Van now in USA

[mojo]

Visited the very interesting Ringling Legazy.John Ringling made a fortune of 200 million by 1920 from his travelling circus.When he died he had 340 dollars in the bank !
Consisting of his mansion Ca'D'Zan ,a large art gallery housing famous artist's including Ruebens and a fascinating museum on his circus days.The circus employed 1,300 to entertain and move the "town" every 24 hrs on the 150 rail carriages.
The afternoon used to visit Siesta Key with its white quartz beach.Lovely beach but no restaurants or bars for the miles of Condo's.

 

[mojo]

Nearly dark,getting golf carts ready for the campsite Xmas parade here in Florida.

 

[mojo]

Over 80 golf cart floats,poor night pics, sorry.

 

[ABZSteve]

Houston , Texas 29 November

Why ho why do we persevere with visiting these cities.Because we will never return this way and those evocative names draw us in.Every city has its stressfull congestion and Houston has surpassed them all with its eight lane highways.

You never see another RV of our size visiting and mostly we have had to stay about ten miles out and scooter in.

With a rainy day we got right into the mix to visit the Galleria Mall near the centre.The one and only mall we will visit but determined to do an American mall.

At least I got to play with the Tesla showroom cars but gave the ice rink a miss.

Surprised how close we managed to park the RV not only to the mall but also to downtown in the afternoon.We walked fifteen minutes but had the usually disappointing city visit.The free lift to a skyscraper observation deck was closed.The visitor centre had moved across town and the famous bats under the city bridge had migrated.To cap it all we had a little ATM issue.Always use a bank during open hours but they put it in the office block lobby.The card would not enter the slot correctly and we did not enter a pin info .Just after we moved away a untidy dressed fella went to the machine did something quick and left the building sharply.I told the bank manager of this unusual behaviour and she casually said they have been having skimming events but no pin given no risk.I still moved funds out online later just incase.Cities !!

And got soaked for our efforts.

View attachment 269563 View attachment 269564 View attachment 269565 View attachment 269566 View attachment 269567

Lost my car in the Galleria multi-storey car park many years ago. Took me over an hour to find it. Should have left bread crumbs

 

[mojo]

More

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[mojo]

Homestead, Florida 20 December

Left the Sarasota site after a week's stay.A four hour drive according to Google maps but always takes longer with breaks and points of interest.
Apart from visiting Marco Island for nostalgic reasons the main interest laid in driving through the Everglades NP on the 41.
Not many roads have alligators basking along the roadside water.
Overnight at Home Depot (B&Q) on the mainland before we set off tomorrow on the famous US 1 along the 100 mile chain of islands to Key West.
Pouring ,outside 20 Deg inside 30 Deg ! STICKY

 

[mojo]

In the spirit of motorhome exploration I have set myself the task of trying the food in all these American restaurant chains.With less than a month left I should have started earlier.
They are in every town and on numerous billboards so what the heck,it's America .
Have so far-
Cracker Barrel -strange concoctions
Golden Coral - value buffet all type food
McDonald - sausage muffin ,yummy
Burger King - so,so burger
Steak and Shake - cheap but nice burger
Panda- Chinese ,returned,skin more than chicken
Waffle House ,cheap,enjoyed with maple syrup

So many left to do ! Suggestions ?

 

[Margaritaman]

Anytime you’re passing a Wawa Gas station pull in for one of their Sizlis. They’re on a heated display by the checkout and available until 11am. The sausage ones are turkey sausage, quite tasty.

 

[mojo]

Their biscuits are scones out here.Jam and cream only,surely !

 

[Margaritaman]

Their biscuits are scones out here.Jam and cream only,surely !

I have to admit to liking the sausage egg and cheese biscuit!

Though I’ve never had the courage to try USA “ biscuits and gravy” roughly translated into UK English as “scones with sauce” I believe.

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[Sheddy]

The 'Olive Garden' chain of Italian ish are one of our favourites, along with Damon's Ribs if you can find them.
Enjoy the Keys and the Pelicans.
Cheers
Ed

 

[Janine]

Is Wendy’s still around? Best burgers from a fast-food chain in my opinion.

 

[Blue Knight]

I have to admit to liking the sausage egg and cheese biscuit!

Though I’ve never had the courage to try USA “ biscuits and gravy” roughly translated into UK English as “scones with sauce” I believe.

I ate a combination of those items for almost every breakfast meal during a 3-year period.

I still wake up now wishing I had a plate of biscuits, gravy, eggs and sausage patties on my breakfast table. Awwwww, yum yum

That said, the US folk who sat down next to me were bl○○dy huge and ate huge quantities of anything unhealthy.

