The plan this morning was to have breakfast with Cindy & Pat at a small cafe' before we hit the road. There are lots of local places to eat that we haven't yet tried, and we heard Annie's Cafe' has a great breakfast.
But Cindy decided to make breakfast instead. Well allrighty then. :)
Cindy & Linda are like two peas in a pod - both a little crazy, most always fun, and they enjoy entertaining. :)
After another fine meal, we said our goodbyes with hugs and handshakes and "Thank You" just didn't seem like enough for showing us "their" Cedar Key.
We got packed up, dumped the tanks, and said goodbye to Barry & Pat before pulling out around 10:40, just a little later than planned (of course). Oh, and as we usually do, we called our next destination to make sure they had sites available and that access for a rig our size isn't a problem.
For the next stop as we head north toward Tennessee for our Spring Rally, I chose the Reed Bingham State Park in southern Georgia. As you know, we don't make reservations, but we travel on weekdays most of the time when sites are available in state parks (except in Florida Jan - Mar).
When I called the park, Peggy told me there were 23 sites available for tonight, but only two available through the weekend. This is one of those times we make reservations - on the day we know we are traveling and know where we are going.
With the Georgia State Parks, reservations aren't as risky for us as far as getting a site we don't like. You can't reserve a specific site, only a spot. So by traveling on weekdays, we arrive when there are plenty of sites available, and we get to choose a good one when we get there. The weekenders can't reserve all the best sites, they can only guarantee they will have a site.
Once we got the reservation taken care of, we were on our way. Though Reed Bingham State Park is only 6 miles from Interstate 75, Linda chose a different route. It would make the trip about 200 miles and a little longer in time, but we much prefer being off the interstates if there is an alternate route with good roads.
We took Fla. Hwy. 24 to U.S. 19. Following U.S. 19 into Georgia, we picked up U.S. 319 in Thomasville to Moultrie. The park is 14 miles east of Moultrie. Almost all of the trip was on nice four-lane roads with very few stoplights and very little traffic. It may have been the easiest 200-mile trip we've ever done. :)
We parked the rig at the office and took the Jeep through the two campground loops. It was a good thing we made the reservation this morning, because the remaining sites for the weekend were booked while we were on the road. The sites all have electric and water hook-ups (some with 50 amps) and almost all of them are suitable for large rigs.
We chose Site 30, .....
a huge pull-through with 50 amps and a big, sandy yard on the door side between the rig and the woods.
The site is designed to pull the RV up a little more under the big live oak tree where the door opens out to the little patio and picnic table. But we parked back in the site a little where we had good rooftop satellite access to the southern sky and where acorns from the tree wouldn't fall on our roof. :)
But before we unhitched, I made sure we weren't back too far. Our 50-amp cord is at the back of our rig, so I made sure it would reach the electrical pedestal. I don't have a 50-amp extension cord, only a 30-amp extension.
All these variables in parking. Will the cord reach? Will the water hose reach? Can we get level? Will the rooftop satellite work or will I need to manually set up a dish with a tripod? Shade or sun? If shade, are the trees oaks, walnuts, or palms where nuts, coconuts, or fronds can fall on the roof? How do the trees look? Are there dead branches that may fall in a heavy wind? Are we positioned so the slideouts don't hit the electrical pedestal, water spigot, trees, etc.? Are the steps positioned so we step out on a level surface? Can we put the awning out without hitting anything? Is there enough room for the rig and the truck? The rig, truck, and Jeep? Do we have cell service? Do I need to set up our external cellular antenna and will it be clear of trees? What's the best position for views out our windows? How will our views and enjoyment of the site change when neighbors fill the empty sites around us?
