Katrina final

February 28

I’ve cried a few times on this trip. It happens more these days. I’m not sure if it is due to old age or changing perspective. With more experience comes greater awareness and appreciation. Perhaps they are tears of appreciation. This week it has been a mix. There is appreciation and sadness.

I probably first cried at Gilbert’s grave . Then it was the Zoar Church, then the service at South Zumbro. Gettysburg for sure. Antietam, yes. Receiving pictures of Janie growing and developing, count on it. Walking the halls of Ellis Island, a bit. I don’t think I cried in Florida. In Mississippi, tears flow.

It is very hard to put the last few days into words. In some areas it is often hard to think of this place as America. Areas lack the infrastructure of many third world countries. The Casino Resorts loom nearby, yet just a few miles away, people live in structures resembling what Barb and I encountered in Thailand in the 70’s.

It is hard to imagine the challenges that the locals encounter. Linda, a lady who is a third generation land owner, has been very patient. Oh, it has taken its toll in depression and anger (I am not sure I could have done better). But her resilience is there. It, as humble as it be, is her home and somehow we walked into her life on Monday morning.

We’ve worked hard. The conditions have been tough. Barb’s ant bitten legs are testimony. But as the locals drive by, they wave and smile. Linda’s family has dropped by to express appreciation. They have little, but ask less.

Linda is only one of thousands that are in a state of recovery. As we drive down her street, many of the houses which had 5 feet of water in them have been repaired. Most are rebuilt by the owner or neighborhood communities. Some, like Linda’s, fall under the “special needs list” and mission people appear.

Tears. Some are due to guilt. I watched FOX, CNN and local new channels those Katrina days. Many asked, “Dah, Why didn’t they leave? Mississippi and Louisiana have the highest poverty rate. Are these people clueless? Are they too stupid to leave? Why should we be beholden to ignorant people?”

But, what would I have done if I had lived here? I have talked to many locals who felt that it is just another hurricane. “We thought we would ride Katrina out like we did the last one.” It is clear that stupidity and/or laziness is not an issue.

Well, it was not just another hurricane. They eye of Katrina was equal to the entire size of Camille. “Storm surge” was in the lexicon of the few. And it hit at high tide. Of the millions that reside on or near the Mississippi delta, for centuries, they had ridden out the occasional storm. It was not a wise decision on this one. Katrina, the breadth, largest on record, rendered the area victim that requires the largest domestic rebuilding program since the Civil War.

There are restaurants, gas stations, and businesses that are flourishing in this area. Interstate 10 allows commercial traffic to flow unrestricted. And, as I have mentioned before, the casinos, the flagships of the commercial enterprise of Mississippi, have been restored to greater glory than their pre-Katrina status. Many homes have been rebuilt.

And as I walk through Camp Victor, there are the youth, the middle age and the retired that respond and try to assist the locals who have endured so much. The determination overrides the fatigue. And our coworkers, the Peachtree City delegation, who work so diligently and expertly, in very trying conditions. Not one complaint was heard. Humor far outweighed the fatigue. They’ve been here before and they’ll probably come back again. Appreciation.

And, in my efforts this week, I have not given enough. Therefore tears of sadness flow…like the mighty Mississippi.

But the smile on Linda's grandson Tyler's face helps. His bike now works.

hands II

HANDS

Acts 4:30 ..while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant, Jesus.

On Site

February 26, 2008

It has been a busy 2 days. Each day we arrive at Camp Victor by 6am. A short devotional time is followed by breakfast. The varied groups appear geared for the day’s challenges. There are student groups on winter break from 3 Lutheran colleges in Minnesota and California, there is a Mennonite group of youth, and the rest of us appear to be retired folk. One group is from Spanaway Lutheran (Ivar and Camille’s church) and Pastor Arne is here. His wife, Susan, worked with me at Sunrise as a fifth grade teacher. After breakfast we meet and organize for the efforts of the day. This is an amazing time. Imagine an organization trying to direct the 200 volunteers and send them to the correct site with the right tools and supplies for the day’s task. At about 8, we depart Camp Victor.

