I was a little worried this morning that I might be getting Paul Dahl Disorder (PDD) today as I had planned to drive 250 miles from Florence, SC, to Brunswick, GA. I’m much more comfortable doing about 100 miles less than that, but I was on a mission to get within striking distance of Okefenokee NWR.
(tonight’s photos are from Pearl’s garden that I visited yesterday)
As I’ve mentioned before, one of the biggest challenges I have on the road is finding a gas station that I can get into and out of without issues. Since I don’t have a diesel engine, finding a gas pump with enough room for my rig and toad gives me heartburn. When I’m at a campground for more than an overnight stay, like I was in Florence, I try to scope out a place I can easily get gas while I drive around in the car.
If I’m lucky, the best of all circumstances are available, and that was the case this morning. There was a wide open approach and exit to a gas station just a quarter mile before my entrance onto I-95S. As it turned out, it had about the slowest pump I’ve run into (twenty minutes to pump 50 gallons), but I didn’t care. No nerve wracking heartburn today. Then I looked down and found two coins on the ground…a penny (isn’t that good luck?) and a quarter. The quarter had the South Carolina state on it as well. Kind of gave me a good feeling for today’s travels.
I needed that. I always try to check out the next campground I have a reservation for on the RV Campground Reviews website, and where I would be staying tonight had some very low reviews lately. It made me a little apprehensive.
After about six hours on the road, taking into account my slow gas stop and lunch at the Georgia Welcome Center rest area, I arrived in Brunswick at the Golden Isles RV Park. My first impressions are that I have no idea why the recent reviews rated it so low. Compared to my site in Florence, this place is tons better. I was too pooped to bother with pictures of the place this evening, but I’ll try to do that tomorrow. I’ll be here for two nights.
As near as I can figure, Okefenokee is only about 50-60 miles away. So I’ll pack a lunch tonight and Emma and I will make a visit there in the car tomorrow to scope out my approach and where we’ll be setting up camp for the next several months. They’re not expecting me until Friday or Saturday, and I’ll just be more comfortable with checking out how to get there in the car first. I’ve ended up in some rather sticky situations with the rig when arriving at some refuges for the first time.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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A lot of times if I'm unsure of approaches to gas stations I'll check them out on Google maps. No always perfect, but with street view it can help.
ReplyDeleteYou sure do have experience on your side! Knowing to do a pre-check is something I have never thought of. Sure hope you are going to be warm enough this winter.
ReplyDeleteI know Brunswick, GA very well, I stayed there often on instructor assignments at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) just up the highway. In fact I was at the Golden Isles CG for several months a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeletehen you go out and about you need to check out the Coastal Georgia RV Resort about a mile away. It's behind the motels and the Waffle House, across from the Flying J. It is about $40/night but it is beautiful. We stay there whenever we're in the area.
Also, just up the road from where you are (turn left out of the campground) is Blythe Island SP and campground, which is much more of what you enjoy in a campground.
We are just outside of Tallahassee, FL tonight, we are going to cut North and head to SC, not going on I-95 this time. We'll be coming down I-95 after Thanksgiving.
How long will you be at Okefenokee?
Gosh a lucky penny and a quarter to start your journey off to a good start. I'm looking forward to reading all about your experience at Okefenokee. Safe travels tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it, Judy, with the gas stations..BOTH of us get nervous and jumpy and crabby about getting in and getting out. You think you can tell from outside the station, but it doesn't always work out well....as you know for sure!
ReplyDeleteWow, somebody does a lot of clipping and pruning on those bushes (hedges, trees?). Enjoyed the pictures. Looking for ward to your pictures and stories from Okefenokee NWR. Travel safe.
ReplyDeleteWe learned our lesson a long time ago about what stations we can and can't fit into! Now we only use truck stops, but we are diesel. You are pretty darn big for a gas rig! Scouting it out ahead of time is something we do too unless it's an easy off/easy on while traveling down the interstate.
ReplyDeleteEasy in and easy out gas stations can be hard to find..glad your fill up was uneventful!!
