17Mar20
Day 61
Woke up at 7 to the song of a mockingbird. I got up and had the usual breakfast but then just laid around all morning.
As I stated yesterday, I was planning to go see Uncle Orman and Aunt Francis today but we decided that with the current Coronavirus situation it might be best to put that off until the return leg of the trip.
To be quite honest I am not quite sure which way to go at this juncture. It has been my goal to make this year's trip more of a lifestyle than a journey. I think I have fulfilled that goal but at the cost of putting my planned destination in jeopardy. Why, because it is too darn warm. It partly has to do with the time I spent in Oklahoma for Dad's Birthday. It was definitely worth the time and to this point the highlight of this year's trip but it did put everything back about a month. For years my plan was to leave Utah the first week of January and slowly make my way to Key West Florida.
My budget allows $500 for fuel. That would allow me to drive 2000 miles a month based on fuel averaging $2.50 per gallon and the RT getting 10 miles per gallon. The fastest route to Key West is slightly less the 3000 miles, so the soonest I could possibly make it to Key West from Salt Lake City would be a month and a half. If I left the first of January I should easily make if by the end of February. So like I said I am a month behind schedule. It wouldn't matter except that the temperature is higher than desired. In hind sight I should have made a beeline for Keywest after I left Oklahoma.
In regards to miles driven and budget. Here are the numbers.
For the first 30 days I drove approximately 2700 miles. For the second month I have driven 1170. As far as fuel cost in January I spent $536, in February I spent $486 and so far in March I have spent $99. For my overall discretionary spending I am about right on budget. To be on track I should spend $4500 by the end of March and currently I have spent right at $4000. I have over spent in two categories the worst was pets the second worst was gifts. Neither of them has anything to do with travel.
Today I drove one quarter of a mile. I drove from Sam's Club parking lot to Walmart parking lot. I spent the day removing rust and repainting the upper air-conditioning vent. It was a bit rusty at the end of last year's trip and over the summer I removed most of the rust with a wire brush but I didn't paint it. That was a big mistake. After I left the beach at Sea Rim State Park, with the constant seamist, the vent was completely rusted. I love being on the beach but that is terrible on vehicles.
Another reason I didn't go anywhere today is that I am contemplating on doing a swamp boat excursion that Uncle Orman told me about. He highly recommend it so I know it would be great because he knows all the great places and events.
It all started with an email I sent him several years ago where I mentioned that Alison, Zack and I were going on a roadtrip up the west coast. Well he sent back a five page itinerary that he called a summary. We followed it exclusively and we had an amazing three week adventure.
So I think I will hand around here tonight and at least stop by the Swamp Boat Outfitter tomorrow since it is on the way anyway.
After the swamp boat I have decided to head south. I am thinking that if I stay reasonably close to the coast the temperature will be more moderate.