Barb and I again have been blessed to be placed with a wonderful group. We have joined eight adults that are from Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City, GA. Jack was wearing a GT hat the first day and we engaged in conversation with him, Russ, Donna, Sue, Bob, Dave, Ron and Wayne. They invited Barb and me to join them in their tasks. This group of professional people, all with tech and/or airline connections, do not mind getting their hands dirty. And they like to have fun. The burden of the difficult tasks we are undertaking and the tough situations in which we work is greatly reduced by the great humor and positive spirits of these people. The banter is nonstop, the support and encouragement consistent. Most have been here and at other hurricane relief sites several times.

Linda’s house has been sitting in a devastated condition for 2 ½ years. She lives about 20 miles from Camp Victor and the efforts of the organization have finally reached her neighborhood. She resides in a makeshift FEMA trailer hooked into her water, electrical, and sewer system. Her house sits nearby in shambles.

It was not much of a house to begin with. Her 100 year old structure is simple and was the home in which she was raised and later raised her children. “My house,” she said. “It’s not much but it is all that I had.” Much of the tainted material (rugs, sheetrock, etc.) has been removed, but it now stands with bare framed walls, a roof, and not much else.

As we pulled up to her house she was sitting on the porch in her rocker. She identified us right away and she waved us in. As we stepped out of the car she greeted us with, “God Bless,” and she gave each of us a big hug. She is not proud of her condition but she remarked that God had comforted her and given her patience. “It is going to be better, thank the Lord. You are going to make it better, thank you.” Russ, the organizer, got us going on the sheetrock process.

Our two days here have been difficult but very rewarding. A major part of the joy comes from the group with whom we are working. Their experience shows and most of the day is spent on productive tasks. But the Camp Victor side is rewarding as well. The profound message in word and action is displayed in all phases of work. The cooking, cleaning, organizing, and the back breaking work is done by the volunteers that are here this week. There is a small and efficient staff present that has set up the infrastructure and who monitor and direct the ongoing varied activities.

There have been two presentations regarding Katrina since we have been here. One was a very amateurish video that was shot by a staff member the day and night of the storm. He hunkered down with his wife and 2 children to ride out the storm. They had ridden out other storms and felt anxious but confident that they would be safe. As the storm increased and the video progressed, you could see the demeanor of the family change to stark fear. The family, at the peak of the storm which lasted several hours, huddled in the bathroom as trees fell on their house and the storm surge, which had never reached their house in previous storms, lapped at their front door. They survived but will never stay home for another serious hurricane.

The second was a video produced by a local TV station. Again, the production piece begins before the storm and the evacuation message is given with the understanding that some would stay and ride out the storm. Again, as the video progresses, the seriousness of the announcers intensifies as they realize the danger that they are in.

Katrina is so unique. It is now the benchmark of all storms. Lessons learned. Failures acknowledged. Recovery ongoing.

Orientation

Orientation

In this area, Biloxi area: 64,000 homes destroyed. An additional 78,000 uninhabitable. The latter is the focus.

Tonight we attended the orientation for our week of work. The Camp Victor facility is a former garment factory. The Lutheran Disaster Response leased the facility and volunteers have sectioned off the large warehouse type facility into several large bunk areas, gender divided. A large cafeteria and kitchen serve as an eating and gathering area. The larger part of the facility serves as storage room for tools, equipment, building supplies, and food. The showers and air conditioning earn Camp Victor the label as the Club Med of relief agencies. It certainly is upscale compared to the tent and trailer facility that we visited in Biloxi today. There are 260 volunteers working with us this week.

Relief agencies have determined specific areas to give their attention to. Camp Victor concentrates in the area of Pascagoula. Currently, the list is down to 700 families that have needs for housing attention. It is interesting to hear that insurance companies have replaced boats, motorcycles, and cars damaged by the storm, but few have received compensation for their homes. So we will visit homes with severe storm damage that are inhabited but they may have a fairly new car sitting in the driveway. Labor costs for repairs have skyrocketed here and even many middle class families depend on volunteer help for recovery.

