Alligator Alley–that’s the highway (I75) I took to cross over to the western side of Florida. The name alone did not sound terribly auspicious, but it seemed the quickest route to go and allowed me to by-pass Miami. Surrounded on both sides by swamp and everglades and brackish water, Mabel (the van) crunched over the occasional -already-dead turtle or bird or “blob-of-something” as we headed West. I realized this was the first time in seven months I was actually heading away from the sun in the morning. All this time, I have been driving north or east or south. After a while, it is the little things that bring amusement to the long distance road traveler.
Alligator Alley
I truly did not think it was possible to have so many mosquitos and no-see-ums alive in one spot on this planet. I was proven wrong at the Big Cypress National Preserve in western Florida. The Panther Sign wasn’t exactly incentive to go for a walk either.
Big Cypress Park
Panther Sign
None of this scenery particularly appealed to me and as Alice’s nose began to turn a new color of pink from so many bites, we left first thing in the morning for Naples and points beyond!
Another dramatic transition in scenery I witnessed as I drove along the tree-lined streets in Naples, Florida. “Old money,” as I was told, “does not lend itself to gaudiness.”
Naples, FL
Naples, FL
After finding a coffee shop, I left Naples on Hwy 75 when Mabel stopped. No, I mean, she STOPPED. Wheels locked up as we coasted to the highway’s shoulder and that was it. Engine wouldn’t catch, cars zoomed by and they did not move over to the left lane – they were feet from us. What does one do? This ONE called Triple A – Automobile Association which truly has been a life saver during my life time!
The following is the conversation I had with the tow truck dispatcher (let this be a warning–pay attention to where you are ESPECIALLY if you are listening to books on tape and you are lost in the history of the Civil War, as I was)
Dispatcher: Where are you, ma’am?
Lisa: On I-75.
Dispatcher: Where on I-75?
Lisa: Not real sure. Let’s see north of Naples, south of Fort Meyers.
Dispatcher: Uh, ma’am, that is a 50 mile span. Can you be more specific? Mile marker?
Lisa: No idea..I was lost in learning about Grant.
Dispatcher: Who? What?
Lisa: Grant–the Civil War guy.
Dispatcher: Civil War? No ma’am, I need a mile marker to find you.
Lisa: Well I don’t know what to tell you because I wasn’t paying attention.. how about..oh, I guess around 20 minutes or so up the highway from Naples. All I know is I am stuck and am going north on I-75. Can’t you “ping” me or something on my phone?
Dispatcher: Ping you????
Lisa: Yes like the TV show NCIS or whatever. You know they say, “Ping the phone.”
Dispatcher now thinking, “Oh sweet Jesus, why?”
Dispatcher has now turned over to Tow Shop Owner: Ma’am, I am here to help you, but we need a SPECIFIC location. Do you have a smart phone?
Lisa: I have an iPhone.
Shop owner: Follow my instructions and it will show you exactly where you are.
Lisa: Still, after all these years, I disconnect people when I try to go to another application and I am talking on the phone. Sometimes these phones drive me CRAZY!
Shop Owner: OK..Now ma’am..just listen and follow..
Google maps came through for us, tow driver showed up, Mabel and Alice got in back and the driver had to practically hoist me up to the passenger side of his Ford550 truck because the side step was gone.
Poor Alice could not ride in the tow truck. We ended up in Ft. Meyers after digging deeply into our “patience well” and the result was:
We spent the night in the van at the garage and some friends from my college days drove down from Venice and picked me up while a new fuel pump was installed. The good side of all this was I saw some old friends who were kind enough to put me up for a few days, I visited Venice, FL and was not in some remote area of Labrador when this happened!
Onward to Florida’s southern panhandle or Florida’s Forgotten Coast..
Hwy 27 to Hwy 98, Ocala–horse country with manicured, well, everything!
Hi.. Alice here.. let me just break in here for a sec! This is what I saw from the passenger seat as Lisa was humming and Mabel was churning her wheels:
LEFT, RIGHT, PROGRESSIVE, CENTRIST — WE CAN ALL AGREE TO THIS ONE! PLUS NOT MUCH OF A CHOICE HERE IN FLORIDA SINCE THERE IS A CHURCH ON EVERY CORNER.
CLOSED
UNITED
IT IS ABOUT THE NAMES OF THESE TOWNS IN FLORIDA..?
SUMS IT ALLLLL UP!
LET ME JUST RUSH OUT TO GO FOR A WALK HERE!
We arrived at St. Joe’s Campground. Alice and I are in seventh-heaven walking, enjoying the sun and the unspoken freedom of the beach.
https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/St-Joseph
.
Here we stay until February with a side trip to Georgia, enjoying the beach and the mixture of people at the campground. I continue to be so grateful as the New Year approaches to experience life and all it has to offer and share it with others.
Mabel, although she doesn’t know it, Alice and I wish you all a wonderful New Year. Follow your dreams, make one come true.
