Kitt and I are truly blessed and thankful for so much.  This experience has been a lifetime in the making, and one for which I am grateful to be able to pursue.  Luck has played a part, directed by work and perseverance.  

We have met gracious people, seen amazing sights, explored the long awaited colors of fall, and made it through unnerving times.  I wouldn't change one single moment!  Although I don't know what the future has in store, I anticipate it's arrival with excitement and awe.

Tomorrow we welcome the spirit of gratitude into our homes. I wish all the best it has to offer for you and your family.

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will be resuming my travels after the holidays, and should you like to be notified via e-mail when I do, I've created "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" to make it easy.  Located in the blue area to the right, is a box to enter your email address.  Blogger will send you an email notification when I make a post including an option to unsubscribe if desired.  When I tested this feature, my e-mail program sent the notification directly to spam so if you don't want it to land there, please take note. 

I look forward to reconnecting with you and Kitt after the holidays and recommencing my journey.

All my best,

Be-jouled

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and time is quickly approaching for me to go back home.  Before I do, I want to thank all who have supported me, given me words of encouragement, provided well wishes and sentiments for safe travels.  This has meant the world to me.  When I am alone, sitting in the back seat of Kitt and it is dark with many hours of the same ahead, I have enjoyed reading your comments more than you know... and I thank you for them all. 

I will be resuming my travels after the holidays, and should you like to be notified via e-mail when I do, I've created "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" to make it easy.  Located in the blue area to the right, is a box to enter your email address.  Blogger will send you an email notification when I make a post including an option to unsubscribe if desired.  When I tested this feature, my e-mail program sent the notification directly to spam so if you don't want it to land there, please take note. 

Many might be wondering where Kitt will be spending the holidays.  Rest assured I have expended many a hour researching and interviewing care providers and have found one that I have the utmost confidence in.   Due diligence was exercised in selecting this provider using this (partial) carcare checklist. 

1)  Does Kitt have a place to store her personal belongings? 1 2 3
2)  Are toys on low shelves within reach of Kitt? 1 2 3
3)  Are the furnishings the right size for Kitt? 1 2 3
4)  Is Kitt's work displayed at her eye level? 1 2 3
5)  Are there science or sensory activities that encourage Kitt to experiment and observe? 1 2 3
6)  Is there in/outdoor equipment promoting physical activity for Kitt? 1 2 3

As you can see, they passed with flying colors!


I've told Kitt of our imminent parting and it has been difficult on us both.  I've reassured her that it won't be that long before we'll be reunited.

We will spend the day together, count our blessings for all that we have experienced thus far and anticipate all that is yet to come.

Macon, GA Supercharger, filled with ICE cars.

At times, my posts can lag a day or more due to lack of internet access, computer difficulties, etc.  This post falls into that category.  As I was approaching the Macon Supercharger, I was aware that Atlanta was about to open, but it did me no good as I had a deadline to be in Tennessee.  The stretch between Macon, GA and Chattanoga, TN I knew was going to be one I had to watch carefully.  I programmed Kitt for an extended range charge and waited.

As you have already surmised, Kitt is very smart.  She is equipped with 7,000 (type 18650) lithium ion battery cells, similar to the ones used in laptop computers.  Through extensive testing, Tesla has determined that if their batteries are kept below 90% charge capacity, they last longer.  This is a programmable feature available to the user. 
I do not have "charge anxiety" (a fear of running out of charge) so I keep Kitt below the 90% "sweet spot" most of the time. Although rare, there are times when I will fill er' all the way up.  This is known as an extended range charge.

I make it to Chattanoga, TN adjusting my speed as needed and arrive with a comfortable 32 miles left in the coffers. 








I reprogram the range back to 90%, fill up, then head to Nashville, The Country Music Capital of the World!  

Along the way I'm reading the white writing on the wall and it concurs with reports that a cold snap is blanketing much of the US. Tennessee did not get a suspension through executive action and will be hit with a low of 28 degrees for the night.

It is more difficult now to secure accommodations at campgrounds because of the drop in temperature.  Even though I inform them I have a heater and am "self contained" they still do not want any vehicle other than a RV. From here on out until I reach the south, I know I'm going to have to allot more time to this endeavor as choices have narrowed.

Tennessee is beautiful, along the I-24 corridor, despite it's inability to show off fall colors at their peak. 

That's ok. It can still deliver on the sunsets.

I love nuts, and eat them in one form or another just about every day. Each year, my Mom and I split a case of Extra Fancy Mammoth Pecans, (roasted and lightly salted) ordered on-line from Sunnyland Farms in Albany, Georgia. (www.sunnylandfarms.com). These pecans are not your "average" pecan.  I don't bake or cook with these as I would consider that a waste.  These are reserved for a special treat, and boy are they addictive! 


I'm a stone's throw away from Albany, GA but find out that Sunnyland Farms does not sell direct from the farm. I see that Adcock Pecan Company does, so I turn that frown upside down and stop in.









And do they have pecans! Lots of them, and quite a few varieties; Papershell, Caddos, Elliotts, and Desireables to name a few. Pecans in the shell, pecan halves, pieces, and meals, toasted pecans, pecan logs, candies and oils...the list goes on!

