The journey begins for the 2022 Great Winter Escape

We are four days into our 2022 winter trip to Florida looking for warm weather and sunshine. We have added just over 1000 miles to the Coachman Pursuit's odometer and have yet to find the warm weather though we have had brief bits of sunshine. 

Have a few pictures to add, but am still figuring out that piece of this blog.

In a snapshot here's the details:

1. We spent Tuesday night in Arkansas celebrating early, the 6th birthday of our oldest granddaughter with dinner at Big Whiskey and opening birthday gifts.  It was good to see the grandkids and our daughter & son-in-law for a brief visit.
2. Early Wednesday morning we left for Jackson, Mississippi.  Somewhere southeast of Little Rock Nancy & I ended up on opposite sides of the Mississippi River.  I am driving the RV and Nancy is driving the car. This added sightseeing tour was thanks to a recalculation from Google on my map. Unfortunately after we left Little Rock there was little to see.  We both, finally made it to Clinton, MS which is just west of Jackson and we spent the night there.  
1. Dinner that evening was at a great restaurant, new to us, called Newk's.  A steak salad for Nancy and a shrimp po' boy for me was what was for dinner.  We also picked up some great Newk's Pimento Cheese.
3. Thursday morning, with the thermometer reading 28 degrees we began our drive headed southeast through Hattiesburg, MS to hook up with I-10, as we were heading to Defuniak Springs, FL then south on FL 331 and back west a bit on FL 98 to RV at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. 
1. This year's journey across the Mobile Bay bridge and the Escambia Bay bridge went much better than last year's as there was no wind and I wasn't worried about the North wind gusts hitting the side of the RV as happened in 2021.
2. The best highlight of this day's journey was our a stop at a Buc-ee's in Alabama on I-10 / Exit 49 @ the Baldwin Beach Express.  If you haven't been - you should.  Words can't begin to describe or explain this gas/convenience store and all that it holds in food, supplies and novelties.  Also - mid afternoon temperatures finally climbed to the upper 60's and were a welcome relief.
3. We made it to Topsail early afternoon and set up in a one-night spot to be changed for the longer spot on Friday.  
1. Dinner and breakfast - because all was not set up in our RV was at a Destin area favorite - "the Donut Hole".  Great dinner on Thursday and breakfast on Friday (Omelettes, eggs and chicken salad were our menu request for these meals.  And though there more choices for donuts, cakes and sweet rolls than one could imagine - we walked away with none. 
2. Lunch on Friday was at another Destin favorite - "the Shrimp Basket" where grilled shrimp was our choice.  
3. The afternoon was topped off with a short walk on the white sands of Santa Rosa beach in our winter coats - with a chill in the air.  I did find a dozen broken sand dollars that will surely make someone a great art project much less a possible sermon illustration.
4. Saturday will be spent walking the beach in our winter coats and exploring some of the stores & shops in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Navarre.  Weather isn't going to cooperate apparently while we are in the Florida panhandle, glad we have reservations farther south.