Location map

Directly above is a map of Destin, Walton County and surrounding area. Above that is a general area map of NW Florida, Alabama, etc.

More photos of the area surrounding Topsail.

There are public beaches everywhere. The park deptments really make sure that the public can access the water and have use of the ocean and surrounnding areas. That said, there are many beachfront homes, condos etc. Overall it seems a bit underused and many of the condo properties seem completely empty. Maybe that is just the time of the year however. The pubs and eating places also seem slow. I would have thought that spring break would be in full swing, but apparently not yet. Destin has lots of condo development etc, everywhere, but it also seems a bit deserted. No shortage of shopping locales though. They do have a outlet mall that is very busy, much different than those in and around Minnesota.

Added photos of the beaches and a few other things we found of interest. More Navy and Air Force activity, which I like to see.

Sunday, Mar 29

Here are some photos of Topsail park. Finally we have a sunny day. It's beautiful....

All pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/river.ratg/TopsailRVParkMar29?authkey=Gv1sRgCPvP5s_3g6j46AE#

Friday, Mar 27 at Topsail State Park

On Wednesday we left Perdido Key and took a slow drive to Topsail Park about 100 miles east. Topsail is one of the highest rated RV parks in the SE. It is a state park, but is unique in the fact that it offers full hook up and cable TV. It is great. However it has been raining since late Wedesday evening. No drainage issue, just being cooped up inside is getting old. To say the least. On the good side, we're getting caught up on laundry etc. I'll add lots of photos once the sun comes out. It is really a nice place. The sites are well placed and roomy, the park is well kept as expected and there is access to a huge beach on the Gulf.

Our Bay again performed flawlessly on this short drive. Destin appears to be a tourist haven. Lots of stuff to see, lots of food outlets a huge Wally World etc... Hopefully we can get out this weekend and see it all.

Before we left Perdido Key, I went and visited the Naval Air museum in Pensacola. Wow, what a interesting collection of aircraft and great information on the history of Naval aviation. The base is the home of the Blue Angels and the planes were out getting ready for a practice session. I was able to get close enough to nab a few pictures. Attached are a few example of the aircraft on display. This is a must visit for anyone with a interest in aircraft and especially Navy aircraft. I will post a link to all the photos for those with a interest.

Should we stay at Topsail longer?

Map of general area we have been in:

Update after the weekend - out exploring...

We had a great weekend out and about in the greater Pensacola area. Made the drive over to Gulf Breeze to look at the beaches and then on to Sanata Rosa Island. Lots of sand and some nice beach homes. We're impressed at how the local gov has kept public access to the beaches open. and parking available. Same with areas for fishing. The only issue would be a $1.00 charge to cross the bay bridge to Sanata Rosa Island. Not a big deal. Well, except for the 3 mile long que to get through the toll plaza. But it was saturday morning after all. Also went exploring the Oreange Beach, AL area. Very tourist friendly (read "trap") but every store known to man is there and many places to eat. A number of grocery markets so you can get most anything you would ever want. Lots of condos on the beaches (a understatement) of all types and level of fancyness. Cost seem reasonable for food etc, I'll say that.

Photos attached are all Santa Rosa Island and crossing the bridges from Pensacola proper. Figuring out tha the city is actually not that big and the biggest industry is actually the Naval Bases and related stuff.

Sunday evening the Blue Angles made a pass by us returning from a show somewhere. About 500 feet above the water and within a 1000 or so feet of us. Very impressive, all the planes in a tight formation... loud.....Apparently this coming Wednesday they are doing a practice right here. Have to see that. Maybe I can get a pic or two.

The RV park is empting out today and yesterday, maybe only 50% full at the most. We have met a number of nice folks. Two couples from MN, and MI etc.

Wednesday we head over to Topsail Hill State Park. A two hour drive. Can't wait. Sshould be a nice spot. May even extend our stay.

Keep tuned.

March 20 update

Here we are in sunny Florida on Perdido Key.