  








I get a demonstration of the "nut wizard", an open slotted gerbil ball used to pick up pecans or other nuts from the ground.

I make my purchases, rip open a bag of Elliotts, then hop back on I-75 towards the Macon Supercharger. While Kitt's crusing, I take in the sights.  Top on the list is the unusual amount of billboards here.  Hands down, "ad alley" has the highest density of (double-decker) billboards I have ever seen.   A little further on, I see 2 "special ones".

Now I don't know about you, but I don't take this as an invitation for coffee...

it seems more like Duke's nut cracker to me.

Picture taken from balcony outside of our room.

A little web surfing yields airfares are less expensive flying out of Orlando than Tampa, so for hubby's return flight, we book a room at the Hyatt within the airport.  There is a charging station in the adjoining parking structure, however it is not complimentary.  I have plenty of charge to get me to the next supercharger in Ocala, so no need to spend the change topping off.

This is the first time I've seen a hotel completely  integrated into an airport. Literally, you take the elevator down from your room, walk over to security, then proceed onward to your gate. 

Every imaginable convenience is here.

I have another cup of coffee and leisurely pull my things together before heading out of the parking garage.

No sooner do I transition from concrete to asphalt than it starts to rain. 

The further I go, the harder it rains until I can not see the white lines on the road anymore.  Yes, I want to pull over and wait it out, but I can't even tell where the side of the road is.  This is a disconcerting feeling, to say the least, so just like the deer episode in Kansas, I stay on course with reduced speed until I come upon a brightly lit toll plaza, at which time I pull over to wait for a calm in the storm and the same in my nerves.

I make it all the way to Tifton, GA before stopping for the night.  I'm usually not at superchargers after dark, but va-va-voom do these have sass... instep with Christian Louboutin stilettos.

.

Brandon, FL supercharger

I've been on the road for over 10 weeks now, and I'm longing for a change of clothing scenery.  I stop by Target and pick up this Minion T-shirt having no clue what it's all about.  I look for someone under the age of 20 to give me a Cliff Notes synopsis and in short order, the dressing room clerk educates me about Disney's Despicable Me. Nothing there that I object to, so I check out with T-shirt in basket and a priority to rent Despicable me (& 2) from Red Box that night. Glad we did! A goofy comedy, peeled with good laughs. 

We continue up the gulf side of Florida and stop off at Pinellas County Beach Park for a swim.  Where else can you see a beach wedding next to a gigantic inflatable waterslide?

 We end the day at Wet Willie's, 

where finally I have a recipient to apply my "new" (11/11/14 post) found knowledge.

What a new frock won't do for your spirits!

Fort Meyers, FL supercharger

I've charged at 45 different superchargers thus far, although I have only 34 pictures to "prove" it. (Click on Google maps in the upper right hand corner to see the supercharger pics!) The goal was 55 superchargers with me-pics, and yes, I'm going to be a stickler and hold myself to it.  Florida has another 4, so I'll be using breadcrumb navigation to sandwich them in my lunchbox.


As I'm charging, I see in the distance, Santa riding in the back of a ski boat, pulled by a open bed truck that has his elves in it.  The "pace car" is a fire engine, honking its horn and flashing its lights.   A Salvation Army "bell ringer" with his red kettle is nearby and the speakers in the parking lot are playing Christmas music.  No sign of Thanksgiving but Christmas sure has arrived!

Costco is right around the corner from the supercharger, and you already know how I like checking out the regional differences.  This one doesn't disappoint, as they have a road show featuring cigars from Nicaragua.  No Cuban ones here, despite the geographical proximity, as they are still technically illegal due to the 1962 trade embargo.  The most elegant set in the bunch includes a humidor, and will run you $140.00.


On the way to the next supercharger near Tampa, I stop at a traffic light and notice a man on the corner wearing a bright green vest. Initially I think he is a road worker but there is no equipment and he is the only one.  I think it strange, but don't give it too much thought until I hit another intersection.  This time I see 4 men, one on each corner, wearing a bright green or orange vest.  Now this is just too coincidental so I have to find out what's going on.

It turns out Tampa's City Council passed an ordinance that " requires 'street vendors' to wear reflective vests for their safety".   Huh... I wonder if the road workers will inadvertently find themselves with extra change at the end of the day?


Well, it's obvious where this safety concern emanated.  I count 17 traffic lights sprinkled like croutons across this intersection.  Now that's a lot of navigational crumbs!

Yea! Palm trees at Port St. Lucie Supercharger.

It's 90 degrees, and surfs up! We get our boards, paddle 100 miles down the coast to Port St. Lucie, then catch the next wave to Hutchinson Island for:

A day at the beach, doin' a whole lotta nothin'.

This is Florida at it's best; warm water, sunny skies, and room to spread out.

Some head to the water for body surfing...

others soak in the sun.

Nothing is something worth doing and it's popular here, even with the Snowy Egret.

Mackerel

Whiting

There are a few who chill with their catch,

and others who loiter with their shells.

Castles lay at rest,

and weird looking marine blobs slumber.

There's a little something for everyone here... 
when you want to do a whole lot of nothing.

Take your pick!