Yesterday, Tuesday February 4, my sister’s birthday, all the parts were available and so was a bay.  Nathan had us in the service bay by 10 AM and and we left La Mesa RV Sanford for the third and final time at 5 PM. I must give special thanks to Nathan and the staff at La Mesa RV.  None of the delay was their doing and once they had the parts they got it all done and it seems to be well done so far.  As we returned to Wekiva River RV Park we were debating whether to stay another day or plan to roll in the morning.  We rolled, enough itchy tire syndrome, time to be on the move.

But where to make our first stop.  Looking over our options I noticed a monthly email bulletin from Harvest Hosts in my inbox.  I remembered that there were several members along our proposed route on I 10.  A quick check of the directory map from their website http://www.harvesthosts.com/ showed a couple of probables.  One is Golden Acres Ranch which we stopped at last Spring (May 2 to be exact).  It is 10 miles north of I 10 and I remembered that following the gps to get there might be a mistake.  We called and Fred said “sure, what time should look for you.”  We set off with expectation of arriving between 3 and 4.  This did not take into account the longest fuel stop either of us can remember,  Access to the only diesel pump was blocked by a car whose operator was in the shop shopping, apparently he never heard of pulling away from the pump after fueling.  We waited at least 10 minutes, when I asked him to move his car before finishing his shopping he grumped at me, oh well.  Once we got to the pump it became clear we would be there a very long time.  We needed just under 80 gallons of diesel and it took 30 minutes to pump it.  We will not ever stop at a Marathon station again with the coach, it is better to pay a few cents a gallon more and be on our way.

We arrived at Golden Acres Ranch at 4:45 in the afternoon.  We were warmly welcomed by both Fred and Bobbie.  Bobbie and her daughter-in-law were completing the afternoon chores feeding all the animals.  Fred helped spot us and then showed us what was available in the shop.  I will be leaving here with some fresh frozen local lamb and we will also have several jellies made by Bobbie. Unfortunately I don’t think there will be any mayhaw jelly as last years harvest was a bust, read my post from May 2, 2013 for details. Fred says this year has promise of a good crop.  Not sure when we are likely to get back here, but I am sure we will.

Oh about the gps directions.  The software in the coach thinks that there is a street called Longleaf that gets to the ranch from the north.  Well there is, sort of, I don’t think the jeep could get through, it never was a road.  I thought I had it figured right this time, but no we came to the ranch the hard way again.  Maybe another year we will approach from right off US 19 onto Barnes.  That is a reminder for me and a note for anyone trying to get here. That will result in a really tough right turn into the driveway and I want to remember to cross the centerline to give myself room for the turn.

Not sure if we go all the way to Summerdale AL tomorrow or dawdle just a bit along the coast.  We will know soon enough.