Dave washing the RV at our stop in Georgia. As Thanksgiving week began, we packed up with plans to head south shortly after Thanksgiving. After joining Bonnie’s family for Thanksgiving Day, we moved a few miles south to Emporia. Our plan was to help out with a project at Bonnie and Troy’s and then head to Jacksonville by month-end. It was going to be a slow trip south because of the towing speed restrictions on our new truck. However, we didn’t realize just how slow a trip it would be.
Just like the song, we were trying to reach 500 miles. How Slow Can We Go?
Having said goodbye to Joe on Monday of Thanksgiving week, we re-positioned our RV to another site at the park. This was our first time moving the RV with the new truck. We learned more about the truck’s trailering features, including camera views that aid in hooking up and maneuvering the trailer. The truck’s software also tracks the miles specific to trailering, which would prove useful. We would pull out again on Friday after Thanksgiving to move to Emporia for three nights. Then we would head out to Jacksonville on Monday. At least that was the plan.
Our new Silverado had just under 1000 miles, but more importantly, it had no towing miles. The owner’s manual requires that the first 500 miles towing should be less than 50mph. That is most of the distance to Florida from Pocahontas. Since we didn’t want to travel that speed on I95, we mapped out a route that took us off the interstate. And no matter what Google Maps says, our average speed on these routes was going to be less than 50, meaning this was going to be a slow trip.
Having said goodbye to Joe on Monday of Thanksgiving week, we re-positioned our RV to another site at the park. This was our first time moving the RV with the new truck. We learned more about the truck’s trailering features, including camera views that aid in hooking up and maneuvering the trailer. The truck’s software also tracks the miles specific to trailering, which would prove useful. We would pull out again on Friday after Thanksgiving to move to Emporia for three nights. Then we would head out to Jacksonville on Monday. At least that was the plan.
Our new Silverado had just under 1000 miles, but more importantly, it had no towing miles. The owner’s manual requires that the first 500 miles towing should be less than 50mph. That is most of the distance to Florida from Pocahontas. Since we didn’t want to travel that speed on I95, we mapped out a route that took us off the interstate. And no matter what Google Maps says, our average speed on these routes was going to be less than 50, meaning this was going to be a slow trip.
Cathy sleeps off her first day of Covid However, all plans were off the table when Cathy woke up on Saturday feeling bad. And, to our dismay, she tested positive for Covid. We had dodged that bullet for almost 4 years. And it wasn’t much of a surprise when Dave tested positive the next day. That slow trip to Florida just got a lot slower. While we recovered from the flu symptoms in just a couple of days, the fatigue had us stay put for longer. That meant we were going to be in Virginia for some very cold temperatures (into the teens). We managed to get some groceries before Dave succumbed, and then after our symptoms had subsided, we were able to refill our propane tanks without getting close contact. The low temperatures were using up our propane at a fast pace.
The joke is pretty thin, but the campground at South of the Border was easy to get into, and we were grateful to be in for the night. It wasn’t until a week later that we decided we were good enough to head out. Also, with the rising temperatures, we had less pressure to be plugged in each night, offering more options for stopovers. So, we had several bailout stops mapped out to keep from traveling too long or hard. Our first day had us travel through NC, bringing us to Camp Pedro in South of the Border. We were dragging, and on the fence about our next day’s travel. Possibly against better judgement, we headed out the next day to Walterboro, where we managed to parallel park in a crowded Walmart parking lot. Arriving in the early afternoon, we pickup up some food for dinner and then crashed shortly after.
Back in Florida finally. The next day, even though we felt more refreshed, we decided against heading for Jacksonville. We would arrive tired and still have to set up. Instead, we opted to stop in Brunswick GA at Coastal Georgia RV, an easy pull-through stop only 140 miles away. We even found an outdoor restaurant to get some local shrimp for dinner. Dave had enough energy to wash the truck and RV, which had become filthy from the rain-soaked roads over the last few days. So, we finally arrived in Jacksonville on a quiet Monday morning, after traveling only an hour. The whole trip set a record for being our slowest trip south yet.
Grandma and Taylor send a Thanksgiving greeting. Thanksgiving
Before all of the drama of Covid and our trip south, we spent a nice Thanksgiving Day with Bonnie’s family. The food and the company were great. Troy smoked a delicious turkey and there lots of delicious sides to go with it.
After moving the RV, we returned the next day to help install panels on one open end of an shed. While Troy and Troy had already installed most of the frame by the time we arrived, we managed to lend some hand to install the highest of the long panels that would enclose the space. Luckily, the next panels went in without our help the next day because we weren’t in a good position to help once Cathy tested positive.
Before all of the drama of Covid and our trip south, we spent a nice Thanksgiving Day with Bonnie’s family. The food and the company were great. Troy smoked a delicious turkey and there lots of delicious sides to go with it.
After moving the RV, we returned the next day to help install panels on one open end of an shed. While Troy and Troy had already installed most of the frame by the time we arrived, we managed to lend some hand to install the highest of the long panels that would enclose the space. Luckily, the next panels went in without our help the next day because we weren’t in a good position to help once Cathy tested positive.
