Dadventure! Just the guys roadtrip...

[Martins HeirCon]

I'm prepping for a circuit of Florida next week with my Dad. I had some vacation days to burn, and we've been talking about a trip for awhile. A trip where we can do all of the Man things that the ladies don't enjoy.
How many times have I driven by that Don Garlits museum sign? How long since we've driven on Daytona Beach? There's a car museum there, too...
Dad is 76, and a lifelong RVer and ex-fulltimer. They had to "land" a few years back for health reasons, but he still loves to go. He's not as mobile as he should be, but I can handle the slack. I'll just have to fit my trip to him. My trips with my wife are all about exploring on foot or bicycle, paddling in new waters we find. This trip will be things we can drive an AC-equipped car to. I'll be storing up priceless memories, though!

Anyway, I'll try to keep a trip report updated here with some pictures.

Basic itinerary will be Atlanta to Ocala, then east to Daytona, then Canaveral, down A1A to St Lucie. Skip around Miami and get on down to Pennekamp for a tour. We'll explore the Overseas Hwy. down to Key West and stay at the NAS campground on Dredgers Key for a couple of days.
On the way back we'll visit some Kinfolk in Lithia and friends in Clearwater, then mosey up 19 toward I75 and home.

It's a hot time to visit Florida, I know! I'll try to drive during his naptimes, and I just spent the day yesterday putting a new window AC in the Trillium for him. Seems funny, after all the time and expense to eliminate the AC last year.

Stay tuned...


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[Martins HeirCon]

At least the new unit is smaller and quieter and more efficient and white. .


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[Sid]

Originally Posted by Martins HeirCon

I'll be storing up priceless memories, though

My biggest regret in buying mine is that i did not do it soon enough. My Dad too was a lifelong RVer until Parkenson's altered his remaining retirement years.
I salute you

[Evergreengirl]

Good for you - that sounds like a wonderful trip!

[Martins HeirCon]

Well, we're loaded and ready to roll! I have to pull first shift tomorrow, then off for the next eight days. We'll get out of the ATL by 3ish, then overnight in Ocala.




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[Raff]

Sounds like a great trip. My wife and I will be doing the same trek later his year with stops at the Don Garlits museum, Anastasia State Park, Boyd's in Key West and Long Key State Park. Be sure to post some details as our trip to the Key's is partly inspired by your earlier posts about the area. With luck we're hoping to return to Canada via New Jersey as I'd love to check out http://www.theraceofgentlemen.com. Happy travels. Enjoy the time with your Dad.


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[Pam Garlow]

Looking forward to your future posts. This is what makes for the best memories, for sure!

[Martins HeirCon]

Thanks y'all. We're having a blast already. I've taught him how to find music on Pandora and now we're motoring along listening to Hank Thompson on YouTube! Remember when you used to wear out the tuner knob on your radio in these long open stretches?



The obligatory state line stop for a new free state map ( large print , even!)

Ernest Tubb has us waltzing across Texas...


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[Martins HeirCon]

Pam, sorry I couldn't bring the U-Haul this trip. Couldn't fit AC FOR Dad.


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[Martins HeirCon]

Oh my LORD, call the towing police! I wonder what the owners manual says about this??



Along about Gainesville spotted this cool teardrop behind a 'Vette


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[Glenn Baglo]

We can call the police about you using a hand-held device while driving. Do you text too?

[Martins HeirCon]

Nah. To do that I'd have to pause the movie I'm watching while driving.


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[Martins HeirCon]

We're landed for the night at Silver Springs SP, in a pull-thru with 50A and water that could easily hold 6 of this camper WITH tow rig. I was just happy to score a site here on first-come basis.


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[Raff]

Tow police and pausing the movie. Very funny. Love it. 👍👍


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[FRED SMAILES]

Man! Very much enjoyed your first post and the plans you have made for your trip!!!!!
I went to the Daytona 500 Nascar race in 1983,, Cale Yarborough won,,,WHO lol
I had heard about Don putting together a museum in Ocala drove up there went to the bottomless boat place where the river comes outta the ground but never did find the museum,,,no Google back then,,,LOL
Don't know if it is still there or if your interested but your dad probably would be,,, there was a circus museum/winter layover in Sarasota.
I think Barnum and Bailey, really enjoyed that stop,,,anyway once again very happy your making memories with your Dad.
Happy Travels
Fred

[EllPea in CA]

Originally Posted by Martins HeirCon

Oh my LORD, call the towing police! I wonder what the owners manual says about this??

Attachment 87803

Along about Gainesville spotted this cool teardrop behind a 'Vette


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Geez, even if I blow up the photo, I can't quite make out the problem. Is it that we have a "vette" towing? (and if so, 'why'? do they not have a tow rating?) Or is it the item strapped onto the teardrop???

Ellpea
(ducking back down into foxhole, seeking protection after asking a potentially *silly* question)

[Martins HeirCon]

Well,Silver Spring is the place where the river comes outta the ground, but we just camped and ran. I settled for tales from Dad of when he rode the glass-bottomed boats back in the (50's?).
The museum is several miles away, right on I-75. Right behind a Cracker Barrel, too! So after some hash brown casserole we went on in.
WOW. Big Daddy has collected a lot of neat stuff! We spent nearly 6 hours and Dad could have easily stayed all day if his legs weren't getting tired. The Drag racing collection is cool, but in the "other building" there's a massive collection of early Fords and assorted other antique cars. Also a strong showing of Mopar muscle, and a few dozen engines on display. Great stuff, and even better with my personal narrator along!



By the time we got out of there it was nearly 4pm, and we decided not to tend north-ish to Daytona. Instead we took the tollway through Orlando to Canaveral and Cocoa Beach to A1A. We wanted to cruise down the old way in the daylight, so a sack of Wendy's was lunch/dinner. I'll have to redeem myself with some fresh local fish tomorrow when we hit the Keys.

Right now we're shut down at the Snapper Creek service plaza on the turnpike, maybe 30 minutes from Florida City and the gateway to the Overseas Highway. The signs say no overnight parking but there are always cars and trucks napping. My wife and I commonly drive til 10 or 11 then stop and snooze awhile. If you time it right you can see the sunrise on the old Card Sound bridge.


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[Raff]

Nice report on the museum. Thanks. Definitely on our list of stops. Vintage Mopars and sunshine, can't wait to hit the road.


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[Martins HeirCon]

Here's that sunrise at the Card Sound tollbridge






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[Monte W]

Hi Glenn, What a great trip! You will remember this one for the rest of your life! Man I'm so happy for you. When I got out of the army in the 80's, my dad and I did a dive trip up in N. California and to this day it was one of the best trips EVER. Please keep us posted. All the best, Monte