Diesel Gypsy: January 2009

Jan.26th Day Trip

Monday was a wonderfully sunny day, mid 70's....so off we went with Chalie & Yvonne to St. Petersburg to check out one of America's nicest beaches, as well as Fort De Soto & the Dali Museum.

It was a full day, and we were all pooped at the end.

Here are a few pics to give you the general idea, or click on the link for a 24 picture slideshow.

http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/569813698PnYsSW

January, 25th 2009 E.G. Simmons Park, Ruskin,Fl

Well, the weather just keeps getting better, and when your here...it IS all about the weather!

Mid 70's during the day, low 5o's in the early morning.

Some days there isn't a cloud in the sky.

Wildlife abounds, tonight we had a family of rabbits visit us at our camp-fire.

Our good friends Charlie & Yvonne are here as well, and we chum around quite a bit.

EG Simmons Park, Ruskin, Fl. Jan.19th

Really lucky to get this spot...on the water.

Today it was +75*f.

Gotta get my Hughes set-up

The East Coast Conversions crew at the Show

From Jan.14-18 we treiad our best to get the word out about the HDT option.

Claire, Yvonne, Charlie, Mike, Dave & Me..

Here we are...old friends, and THE SHOW!

OK...Jan. 14th. Great sunny day...Skip & Jackie Tamm arrive at the fairgrounds.

Then, in we go to help Mike Czetli in the East Coast Conversions booth.

Next day on the road with Charlie, Jan 13th.

Early morning after leaving the LOVES fuel stop 35 miles east of Tampa.

And arriving at the exit for the Tampa RV Super Show...

First stop, Flying J in Brunswick,Ga

Great spot, we were all cozy & ready for the night.........then an attendant came out to tell us we needed to move.

We were in an UN-MARKED no parking zone...

The rig behind us was from New Brunswick.

Away we go...Jan.12th

OK..it was wonderful to see Paul & Linda once again, but our schedule was pre-determined to leave today for Florida.

We needed to be in Tampa for the RV Super Show on the 14th.

Here is a less traveled back road we used to get to the I-95

Our little RV camp-site in Lamar,Sc. Jan.9th/2009

Winter in Sc. is a little colorless, brown grass, not much greenery , but today it was +65*f, and that was well worth the trip for Claire & I.

A look at out camp from outside & me inside typing up this blog..

As the day winds down on I-95 south near Lamar,Sc

Here we are almost at our RV campsite....nearly 6:00pm on Jan.8th.

Virginia in the winter, Jan. 8th.

Even though it is winter time there are still things to see of interest along the road south...

That old church in Richmond, Va

That sky high overpass about 10 miles further down the I-95 in Richmond,Va.

Jan. 8th, Winchester, Va.

Well, we made it here, spent the night, and loaded 65 gallons of fuel at $2.17 a gallon.

We did not fill the tanks because the fuel is even cheaper further south!

Finally it is getting warmer...

Jan. 7th..bad weather on I-81 south

Not the best of driving weather...black ice was prevelant, just had to take it easy, only got 260 miles today.

Jan. 7th, I-81 south....freezing rain & fog

The road conditions were bad, but we got by OK...it was the 100 feet visibility for over 40+ miles that wore me out!

Day 2 of our trip, Jan.7th

Well, we knew the weather was going to turn on us.....and it did!

Here is what we woke up to at the Flying J in New Milford, Pa.

It had been sleeting most of the night, the ground was covered in an inch of sleet, but we waited till 11:00am, and headed out onto I-81 south....

The great divide, our border crossing bridge to the USA

Not all border crosings are as picturesque as this one.

Exit 661 on the Trans Canada Highway 401, here is the view at 2:00pm January, 6th.

Our trusty Volvo provided safety & comfort

Our trailer is fully winterized of course, and at 20* below it is not really useable, so our trusty Volvo becomes our home on wheels, it is warm, and safe and quite comfy.

After the Christmas & Holiday festivities it was time

Yes, we just had to do it.

After shovelling for over a month and a half, Claire and I said lets get outta here.

So on Jan. 6th we started our winter journey south.

So here is a few pics of the trip starting from our driveway...

Diesel Gypsy

Tuesday, January 27, 2009