Stories with tears have become common. Even after 30 months, there are still raw nerves and part of our role here is to listen. A former office manager of Christus Victor, now administration director of Camp Victor, shared her story of those fateful days. She and a few others weathered out the storm at the church because, as she shared, someone had to be here for others. As the storm abated, the church, relatively unscathed due to its location, served as a safe house for the community. As they relied on the few cell phones that worked, supply lines developed that were able to sneak around National Guard checkpoints to get goods to the church. Medical (doctors and nurses) who also scooted around the check points began to arrive from neighboring states but they were not allowed to assist pending approval by the Red Cross which took 3 weeks for approval. Meanwhile, locals who had survived made their way to Christus Victor, animals in tow. The church set up 3 rooms for animals. “We set up one room for cats, one for dogs, and one for birds, although after 3 days, I was ready to let the cats into the bird room.”

Within weeks, volunteers began to arrive and the church multipurpose room sheltered 220 volunteers who spent each day removing the storm surge muck from homes in 100 degree heat. After the day of work they retuned to Christus Victor to eat, sleep and stand in line for the one shower. We met several who had that experience, those very difficult times, and were now returning to give service again, again, and again. The Georgia Tech engineers, members of a Lutheran Church in Peachtree City Georgia, took us into their fold. We will work with them. Some of them were here that first month and this is their fourth time here.

Barb and I, tonight, are uneasy yet excited in anticipation of tomorrow. To walk into someone else’s home, and say we are here to help, given the low level of skill level we have, is overwhelming. Yet, I keep remembering a comment that Marvin made to me today. “How did you get through this?” I asked. “You,” he said. “You volunteers. We couldn’t have made this progress without your help. You and the illegal workers from Mexico. Both of you have been a God send.”
As we left the facility tonight we were introduced to FEMA. She is a one eyed cat that lives in the building. She is in charge of the rodent control department and is the resident that has been here the longest. When Victor moved into the building, the cat, with infected eye was spotted. She was named FEMA because she is half blind, on first encounter ran away, she was then missing for a couple of weeks, when found she appeared helpless and confused, and was finally saved by a faith based organization.

Biloxi

February 24, 2008

We attended services at Christus Victor Lutheran Church. There we were able to meet and talk to many locals who had experienced the disaster first hand. Many poignant stories were shared in private conversations. So much hardship has been endured here in the last 30 months. Yet there is acceptance and resolve. The service was upbeat and joyous and even though the work of attending volunteers was mentioned, the storm was not.

I want to share one story. One of the members of the church is a physician (we did not meet him or his family). 3 ½ years ago they were able to purchase a historic stately home on the bay. The family had it renovated then moved in. Katrina hit 3 months later. The first picture indicates what they have today.

After church Barb and I drove the bridge to Biloxi which just opened 2 months ago. The former bridge went down in the storm. They closed schools and conducted community celebrations on its opening. It still is not done but this vital link is so important to this community, traffic flows over it during the final stages of construction. On the advice of a couple of the church members, we parked the car and rode through the beachfront and surrounding neighborhoods. What stands is a stark dichotomy.

The 11 new casino resorts stand tall and resilient. The former ones were on barges and boats and were destroyed in the storm. Mississippi allowed the casinos to build anew on the land and greatly aided in their construction. As one of the poorest states, MS is dependent on the casino revenue and jobs. Reconstruction of this industry was given priority. Traffic was backed up at mid day on Sunday along the strip. The industry appears healthy. Music blared from the Hard Rock Casino and Resort as limos were lined up at the door. In close proximity to the resorts lay empty lots and fields. The lots, at one time, held small businesses. Three years ago there were 11 restaurants along the strip. Today there are 5. The empty fields pre-storm held homes. Antebellum mansions at one time graced this area. 80% were completely destroyed. You can still see broken concrete driveways, foundations and, often, mailboxes. Some have the famous FEMA trailers on them. There is little else, however.

