I wanted to give a little update on our trip home from Florida, which for the most part was uneventful; until interstate 75 was shut down
On a side note: I know its been about twelve weeks since our last post, but we actually have been out camping; and there has been a lot going on. Between my nephews wedding and the upcoming wedding of my son, we have still managed to make a run to Tyler State Park. However that will be the subject of our next post.
Now on to the our trip home from Florida!
We left at a pretty decent time from Fort Wilderness Campground heading for Tallahassee Florida. That would be the first stop on the way home. If you remember we stayed in Tallahassee on the way to Orlando. We stayed at the Coe Landing County Campground. A nice but very small campground which is bordered by lake Talquin. If you want to stay here you can easily make reservations on-line, but be careful; there are only a few sites that can handle longer travel trailers. The road that goes around the campground is narrow; and there is not a lot of room to back in to your site (there are no pull through sites). Regardless, it is a great place. We have found the campers there to be friendly and polite.
This morning we were making great time. I actually thought we would roll in earlier than expected and would be able to kick back and relax. Suddenly ahead on I75 we saw a solid stream of brake lights and everyone was trying to get into the right lane. Over the next 20 minutes we crept along the highway only to be routed off at the next exit. The entire interstate was closed due to a multi car accident.
The next five miles took us two and a half hours of bumper to bumper traffic in 80+ degree weather. There was really nowhere to pull over, and if we did; it probably would have been impossible to get back into traffic. This was a really frustrating part of the journey, more so because of having the dogs with us. Our dogs comfort is very important to us. At the speed we were moving I was worried about how warm it would get in the back of the truck.
It also seemed like the highway patrol could have done a much better job of mapping out a detour; that wasn’t as bad as this one appeared to be. After a grueling detour we did get back on the highway and that was the last real incident all the way home to Texas. I will say that I was happy I was sitting on a full tank of gas when the detour started.
The beginning of a brutal Detour
We did arrive at Coe Landing with decent daylight remaining. This time we backed in directly off the road versus trying to use the dump station lane to get a better angle. Surprisingly it was much easier just backing in from the road. Another nice surprise is that the park had replaced their leaking water fitting as they promised, so the next morning I didn’t have dirt soup all over my hose and power cord.
I really can’t say enough good things about this park. The people camping here are really friendly. The park is quiet and secluded, its well maintained, and the reservation process is easy. If this park were closer to Texas, it would warrant a return trip each year.
Coe Landing County Park – Same Spot as the way to Florida
The next morning we left for our next destination. On the way to Florida we stayed at the Farr Park Equestrian Center. Farr Park offers electric and water hook ups in an open field (grass pad). We found to be a really nice campground. Although we found it to be nice we also feel it is over priced.
So on the way home we decided to go to the KOA in Denham Springs. If you have read our previous blog about KOAs going down hill, this one would not fit into that category. Denham Springs is a very nice KOA and there is plenty of space between rigs as well as a nice dog park. So nice in fact that we decided to use some of our KOA points to stay an extra day. I would stay here again. For more information on the Denham Springs KOA click here.
Denham Springs KOA
While I was setting up the Trailer, I could smell something great coming from the camper across from us. The owner had a small smoker and he was making BBQ Ribs. I decided to wander over to his site. He was sitting at his picnic table minding the smoker. We talked about his smoker, where he had traveled from; and where he was traveling to. He came from California and was slowly making his way to Florida. It was nice to just have a conversation with a fellow camper. We also got into a conversation about Travel Trailers vs Fifth Wheels; and both had reached the conclusion that giving up the bed of our trucks was something we would never do. He left the campground pretty early the next morning, but I could still smell the BBQ.
The first night Tammy and I decide to eat at a Longhorn Steak House. I realized later that I somehow left my credit card there; so that gave me something to do the next day.
The next morning I called the restaurant and they confirmed they had my card. The employees at the Longhorn Steakhouse are really nice. While I waited for the manager to open the safe; they actually gave me a ten-dollar gift card and a free beer. I’m going to start leaving my credit card behind more often.
We had a nice leisurely day in Denham Springs KOA and I would recommend this KOA to anyone in the area.
The rest of the trip home was really uneventful. We made great time and we averaged over 10 MPG for the trip, which isn’t as good as Id like but I am happy with it.
April came up on us fast and we decide to go to Tyler State Park again…that will be the topic of our next blog.
To read about this trip from the beginning click here.
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