March 20, 2006

March 20, 2006

Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida to Homeland, Georgia

YEAR 2 DAY 276

 

Today was sunny and very warm again, temperature of 81 degrees. Today is the first day of spring, and the first day we saw Canada Geese flying north. See ya, guys, we'll be right behind you.

This morning we prepared for departure, drove over to the trailer dumping station, emptied the grey water holding tanks, and left Fort Clinch State Park. We travelled west on Hwy. A1A back towards the mainland. Yesterday just before we got to Fernandina Beach we saw a Wal-Mart with a Tire & Lube Express, and I wanted to get an oil change this morning. When we saw the Wal-Mart we turned in. It was a small Wal-Mart, with a very difficult entry to the parking lot for a rig our size. I squeezed in, then realized there was no Tire & Lube Express. We were at a different Wal-Mart than the one we saw yesterday < sigh >. We squeezed back out of the Wal-Mart, and continued west on A1A. As soon as we crossed the bridge from Amelia Island back to Jacksonville on the mainland, we saw the Wal-Mart with the Tire & Lube Express. We parked, and I walked over to the Tire & Lube Express to arrange for an oil and filter change, and lubrication. They didn't have a hoist large enough to handle a one ton dually < sigh >. I thought all Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express departments had the same equipment. Apparently not ! We went into Wal-Mart and replenished groceries and supplies, then filled up Dee-Dee with diesel at the Wal-Mart gas bar.

We headed north from Jacksonville on Interstate 95. As soon as we crossed the border into Georgia, we stopped at the Georgia Information Centre. We went inside, picked up a map, campground book, and information on the Okefenokee Swamp. Joanne wants to explore the Okefenokee Swamp. We had lunch in the parking lot of the Information Centre, and studied the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge information. We drove 2 more miles on Interstate 95, then turned west on Hwy. 40 heading for Folkston. At Folkston we found our way to Okefenokee RV Campground in between the 2 small towns of Folkston and Homewood. These 2 small towns are side by side, and we're not sure where one ends and the other begins. I think the railroad tracks separate the 2 towns.

We registered, then got set up in our campsite. I set up Teddy's tent, because we'll probably stay here a couple of days, and Teddy really wants to be outside in this hot, humid weather. I bought a couple of postcards at the campground office, and wrote them. Every 3 months we send a series of postcards to friends and business associates back in Ontario. We took Bo for an obedience training session around the campground. As a reward for doing well, we went for a long walk to the other side of the railroad tracks. WOW ... Georgia is in bloom ! We walked back to the campground, and went for a ride in the truck to look around the 2 towns, Folkston and Homeland. There seems to be 2 distinct societies in this rural part of Georgia ; lower socio-economic blacks, and redneck whites. But both groups seem friendly enough. Everybody waves at us.

As we passed by a young, black girl, about 10 years old, on a bicycle, Bo went crazy, jumping, barking, and whining. He seemed convinced that he knew her, and needed to get to her before he lost sight of her as we drove away. It strengthened our belief that he must have been owned by a black family, with children.

We returned to the campground as the sun set. I got online using the campground's free Wi-Fi, sent and retrieved e-mail, and updated my blog. While Joanne prepared supper ( fried catfish ) I did today's accounting, then downloaded and processed today's photos. After supper I started work on today's journal entry. We watched The Apprentice, and Medium, on TV. As we watched TV, I continued to work on the incoming mail.

More than 70 trains per day pass by the campground, and every one blows his whistle at the level crossing. Sheesh !

I just returned from walking Bo, at 11:30 P.M.. It's so warm and humid tonight, there's thick fog. I guess this is what's called a steamy night in Georgia.

DSK