Hello NOLA!

Another day of driving - a little over 1700 miles so far since Monday morning. Today we went from the Florida Panhandle through Mississippi to darling NOLA, the Big Easy, New Orleans, LA!

After breakfast, we got on the road and hightailed it to Gautier, MS to investigate a kayak from Craigslist so that we could round out our cartop collection to a nice neat 4 boats. The kayak was a little long in the tooth and a bit worn, but the price was right and we loaded her up. Had a nice chat with the owner, Stacy, her son, her two granddaughters and their ferocious guard dog.

New Kayak (on left)

We did not catch the puppy's name - we'll call him "Killer"

We celebrated our acquisition with lunch in Ocean Springs, MS and took the coastal route into New Orleans. The scenery was great with lots of wildlife and interesting signs and people.

We got to Bayou Segnette State Park in time to set up camp before dark. Neat park with nice new facilities and free wireless internet throught the site. We could have take the opportunity to go into Bourbon Street, but instead chose a quiet dinner, some grocery shopping and a early night. For all you folks back home - it's 11PM and the temperature is still 68 degrees! Just sayin!

Superdome Out The Window

Geezers Get South

Hello from two Geezers who are seat-weary, but glad to have left the snow behind. Day 2 had us up moving early, considering our 2:30 AM bed time. After a delectable Days Inn continental breakfast (did you know that WonderBread makes bagels?), we hit the road at 8:45, going south on I95. Starving by noon, we tried the GPS search method for something sounding like a non-chain restaurant. We got off the exit for Yemassee, SC and struck out on two places – neither was open for lunch.

Then Mike spotted a tiny antique shop, also advertising sandwiches. A short time later, basking in the sun in our T-shirts at an outdoor table, we feasted on the special of the day, wonderful tuna melts and fruit cup. Paula Flowers, the shop owner and a vivacious, energetic entrepreneur, gave us a great commentary on the surrounding low-country area. She runs the combination shop, plus a bed & breakfast and seems to be the one-woman chamber of commerce! Now we have an invitation to return here on our way home in a few weeks.


Paula and Mike outside her shop - note the lace table cloths!


Later, we got tired of I95 and took a cut-off through the pine flats of Georgia, north of the Okefenokee Swamp. Finally reaching Tallahassee after dark, we picked up a kayak from friend Andy's house (he's away). We're afraid we scared his wife, who he neglected to tell about this. Now we've gotten him in trouble...

On the road again, we are headed across I10. Tomorrow we make a brief stop in Mississippi and go on to New Orleans. That will be the last of our long travel days for a while – yeah!

On the way

Leaving Snow Country

OK folks, this is going to be short since this Geezer is a bit road weary.

Snow, sleet and rain delayed our departure this morning so we didn't actually hit the road till 10:15. We had our first Oh S%!# abour 20 miles down the road when we discovered that the hub covers we replaced on the trailer during preparation had fallen off! Luckily, we were at the Coxsackie entrance to the thruway where there was a huge RV dealer. $5 and a borrowed rubber mallet and we got on our way! We had flurries down the Thruway, then it cleared in NJ, changed to sleet in Delaware & Maryland, rain in Virginia then clearing just south of DC.

After 14 hours of driving, a thermos of coffee and a Mexican dinner we made it to 2:00AM and gave up the battle. We are holed up in a motel room in St. Paul, NC ready to hit the road again in the morning. I just checked the weather back home and saw that it was 9 degrees! Well, even at 2:00AM it is 64 here! Just wanted to rub it in a little.

Tomorrow, Talahasee FL then across the panhandle till we get sick of driving! Talk to y'all soon!

Packin' Up

Well, all the stuff seems to fit. Not that we can remember how we organized the junk last year. Once your mind goes to mush, every day is a completely new adventure! Anyhow, we are ready to flee the cold north, if only the latest storm will let us.

Here's the plan - we'll keep an eye on the weather tomorrow morning, and leave when we can get past Newburgh without worry of jack-knifing the rig. We'll keep you posted.

Geezer Freezer

Well, today was the first time since January 6th that it came close to 32 degrees! It was so bad last weekend that the weatherman on TV boasted that Monday's high was 15 degrees warmer than Sunday. Of course, Monday reached a balmy high of +5!

Have plenty to do before the trip, with job one being getting the Geezer's Rolling Villa out of the snow and ice! Not successful yet, but working on it!

Countdown to Geezers Go South 2011

Click Image for details

OK, we have been all over the place on dates - Geezers can be like that, we are very flexible ("indecisive" to those who have not acheived Geezerdom) Here is the current plans...

2/21 or 2/22 Pack up the camper, kayaks and bourbon and work our way south. We will probably spend a night or two in Georgia or the Florida panhandle on our way to...

2/25 to 2/28 New Orleans - Bayou Sagenette campground. The ladies arrive on the 27th to enjoy the pleasures of the "Big Easy" before we move on to...

2/28 to 3/6 Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Geezer Mike worked in this part of MS immediately following Hurricane Katrina and has made some great friends here. Last year, Geezer Al got to sample the hospitality and casual way of life here. We look forward to introducing the ladies to favorite people and places before packing up and heading to...

3/7 to 3/10 St. Joe's Pennsula State Park, in the Florida panhandle. A great little campground way out on a narrow little spit of land about 5 miles from the mainland. The ladies fly home on the 10th and the Geezers are once again on their own. To help us recover from our heartbreak, we will head to central Florida to visit with...

3/11 to 3/14 The "Old Curmudgeon" Bill Whalen near Hernando, FL Looking to camp near the Shell Mound or Crystal River for a couple of nights before moving on to...

3/14 to 3/20 Collier Seminole State Park near Marco Island, FL. Lots to do down here - kayak in the NW Everglades, look for the elusive Florida Panther along the Tamiani Trail, explore the waters around Marco Island, Chokolosee or Dismal Key or rub shoulders with the rich & famous in Naples. We need to rest up, because we are headed for hard work at...

3/21 to 3/25 A kayak instructor course at Neptune Beach near Jacksonville, FL. Geezer Mike hopes to get level 2 and Geezer Al is a shoe-in for level 3 certification at this ACA (American Canoe Assn.) sponored course. We will start the long trip north...

3/26 to 3/31 Driving North with some probable stops in Myrtle Beach, SC and somewhere else, but who knows where? Any suggestions, Geezer followers?

We're baaaack!

OK Geezer fans, Geezer Al and Geezer Mike had their first planning meeting tonight. Looking like mid-February to mid-March this year beeline for the Tampa area for a kayak symposium then working the rest out over the next few days/weeks.

Watch the blog for future developments.