Barb and Marvin greeted each other as we rode by his home on our bikes. Marvin carried on a lengthy conversation with us regarding the last 3 years here. He owned many rental homes (he now lives in one) and is still heavily involved in real estate here. He lived on the 2nd floor of a condo unit that stands empty across from the beach, looking out on the now peaceful bay. Marvin was in Boston when Katrina hit. “Given the information that the locals had, if you had been here in Biloxi, would you have stayed?" I asked. He did not hesitate, “Yes, I probably would have stayed. I have a lot of property and I would worry about looters if I left. Also, I lived on the second floor. But in retrospect, I am glad I was out of town. If anything as big as Katrina shows up again, I don’t think anyone will stay. It was much more damaging than any other storm experience in recent times. We just had no idea.” In talking to other locals, they were aware of the danger but many had grown accustom to riding out the storm to protect their personal belongings.

As we rode our bikes back to the car, we passed another encampment of volunteers near the Biloxi town center. Canvas tents, trailers, and portable living units were arranged in a tight community formation in an area where all structures had been washed away by the storm surge 2 ½ years ago.

2nd picture: neighborhood washed away
3rd: Marvin and Barb near neighbor's FEMA trailer
4th: Katrina Memorial. Storm surge was as high as the wall at this site.

Katrina Kountry

February 23

It only rained 2 inches yesterday afternoon and early evening. There was little wind and no lightening. That brought the total up to 10 inches of rain in the two days. As we broke camp we walked through standing water. The roads were dry and the sun was shining the entire two hundred miles to an RV camp sight in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Ocean Springs lies just outside of Biloxi and is home of Camp Victor. Ocean Springs has some hills and a higher elevation than Biloxi. Thus it was spared the extensive damage that surrounding communities suffered 2 ½ years ago. Since it was relatively intact, it became the headquarters for many relief programs. Within days of the hurricane, Christus Victor Lutheran Church established a Distribution Center (Camp Victor) to hand out food, water, and other necessities. The work continues today. 41% of all homes in the Biloxi were damaged to the point that they were inhabitable. Now, in addition being a distribution center, the center receives, trains, and assigns volunteers from all over the world to work on reconstruction projects in the area. Barb and I will be here for a week.

Most volunteers stay in the center. Breakfast and supper (yes, we are in the south) are served and lunches are prepared. The dormitory has 160 beds in 2 rooms, male and female. Project opportunities are numerous and the camp staff oversees and organizes the recovery efforts. However, there is no room to park our RV at the center so Barb and I will stay in the nearby RV camp. Shoot, I was really looking forward to sleeping in a bunk bed in a dorm. Not.

Swamped

It was to be our last day in Florida. But Ms Florida felt we needed one more unique experience. It started raining around 9 yesterday morning. The light rainfall turned into heavy rain by noon. By 2 p.m. there was lightning and some periods of wind. The tornado warning, then tornado watch was issued around 4. We pulled in the slides and readied to evacuate to the bathrooms if needed. We watched the television and internet intently as the radar displayed the narrow but long line of orange to red weather cells flowing directly over us. I have seen it rain heavily in eastern Washington cloud bursts and tropical storms in Thailand and China but these storms often lasted a few minutes, much less than an hour. It rained as hard as I have ever seen it and it rained, I would guess, heavily 80% of the time for 10 hours. It reminded Barb and me of the typhoon experience in Manila. We never left the rig but we wanted to. The rain pounding our roof was so loud that we couldn’t hear the TV. Lightning flashes were frequent and close. I checked the door step regularly to see if water in our site was rising. Streams of water were flowing by but it never reached more than a couple of inches deep.

Thankfully, the lightning and intense rain stopped at 10 p.m. It dripped through the night but we slept well. We woke at 6 AM to prepare to leave, if possible. The TV announced that schools and some roads were closed and that some areas had received 17 inches of rain. An area 70 miles away had not received any rain. Our parking pad is surrounded by water but the road is clear. The temp is 70 and it is foggy. Across the way, a boat had been blown ashore. We boarded the Jeep to investigate the conditions. We drove out of the park and experienced water 2 feet deep across the road. It had been deeper and one car sat abandoned in a ditch filled with water. We drove a bit father and found a restaurant. We ate and talked to the locals. They all shook their head at the unusual weather. Storms like this do come in occasionally but not in January through April. The rainfall amounts broke records but the intensity was not wide spread. The heaviest rainfall was at our location. On the way back to the campsite we talked to some state troopers. Their advice, “hunker down”.