All these questions (and more) are pondered in selecting a site and then getting set up in the site. It's amazing how we analyze all that in a matter of seconds now. When we started, we didn't think about all those questions all at once, and sometimes we had to hitch back up and move a few feet or even change sites. :)
Of course we have extension cords, plenty of fresh water hoses, and more sewer hoses than most people carry, so distance to hook-ups isn't a big concern. We've seen every kind of hook-up in every kind of position - some are at the very back of the site, some are at the very front of the site, some are on the wrong side, some have to be shared, and some are just a long way away for no apparent reason. We learned early on to be prepared for all situations. We still prefer to use one cord, one water hose, and one sewer hose, so we consider the distances to hook-ups but perhaps not as much as those that don't carry all the extras. :)
It was a gorgeous day with temps reaching the low 80s. I really like our site, but it is a little buggy, so Linda wasn't rushing to be outside.
After we got set up, I took a bike ride to explore the park.
It's a large park with a 375-acre lake which is an impoundment of the Little River. The camping loops aren't on the lake, but they are close by. Here's a shot of the spillway and fishing pier.
This is the swimming beach on the opposite side of the lake from the campground.
They have canoe, kayak, and john-boat rentals.
Fishing from the pier, from boats, and from the bank is popular.
Swimming outside the beach area is not recommended. :)
Back on the campground side of the lake, there are seven miles of walking trails. We'll have to check those out while we're here.
The park is habitat for the protected Gopher Tortoise, Georgia's Official Reptile, and there is one in a viewing area in the campground.
The campground also has bike rentals. Riding the paved park roads is a nice workout.
Reed Bingham is another great Georgia State Park. It was quite peaceful today and really quiet tonight. It's set up with lots of day-use activities and several group shelters and picnic areas, so I suspect it will be more crowded and have more boats on the lake this weekend, but I like it here a lot.
We really enjoyed our time in Cedar Key, but this is more our kind of campground. :)
I remember seeing one of those gopher tortoises digging a hole to lay eggs in a sand trap at a local golf course owned by the city of Columbus. I have no idea how that worked out.
I have actually passed by that park several times on my way to and from Jacksonville. Like you and many RVers I have come to prefer the backroads over the interstates to avoid all the traffic. I'd rather take a little longer and have beautiful scenery, than put up with mainiacs on interstates where everything except the color of the dirt looks the same.
I don't know what route you plan to take from there to the COE park near West Point, but it looks like you may be heading to Moultrie, and from there to Albany and 'corridor Z' (GA 520). Corridor Z is a good road - four lane divided highway, but it does bring you to Columbus and I-185 at the north end of Fort Benning. THere's very little traffic between Dawson and Columbus.
I-185 is a good road too, but at the south end of it near Fort Benning there is a lot of construction going on to widen it.
It doesn't take long to clear that, or all of Columbus for that matter... once you pass exit 10 (10 miles from Fort Benning on the south end) you are basically out in the country. I-185 has been designated as a scenic route... there are no ugly billboards, etc. From there I don't know how you get to the COE park, but my cross street neighbor has a travel trailer, and camps there fairly frequently.
Safe travels,
Tim
Posted by: Tim Fansler | Friday, March 25, 2011 at 11:43 AM
When I was reading the part about all the things you have to think about when you set up I had to chuckle. It has been almost a year now and when we first stated the night before a move John could hardly sleep thinking of all the things we had to do to move. Now, though we still struggle with the backing up thing he sleeps like a baby. All just part of the journey.
Posted by: Janie Dean | Friday, March 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Love the pictures you post Howard, but they are very small. It would be nice to have the option to click on them and view the picture full size.
Posted by: NorCal Dan | Friday, March 25, 2011 at 01:29 PM
If you are going to stay west of 75, I highly recommend a visit to Andersonville NHS and Andersonville National Cemetery and National POW museum. Really nice exhibits and well done museum in the middle of nowhere.
Posted by: jB | Friday, March 25, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Sure hope you enjoy Reed Bingham State Park...we camped there for the 1st time last April and loved it...be sure and go on the boardwalk, very nice.
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, March 25, 2011 at 03:56 PM