Cape Coral to Las Cruces, NMFeb 5, 2007
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Cape Coral to Las Cruces, NM
Day 1: Almost made our goal of a 9 am departure; were rolling at 9:15. Breezy, but otherwise a good day for travel. We completed the I-75 leg of our route and another 40 miles to Madison, FL on I-10. The Deerwood RV Park was an old KOA located behind the Deerwood Motel. Both had seen better days. The Motel had mostly Dump Trucks with "Asphalt Hauler" on them; lodging for road construction crews. The RV Park was largely vacant. We weren't given a map - just told to select any "red" pedestal in the park. They seemed to be randomly placed in the sparse scrub oaks. We walked out and selected one that enabled a good southern sky view for our satellite antenna and set up. The only excitement of the day followed as an old fart with a fifth wheel drove in, was obviously as confused as we had been about how to park around the power pedestals; made a tight circle and then started to back up -- right over a pedestal. Water shot high in the air from the broken pipe. A couple of guys, who appeared to be park maintenance came driving by before the pickup driver got half way to the office. The water soon stopped flowing. The pickup driver went to the leaning pedestal and attempted to straighten it up. I waited for him to "light up" but he was really, really lucky and the electrical connection was either shut off, or hadn't resulted in a live wire. I haven't mentally gotten "camera ready" yet so it was all over before I thought photo op. 300 miles north was enough to earn us a frosty windshield on the jeep the next morning.
Day 2: After a really cool start the sun quickly warmed things and we had a great sunny day to drive. Three states today: Florida panhandle, Alabama, and we entered Mississippi before stopping at Indian Point RV Park in Gautier, MS. It was listed as a 5 star park in the CG guide. Don't know what earned that rating. Average facilities, but it's located on a bayou adjoining a huge swamp. Lots of signs warning about alligators! It had a boat ramp and docks so probably was a prime fishing location.
Day 3: Started sunny, but the clouds thickened throughout the day. Made it through MS and most of the way through Louisiana before stopping at Hidden Ponds RV Park in Sulphur, LA. Large park with mostly trailers and dozens of "cabins" that appeared to be occupied by workers. I-10 could aptly be labeled "devastation alley" over the last two days route. Ivan, Katrina, and Rita left marks that will not be erased in the next decade!!! The local evening news had a report of a body that had just been discovered in a damaged home that was scheduled to be demolished. Neighbors had assumed the man living there evacuated and just never returned. Apparently no one checked the house and the body had been there since Rita came through in 05. Most roadside billboards are still vacant, even if repaired; damaged structures are everywhere as are trash and storm debris. It would take a large army of workers and equipment to clean up and restore things. That simply is not going to be done. Survival trumps order, and will for a very long time. I celebrated my birthday with Supper at Cajun Charlie's famous Seafood Buffet. A vegetarian would have starved! There wasn't a carrot on the entire line, nor a piece of lettuce. Nor were there any of the famous LA crawfish. Most every other type of seafood from gator to shrimp pie was there though, with plenty of Cajun spice to keep the old stomach alert for several days! Charlie was apparently a member of the He Haw show a one time and the walls were covered with autographed photos of country musicians, including a framed, autographed photo of Governor Jimmy Davis and a 1940's copy of his greatest fame: "You Are My Sunshine".
Day 4: Looked and felt like winter today. Low clouds and smog covered the entire I-10 corridor. It looked and felt more like Oregon coast than south Texas. We did pass the East Texas Crawfish Farm. Anyone know when it's "roundup time" for crawfish? Maybe we'll get lucky on our way back to Florida and get to "be in Texas for the roundup in the spring". Should be an interesting sight, them cowboys herding them little critters! Got through San Antonio today and a few miles into the Texas Hill country. Eight deer were grazing in the field beside the Alamo Hacienda RV Park. I was able to get within 20 feet of them to get photos. They know exactly when the end of hunting season occurs.
Day 5: Really like winter today. Fog and drizzle for the first 4 hours going west from San Antonio. Strange desert weather. Afternoon was sun and wind - more what you would expect.
Day 6 & 7: Ft. Bliss, TX Family Camp. Rest and grocery stop. Also some "real" Tex-Mexican food. Even the mild sauce would make your eyes water. Didn't even try the little green pepper on the plate!
Day 8: The wind really blew last night and during today's drive. Gusts to 35 mph. Plenty of dust to go along with it. Las Cruces is "middle desert"; about 4000 feet. It's home to New Mexico State University plus another 120k folks.