We are not leaving today. Intense thunderstorms are coming from the west and we would rather not drive into that. It will not be as bad today but there will be some rain, some lightening, and gusts of wind. The RV is dry, warm, but getting smaller by the hour. We will be safe and hunker down one more day.

Farewell Fond Florida

February 21

It is raining and gray the whole day long. We recall only one other day (Long Island, NY) where the rain limited our activity. Yes, there have been a few storms and twice we have pulled off the road early, but in only one other time has it rained all day.

We used the day to continue to plan, write, read, and do some business. Thanks for the internet and the large rig. Our next 5 weeks will be very busy. This may be the last respite before we arrive home. Tomorrow we leave for Biloxi, Mississippi. Camp Victor is located there and it is sponsored by Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church. We will work with other volunteers in Katrina relief projects. Our friends, the Lerdas whom we visited in PA, have volunteered at least twice here and are vigorous recruiters. The facility with beds for 160 volunteers, was put together soon after the hurricane and has functioned steadily and effectively.

We leave Florida. I planned for 7 weeks. It wasn’t enough. And although we look forward to the weeks ahead, we have not looked forward to leaving this special state. Florida is now my favorite state. I only have one major complaint. It is just toooo far away from Washington. It saddens me to think that we might not return here in the RV. With the rising gas prices, the economy, the difficulty being away from family for long lengths of time, and leaving the house, Florida is too far away to drive to for just a few weeks or even a month.

There are several reasons that propel Florida to number 1. Like AZ and southern CA, the weather is moderate in the winter. But here, the air is so fresh. I actually refer to it as “sweet”. Winds from 3 of the four directions come off the ocean, giving the air fullness and purity. We saw a few agricultural and logging fires here but detected no evidence of air pollution. The wildlife is abundant and colorful, the ocean and lakes are full of fish. It is the dry season and they call it winter, yet natural flowers are present. The arts are thriving. The history is rich. Powerful people, throughout history, have wintered here giving legacy and monuments to the past. The people are gracious (although most of whom we met are snowbirds) and the many ethnicities give rise to varied dress, language, celebrations, and food. We experience volunteers almost every day. Seniors are active serving as docents at museums, doing maintenance work at parks or campgrounds, acting as guides at scenic or wildlife settings and even picking up litter. And food; fish, fish, fish. And sumptuous fish, reasonably priced. Then I get to the warm water, great beaches, and islands. It goes on and on.

As an RVer, I have really appreciated the roads, the best of any state so far. The land is flat, only a few small hills. The roads are straight, wide, smooth and relatively clean. We’ve seen some litter but less than most states. Traffic moves evenly and even in small towns, there are often bypasses to scoot around congestion. The snowbirds add much to the economy here so, as a tourist, you are treated with respect. The state and local parks are readily accessible and are often located in some of the most pristine of spots.

We will probably fly back to Florida some day but it will not be the same. Experiencing this state in the RV is ideal. Driving from one point of interest to another, experiencing the transitions, and staying in the throngs of nature, reveal the true character of this state. I am no expert. I have only scratched the surface. I have so much more to learn and experience in Florida. I really want to come back. But I don’t want to be here June through October, hurricane season.

Another Truman Home in Another Seaside

February 20

This endless white ribbon of sand that stretches along this Gulf coast continues to draw our interest and attention again and again. It is so beautiful and now peaceful, lying next to the turquoise sea. One never gets tired of being in its presence.

