” somehow precludes the creation of envy – and therefore possible political strive - because everyone believes to have an entitlement to the American Dream, either through luck, hard work - or both. What holds everything together is the symbol of American unity, - their beloved FLAG. In these days of war with Iraq and in the face of daily casualties resulting from that conflict, ordinary people proudly unite behind their dearly loved flags. They are flying everywhere….. This same patriotic feeling did not exist during the Vietnam era. Today even the dirt poor are proud to be American and happy to be called red-necks. What kind of propaganda machine was able this time around to instill such nationalistic feelings of pride, purpose and unity in a nation itself becoming more and more isolated from the rest of the world?
America is contradictory and complex. But despite their sometimes overbearing bravado and one-upmanship, one thing is clear, - people there are still polite and friendly. This becomes especially true in the so called “Bible-Belt”, where Baptist Churches outnumber any kind of public buildings by a wide margin…..and beer-hunters like me are having a tough time finding a watering hole, lol. In fact, if one is lucky enough to find one, one has to become a member of the establishment in order to be legally waited on. Talk about contradictions……
Anyways, we drove that afternoon south on HWY 19 to a place called “Fanning Springs, FL.” in a county called “Dixie”….
….It lies on the Suwannee River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico at the ‘Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge’. That’s where Dagmar saw her first Alligator this afternoon. Dagmar is very fearful …but at the same time fascinated by these ancient creatures. At any Bayou we passed on the highway she did peer out the side window in the hope to see one of them lounging on the banks in the sun. But she had to wait until we met one ‘Biggy’ at the wildlife refuge.
…’Biggy’, - probably twelve feet long….measured in inches from his snout to his eyes…
Driving along the Gulf Coast, I suddenly felt like coming home again. We have not been in Florida for the past three years - and I did miss it a lot. I love Central Florida, the Swamps, the Hammocks, the Oxbows beside the canals, the Manatees ….. even the Alligators. The highest point in Florida is just a bit over 300 feet and the soil actually consists mostly of sand-dunes. But the vegetation is so diverse and the animals so plentiful - although strange to a Northerner - that I always feel enchanted just being down here. And the weather….well, it is just delightful. Right now I’m sitting here in the TTN Preserve in Orlando under the awning writing this very journal entry.
We arrived here on the 30th of March, - two days prior to our reservation date - but got in nevertheless. And we found a very beautiful lot in our favorite wilderness section ….which is actually so beautiful, that I do not have the words to describe it. Our pick-nick area is surrounded by palmettos and sparsely placed pines including different leafy trees with Spanish moss hanging from their branches. Birds are singing everywhere and we have a resident Armadillo who knows no fear. Even Blackie gives way to him. This fellow just minds his business looking for grubs. It’s like Paradise….even with a two foot (green) snake Dagmar nearly stepped on trying to free Blackie tangled in her leash around a palmetto, lol.
So here you have it folks, the Beimens have arrived very close to their second home in Cape Canaveral. Titusville is less than a one hour’s drive from here - where we shall arrive on the 15th. More later…..
Return to Index: Travel-Journal 2004
