Moving North on US 301

Yesterday, we left Thousand Trails in Clermont going north on US 27..then FL 19 and finally onto US 301. This took us through the Ocala National Forest and on toward the Florida Georgia border. We stopped for the night in Callahan Florida at the Kelly Countryside RV park. We had a pretty good seafood dinner at the nearby Cedar River Seafood restaurant. I worked for several hours before bedtime.
As we moved north yesterday it became cooler..and cooler. Florida has had a cold front move in. The temperature was about 20* cooler on Sunday than it was on Saturday. And rain had moved in too. Several times I told Gary we were going in the wrong direction..north.. cold..south..warm..I like warm. But..northward we came.
Overnight the temp went down to below 50*. Not too bad but enough that the heat pump ran several times during the night. Again..north cold..south warm..
This morning after breakfast Gary went to the store to get us another Florida Lotto ticket (we were very near the border and our weekly drawing ticket ran out on Saturday). I know...it is one of the things I learned before I was 50...I am not going to win the lottery..but hey..if you don't play you absolutely have no chance in winning. So we're doing our part and contributing to Florida's economy.
After dressing in long pants for the first time in several weeks, we headed on north. (The would be me in the long pants..Mr P is still in shorts). Again via US 301N. This route wiggles northward all the way to North Carolina. We've seen lots of woodlands and wetlands. And we saw our first sign "Bridge may ice in winter". Florida does not have these signs.. north cold..south warm..
I've enjoyed the slower pace without all the traffic I-95 has. We stopped in Statesboro Georgia for lunch. One of the best Ryan's Steakhouse buffets we have run across. Friendly folks and good price at $6.79 for lunch.
We've just passed the Georgia Welcome Center on 301. It was closed and is being used for a truck rest stop now. Strange. Just 1 of the things we've noticed about traveling on 301. 301 was a north south route used by many before I-95. The are lots of old motels in and near the small towns. Many of them are abandoned now. A few are still open but look like they struggle to remain so.
The countryside has changed too. No more palmettos and a lot fewer palms. Lots more pines and oaks. Still seeing some Spanish moss hanging on the trees. Did you know Spanish moss isn't either Spanish or moss? And it is infested with chiggers. Once upon a time folks used it to stuff their mattress. And when they woke up in the morning itching..it was because the chiggers got them. Hence the saying " Don't let the bedbugs bite".
We passed into South Carolina a few minutes ago. Everything is pretty green and some flowers are starting to bloom. We just went thru Allendale and saw a sign for the Cooterfest being held in May..What is a Cooter?? Guesses?? Check out their website to learn all about it.
http://www.cooterfest.com/
We're probably going to stop near Walterboro for the night. Then continue on up to NC tomorrow..or not..who knows..Another RV'er said on a blog recently their plans were set in jello, and I thought this was a good description..so we're see. See you all soon. Love, Deb