Spoffords Travel

October 22, 2023 Day 15 Thomasville Georgia 21 miles

Today is mostly cloudy but due to be warm. No tours are scheduled today so its time to work on the car and do laundry.

Rob went to the fairgrounds to change the oil in the car and do some other minor repairs. One of the locals is going to have an oil pan and oil disposal ready by 9:30. Connie stayed at the hotel and did laundry. The hotel only charged $2.00 to wash and nothing to dry. We will have to do laundry again before we leave.

When Rob came back from the fairgrounds he had a short optional tour guide for around town. We ate salad for lunch and then went for the tour. Some of the houses here are beautiful and huge. One of those supposedly has no square rooms. I don’t know if that includes rectangles. We also saw a huge old oak tree. It is believed to be the oldest living oak tree in the US. The Plaza Restaurant is the oldest in Georgia. Didn’t look that old. This was a great day to tour the city. Traffic was very light on most streets. Many of the businesses were closed. After the self tour, we bought gas. We are ready for tomorrow. The organizers have split the cars into three groups for tomorrow. We are in the first group and are scheduled to depart by 0745. Early wake-up in the morning.

The opening banquet was tonight at 6 pm. The caterers were late arriving. It took them over an hour to serve everyone. We did have live music during dinner. Surprisingly we were among the first to be served. One of the guys at our table has season tickets to the Packers games. He actually owns 8 seats. Unfortunately the Packers lost again today.

October 21, 2023 Day 14 Perry Florida to Thomasville Georgia 85.4 miles

It’s another bright sunny day. The wind is blowing and the morning temperature is about 60 degrees. Rob needed to do some work on the brakes so we were later getting away this morning. He replaced a missing brake rod pin. We have a short drive so all is good.

We stopped for ice on the way out of town at an ice vending machine called twice the ice. Well that was way more ice than we needed but several people are getting ice as well. Rob gave them our leftovers.

A friendly gentleman came up and asked about the car. He had grown up around old cars so he was more knowledgeable than some. He had a good story to tell about his father getting a new car every four years. It was always a Ford so when Lee Iacocca was head of Ford he invited this guy’s parents to attend a weekend discussion of what to name some of the new cars. What a story.

As we drove through more of town we noticed how many buildings had plastic covering their roofs. This all had to be from whatever the storm was that came through. Numerous piles of limbs were all along the barrow pit. Sometimes tin roofing and insulation was there also. This had to have occurred some time back because the leaves are brown on the broken limbs. Out of town sections of forest had more trees down than up. In one place a crew was working to clear some of the downed trees and limbs. They had a two trailer semis into which they put the debris. More trucks were coming because we saw two more.

Finally the wind damage ended. More open space and cotton fields. Some of the cotton had been picked but other fields remained white. The plants look dead so the fields look mostly white. When the cotton is picked, it is baled like hay in big round bales. The difference is the wrapping is pink or yellow. Don’t know the significance of the color. The side of the road has lots of individual pieces of cotton that must have come off some of the harvesting equipment.

We arrived about 12:15 and actually got to check in. Our room has a living room, lights that come on automatically in the bathroom and a fancy shower with a seat and two shower heads. One is stationary and one is moveable. Maybe they saw us coming.

Rob spent a little time cleaning the car and then we went to the fairgrounds to check in. The fairgrounds has a large grassy area where numerous large trailers are already parked. Great place for those car trailers. Rob talked with a local man who will bring an oil collection pan and a way to dispose of the oil tomorrow morning. Now Rob will be able to change the oil. He will perform an “on the road” grease job as well. So far, we have traveled 3,011 miles from home on this trip.

Next stop was the grocery store to get food for supper. It was a big grocery with lots of interesting items. We actually saw canned okra and canned rutabagas. We must be in the south.

October 20, 2023 Day 13 Miramar Beach Florida to Perry Florida 213 miles

Oh my it rained during the night. The ground and vehicles are very wet. Thankfully the car started without any problems.

The hotel sits back off the main road a block or so. That is good because the road is three lanes in both directions and there are a lot of cars and trucks. They are all going about 50 mph or more. A few lights are scattered along. Businesses line both sides of the road. This goes on for several miles. Lots of condos and other types of fancy places to stay. Roads go off to the south that lead to beaches.

When the businesses finally thin out the forest lines both sides of the road. Now the road is only two lanes in each direction. The forest is pine trees not palm trees. In fact we have seen very few palm trees of any kind. The undergrowth is all cleaned out so in some cases you can see to the gulf.

We actually drove along the edge of the gulf in sections. The beaches here are small but clean looking. Very few people are on the beach. The wind is blowing and the temperature at the edge is a little cool. No big crashing waves. A few small towns dot the area. The houses right on the coast are built on stilts at least a story high. People park their cars in that space. Many of the houses have three stories above the stilts. More are being built.

The halfway point seemed a good place for lunch. We stopped at a boat launch and picnic area. We parked the car facing the gulf. The breeze was strong and cool. At least four different kinds of birds were close by. Two small birds were on land busily looking for bugs. The rest were standing in the water. Must be low tide because the water doesn’t seem very deep.

