Andy & Gillie's Big Adventure!: -Let’s go -We can’t -Why not? -We’re waiting…

Well, not quite for Godot, but at times it has seemed a bit like that as we while away the hours in Naples, Florida. It’s not that Naples, Florida (you have to say that in the USA, much like London, England) is in any way an undesirable place to be becalmed. But since January 2^nd, we’ve been sitting out some of the worst weather El Nino can throw at us – or indeed anyone. And doing it in a motorhome, no matter how roomy and comparatively spacious compared to some we have experienced over the last 14 months, is a bit like living in a baked bean tin, without the epicurean pleasure of the beans themselves to eat.

So, first the news: our lovely Molly Too will soon be on her way to her new owner. After some fraught experiences in which we were offered the full asking from various offshore marine engineers (heard about that scam?), as well as being offered a selection of guns to the equivalent value (!) and a half-acre of land in Lehigh Acres (yes, us too), we were contacted by a very interesting (I’m sure he won’t mind us referring to him in this way) chap called Wayne, with whom we proceeded to do a mutually-beneficial deal.

He came to see it in torrential rain, we found the title after a considerable amount of panic on our part (Wayne was very patient and helpful); agreed the price; drove us to the bank so that signatures could be notarized and the deal signed off officially. Then he very kindly agreed that we could stay in her until our reservation at the RV park ends on 7^th February, when he will come and pick her up and take her onto pastures new.

No doubt a tear will be shed, but we are currently busy finalizing our trip to South America and tying up loose ends here, so we’re just pleased that Molly is going to a good home…

After our last post, we moved about 1.5 miles down the road to an equally unimpressive campground also in Key West, called Leo’s. It rained. A lot. We went to the Southernmost Point In The USA. It Has To Be In Capital Letters So You Know How Important It Is. It’s actually not even the Southernmost Point. That’s in a nearby naval base. Ho Hum.

Having 24 hours to kill before we checked in to our Final Destination in the USA (it’s all a bit Significant to us at the moment), we decided to go back to earlier tactics that we had so enjoyed on the West Coast and parked up, after one of the worst/wettest/hurricanest drives in the history of Bad Drives, at the Miccosukee Casino – our Last Freebie. And the sun came out as we shared their RV Parking Area with about a dozen other travellers and drank a glass or three (it was Friday night) watching another lovely sunset.

The drive to Naples was uneventful and we checked in for the last three weeks. We’re only a short cycle ride from the beach and a couple of bus journeys to Downtown, so we have been making something of our stay here in between ‘showers’ (for showers read torrential 10-hour long downpours).

We’ve also been listening to a lot of Bob FM a local radio station that plays pretty much non-stop oldies. He’s particularly fond of Steve Miller, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and the like, although a bit too keen on Bon Jovi. Every now and then there’s a station ident. that usually takes the form of some sort of witticism. Here’s a sample that we particularly like: ‘Bob flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana’. Think about it.

Actually, just chilling has been quite pleasant, washing the dust from our boots, reading a few more books, learning some more tunes and enjoying some sunshine in between the showers...

So here we are…waiting. It’s supposed to be the dry season, but it’s far from it. We’re keen now to get on our way. No more driving (except across to Fort Lauderdale for the airport and that’s in a hire car so doesn’t count), so here’s a couple of statistics:

Distance driven in Australia (Molly One): 18,210 km = 11,315 m

Distance driven in New Zealand (Mog & Meg): 7,044 km = 4,377 m

Distance driven in USA West, Canada & USA East (Molly Too): 16,607 m = 26,726 km

Total distance driven: 51,980 km/32,299 m

Think our carbon footprint is a bit big…about a size 18?

There are a few other stats we could bore you with, but won’t bother (is that a collective sigh of relief we hear?). We still have a lot of km/m to cover in Peru, Chile and Argentina, but somehow, this feels like a bit of closure, especially as someone else is going to be behind the wheel.

A few more ‘fond’ observations:

Casinos. These have been brilliant letting us stay in their parking areas (lots), where there are always several other like-minded souls. They haven’t been very prominent on the Eastern seaboard, but we found one in Florida (see above). Obviously, they have a vested interest in letting us park overnight for free, but we’ve never been tempted to try our luck. They’re all owned by Native American Indian tribes, so different rules apply. It’s a bit weird walking through these places early(ish) in the morning, to see people sitting in front of slot machines, drinking beer and smoking, who may well have been there all night. And they’re studying the screens for some sort of sign. It all looks like gobbledegook to us, but what do we know?

Fishing. Everyone does it.

Frozen Custard. Had some in Naples, Florida. It’s basically soft, but not Mr Whippy (remember them?)-soft ice cream and it is quite yummy.

Motorbikes and bikers. Lots around and there are some truly awesome machines out there.

Noisy vehicles. There is obviously no statute against making AS MUCH NOISE AS YOU POSSIBLY FUCKING CAN, no matter what you’re driving. A bit tedious at times…

That’ll do.

So, we’ll be signing off from the English-speaking world for a while. The next post will be from yet another continent, in some distant time…

Hasta la vista xx

PS. We did think that our last three weeks were going to be spent relaxing on a sun kissed beach, but as you now have gathered El Nino knew better, ah well you can’t win ‘em all!! It wouldn’t have done us much good any way would it? We’d be all wrinkly, with sand everywhere, also we’d have been so fed up of the sun we probably would now be cancelling our trip to Spain, France and Italy this summer through lack of interest!

So instead we’ve been reading up on South America, booking Airbnbs and bus trips and Andy has even opened his Spanish phrase book to wow me with his pronunciation and accent… He has also unpacked his ukulele and serenades me each day (also most evenings!) with his own unique versions of ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Summertime’, ‘Times they are A-changin’, ‘Werewolves of London’, ‘Sunny Afternoon’, ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ etc. etc. So watch out when we get back, just don’t encourage him!

I, on the other hand, have spent my time wisely by reading, reading and listening to the ’Archers’Omnibus’ (bliss) as well as cooking a series of culinary delights and deciding whether or not to go to ‘Walk Away the Lbs’ at 11.30 am. After our ‘rest’ we are really looking forward to new adventures for the last five weeks of our trip. We are ready for anything!!

Take care. Hasta luego.

Gillie xx