The 8th trip south (TS8) is in the books, so it is time to do the wrapup.
By the numbers:
- 10 hops, 2,919 route miles (292 miles per hop).
- 22 nights, all in hotels, $3,023 in hotel charges ($137.41 per night).
- 1,844 total driving miles, 93.6 gallons of gas (34.8 miles per gallon).
- $312.24 in fuel costs ($3.34 per gallon).
The hotel costs were more in line with my pre-trip expectations (about $130 per night), but were still more than I originally budgeted. The fuel cost per gallon – and the mileage – were both considerably better than on the TN8.
Highlights:
- The visit to the Corning Museum of Glass. It was MUCH better than I expected and Ooma liked it very much too.
- A visit with Jimmy and Michelle, Ooma’s long-term friends, in Erie PA. They gave us a first-rate tour of the area, which we both liked more than we expected. And I was impressed with the quality of the wines produced there.
- The Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison WI. I hadn’t been there in over 40 years and they were much better than I recalled. Ooma liked them too.
- My 55th high school reunion. This was not a big thrill for Ooma – and I didn’t think it would be – but she tolerated it well and it was nice seeing some (very) old friends, both at the reunion and at several smaller events afterward.
- My visit to the Chicago Art Institute. Ooma wasn’t feeling well and didn’t go, which was disappointing, but it was a nice afternoon for me.
- The St Louis Zoo. This had been on my Zoo Bucket List (which isn’t very long) for many years. We both enjoyed it very much.
- The Holiday Inn in Tupelo MS. I don’t usually include a hotel in a list of trip highlights, but this one was exceptional.
- A visit with Ooma’s sister Maggy and her husband Tom in Daphne AL. A nice couple and a fine dinner.
- Speaking of dinner, we ate very well on this trip. Good restaurants at almost every stop. I gained a few pounds – which is not a highlight – but is evidence of how well we ate.
- The car performed well. No problems whatsoever.
Lowlights:
- Poor weather in Erie PA. We had a good time despite the rain, but it could have been even better.
- The Ohio Turnpike. Expensive and, despite their advertising, did not accept my EZPass. Annoying.
- We didn’t get to Circus World in Baraboo WI. I was looking forward to this but time ran out.
- Ooma’s continuing bout with “long COVID”. She didn’t feel well for much of the trip.
Planned versus actual routes:
Other than the diversion away from the Ohio Turnpike there were no major route changes.
I packed well for the trip – there was nothing that I needed that I didn’t have. But I actually packed too much. I could have gotten by with about 4 fewer shirts and 2 fewer pairs of shorts.
When I got back home the RV was intact. The problem with the internet (which was revealed early on when I was unable to connect with the shed’s air conditioner) turned out to be a disconnected cable, easily fixed.
But a hurricane – Hurricane Ian – is looming. I haven’t fully unpacked because I may have to haul the RV away if it heads toward Ft Myers. Only when that threat is gone will I feel like the TS8 is truly over.