TOUR AMERICA, 2020: OCALA, FLORIDA, THE SUNSHINE STATE

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

(We’ve added a new stop to our link)

Home Is Where We Park It:  Silver Springs State Park Campground, Ocala, Florida

September 17, 2020

Temperature 82 Degrees, 

The Rain Came – Sort of 

Travel Day

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again we are two of the most fortunate and blessed people on the face of the planet.

Thursday called for 80% chance of rain.  Not the best for a travel day.  Well, Wednesday night it poured throughout the night.  However, at 7 am it stopped.  The question, though, was but for how long.  The answer was long enough for us to leisurely pack everything up to get ready to roll.  In due time, after a few hours spent watching Deep Space Nine, everything was put away and by 10:30 am we were on the road.

The roads were in terrific shape.  The traffic was light.  As for the forecasted rain?  We hit three really bad storms with winds gusting from the side and torrential rain.  So glad I treated the windshield with RainX.   Yet, not one of the storms lasted for more than ten to fifteen minutes.  Overall, a total of about thirty to forty five minutes of rain which I say is not bad for a trip of two hours.

A call to the park confirmed that we could come in early so we pushed on despite the rain.

Two hours later we were at the entrance to the campground.  A quick stop to pick up our registration packet and off we went to find our new home.  But once again we were left shaking our heads, Not one of the rangers who came to the rig to check us in was wearing a mask. 

From the ranger station to the turn for the campground sites is about a mile and a half.  You make a right. . .

A short ride to the end of the road, another right hand turn into our loop. . . .

Around the loop. . .

Home sweet home for the next two weeks.  We have a pull through with FHU.  The site is hard packed gravel but by no means level.  No problem, the jacks made easy work of getting level.  Out came the slides.  Almost there.

So far no rain.  But. . .

The skies didn’t look too promising.

I quickly plugged into the electric pedestal; I got the sewer hose on; then I hooked up the water filter and softener.   The window and door awnings came out.  The tire covers and the tow bar cover were put on.  And not a minute too soon.

The heavens opened up and the rain came down.  It was like being doused with a fire hose.  Then it stopped.  Then it started again.  This was the pattern for the remainder of the day.  On again, off again.  But what did we care, we were cool, dry and comfortable inside.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  What could have been a wet, miserable travel day turned out to be a walk in the park.  Plus, we were able to get completely set up without a drop of rain.  Yes, we are blessed and fortunate.  Bonus, we again have TV!  What we discovered is that we really only need two of the three satellites on the western arch to get all of our programs.  Yipee!  Thank you good Lord for watching over us while we were on the road.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!