Today Barb and I drove the Jeep west along busy highway (30A) bordering the beaches. Communities west of Panama City varied from older high-rises with T shirt shops, Ripley’s Believe It or Not stores, wax museums and the other beach resort type trappings, to communities of stately and classy condos, homes, hotels, restaurants, and boutiques. The common thread in all the communities was the pristine beach and turquoise water. Located 300 miles from Atlanta, this area is the home of the proverbial, spring break. It is “off season” now and I would guess that occupancy is less than 10%.

The developments continued on for the entire 40 miles to our destination, Seaside. We had read about this unique spot and it more than met our expectations. Our Lonely Planet Guide writes, “Remember the squeakily clean-cut township of Seahaven in Peter Weir’s 1998 movie The Truman Show? Doll-like, sorbet-colored cottages clustered around a model town square, and people were unnervingly neighborly…except everything was indeed too contrived to be true. In the movie, the town was a fabricated set for a reality show, in which all the chirpy residents, but the show’s unwitting star, Truman, were actors. Well, they didn’t have to build that town in Hollywood. They found it.”

It is a planned community started in 1981 but it has no walls, gates, or security codes. Driving east along 30A, you simply drive into it and your mouth drops open. We stopped and parked in the square and boarded our bikes to explore the shops and neighborhoods. It was as if we were in an amusement park, it was so surreal. But it is real. Real people live and work in these homes. I still found myself searching for hidden cameras. Except for 30A, there was little traffic and they stopped or pulled over to let our bikes pass. Cheerful waves and greetings were frequent. As we rode down the road behind the shops and the square, we ran on to a charter middle school of 200 students. A class played soccer on the green, beautiful perfect kids, fitting the stereotype of the perfect made for TV community. For lunch, we entered a deli and purchased pasta and sandwiches. We ate sitting in a gazebo on the dunes above the sea. Not a natural wood gazebo. It was painted white reinforcing the surreal atmosphere. As we visited the small shops I noticed some small walkways leading to back of the shops. I walked down a few, half expecting to find television cameras, but instead found an access to the beach.


Then at around 8:45 PM, the lunar eclipse began.

As I reflect, it was as if a dream.

Enjoy St Andrews

February 19

We achieved our goal today. The Jeep and RV did not move. We have been on the go for the last several days and we forced ourselves to stay at “home”, enjoy this setting, and take care of some needed correspondence, business and planning. I did bike out to an office supply store to send out a fax. Other than that, it was a day on the beach, by the rig, or biking around the camp.

Heading West

February 18

It was a not so quiet night at Wal-Mart. It was not due to being in the parking lot. The wind picked up over the evening and rocked the rig a bit. Then, at 5:11 a.m., the rig filled with light for a millisecond, and then a thunder clap followed within seconds. The rain came down in sheets for about an hour. By the time we were ready to leave, the rain and wind had stopped. The compass revealed our present course, due west, on our slow way home. We traveled the back roads, of course, highway 98 along the coast. We drove through Panacea and did not stop. I had been told so many times, “There is no Panacea …” There is one. But it is not much of a town so the phrase might as well be, “ It is no use to go to Panacea…”

There is a lot of real estate for sale along the gulf. Some of the lots bearing “For Sale by Owner” signs were void of vegetation. Often the remains of a building’s foundation is visible, evidence of a life before the 2005 hurricanes. But there is still so much here. Old villages appear to have dealt with the challenges. Old wooden structures still stand and life continues on as normal. New construction is built with the hurricanes in mind. New businesses, homes and condos near the shore are built on cement pillars with the first floor 12 to 20 feet above the ground. The windows are small and are bordered by wooden shutters.

We are camped at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, FL. It reminds us a bit of Ft. Stevens Park near Seaside Oregon. St. Andrews is a former military installation located on a peninsula on the Gulf. However, there are no structures from that time. The grounds are extensive and natural, set minutes from an urban metropolitan area. Just a few blocks down the road there is a 5 star campground that charges $125 a night. It is $25 here and we are one row off the water and have a view of a bay, just off the Gulf. Community parks are my favorite. Some families are on midwinter break. As Barb and I rode our bikes around yesterday, we met young families, singles, and snowbird couples, interacting together in enjoying the beauty of this area. It is cold, though. It only reached the mid 60’s.