Take good care!
Lisa, Alice and Mabel
P.S. If you like this post, please scroll to the top and click on the STARS ⭐️⭐️ .. Thanks!
TRAVELING WITH LISA 
Always an adventure!!! We love you prima!
All’s well here. Putting final touches on house (electricity in bedrooms) and about ready to move. Just in time for sabbatical. We are headed to Uruguay for 3 months. I got a Fulbright so the whole familia is going. 🙂
MH is staying in Macomb. Erich is going to stay in Macomb while we are gone so she doesn’t get too lonely.
So where will you be in Florida? We’d love to see you. It’s so *** cold here too-a road trip would be good. Perhaps I could instigate one before we take off.
Abrazos!!!! Gloria
On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 11:02 AM TRAVELING WITH LISA wrote:
> Travels w/Lisa posted: ” Alligator Alley–that’s the highway (I75) I took > to cross over to the western side of Florida. The name alone did not sound > terribly auspicious, but it seemed the quickest route to go and allowed me > to by-pass Miami. Surrounded on both sides by swamp and” >
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Hey Gloria.. Sounds wonderful.. one of the gew places left I would like to see is Uruguay.. how exciting. Will be here until early Feb, then heading west. hugs to youALL and have a good 2018!!!!
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Wishing you, Mabel and Alice all a happy new year. This has surely been a year for you to remember and savor. You are one amazing and resourceful woman!!
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Hey Jill!! Happy New Year to you!! Send you a hig hug & thanks for following along !!! me!
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Nuts is what I am! Best to you for 2018, Jill.. Take good care….
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Whew! Your travels leave one constantly on the edge of the seat but I am happy to hear all is well. A new fuel pump for Mabel after the thousands and thousands of litres of pumped fuel seems a small, although inconvenient, price to pay for her hard work.
Mexico! I will be in Bucerias, just north around the bay from Puerto Vallarta, from January 18th until I leave February 28th. Any chance/ hope you will get there?
Paul, from my iPad
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Not going to make it Paul.. fact..won’t be going to Mexico..just to Sonora and back.. one of these days though..will connect.. !!!!!! Hugs to you and all the best for 2018.. Lisa
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You are such an inspiration!! I have been sharing some of your travel stories with friends. We all want to join you in a caravan of traveling camper vans.
Enjoy florida. I hope you stopped in shark valley on alligator alley. One of my favorite spots there. I used to work 30miles east of Naples at an audobon sanctuary. Aurelian and i visited south florida and the keys last year.
Watch out for all drivers there. Either old as sin or foreign. Common practices are out the window:) love your spirit! So proud to have met such a wonderous woman!!
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Let’s caravan..I am always game for a trip! Maybe see you again this summer..:)
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Hey Lisa, never a dull moment. Keep om keeping on please. Really it is a magnificent and wonderful country and each State different in some way than another. Love road trips and you are th Queen Road Tripper. May your New Year be as filled with wonder as this one has been. May you expand your energy to nurture and cherish our earth, all of your relationships and yourself!!!!
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Lisa===I love the pictures of Alice in the van on tow trucks–thankfully only 2 times! Your ability to get out of trouble on the road is amazing–and I loved the dialogue with the truck drivers/owners. The scenery is so amazing–can’t be much different than NM! Am glad you landed on a beach—not a panther infested–alligator infested park! I find it amazing that you are own enough contact with people that on this trip you have found old friends who can host you/rescue you–share memories with you—a mark of a special rare woman! love and hugs–Mary
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Lisa, you are amazing! So glad you have had this opportunity to travel as a “solo” traveler. Give Alice a kiss for me. And have a great 2018!
Kathy
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interesting connection between west florida swamps and your new mexico home. as i recall, nunez cabeza de vaca was the treasurer on 1532 spanish expedition. landing near tampa. conquistadors got lost, attacked by indians, couldn’t locate supply ship, moved north, more indians. killed horses, tanned hides, made nails, cut trees ending with 8 sailing rafts. hoping to reach tampico, 4 rafts pushed into gulf by mississippi with remaining hit by hurricane past galveston where survivors captured and enslaved. nunez learned of 7 cities of gold at fabiens[ s.of paso del norte ] then 17 days brutal walk to janos, around the mts to fronteras and arizpe. a seven year trip. his report forced the coronado expedition of 1540 into new mexico. he ended his career in uruguay. juan
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OMG Lisa, your conversation with AAA dispatch person is so damn FUNNY!!!!! I guess patience is the name of the game. Where to after departing from St. Joe’s Park? Continued safe travels and Happy New Year!
Do keep the posts coming. 😊😊👍👍❤️❤️
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Will be going to Alabama and Mississippi.. Civil Rights Trail and the Blues Trail.. visiting the sites..eventually ending up in Austin at my nephew’s for a few days. Have a great year, Mary… send you a hug.. me
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