After our Christmas/New Year craziness, Bob and I spent weeks getting prepped for our big journey south. We kept the June Bug heated and have been sorting/arranging/packing and organizing all our possessions so we can spend three weeks in a small space without tearing our hair out.
We’re so thankful to have a large refrigerator/freezer! The first two nights of our trip we’ll leave the tow vehicle attached so won’t be able to drive to a grocery store, and then when we reach the Florida state parks we’ll be far from supplies. So we’ve loaded the kitchen up with everything we need for the first 5 nights.
Because we made our reservations early, we already know each destination and have sites picked out. We’ll stop overnight at the Nashville KOA and hope the temperatures stay above freezing. We plan to de-winterize while we have full hookups. The next day we’ll drive to Montgomery, Alabama and also leave the tow vehicle attached. This park is reportedly “nice” and it is quite near Interstate 65, so we’re hoping for an easy-off/easy-on experience.
Once we arrive in the panhandle of Florida, we’re going to try a few Florida State Parks. I’ve never visited the Emerald Coast and I’m really excited to see the gulf water and fine white sand. Our first stop is St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, site number 038.
Stay tuned!!
I wore my fun new sweatshirt “DRIVER, TAKE ME SOMEWHERE SUNNY.”
Road trip down I-65. It was a beautiful day for driving, and we started the trip listening to John Hiatt singing “Come on Baby, Drive South!” to get us going. Having Vera along wasn’t a challenge at all. She is a great passenger and just slept in the back seat the whole way down to Nashville.
Crossing the Ohio River at Louisville
Vera enjoying the little dog park in the KOA campground
Our stop at the KOA started out great. The sun was shining and the temps were reasonable. Bob was able to get the Airstream “un-winterized” while I walked Vera. As I turned the corner to return, I saw lots of water streaming out the door and down the steps. There had been an incident! Apparently the water filter was not attached to the kitchen faucet when Bob turned the water on, so it began spraying all over the under-sink cabinet. Oh, it was a really wet mess. Lucky for us we brought lots of extra towels and were able to get it all cleaned up but it was getting dark and really cold by the time we finished.
The fellas at the KOA office were so helpful and brought me a golf cart to haul the heavy load of soaking towels to the laundry. I sure didn’t expect to spend our first night on the road washing towels!
Good morning Becky!
I love your blog. It’s arranged so well and your writing style is fun to read.
We also traded up from a Bambi to a 25’FB and have a VW Touareg TDI for towing. We plan to head to the Pacific Northwest in May for a 3-month trip. We have been out for three months in the Bambi and, like you, really enjoy the extra space for these long trips.
How are you liking the Mercedes for towing? I would love to chat about how you use the trunk space. Shifting from a truck to an SUV has its challenges, don’t you think??
All the Best,
Caryl in Illinois
I’m so happy to hear from you, Caryl. I’m from Illinois! Read back thru the blog and you’ll see our little Illinois adventure last year in the Bambi.
The new International Sterling is the greatest thing EVER. We have our big lab Vera with us and tonight is our first night with all three of us. It’s wonderful.
Bob loves the car for towing. So much room in the hatch area..I’ll be posting pics of that after we get to a warmer climate! It’s FREEZING in Nashville tonight.
Thanks so much for checking in.
Even though I handle the competitors to Airstream, I can’t help but admire these timeless beauties. Being that I enjoy all things RV, I wax poetic to my youth when my great aunt and uncle used to pull their 1950-something Airstream behind their 1956 Buick Roadmaster. They would show up at family reunions, having traveled across the country, and this was in the late 60’s-early 70’s. My cousins and myself spent hours playing in that Airstream, pretending it was our house on wheels. I can still remember that there were several auxiliary controls in the driver’s cockpit of that car for controlling the trailer. There was a huge lever that was installed, looking like a floor shifter. My great uncle explained to me that he had to pull it first to slow the trailer down, then apply the car brakes. The other buttons and levers were used to control the running lights and signals on the trailer. Those cars were infamous for notorious gas mileage. I can’t fathom pulling a 9,000lbs trailer and feeding that thing. Imagine driving a rig like that today!
Have a good trip!
Thanks for reading the blog. We’re already having a great time.
Enjoy your adventures and hopefully you see lots of sunshine and warm temps. That Emerald Coast is sure pretty but most of us call it the Redneck Riviera!!!
If it’s the Redneck Riviera, we’ll fit right in.
While you are in North Florida at this time of year, strongly urge you to check out Maclay Gardens State Park just north of Tallahassee. The main gardens are located around a 1920s home on a lake with lovely ornamental gardens. The main attraction is the 10-12 foot high camellia bushes in bloom January to March. Plus lots of hiking and equestrian trails in the park. But the flowers alone are truly worth the detour. Information at http://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens/
happy trails to you.
Thanks for the idea! I’ll look at that park. We went with whatever places had availability when we made our plans. But sometimes they have last minute cancellations, so I’ll see what’s what!!
Hope you guys have enjoyed Alabama. You’re going to love the Gulf Coast – from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, all the way over past Daytona.
Hi Becky! I have been a fan of Bob and Tom for years and just recently started listening to them again at the beginning of this year. I quickly realized that something was missing from the show and I have been wondering where Bob and his iconic laugh have been! So much so that I was intrigued enough to search online and quickly found this blog through the Bob and Tom website. I enjoyed looking at your pictures and I decided I had to log in and say that I used to live in Tallahassee and you guys will love North Florida. It truly is the Redneck Riviera! I hope you have a great time and I am sure you will. My wife and I want to do this exact type of traveling when we’re able to! On a side note, when will Bob be back on the show??
Thanks and safe travels!!!
-Nate from Tallahassee (but now Ohio, ugh!)
THANKS!! I’m glad to know you’re a loyal long-time listener. We are excited to see the gulf tomorrow afternoon because it’s freezing here. Right now we’re in the Nashville KOA prepping for the drive to Montgomery, AL.
Bob will return to the show March 9. Keep listening!
Becky,
Bring some of that warmth back up North when you head this way. Have a safe trip! Tell Bob we all miss him in the mornings.
Thanks,
Mike from Ohio
I’m happy to know you miss Bob. But I’ve got him for a little while longer!
Curiosity got me hooked in on your travel adventures. It is good to know you don’t need a huge RV to enjoy the sights and the destinations. I like hearing your take on the destinations and look forward to reading more. Enjoy your trip!
We absolutely love the Airstream trailer. Thanks a zillion for checking out the blog.
Bob and Becky,you guys rock! Long time listener first time blogger! Heard Bob on the show talking up this trip and am so envious. Like the way you describe your excursions, so down to earth and honest. Lol Have fun, be safe and keep us updated on your travels! PS love your website
We are having so much fun, and I’m really happy you checked out the blog. Keep listening to the Bob & Tom Show…Bob will be back on the air March 9.