Camped at Wal Mart

I am sure that many would be inquisitive as to why an RVer would stay in a Wal Mart. If you look at it only in regard to cost analysis, it really does not save us much money. Campgrounds average about $35 a night. At 8 miles per gallon and $3 gas, a RV spends that much on fuel to travel around a hundred miles. A campground provides security, good showers, electricity, water, sewer, and often cable TV and WiFi.

Setting up in a campground is a lot of work. First of all, most are back off the main roads at least a mile or more. When you arrive, you register, drive to your site, unhook your tow vehicle, hook up your water, electricity, cable and sewer, then begin to unwind and enjoy your evening. In the morning you have to go through the similar process to leave.

Wal Marts are located on the main highways and when you pull into a Wal Mart you find your place and park. That’s it. Some put out their slides, we do not. The generator provides power for the evening microwave and the morning coffee pot. You cook on the propane and it also powers the refrigerator. Light is provided by the batteries.

The main concern with nonRVers and “newbies” is security and parking lot noise. Have you ever looked around at a Wal Mart parking lot? From my present vantage point I can see 26 cameras. Needless to say, we close our curtains at night. Also, there is a parking lot protocol. The first one to arrive parks at the far end of the lot away from the store. If we are the first ones, we go into a holding mode. We do not stay if we are to be the only ones here. Even with the cameras, there is safety in numbers. As the second unit arrives, the drivers meet and assure each other that they are spending the night. Today, we pulled into the lot at around 4 p.m. There were no other RVs present. Within 20 minutes a second unit arrived. Now, at 8 p.m., there are 10 rigs parked around us, each placed so as not to interfere with another’s departure.

Almost everyone is tired of the day’s drive and is looking for a “get away” on arrival. The sequence is predictable. Park, open windows and vents if warm, check and lock the tow vehicle, and walk into Wal Mart. Often you find yourself in the RV aisle, perusing something like the latest thing in holding tank chemicals or other manufactured necessities.

The system works. It could be better. The first to arrive could be the designated wagon master and direct each arrival into parking in a large circle. A large fire could be built in the center, tables and chairs set up, and food could be brought out from each vehicle for all to share. Those with musical instruments could gather together for a jam session. Not to be. Gypsies (small g) we are. A clan we are not. We enjoy the freedom and the independence. Life “off the grid” is adventure. Yes, even if 26 cameras are watching you.

From Beach Bums to Wal Nuts

February 17

After a quiet and restful evening in the parking lot of the Bradenton Wal Mart, we drove the RV approximately 100 miles to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. After parking in another Wal Mart we rode our bikes the 3 blocks back to the park. This facility is famous for its manatee research and its rehab for manatees that are injured by boaters.

A tram delivered us to the waterfront facility where a ranger made a presentation from the water with three 3000 lb manatees nuzzling him for fresh carrots and sweet potatoes. After the presentation we drove on, crossed over the Suwannee River and on to Perry. There we pulled into another Wal Mart. The winds had increased off the gulf and we felt it best to get off the road. On parking, we learned that a tornado had touched down near Pensacola, several hundred miles to our west. We will let the storm blow over tonight and we hope to make our way west toward Panama City tomorrow.

Ringling

February 16

Afraid of turning into “beach bums” we decided we needed a day of culture. We didn’t arrive at the John and Mable Ringling Estate and Museum until noon. Big mistake. One of the top art museums in the country, it has 22 rooms of masterpieces. Some of the Rubens paintings were about 15 feet tall. Three rooms held a traveling exhibition, some 80 pieces painted by Grandma Moses. The Ringling Mansion was just a short cart ride away. Standing tall on the shore of Sarasota Bay, this Venetian Gothic structure was very unique. We also visited 2 circus museums. It was all too much to see in 5 ½ hours.

Tomorrow we travel north, toward the Florida panhandle. The Sarasota area has been a fine experience.

