Tuesday, March 19, 2024

2024 Spring moving west from Florida to Alaska

 Oh my what a winter season this has been. Traveling with the WINs through Florida, Key West, RV troubles requiring a change from towing a trailer with all my toys to towing a truck with some of my toys.

Finaly having a new truck the Ford Maverick that is also a Hybrid to carry kayaks and bicycle rather than the trailer that also carried a motorcycle. Allot of work changing over included installing a tow bar, baseplate (underneath truck to connect towbar) and lighting. Cargo bed and roof racks complete the setup to carry kayaks. Tow the trailer and motorcycle to my sons house in South Carolina until I decide if motorcycle riding is a thing of the past for me or not. I really do enjoy ridding, but it is no longer feasible to bring along during my travels.

While in central Florida doing all of this some other WINs members came by and lent a hand. John S. gave 10 hors one day helping me install the tow bar. JoAnn came by and was available when I had a surprise DR appointment for additional follow-up. Fortunately, everything worked out just fine.

Finally ready to go I stop in Tallahassee and was able to tour the old Capital building. Very interesting history was depicted, and I began to see how political parties are actually more focused upon laws and regulations that benefit their personal businesses rather than the good of the people. how disgusting! Not very surprising either for humans are selfish creatures.






Promoting tourism in Florida are some early RV travelers




A 2 1/2 mile hike in Leon Sinks Geological area was very informative how sinkhole's develop and what is the difference of a dry sink and wet sink. There was one place where a creek flowed to a path I was standing on, went underground and then came back aboveground on the other side of the path, later on the same creek disappears underground for good.







During the hike I startled a herd of 5 whitetail deer a nd later 2 other deer by themselves. Nice to walk in nature.

Next day I continued west to meet up with other WINs in Tallahassee. FL. From here Rod and I will continue to travel together as we have since the Canadian Maritimes trip last summer.

Last summer I had the pleasure to tour Acadian Living Village in Canadian Maritimes. I learned a lot about the way people were impacted by wars and turmoil in the past few centuries. Today I toured Acadian Living Village in Louisiana that was a direct result of that turmoil. The cause and effect of these things and how it is seen today is remarkable. 

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see and learn about people and culture as well as history that made this world so fascinating.











Yep, that's me pulling the ferry across










Allot of detailed reading, tells the story of "Le Grand Derangement" - look it up, this ties the Canadian Acadian to the Louisiana Acadian and Cajun peoples.























The homes used mud and Spanish moss for insulation.












Ahhh traveling on I go see fellow WINs member Linda in Galveston, TX. She has put allot of work into renovations of 2 homes on the island.

























Met up overnight in Pasadena, TX with other WINs the head over to College Station for George Bush Presidential Library.


























LBJ presidential library in Austin, TX





























Catching up to some of the WINs I have been traveling with this winter in San Antonio there was Rod, Jeanie, Becky and also Marsha. I had not seen Marsha since Canadian Maritimes Circuit!

Jeanie and Becky left the next morning and Rod and I went downtown to walk the sights.







































Another day Rod and I went to a museum and Rod had a great time flying F18 Hornet simulator.