Vagabonding West, Part 1
By Chris
With our AirBnB contract ending, we decided to head to the West Coast to ride out the upcoming months until (hopefully) we can (safely) get back to our retirement travel plans. We had intended to do this trip in November, upon return from Across the Pond, to spend the holiday season with Emily, including delivering the last of her boxes. It's different than we envisioned, but we're making the best of it. Onward!
Day 1: Haines City, Florida to Niceville, Florida, 480 miles
After packing up Marina, we headed to Jasper, Florida to our friends the Lacefields' place to pick up our remaining boxes. Roberta had to take her mom to the doctor, but we got to visit with John for a bit. Then back to I-10, crossing into central time zone, and stopping in Niceville for the evening (what a Nice name). Niceville is about 9 miles from Destin, so we took the opportunity to go get some Vitamin Sea in the evening. The beaches weren't very crowded, but folks weren't always respecting social distancing. It's likely to be a madhouse this holiday weekend, so we're glad we passed through already. Day 1 a success!
Day 2: Niceville, Florida to Beaumont, Texas, 507 miles
Bayou day! We drove over so many bayous, I lost count. My favorite name was Contraband Bayou.
As we left Florida, we were really happy to be on the westbound side of I-10. The Florida border checkpoint is still in effect, and there was a back-up several miles long! One interesting and unexpected thing we saw was rice paddies. I didn't know so much rice was grown in Louisiana. Today we conquered Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana (the latter doing the best with social distancing and masks, kudos!).
Since John drove all day (I don't do bridges), I treated him to BBQ in Louisiana for dinner. John was intrigued by all the signs we saw for "boudin and cracklins," but he decided BBQ was better.
We pushed along another hour after dinner, so that we could cross the border into Texas, where we have ended for the evening. It's a little depressing that end of day tomorrow, we'll still be in Texas! Day 2, long, but scenic, and good mileage.
With our AirBnB contract ending, we decided to head to the West Coast to ride out the upcoming months until (hopefully) we can (safely) get back to our retirement travel plans. We had intended to do this trip in November, upon return from Across the Pond, to spend the holiday season with Emily, including delivering the last of her boxes. It's different than we envisioned, but we're making the best of it. Onward!
Day 1: Haines City, Florida to Niceville, Florida, 480 miles
After packing up Marina, we headed to Jasper, Florida to our friends the Lacefields' place to pick up our remaining boxes. Roberta had to take her mom to the doctor, but we got to visit with John for a bit. Then back to I-10, crossing into central time zone, and stopping in Niceville for the evening (what a Nice name). Niceville is about 9 miles from Destin, so we took the opportunity to go get some Vitamin Sea in the evening. The beaches weren't very crowded, but folks weren't always respecting social distancing. It's likely to be a madhouse this holiday weekend, so we're glad we passed through already. Day 1 a success!
Sunset over the Mid-Bay Bridge,
Choctawhatchee Bay
Day 2: Niceville, Florida to Beaumont, Texas, 507 miles
Bayou day! We drove over so many bayous, I lost count. My favorite name was Contraband Bayou.
As we left Florida, we were really happy to be on the westbound side of I-10. The Florida border checkpoint is still in effect, and there was a back-up several miles long! One interesting and unexpected thing we saw was rice paddies. I didn't know so much rice was grown in Louisiana. Today we conquered Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana (the latter doing the best with social distancing and masks, kudos!).
Since John drove all day (I don't do bridges), I treated him to BBQ in Louisiana for dinner. John was intrigued by all the signs we saw for "boudin and cracklins," but he decided BBQ was better.
We pushed along another hour after dinner, so that we could cross the border into Texas, where we have ended for the evening. It's a little depressing that end of day tomorrow, we'll still be in Texas! Day 2, long, but scenic, and good mileage.
Day 3: Beaumont, Texas to Ozana, Texas, 472 miles
Still in Texas, and we really do not like it here. Drivers do not follow the sign above, they are uber aggressive, and in some places the speed limit is 80! It feels very unsafe. It's also not particularly scenic, except for the portion west of Austin, which is very hilly and green, with lots of wineries. It reminded us of California (wish we were there already!). We did stop and get some yummy peaches in this area, and I finally found a bottle of hand sanitizer. Woot, woot! It was way overpriced, but I was down to almost my last drop, having only had only two small purse-size bottles since we left Douglas at the end of February.
We made good progress on our audiobook today, and our hotel room is newly renovated. Brand new everything, ahhh. Day 3, still in Texas!
That's Ozona, not Ozana. I was tired. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the journey and stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We're using all of the safety protocols possible and avoiding people and places who aren't.
DeleteWell you certainly are making tracks aren't you good luck in your travels and stay safe
ReplyDeleteCruising along, hoping to end our journey on Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks!
DeleteThanks for the updates! It is interesting to hear what other states are doing.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is very different state by state, and then 'official' rules are different than what some of the people are actually doing, unfortunately.
DeleteAll that gumbo calls for plenty of rice and the coastal wetlands are probably ideal for paddies. My Bhutanese friends grew and worked in rice paddies in HIGH ALTITUDE Bhutan and later in Nepal after the constitutional monarchy's 'happiest country" [sic!] exiled them.
ReplyDeleteWhich audiobook? Is a public library e-loan?
Interesting! I imagine it's even harder work at those altitudes. Bhutan, yes, that 'happiness' label is a whole can of worms. We read When Breath Becomes Air (had just finished when you sent notice about your friend). Listening on and off to The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl for comic relief. Started Howard Zinn's People's History of the U.S, which seemed eerily appropriate on Memorial Day at this point in time in this country. All library loans, downloaded onto the phone.
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