About the time we finished eating a pickup drove up and let out two dogs. One of those took off running after the various water birds. It ran out along ways and it still wasn’t deep. It came back once but then took off again trying to catch another one. The owners realized they could no longer see the dog. When we left one of them was wading out and calling the dog. We don’t know if the dog returned.

We also crossed some very high bridges across some of the water. Another long bridge was just above the water. We didn’t see many boats out on the water but there were a lot in the marinas. A few large RV parks were on each side of the road. No trees and the rental spaces were very close together.

A car was passing from the other direction. The driver didn’t judge distance well and had to drive off the road on our side to avoid hitting us. A little too close for comfort. We were ready to take evasive action and it was a good test of our brakes.

Some kind of accident occurred down the road a little further. An ambulance and numerous police cars were there. Only saw one nonemergency vehicle. We could not determine what happened.

The closer we got to Perry the more trees had blown down. Numerous large limbs were also down. When we got to town metal roofs had been torn back and many business signs were toppled and missing the name. They definitely had a big wind recently. The barrow pits had some standing water in them. No alligators luckily. Maybe that is just the pits.

We got take out dinner at a southern BBQ pit. They only do take out. They close at 6 pm on Fridays and they are only open Tuesday through Friday. We had ribs that Connie thought were delicious. She had a baked sweet potato as a side. We have enough leftovers for another meal. We broke a local rule and had unsweetened ice tea.

October 19, 2023 Day 12 Laurel Mississippi to Miramar Beach Florida 250 miles

It’s another sunny day with only a gentle breeze. We traveled on some divided highway and some two lane roads. Most of the roads have tall trees on both sides. Occasionally we come to a section that has been clear cut. Then there are some that have short trees. And then tall evergreens with few branches, small trunks, and very little undergrowth. We don’t go through many towns even though this isn’t a freeway. We saw some small farms with cattle or cotton. We crossed several rivers and streams.

Logging trucks with logs are going both directions. None of the logs are very big around. Lots are much longer than the truck. Then there are lumber trucks. Some look like two by fours and some are long thin slats.

We saw three road signs for bear crossings. The countryside doesn’t look like bear country. The bear must not care. We didn’t see any bear. Maybe it is a night crossing sign.

We found a McDonald’s for lunch and a clean bathroom. At least three of their customers were fascinated with the car. Two of those were at least our age. We observed that most people don’t like to use the kiosk to order.

We came to a gathering of people, a crane, a pile of logs and a logging truck. Looks like a truck lost its load. The crane was loading the logs onto a logging truck. No way to know if it is the same truck that lost the load.

Today we started in Mississippi, crossed part of Alabama and ended in Florida on the Gulf Coast. Shortly after we entered Florida the cars going the opposite direction were bumper to bumper for well over a mile. Don’t know why so many were leaving. Vehicles going our direction were few. Well that is until we got close to the shore.

This is definitely a resort area. Huge hotels and condominiums line the beach. Also lots of restaurants and deep sea fishing shops. Where we could see the sand it is very white. Our hotel sits between the coast and the main highway. Hopefully that will mean it is quieter. The GPS took us to the wrong address again. Once again Google saved us. Both times the address was a highway number rather than a street name.

Connie wanted to eat seafood and have key lime pie. She found a small restaurant very close to the hotel that had both. Lots of the seafood restaurants have crab from Alaska, lobster from Maine and mussels from Prince Edward Island. Just seems wrong to eat those. We had a very tasty meal.

October 18, 2023 Day 11 Natchez Mississippi to Laurel Mississippi 150 miles

We actually had a good breakfast this morning. The hotel had biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and grits. Unfortunately we had to hurry because we got up late and we want to make the first tour at Stanton Hall.

We arrived at the hall about the same time as a group of Harley Davidson bikers arrived. They didn’t stay long however so guess they aren’t interested in the tour. We walked around to the back of the house to see if the tickets were sold there. We did find the door to the gift shop but they were still closed. Before long a lady did come out and explain that a tour group from England was coming for the first tour. A group comes every Wednesday and have about 40 people. She did say she would ask the tour leader if we could join them. When he arrived he agreed. They split the group in two. Our group started upstairs and the others downstairs. The house was built in the 1850’s. Just like so many built at the time by the wealthy cotton plantation owners, they spared no expense. Huge 14 foot mirrors adorn the main parlor. The gas lanterns that hang from the ceiling are all different. They weigh about 300 pounds each. Of course now they have been converted to electricity. The house is about 14,000 square feet and has many of the original furnishings. The china came from France and the silver from England. The house was sold during the depression to a group of ladies who turned it into a bed and breakfast. General MacArthur, his wife and son stayed there for 3 days. The TV series North and South was also filmed here. During this time wall covering with paintings depicting the 1850’s in India were added to the main upstairs hall. The British tour group was interesting too. A few were very interested in our old car.

