74.7/11 Following the I-10 Across Southeastern US

Once we crossed the Brazos River in Texas, we entered southeastern states' jungle-like vegetation and wetlands with alligators. Hot and humid? You bet! Daytime temperatures in the high 90’s, nights in the 80’s. A half-hour outside and sweat is rolling into your eyes and clothing is soaked through. The RV rooftop air-conditioner has been running almost continuously since July 1st, either powered by the gasoline generator or from electric outlets at Parks.

In New Orleans, we stayed on the south side of the Mississippi River at Bayou Segnette State Park. Except for clearings for roads and grounds which were constantly mowed, it was dense jungle.

Edge of Campsite at the State Park—
impenetrable growth of trees and shrubs.

Swamp Mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos,
8 ft. tall, flowers 6 in. diameter.

Along the Bayou

Alligator
lurking by invasive water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes

The I-10 through Louisiana was very rough, bumpy, and undergoing repair. Hurricane damage was not perceptible from the highway, but many businesses and parks along the Gulf Coast were closed, having been wiped out by hurricane Katrina.

On to Mississippi Welcome Center

At the Alabama Welcome Center
we parked by large oaks draped in lichens

Florida Welcome Center

We were just in time to catch this Blue Angel jet taking off—just kidding. There was this free-standing sculpture of a flying Blue Angel jet and Bill couldn’t keep his hands off of the image.


Near Pensacola we spent a pleasant overnight with the Ziemba family, who had served with Lay Mission Doctors in Likuni, Malawi. Displayed among their souvenirs in their office were a few of Bill’s black and white photos from Africa.


Further east, after bursts of thundershowers, we went north 6 miles, through Chattahoochee to Lake Seminole, a BLM project, just over the border into Georgia.

Lake Seminole and water lilies at East Bank Campground

We dropped South on State Route 19 to Steinhatchee for a few days at Nature’s Coast RV Park, another jungle clearing, see blog following.

Heading for the Atlantic Ocean at St. Augustine, we spent a night at Payne’s Prairie Preserve Park, southeast of Gainesville: an enormous swampy area, home of wild horses and nesting area for sandhill cranes. The campground is in thick jungle between the Prairie and Lake Wauberg.

Payne’s Prairie Camp Site

Payne’s Prairie: half of the 180° panorama (90°),
from the 50 ft. viewing tower near the Visitor’s Center
(merge of three photographs)

Lichens on Live-Oaks

Southeastern “Jungle” at Payne’s Prairie