Another Day, Another Beach

February 15

During our drive through Maine, “Watch for Moose” signs were frequent. We never did see one. In Florida, as you near coastal estuaries “Watch for Manatees” signs are ever present. These blimp-like water mammals graze on sea grass, are docile, lounge near the surface of warm waters, and are often hit by boaters. The nearest viewing area was in an inlet next to a coal fired electric generating facility. The manatees lay in the warmed water released from the cooling process of the facility. Several were viewed. Pictures were difficult to obtain. They surface for air now and then but only their snoot is seen for a brief moment.

We drove over the 15 mile Sunshine Skyway Bridge to visit Fort De Soto. This had actually been our destination as we left the Big Cypress Preserve on Tuesday. The approaching storm and high winds made crossing the bridge in the RV too risky, if at all possible. We changed our plans and settled in nearby Bradenton which has worked out well. Fort De Soto County Park has one of the best beaches in the U.S. and also has one of the most popular public campgrounds. The RV campsites are on the water with magnificent backdrops of Tampa or the bridge. We drove to the North Beach and spent the afternoon. As we sat in another pristine setting, Elsie wandered by. She was walking the water’s edge, like so many others, plastic bag in hand. As we engaged in conversation she readily shared her day’s find. A resident of Minnesota, she winters on Tampa Bay Beach and beach walking is her main hobby. When she inquired as to our status, on finding out we were visiting from Washington, she gave us all her shells. As we respectfully demurred she was insistent. “My condo is full of these things. Picking up shells in an addiction.” As Elsie walked on her way sans the plastic bag, Barb was off in the other direction, hoping to add to the bags contents.

After a few hours on the beach we boarded our bikes to ride around the island and its old forts which dated back to the 1500’s. Another fine day in another historical and picturesque setting.

A Not So Quiet Day at the Beach

There really is a person whose title is “Dr. Beach” and he is not some marijuana laced, wrinkled-skin hippy who survived the 60’s and still lives on a beach. He is a professor here in Florida and he has taken on as his life’s passion of research and implementation of programs to protect, save, and improve American beaches. Each year he publishes a list of America’s top ten beaches. Each year the criterion for the study changes a bit. Now he focuses on water quality, beach and facility cleanliness, access, etc.

Siesta Beach on Siesta Key has been on the list several times (not in top ten in 2007). The beach is very unique (I visited here when Barb was in Puyallup, thus have blogged this before) in that it is made of quartz, pure white, and has the consistency of corn starch. It squeaks when you walk on it. It is set in an urban island outside of Sarasota. Low level condos and apartments dot the key.

Since it was Valentines Day, Barb had planned a quiet picnic dinner at sunset on the beach. We packed the cooler and drove through Sarasota. We stopped a few places to admire this city. Clean, rich, artsy, and historic. The Ringlings (circus) have left their legacy here in art museums, performance halls, and schools.

We arrived at the beach around 2 p.m. There were about 3 times the numbers of people on the beach than I had seen last month. Valentines Day and the 3 day weekend were mentioned as the reasons for the crowds. It was a cool day. We are further north and the storm here two days ago has left some residual coolness. It only got up to 74 degrees. Yes, I hear your collective sighs in mock sympathy.

We sat on the beach and read. Barb walked the squeaky sand at water’s edge that extended as far as the eye could see in both directions. As it neared sundown the activity increased. It turned out that a local radio station had advertised a “renew your vows” celebration at Siesta Beach at sundown. Couples started showing up with a variety of dress from purple moo moos to tuxes and wedding dresses. Limos drove into the parking lot.

For a fee, the lady would receive a red carnation, you could stand with the crowd, repeat your vows led by a local DJ, get your picture taken by the official photographer, and each of you would receive a paper validating that you had renewed your vows and a vanilla cupcake with white frosting. Needless to say, our quiet sunset interlude became a circus. It was fun to watch the dynamics unfold. 496 couples took part in the event.

The sun set in its glory, the wine and pasta were excellent, the not so quiet interlude was still another treat in this unfolding smorgasbord of life.

Happy Valentine's Day

May your day be filled with peace and love. Happy Valentine's Day.

Norm and Barb.

Yes, this trip has changed us but not that much...