Some of our loyal viewers may be surprised to read that our first workamping trip, and what was supposed to be a long term stay, is already over. What gives? It's quite the story.
We were supposed to be spending the entire winter season workamping in Florida. It was an absolutely beautiful view right on the Gulf of Mexico, with laid back hosting and a great customer base. We were very fortunate to make a few good friends along the way, including our original supervisor who hired our services. Then came one of the great curve balls of business: A change in management. As the park is corporately owned, this isn't all that much of a surprise, since turnover happens in business all the time. However, responsibility for the campground abruptly changed in a hostile takeover, planned even before the "big wigs" arrived. A change in the expectations of the camp hosts followed, increasing hours and duties without any sort of additional compensation in return. Coupled with how some of those in the adjusted positions addressed us, as well as took "aggressive actions" against persons at the park and sometimes just on a whim, we knew it was not only our time to leave, but we would have to do so in the middle of the night to avoid destructive confrontation.
One great quotation we always carry with us is, "There is light even on the darkest nights." The last days of our first foray into workamping were quite dark. We won't go into details, but will say a number of the happenings in our final days of traditional home and salaried living were coming back to us. Many people live on the road to improve their own personal health and well-being. Our light, however, always exists, both in our hearts and on the highway. We can simply pack up and move towards that light. Sure, breaking contracts can have a negative connotation to come with it, but if the terms are going to change from our initial agreement, the original contract is void.
We aren't quite sure where we'll end up next. There are still a few more winter opportunities we're exploring. Although most of the RVing ways are done months in advance, cancellations come up all the time. Whatever happens, this entire adventure, as we always say, is about following our internal compass. Never let anyone place unbreakable chains upon you. And even if you see the chains, know that you always have the power to break them. Sure, you may see barriers, but these hurdles can always be overcome, one way or another. It may not happen overnight, and it will be arduous, but it is something you can do. As the late Jim Valvano once said, "Don't ever give up."
"Space, the final frontier." These are the journeys of Freedom Rolling. Its continuing mission to explore odd tourist destinations. To seek out new states and new attractions. To boldly go where many have gone before.
OK, so Kirk and Picard we are not, but one favorite destination has to be the Space Coast of Florida. Situated between Daytona and Melbourne, the Space Coast was originally chosen in the 1950's being one of the more undeveloped eastern coasts of Florida, but now houses one of the most famous Space Force launch ranges, and attracts many enthusiasts from around the world. Spend a little time in the cities of Titusville and Cape Canaveral, where helpful locals can clue you in on the best sights and deals. Maybe catch a wave or two on the Atlantic Ocean. If fishing tickles your fancy, plenty of piers adorn this coast. If the RV or tent life is for you, then consider one of our well-enjoyed places to stay, Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral. This Florida State Park has its own beach and fishing pier, along with great views of the launch range.
If you came looking upward, then the Kennedy Space Center is the place for you to visit. The Visitor Center boasts a substantial "rocket garden" consisting of the many rockets of yesteryear, along with several exhibits and memorials, such as the Atlantis shuttle and a tribute to the fallen astronauts and potential astronauts in the line of duty. Take their bus tour into the Space Force Station, and you can see an actual Saturn V rocket, once ready to serve an emergency Skylab mission, and is now on display for visitors. Consider spending at least a couple days at Kennedy. With the pricing during our stay before the RV, we were able to get an annual subscription for the price of two entries, with all the associated perks.
If you can time your visit right, combined with a little luck, maybe you can be at the Space Coast on a launch day. Sure, you may have seen some of these from the comfort of your home, but nothing beats witnessing a launch live in person. The Kennedy Space Center offers ticket packages to view near the range, but perhaps you don't want to spend the extra money or be around so many visitors. Head back across the Indian River to Titusville, and there are several parks on the shore to give great viewing opportunities. NASA's website gives the location of several parks with free or limited fee viewing. Rotary Riverfront Park places you directly in front of Pad 39A, famously used during the Apollo days, and now serves as a base for SpaceX's high profile missions. Bring some binoculars or a telescope to see the propellant fills, ignition, and other activities across the river. Wireless usage will be jammed so you may not be able to livestream or hear a slightly delayed cast, but shout-outs to Space Scout for guiding visitors at Rotary Riverfront Park as to what's happening.
