March 19, 2006

March 19, 2006

Ocala to Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida

YEAR 2 DAY 275

 

Today was sunny and very warm again.

Woo-Hoo ... Dee-Dee and Harvey have made it from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean, to the Gulf Of Mexico, and now, finally to the Atlantic Ocean. This morning we prepared for departure and left Ocala Ranch RV Park, heading north on Interstate 75. At the Hwy. 200 exit, we exited into the city of Ocala, and following the directions we got at the campground, found our way to PetsMart. Teddy has been having some problems lately, and we've decided he needs a better quality pet food than we can buy at Wal-Mart. It's inconvenient to have to look for pet food specialty stores, but we want to start feeding him Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Senior cat food. We bought Teddy's new cat food, some cat treats, a bag of dog biscuits, and 2 new tennis balls for Bo. Getting the rig in and out of the mall that PetsMart was located in was a huge challenge. We drove down the street a bit looking for a grocery store, and found Publix. Another huge challenge getting in and out of the mall parking lot. Some cities just aren't very RV friendly, even right close to the Interstate, which is a bit unusual. Usually, right close to an Interstate highway, the malls and service stations are designed to allow easy access for large vehicles. We bought groceries, then drove down the street a bit more to get diesel. < sigh > The Chevron station was one of the most difficult service stations I've had to enter and exit. After leaving the service station, and waiting to turn left to enter the Interstate entrance ramp, I got cut off by a one ton diesel dually, in one of the rudest, most selfish driving manoeuvers I've ever witnessed. I felt road rage ! I leaned on the horn, and expressed my displeasure with a finger. Joanne calmed me down, reminding me that we’re in the United States, and the pricks down here have guns.

We got back onto I-75 without getting shot, and drove north to Gainesville. We stopped at a road side rest area on the outskirts of Gainesville and had lunch. After lunch we turned northeast on Hwy. 331, which later merged with Hwy. 24, which later merged with Hwy. 301. Some of the roads down here are absurd. For awhile the highway we were on seemed to have about five different numbers all at the same time. We followed Hwy. 301 along the west edge of Jacksonville, and turned east along the north edge of Jacksonville on Hwy. A1A. We drove east on A1A onto Amelia Island, and found Lake Clinch State Park at Fernandina Beach. The park had 1 vacancy, for 1 night only, due to a late cancellation. We were planning to stay at least 2 nights. The Park Ranger said that Spring Break week varies across the country, so the impact of Spring Break on Florida’s beach parks lasts for most of March < sigh >.

We quickly got set up in our campsite, then went for a walk on the Atlantic Ocean beach. The Atlantic beach was much colder and windier than the Gulf Of Mexico coasts we’ve been to. We returned to the trailer, and took Bo for an obedience training session. Good work, Bo. Just as the sun set, I set up the barbecue. I downloaded and processed some photos I took earlier today, then barbecued a nice salmon fillet for me, and a pork chop for Joanne, on a cedar plank. MMMMM ! ! !

After supper I did today’s accounting, then began to work on today’s journal entry. We watched Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy.

DSK