Bull ride, anyone?

I was tempted to get my photo taken on Buddy the Bull!

For something completely different, we attended a local rodeo. Who knew Florida had rodeos?! As we drove through the north-central lowlands, it wasn’t citrus groves we saw, but miles of wheat, and cattle farm after cattle farm. So I guess it’s no surprise those Florida cowboys would want to show off once in a while!

The town of Branford has a population of about 700, and I’m pretty sure everyone in town was at the rodeo. Entertainment for the entire family!

For us, it was quite a different experience. Before the rodeo began, the announcer recited the lord’s prayer, and then everyone sang the American anthem. And I think D was a bit disappointed there was no beer garden! But it was all good, clean (at least for us, but not for the bull riders) fun.

This year's rodeo queen

The announcer in his fancy duds and hat

Moo to you too!

Cowboy in the making

Formation riding

Bucking bronco - that has got to hurt!

BTW, Branford is in Suwannee County - pronounced Swanee. Yup, like the ole song Swanee River. Fun Fact: the song is actually called Old Folks at Home. It was written in 1851 and is one of the state songs of Florida.

Can't beat the heat in Florida!

A warm Florida beach is better than rainy Nashville any day!

Our plan was to head northwest from Savannah to Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee. However, midway there we checked the weather forecast and decided to head south instead. Weather in Nashville was cold and rainy, and the weather on the Gulf Coast of Florida was hot and sunny.

It was actually too hot! After spending a week in over 30C temps and 90+ humidity in north-central Florida (near The Villages), we decided to head to the coast to cool down. The owners of a Harvest Host we stayed at in Georgia recommended Destin, which is on the Florida Panhandle. We made it as far as Panama City Beach, here we camped for a few days at beautiful St. Andrews State Park (highly recommend for all you RV’ers) before deciding to hang our hats for a couple weeks at the lovely Sun Outdoors RV Resort - our top pick because there are two pools, pickleball courts, and a gym.

Gator Lake at St. Andrews State Park

St. Andrews State Park

Great Blue Heron

Endless white sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico

Aside from the beautiful white sand beach, which has had red flags the entire time we’ve been here (meaning high surf and strong currents), and miles and miles of tacky tourist shops and family ‘fun-tertainment’ centres along the main road, there isn’t much to do here in Panama City Beach, especially in low season. We’ve unloaded our e-bikes and have used them almost every day - we even ride to the grocery store a couple kilometres away - but it’s not the same as having a car to get around in.

Family amusement parks abound in Panama City Beach

Forced relaxation? It feels a bit odd to be in one spot for so long with not a lot to do as far as sightseeing. Maybe we’re more suited to moving every few days? Or finding a spot that offers us a little of everything… 

Our 'pad' for a couple weeks

Our camp cooking takes the cake!

Ribs done on an open fire... yum!

When we had our boat, our friends were always surprised at the meals we made and served. D would make fresh blueberry scones for breakfast, and we regularly would have elaborate three course meals - all without an oven. We made do with what we had - a microwave and a toaster oven was all we needed to make blueberry scones, pizza from scratch, and even fresh apple pie. I can’t recall ever making hot dogs and Kraft Dinner for a meal, unlike some of our other boating friends. (That’s not to say we don’t like hot dogs. In fact, I think there are some Oscar Meyer Classics in our freezer right now!)

It’s no different in our RV. Although we do not have a toaster oven, we do have a convection microwave oven which does everything we need it to do, and maybe even more - I just haven’t figured it out yet.

Fresh wild strawberries ready for a fruit salad

Pizza from scratch - even the dough!

Fresh caught cod and wild rice pilaf

Even the cat has to get in on the good food

From this,

to this...

to pumpkin ravioli and gnocchi in brown butter sauce...

to pumpkin pie with homemade crust!

What's camping without S'Mores?

There's one thing I just realized... I haven't actually made a cake yet!

I'm just here for the architecture

“Have you read In The Garden of Good and Evil?” my friend asked. “You must read it before going to Savannah,” she said.

I’ve yet to read it. But I did download the audiobook.

“Did you visit Chippewa Square where the opening scene of Forrest Gump was filmed?”

I didn’t know the Forrest Gump was filmed in Savannah.

I came for the architecture, and was not disappointed.

Nearly half of all the buildings in Savannah, Georgia have some architectural or historical significance. Y’all know, I do love me some quilts, but I also love me some old doors.

The fountain at Forsyth Park was erected in 1858

Lovely architecture!

It's not Georgia if there isn't a paddlewheeler

Factors Walk - a historical district where cotton was once sold

Factors Walk

Factors Walk

Playing at the Hiilton

Cycling the beach at Hilton Head Island

We make it a habit to ask other travellers where we should go on this journey, and several people told us we must visit Hilton Head Island (which is the name of the island, and the name of the town).

By this point in our trip, we’ve been on the road for five months, rarely staying in any one place for more than a night or two. So we decided to take a holiday from our holiday and booked five nights at the posh Hilton Head Island Motor Coach Resort, where the nightly rate for an RV is more than a night in some hotels.

Posh parking at Hilton Head Island Resort

However, there was a pool, and pickleball, so we were happy.

Pickleball?

Yes, we have (sort of) taken up pickleball. Prior to leaving Vancouver, we purchased rackets and pickleball balls after deciding we would need to get some form of cardio exercise on our trip, with equipment that didn’t take up too much space.

Things we learned about pickleball and the people who play:

Most pickleball players are early-birds. 

Pickleball courts require space, which means they take down trees, leaving very little shade in these southern parts of the USA.

That means it’s usually too dang hot to play during the day in Hilton Head Island, so that’s why pickleball players are up and at the courts by 7 or 8am.

So, we played on our own, later in the day when the trees finally provided some shade on the courts.

We don’t know the rules, and we can only manage to volley the ball to one another some of the time, but we’re getting our cardio in, thank you very much. 

Doing the Charleston

Fun Fact: The Charleston is a dance named after the harbour city of Charleston, South Carolina. 

We did not have an opportunity to do the Charleston in Charleston, but we certainly did walk our feet off as we toured the city.

Charleston Exchange Building

America's oldest liquor store - established in 1686

Lovely tree-lined path along the river

Original cobblestone street

City Hall

A little boat tour

Driving along the highway towards Myrtle Beach, we spied a sign that read, Battleship North Carolina Memorial - Next Exit.

A quick look at each other and D turns on the signal. Easy as that! That’s what we like about having no agenda - we can detour at any moment without hesitation. See something interesting? Let’s go!

The Battleship North Carolina is 728 feet long!

Built between 1937-1941, the USS North Carolina was the largest and mightiest battleship in its time. And the most expensive, at a cost of $70million to build. At 35,000 tonnes, 222 meters long (728 feet) and 33 meters wide (108 feet), the ship carried more weapons and ammunition than most countries even owned. The North Carolina was also one of the most decorated in the US Navy, having served in every major naval offensive throughout the Pacific during WWII, and earning 15 battle stars.

Talk about a big ship - you could fit over 130 Mainship 34’s (that’s our old boat) on the main deck alone! If it weren’t for the signs and arrows marking the self-guided tour, we’d still be lost onboard.

The ship was decommissioned in 1947, after just six years in service. In 1961, she was destined for the scrap yard (remind anyone of the BC Ferries Fastcat fiasco?), when it was saved by the citizens of North Carolina. It now stands as one of North Carolina’s most visited tourist attractions.

The ship out-guns most countries

That's some anchor!

Cramped quarters and no privacy!

Fold down beds 3 and 4 high