If you're going to follow your internal compass, don't burn out your fuse up there alone. Head out to the Space Coast and really explore humanity's journey to the stars.
Florida is one of the most popular tourist destinations for millions worldwide. Many flock to the heat of Miami, the theme parks of Orlando, or the gulf beaches of Tampa. There's one area of the state not to miss.
Franklin County, Florida is nicknamed the "Forgotten Coast". The Forgotten Coast is situated south-southwest of Tallahassee and southeast of Panama City, along the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico. Compared to many of the other shores of Florida, this area doesn't have the hustle and bustle that comes with the more tourist-laden parts of the state. Drive along its main highway, US Route 98, and between the small cities of Carrabelle, Eastpoint, and Apalachicola, you'll see miles of undeveloped beaches, with fishing piers here and there built by the residents along the road.
While at the Forgotten Coast, head over to St. George Island. When you get to Eastpoint, take the long causeway over the Apalachicola Bay to get there. Along the trip, you'll see a fishing pier on either side, which were converted from an older iteration of the bridge connecting the island and the mainland via several man-made islands still in existence. To the east lies St. George Island State Park, which offers RV camping and day use to visitors. To the west and central parts of the island are a multitude of houses and condominiums, along with a free public access to a pristine beach along the gulf. Although the houses are built on stilts to guard against hurricanes and flooding, no high-rises exist, giving that small-city feel.
The Forgotten Coast is also partial home to two protected forest areas: Tate's Hell State Forest, and the Apalachicola National Forest. Both are protected wetland and woodland areas along the panhandle with plenty of wildlife and vegetation. Tate's Hell has an interesting legend to its name, when an 1800's local named Cebe Tate ventured into the forest, and became lost for several days. When he returned to a part of Carrabelle, his last words were believed to be: "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell."
So the next time your internal compass leads you to the beaches of Florida, don't feel like you have to brave the tourist destinations. Head to the Forgotten Coast, and you may find a much more pleasant experience.
Trip number seven brought a new experience for us the form of a paid dock, where we decided to stay at a campground. However, unlike the splitting of trips 4 and 5 because the stay was for a bit longer, this one is being treated as a dock. Although it is less expensive to dock at RV/Truck stops, sometimes you need to replenish the "essentials", dump the "extras", and live in a little more comfort. For us, this one night stay was at the Campground at Barnes Crossing, located outside the city of Tupelo, Mississippi. Tupelo is famously known for being the birthplace of the widely impersonated late singer Elvis Presley. This was originally supposed be a longer stay, but due to circumstances described in another blog post during this trip, it was cut to a dock. Still, like any place where we are paying customers, it will receive a proper review.
Grounds: This park is conveniently located off US Route 45 and the Natchez Trace Parkway, near the newly designated Interstate 22, otherwise known as US Highway 78. Although in a rural setting, the campground is near the Barnes Crossing commercial strip, allowing visitors to resupply as well as receive restaurant delivery services. Found off a minor state highway, this place is very well marked, however drivers should be very aware of narrow shoulders with steep drop-offs, as well as hill grades that may require lower gears during descent. Several "For Sale" signs were found along the campground road; it is unknown whether the park management will soon be changing hands, or if extra undeveloped land is being offered for additional usage.
Sites: Fifty-four RV sites adorn the campground, all with full hook-ups and an assortment of back-in and pull-through sites. Be warned, when reserving a site here, that credit/debit cards are not accepted; you will need to pay by cash or check. The sites were gravel with a small concrete pad to mount a trailer or fifth wheel front. Some pull-through sites are doubled up along a line, which could create an awkward "back out" situation, although we were placed at the front of one of these strips. A well defined indentation made lining up the trailer for hookups very easy. Water pressure was very high even with a regulator, and the sewer cap was hinged, causing some issues in securing the hose. Most, if not all, of the sites are on a hill, which even with leveling blocks, may create a "tilted" experience, as well as make traversing the park difficult.
