Tuesday, October 20, 2015

One More Driving Day...

Gulf Shores/Pensacola West KOA
Lillian, AL
October 20, 2015

We have been in the road five days...yesterday was the longest day as we clicked away 454 miles...all the way from Weatherford, TX (just west of Fort Worth) to Scott, LA (just west of Lafayette). Tomorrow will be the last leg of the trip...a long boring 409 miles on I-10 across the Florida Panhandle to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Sunday morning, we were up and on the road before the sun was shining on the Lone Star State...an appropriate nickname for a Texas. It is the only state that was a Republic at one point in its history. The lone star symbolizes this as well as the state's fight for independence from Mexico in the 1800s.



Just outside of Jacksboro on US-281, we were slowed down by horses and buggies. We are not sure what the occasion was, but their Sunday morning ride seemed like lots of fun.


 Cotton fields along the way...


Sunday morning was the perfect time to pass through several small towns like the one in the picture below...the streets were bare.


The early Monday morning glow on the skyline of Fort Worth as we pulled in the reins and headed towards Louisiana. 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful became the motto of this state in 2000. It's focus is on education, enforcement, awareness, litter removal and beautification. Communities are encouraged to promote a litter-free state by involving Everyday Hero's to do their part to protect their state and beautify their community. It did not go unnoticed that the stretch of 212 miles on I-49 between Shreveport and Lafayette were spotless. Go Louisiana!

The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge measures 96,100 feet (18.2 miles) and is listed in USA Today as one of the ten most memorable bridges in the world. It is amazing to be traveling over these waterways thinking how did people do this before the bridge was built. Today, this impressive bridge is part of I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. I read it is the second-longest bridge in the US and the fourteenth longest in the world...




We spent about two hours today crossing Mississippi...The Birthplace of American Music. The state claims to have "literally shaped the course of modern music with its contributions to blues, jazz, country and gospel". Other claims to fame include...1. shoes, in America, were first sold in pairs in 1884 at a shoe parlor in Vicksburg, 2. Belzoni is the "Catfish Capital of The World" with 70% of the nation's farm-raised catfish coming from there, 3. Elvis was born in Tupelo. 

Tonight we are settled in at the Gulf Shores/Pensacola West KOA in Lillian, AL located on the Perdido Bay. Our drive was short in "Alabama the Beautiful" with highlights being a flock of herons...


the George Wallace Tunnel...


and the skyline of Mobile.

And, yes, the flags at a park in Foley.
The plan is to be settled in at the Stagecoach RV Park tomorrow in St. Augustine, FL for a glorious 12 nights. The weather looks iffy with rain showers almost everyday...but I don't care! 

Take care and until next time, let the good times roll...

HAPPY TRAILS!

13 comments:

  1. Wow! Getting across Texas seems to take forever and the terrain changes often. You'll need to rest a bit once you finally get to your destination.

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  2. Great road shots and commentary! I especially love the wind farm with the pastel sky.

    I remember TX being kind of a dirty state to visit, I can imagine how lovely LA must have seemed after that!

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  3. Your long days sound like ours....just hurry up and get there....except, I don't usually take pictures. Are you staying in FL for awhile? We should be back there around the middle of Nov......leaving CO on the 7th and heading to Lexington, KY, then to Gaffney SC for annual Freightliner maint and then finally, to the winter house. Will miss CO immensely as I'm sure you'll miss Moab. Safe travels.

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  4. My comment disappeared ??? Just want to tell you guys to keep safe, enjoy your drive...take care.

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  5. I have to say, Wow!, also. That is some driving. You are definitely going to need the rest when you get to St. Augustine:) Super photos along the way. Love the sunrise! I wonder where the wagon train is going! The cotton fields are always fun to see as we travel. Have a wonderful time in Florida:)

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  6. In my opinion, if you got through Texas, then you got through the hard part...but of course, we are normally taking I-10 where Texas seems to go on and on and on and on. Just shy of two months from now and we will be back home in Florida. If you plan on visiting the Tampa area, give us a heads up. --Dave (GoingRvWay.com)

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  7. That is a journey we have made many times, always enjoy it, but like to take our time. Enjoy Florida.

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  8. Texas always seems never ending to me, but I always love the Atchafalaya bridge. By the way, those are white pelicans not herons. :)

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    1. Thank you Judy...what was I thinking? Must have been way tired!

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  9. I really enjoyed this tour! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)

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  10. That is some kind of driving we hope won't do in the future! But of course the goal is to attend a family wedding which is a good reason to high tail to FL.
    Great commentaries of what you saw on the way. I still have to see Cottonfields!

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  11. Whew! That's a lot of country to cover in a few short days. Did you wave to us as you flew by Gulf Shores? Hope you, Joe, & the crew have a great time in St. Augustine. It's a favorite of ours.

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  12. That's a lot of driving, and it did get you ahead of the big storm! Wish folks would add a banner when they have an event like the wagon train - they have to know the passers by are curious! Fun pics along the route - the tunnel looks like you're being swallowed :-) Enjoy your nice long stay - hopefully with some sunny days.

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