Then it was time to head out. We have a shorter drive today. We got on the four lane divided highway and went all the way to our hotel. Google Maps does not call this a highway. This is a great road with minimal traffic. The median and sides of the road are mowed with no trees. Further out the trees are tall and close together. We couldn’t see what was on the other side. The road has no on and off ramps. Other roads and driveways simply intersect. At one of these a truck carrying what looked like corn or dried beans had turned over on its side blocking 1.5 lanes. Some of the contents had spilled out on the roadway. Police and a fire engine were present on the scene.

The GPS took us to the wrong location but Google got us back on track. Probable user error. We arrived earlier than some days and took a nap. It felt good.

October 17, 2023 Day 10 El Dorado Arkansas to Natchez Mississippi 172 miles

Today is sunny with a light wind. We actually had biscuits and gravy and a cheese omelet at the breakfast bar. The hotel is in the process of remodeling so the hallway carpet is a mess. Some of the rooms contain mattresses and some are in various stages of completion. Luckily ours was finished unless they plan to add a toilet paper holder. Currently it just sits on the counter.

The landscape quickly flattens out and farmland is once again the main purpose. We still encountered a few logging trucks but not many and not for long. We crossed into Louisiana. Still mostly small towns with an occasional larger one. After a couple of hours we crossed the Mississippi River and crossed into Mississippi.

We headed for the plantation home called Rosalie. We took a one hour tour of the house. It is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Therefore Rob’s ticket was discounted by 50%. The house sits just up above the river on the high ground. The house was built in 1823 and is one of the smaller homes with about 10,000 square feet of living space. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the home. The furnishing are mostly original to the house. The furnishings are very nice and in good condition. Only two families ever lived at Rosalie. Neither family had children of their own but they raised orphaned children. One of those was married in the house and continued to live their with her family. They had children. Two of their daughters lived out their lives at the house. They were the ones who sold the house to the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1938. The DAR restored the house and began giving tours.

We had time to also go to Longwood. This house is octagonal in shape. Unfortunately it was never finished. The house was begun in 1860. The house plans were obtained from a catalog. The original owners were very wealthy and brought in 74 builders from Germany. When the Civil War broke out they all left and construction stopped. They left in a hurry. The house was to have six floors and about 30,000 square feet of living space. Just a small place for one family. The family ended up living in the basement which is above ground. Unfortunately the owner died during the war of pneumonia. He was a Union sympathizer and did not have to serve in the Confederate army because of the number of slaves he owned. His wife was left to raise the youngest children on her own. They lost their fortune. She sued the American government and received some compensation. The house eventually had to be sold. The Texans who bought the house restored the basement to how it had been. The doors and windows of the upper floors were either boarded up or screened in. A floor was put on the first of these floors. Then the house was given to one of the garden clubs to maintain. The basement has some furnishings but the second floor does not. The upper floors are not accessible. This house would have really been something if it was ever finished. It is constructed mainly of bricks which were to have been covered on the inside with plaster and on the outside with stucco. The house sits on 94 acres of land so you feel like you are out in the country rather than in town. A dirt road leads in and out of the property. When we returned to the car we had a flat tire. Rob changed that with the spare and then off to our hotel.

Then Rob spent at least an hour replacing the tube in the tire. So a late supper tonight.

October 16, 2023 Day 9 Fort Smith Arkansas to El Dorado Arkansas 231 miles

Not a good night’s sleep. We are in a room closest to the road and we could hear road noise all night. The heating unit also went on and off with associated loud noises. Then their idea of breakfast was a granola bar, orange juice and coffee. This is the worst Super 8 we have stayed in.

The weather today is sunny but still cool. The high is supposed to be about 65. Of course the wind is still blowing.

We are going to visit the US Marshal Museum that opens at 9 am and then Miss Laura’s at 10 am. They are a very short distance apart. The roads to get there are in terrible condition. Lots of potholes and patches that really rattle the car. Most of the way is a four lane road and they are all bad.

The US Marshal Museum opened in July 2023 so it is very new. It sits right on the Arkansas River. The building is quite large and modern looking. The museum is very well done and includes several interactive displays. Surprising how many of the modern events we could remember.

Miss Laura’s is a bordello built in 1910. It had 9 bedrooms and was one of seven bordellos in a row between the river and the train line. This would have been a high end establishment based on the size of the rooms and the fact it had electricity and indoor plumbing. The building was moved a short distance from it’s former location in the 1970s. A tornado blew off the roof about then. The temporary roof also blew off so the building suffered a lot of water damage. Most of the furnishings are modern reproductions but they fit right in. Business was good because the original owner was able to pay the loan back in 6 months. As we left the building a 1935 four door Chevrolet drove into the parking lot. They are having some kind of meet locally today.

Then we got on the road to El Dorado. That turned out to be numerous different roads. The landscape is lots of trees. Almost a 50-50 split between deciduous and evergreen. The roads twist and turn and the speed limit is mostly 45 mph. Numerous full logging trucks are traveling in both directions. The roads are barely two lanes wide so they seem very close.

We got to our room about 5:30 which is pretty good considering the distance, speed limit and later start. This time we are staying in a La Quinta and it is significantly better. Of course they very recently remodeled so everything is new.