ReplyDeleteSo with you on the fueling up situation. . .and I'd almost rather pack a lunch than try to get in and out of a parking lot for eats. . .except at Cracker Barrel of course. . they're always great.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having a good trip,
Janice
ReadyToGoFullTimeRVing.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/janice.w.evans
Hope the new refuge is all you want it to be.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing more photos of Paul's work.
ReplyDeleteGlad the fueling was non-stressful today. Looking forward to following you on your next assignment.
Glad to hear that the campground turned out to be okay for you. Know what you mean about the gas stations. The truck stops really rake you across the coals in gas prices though.
ReplyDeleteI am very vigilant about the height of the top over. The Alfa is 13' 3" and many overheads are not that high. Craig is always looking for the best price, I'm looking for a safe fill. On our Oregon trip he almost pulled into a station that we couldn't read the posted height of the overhang. Fortunately he listened to me and we didn't turn in until I could find the number. It was 13' 1". Could have scraped our top. Tunnels scare us a little.
ReplyDeleteBesides Google Map street views, I like Google Earth for scouting driveway approaches, zooming in and out as needed. If traveling the Interstates, I constantly use the Next Exit guidebook. It highlights stations and services in red if they can accommodate big rigs.
ReplyDeleteBesides Google Map street views, I like Google Earth for scouting driveway approaches, zooming in and out as needed. If traveling the Interstates, I constantly use the Next Exit guidebook. It highlights stations and services in red if they can accommodate big rigs.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, sometimes trying to find an easy in and out gas station with a diesel is not a joyful adventure. Many of the Flying J's are so busy and congested that we look for a regular gas station we can get into.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are so nice. I hope we can to back to that area. I would love that garden.
If you like trains, check out the Folkston "funnel". I've camped near it...trains all night long.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of different areas in the Oke. The east side has more prairies, the west more forest, at least before the fires of the last couple of years. It is a magical swamp.
How well we know from experience the hazards of fueling. Len separated the back wall from the rig a few years ago when he got too close to a diesel pump barrier. I can only imagine your situation needing to get your MH into the gas pump islands.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are getting lots of good suggestions on where to visit during your next stay.
I get heartburn at the fueling pumps too...and I'm not driving..Especially Murphy USA pumps..We need diesel and those pumps are set up for little Volkswagens, I swear..If I were you I would have switched to a smaller rig years ago...Kudos, girlfriend, you're a better woman than I :-)).
ReplyDeleteWe also get heartburn trying to find a place to fuel up too. Since we have a diesel now, we try to stick with truck stops only. I don't care if they are more expensive, it's worth it not to have the extra stress of trying to get in and out. When we go to Flying J, we have learned to to the truck side verses the Rv side. Checking them out ahead of time is a good idea.
ReplyDeletePearls gardens are so amazing. I'm glad you're sharing more photos. How wise of you to check everything out first before you go off to another campsite. I'm so glad to hear the next campsite is better than you anticipated. Can't wait to hear about your new adventures. Safe Travels to you and Emma!!
ReplyDeletePulling into get fuel with a 5'er is a bit dicey most times as well. I learned pretty fast that I have to check the exit as well not just the entrance to the pumps. Backing up in a gas station is not my idea of fun.
ReplyDeleteI, too, can relate to the awful feeling that comes over us when we have to get in/out of a gas station with the bigger rv set ups. Interestingly, after pulling into more than a few stations that turned out to be tighter than I would have liked, I got a little more comfortable with maneuvering out of those tight situations and gained a little more confidence. Still. . . . I always felt much better/calmer leaving the gas station than I did when approaching.
ReplyDeleteI've thoroughly enjoyed reading about your volunteer time up in the Outer Banks area -- it's one of the places that was on my list to spend time at -- I still hope to get there for a visit even though it won't be in an RV!! Now looking forward to reading about your stay in GA.
Love that header pic today...
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted about Pearl's
that looks like some place I would
like to check out...
Donna