Wow, warm, sunny, no bugs. Almost couldn't be better. No issues getting here at all. A total drive of 1392 miles. As of the last fillup, we had used 115 gallons of USDL. Figures out to a amazing 11.15 MPG. Hard to believe, but that is correct, I checked and rechecked. Just under 3000 miles total on the motorhome. I am very pleased with it.

Playa Del Rio is a nice spot. Wonderfull location, maybe a bit tight, but it was no problem getting in. The Park guy helped with every move so it was easy. WIFI and cable work well.

You have to see "FLORA-Bama", what a hoot. Tourist trap, yes, but classic beach bar.

Few photos attached for your pleasure:

First leg complete.

Drove 475 miles today from NW Wisconsin to central Ill, where we are getting our ECM update tomorrow. No issues at all, wonderful weather, not a cloud in the sky. Miles just merrily clicked away. Thanks Mr Tiffin. Estimated mileage is 9.8. Not bad for only having 1500 miles when we left. Looks to be a very nice Coach Care location.
Tomorrow Paducah.

March 11 update

Well, another fly in the ointment. 3+ inches of snow overnight and below zero temps this morning. Makes a delay in the loading etc apparent. Oh well, still to be almost 50 by friday. Should only be a minor problem.

Quick Update

Temps have been staying well above the freezing mark for a few more days. I removed the snow buildup off the front DS slide cover (which I had to open to get to the chassis batteries). We're working on a list of all the stuff we need to load up. Not a small amount of stuff. Still working out how to best deal with the winterized coach during travel until we get far enough south to be out of danger of freezing. Got some good advice off the TRVN forum and rv.net, so we'll see what ends up being done. Also got the new Direct TV receiver for the Bay. Should be interesting to set up. One final hurdle, the two feet of hard packed snow and ice and the end of the RV driveway. Hummm Hope for rain I think.

Getting ready for our first RV adventure.

Still need the snow to go away so we can get Cecilia out of the driveway. Battery issues are now understood. I'll pull them out and have them load tested before we head off. Tiffin will pay if they need to be replaced. Everything else seems to be okeydoekey. This photo is from early in this winter. Lots more snow since then. Upper photo is recent, but prior to the last snowfall. Plan is to leave in 13 days. Stopping in Normal, IL for a ECM update.

General plan for the trip is:

March 16 leave for Pensacola from NW Wisconsin. Stop along the way at the Coach Care shop in Normal, IL. For the EMC update on our ISB. Hopefully out of there in a couple hours.

Then off for the remaining travel to Pensacola area. Planning on staying at Playa Del Rio (site 12) in Perdido Key for a week. May stop on route somewhere in northern AL, unsure where (recommendations?). Then off to Topsail (site 28) until April 1. Really looking forward to arriving at Topsail, does it really live up to all the great reviews? Hope so.

April 1, we’re off to the TRVN rally at Beverly Beach. Near St. Augustine on the Atlantic side of Florida. Should be great fun and we’ll enjoy meeting you folks that have been so helpful to us in this new adventure. Neither one of us has been to Florida before, so the whole experience should be interesting. We’ve been all over the world, but not to Florida.

Basics:
HWY 90/94/39 to Champaign IL.

HWYs 57/24 to Paducah.

HWY 24 to Nashville.

HWY 65 to Birmingham, Montgomery, etc to 29 into Pensacola.

Any suggestions or ideas as to problem areas along that route? City areas to avoid or?? Routing around them?
April 4, start the return trip. No real hard and fast plan for the return. Want to avoid Atlanta, but may look into the area northwest of Atlanta for a stop for a few days. We’ve been through there before and thought it was great, but didn’t have enough time to really see it. We should be past the worst of the cold weather by then. Want to stop at Red Bay of course, but need to look at the routing.

As noted, this our first lengthy trip in the MH, so it should be an interesting learning experience. Mary needs to work a number of days while we are gone, so hopefully that will all work out good. I think we’re all set up with the Cradlepoint router in the Bay, two different aircards etc. That’s been all tested out, set and confirmed to be working.