So yesterday we packed up and got ready to leave for our next destination in Jacksonville, FL at Mayport on the Naval Base there. We had enjoyed 10 nights at the KARS (Kennedy Athletic Recreation Social) Park along the Banana River but they were closing due to Corona Virus on Friday. We were fortunate to have made reservations at two different parks giving us a place to stay for almost a week starting last night. We broke camp, filled the clean water tank and readied Dericka for the 2 hour trip to Jacksonville. Big Daddy even got a call from Mike at Mayport Naval Station confirming our reservation and assigning us a spot, which gave all of us some relief. We finished getting ready to depart, and BD received another call stating that the Naval Station was closing down and that our reservation had been canceled. Both Mar and BD were worried but I had received an email earlier in the day from an online RV group I had joined offering spots North Central Florida. I quickly went on the website and reserved 3 nights guessing that our reservations in Pensacola at Blue Angels Recreation Center later in the week would also be cancelled. The change in location from Jacksonville on the East coast of Florida to Live Oak Florida meant a longer drive, but we were grateful to have a place to stay with full hookups. Eventually we did get the call that our spot in Pensacola had also closed.
It turns out that the campground we have landed at is a Music Festival epicenter that relies largely on campers who are here for music concerts and events. With all of their events canceled they were happy to have the camping business. There were TONS of RV’s heading north out of Florida along Interstate 75- many from Quebec. With the closure of all of the state parks there are limited spaces for folks to stay. And can we talk about all the nut job beach spring breakers? (?!?!)
Anyway, we have landed in a huge campground with full hookups and few neighbors, all of whom seem to be content with a friendly wave from afar. Checking in yesterday was just plain weird. One of the things I love about camping is the down home feel when arriving at a new place. You go to the office, hear their spiel, learn about the area, check out the camp store, assess the provisions, etc. When we arrived yesterday, we approached a guard shack which had a 6 foot barrier outside it and a large “STOP, do not pass this line” sign. They offered only a car tag for the jeep and no welcome packet of friendly information or anything else and the woman working quickly radioed an escort to show us to our campsite. No pleasantries, no hospitality; all business. I get it, and am grateful, but it makes me sad. Just one more reminder of the crazy situation we find ourselves in.
So today we have had a relaxing start and watched limited news. I have done some maintenance on the Motorhome- I don’t mean to brag but my holding tanks are spotless! Marleigh and I will take a bike ride around the park in a bit and we hope to collect enough wood to have a campfire tonight. The weather is sunny and its not too humid so all is well. At some point in the coming days I will head to Wally World to stock up, (only 4 miles away and reportedly not crowded and well stocked) but for now we are insulated, occupied and healthy. We will likely stay here for as long as we can and need to in order to support flattening the curve. I feel as if each move causes interactions with folks that might be unnecessary. Ironically, there is about 4 times the distance between Dericka and our nearest neighbor compared to our home in Thornton. So we are likely safer here. We have been watching movies each night and we are all really quite jovial in light of the circumstance. We have seen “Apollo 13” (while we were in Kennedy Space Center, because when in Rome…) “Secondhand Lions,” “Finding Dory,” “Frozen 2,” and the “Upside.” “Big” is on the docket tonight and “Princess Bride” has been mentioned as an option as well. We still have food stores for days, plenty of RV TP and lots of soap and disinfecting products. Oh, and beer. Because why not?
While we dont feel isolated we do feel protected by those of us around us and there is no snow to shovel, so there is that. š Cheers, BD, A and MGC and Lilly
Marleigh and Me 