DAY 1
Summerfield, FL to Eufaula, AL

Today was a travel day. After last night’s 4am wake-up from the Propane Gas detector yet again (we were up about an hour this time trying to figure out why it was going off, then waiting for the detector to stop alerting by opening ALL the windows in the camper) I decided not to do my normal 7 mile run before leaving and just get on the road. After a quick last trip to the storage unit and drop-off at Chuck’s sister’s, we broke camp at Chuck’s nephew’s house and headed to the Market to dump our tanks. Finally – on the road!

We traveled via 441 to I75 and North to Valdosta, GA. Chuck wanted to get fuel in GA as it’s always cheaper there. Chuck and I took turns driving. He drove 2-3 hours, then we stopped at a Wendy’s (Free Wi-Fi access) and bought lunch and ate it in the camper. I took over driving for about 2.5 hours (my first time with this camper!) and then stopped at a truck stop for fuel. Note for future: If stopping at a truck stop, make it a complete rest stop. This stop took us about 45 minutes total and all we did was fill the truck and then weigh it. Truck stops take a long time.

Weight of the camper now is about 1,000 lbs heavier than the last time we weighed it, but we weren’t packed for full-timing then. We’re still within our limits, but I would prefer to be lighter. I’m sure over time we’ll lose more of the weight. I still have stuff to go through to get rid of, and we’ll certainly find things we didn’t need to bring we can get rid of as well.

At Lakepoint State Park, AL

After the truck stop Chuck took over driving again until we stopped. We drove until about 7:30 pm ET (which was 6:30 pm Central Time right over the border in Alabama). From info in the Woodall’s book we decided to camp at Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula, AL. It was a good move. It was beautiful and right on the lake and advertised hiking trails which should be great for tomorrow’s 7 mile run.

Since the camping office was closed for the evening, we followed the directions posted on the door and chose a campsite and deposited our payment in an envelope in their drop box. We’ll settle up and register in full tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. We drove around the park first, checking all areas before making a choice (something we learned from our last trip out West – remember New Mexico!). We chose a nice spot in the area of the park on the lake, picking a site that we could just pull-through. The sites right on the lake were a bit more expensive, required backing in, and signs stated if you chose one that was reserved you’d be asked to move the next day. We decided the view of the water was just as great from our pull-through site. Quick hook-up to water and electric (we bypassed the Sewer for the evening – we don’t need it for two days, especially since we’re empty – and the price is less). Unfortunately, while setting up we noticed that the Galley grey water pipe was leaking. Turns out it was rubbing against the bolts that hold the suspension for the trailer and it wore a hole right into it. What a lousy trailer design! Tomorrow we plan to patch and use some wire strapping to pull the pipe away from the struts so it won’t happen again. Oh well, one more thing to fix. Guess it’s all part of it.

All in all it was a good day. A little longer traveling time it seemed, but that’s because we got a bit of a late start and then the smaller state roads through Georgia, as well as the long truck stop. The route was interesting though. I enjoyed SR 82 as it went through some rural GA and AL areas. I love the old plantation houses and small towns that still look like they’re in the 1950s. Guess I’m a small-town / country girl at heart. I’m looking forward to getting my run in tomorrow and then spending most of the day just resting up from the last 2 weeks plus of frantic organizing and getting ready to leave. I’m exhausted!

Shadow had a quiet day. She slept pretty much the whole way. She was so tired, and obviously comfortable, that she just sprawled out on her pillow, at times laying on her back with her feet in the air! Chuck and I thought for sure she’d be full of energy and throwing toys at us all night but after a nice walk she seemed to really enjoy, she was out for the rest of the evening.

Off to bed! Hope the propane detector does not go off this evening. If it doesn’t, we’ll know our theory about Chuck’s nephew’s propane tank giving off fumes and filling the camper is right. We’ll see…