 

[Margaritaman]

Is Wendy’s still around? Best burgers from a fast-food chain in my opinion.

Yes @Janine

Look Away @Blue Knight

Have A Nice Day @mojo

https://menu.wendys.com/en_US/category/breakfast/

 

[mojo]

I ate a combination of those items for almost every breakfast meal during a 3-year period.

I still wake up now wishing I had a plate of biscuits, gravy, eggs and sausage patties on my breakfast table. Awwwww, yum yum

That said, the US folk who sat down next to me were bl○○dy huge and ate huge quantities of anything unhealthy.

You went native

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[makems]

Is Wendy’s still around? Best burgers from a fast-food chain in my opinion.

Agreed

 

[mojo]

Is Wendy’s still around? Best burgers from a fast-food chain in my opinion.

Yes,lots of them

 

[mojo]

A long and windy drive today along the US 1 through the keys to Big Pine Key.Some seriously long bridges connecting the islands.
We have got lucky again in our choice of campsite.After expensive quotes for a week's camping in the keys I found online this small site not in any of my camping books.
For a quarter of the cost to other sites we had low expectations.They trusted us to arrive with no deposit as they don't take credit cards.
Greeted by the snowbirds like old friends.Helping to pitch up ,offers of a beer and within two hours of arrival sitting with the group for "Happy Hour" at 5 pm .Later at 7pm we all met for a full moon walk followed by ice cream and a movie in the temporary clubhouse using a static with internal walls removed.The original was destroyed in the hurricane.
They already have us signed up for Xmas lunch
and other planned get togethers including present swapping on Xmas eve.
We had hoped to find a small friendly place for our Xmas week rather than a large site .
Most are here for 4/5 months .

 

[mojo]

Big Pine Key. 22 December
The weather has at long last started to improve.The sun is out and only light winds.A walking and cycling day today exploring our Island.
There are many Key Deer around with no fear of humans,just interested in the food.Saw four fighting over a pizza from upturned bin.Large fines if caught feeding them.
Off now to the camp happy hour group at 4.30 pm.

 

[lorger]

Loved following your trip so far.

Have you tried the following.

Cheese cake Factory we found these to be quite nice,

The Saghetti Factory we found these great value for money and the inside of their resturants are lovely.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

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[mojo]

Loved following your trip so far.

Have you tried the following.

Cheese cake Factory we found these to be quite nice,

The Saghetti Factory we found these great value for money and the inside of their resturants are lovely.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

So many options and so little time left

 

[pandas]

Don't forget in the Keys Hemingway's Home, Captain Tony's Saloon, the original African Queen and loads and loads more! Great trip thank you for keeping us mortals posted.

 

[Blue Knight]

You went native

I did when I lived with the Americans but all I craved on a daily basis was vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

My whole menu choice for those 3-years was primarily based on huge steak joints, Mcdonald's-like burgers, KFC-style chicken, fried stuff, huge deserts and anything packed with transfats, cholesterol and saturated cows hoof.

As you can imagine I had my fill of the US menu choices to last a lifetime so I avoid it at all costs these days.

 

[mojo]

Don't forget in the Keys Hemingway's Home, Captain Tony's Saloon, the original African Queen and loads and loads more! Great trip thank you for keeping us mortals posted.

Just got out of Hemingway's house.Crowded

 

[mojo]

Key West 23 Dec
We are 30 miles north of Key West.Advise from the tourist office was to visit today because after Xmas the tourists will quadruple.We parked the van in Sears carpark just outside.
Only here have we seen other scooters being used.It was usefull to get around with easy parking.
Crowds everywhere including Hemingway's House.The harbour walk and busy Duval St not so crowded untill we came to the Southernmost Point in the USA.A long queue just to take your picture at the marker.Finished the day off with more crowds at Mallory Square for its popular sunset .Can not imagine how manic this place will get in a few days time .The locals on warpath very cortical shops overchargeing.

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[mojo]

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house everyone was on their phone.

Happy Xmas to all who have bothered to follow this post.

Does anyone else think it is strange that we allow an old, fat man to sneak into our house in the middle of the night, eat cookies and drink milk and then fill our socks with the wrong present.

Enjoy

Gary & Glenda

 

[Riverbankannie]

I’ve very much enjoyed following your journey. Enjoy that lovely sunshine while you can.
Happy Christmas to you both.

 

[scousebird]

Merry Christmas to you too, have a great day.

 

[mojo]

Xmas dinner with fellow campers went well here at Royal Palms campsite,Big Pine Key, Florida.
Although I didn't get my requested present of a pig roaster

 

[pandas]

are planning to stay in/near Miami on the way out of the Keys?

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