Staff: Staff interaction was fairly minimal. Although some staff had an uncomfortable physical presentation, they were otherwise generally helpful at check-in. It is unknown whether there are workampers, if all workers are salaried, or is otherwise family operated. The staff seemed to maintain the park fairly well for what it had.
Amenities: The campground offers limited amenities, although visitors have the town nearby for entertainment. A couple pet areas are scattered around the park. The sites are in a loop that many campers enjoy walking either by themselves, or with their pets. A bath house with shower exists, but is limited to nightly guests; monthly campers are prohibited from this facility. Laundry also is available, along with a horse corral.
Atmosphere: This park seemed a bit more friendly than others, with a number of happily greeting guests. If you have children, they'll need to be entertained as a family unit. Although the stay wasn't long enough to truly grasp the harmony that may or may not exist at a campground, even just the one night makes the camper feel at home.
Overall, the Campground at Barnes Crossing receives a 7 rating out of a possible 10. In addition to some of what was previously mentioned, the park had fairly low value in terms of the price paid to stay and what was offered. In addition to the lower rating, the price point is also reason to select a different place to stay if you visit northern Mississippi, especially if for a short-term stay.
Finally, we have arrived at our destination. However, unlike the other trips, this one's for a longer term.
Some have asked how we deal with finances while on the road. Workamping, or working while camping, is one of the ways to do this. In many cases, the compensation for working at the park is a complimentary site for the length of the job, anywhere from a couple months to a year. Some may say that we aren't actually getting anything, but that's not entirely true. One of the easiest ways to save money is to not spend it. Not only are we not spending money on campground fees, but we're also not burning fuel carrying the heavy load of our home from place to place. This advice isn't limited to full-time RVers, though. If you have thoughts about saving money, decide you're not going to spend some in a month and sock it away, even if it's what seems like a small amount. After a while, it adds up.
There still has to be some sort of income despite workamping, as there are food, fuel, health, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs. How much you spend is truly up to you. Some have pensions or investments to be able to use. Others may be lucky enough to be able to get a salary as part of workamping. Some may have their own side businesses. A part-time job outside the park is also an option. However, be very careful about earning salaries when you travel. A number of states will charge you an income tax for earning money while in their state, even if you are domiciled in a state that doesn't have an income tax.
We look forward to this workamping opportunity and improving the experience of our fellow campers. This location is where our internal compass led us to be, and we hope to enjoy it for the entire time we are here.
Once again, it's time to travel! The RV lifestyle makes us migratory, so it's time to head south. However, plans may not always be as they seem.
When getting ready to travel, it was previously mentioned that you want to give at least a little bit of extra time when getting to your destination. Along with this, it's necessary to have some flexibility in your route, and not just for construction, either. As we embark on this trip, all of a sudden we receive word about some inclement weather. Ida tell you all about it, but it's all over the news. Bad puns aside, this is where you want your co-pilot to be giving you updates about road and weather conditions around you and your route. In today's day and age, cellular data makes this easy and is what we use, but for those not able, there's always talk radio on the half-hours. As we track the storm, given our destination, instead of heading directly to our end location, we'll take a little trip east before heading south. Sure, it might mean a little more in gas costs, but compared to what it could be, the preventive measure is worth it.
When you live in the RV full-time, mobility is your greatest advantage. With enough advance notice, if work obligations permit, pack everything up and get out of dodge if needed. When looking at routes to get to and from your destination, never limit yourself to the interstate highways. In fact, you may not be able to reach some of the higher speed limits in the west, as clogged as they may be, so taking the state and US highways may be your best option. Remember that everything you have is with you, and it isn't that stable if you choose to abandon it, when compared to a house. But an "evac" doesn't mean you can't tow. Stick to the less-traveled byways while everyone else jams up the interstate, leave a little room for merging and swerving traffic to keep it all moving, and you and your home should be just fine.
So definitely follow your internal compass, but don't let it slam you into bad weather. Consider a byway detour. Who knows? Maybe you'll encounter something you'll like but never thought of visiting.
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