225 miles, on I-516, GA 21 and I-95, with 10 extra miles due to my screwup. Cumulative distance: 714 miles.
STN Hop 3
This was supposed to be easy. But I misread the map and took a wrong turn onto I-516 in Savannah and ended up on the local streets. Some 10 miles and almost 30 minutes later I was back on track, heading north on I-95. The screwup did nothing to help Jett’s sensitive stomach as she HATES hauling the RV through busy local roads (and I can’t say I am much of a fan of that, either), but she eventually calmed down. We took one short rest area break about 2 hours into the trip. Other than the early screwup, it was an uneventful trip in bright sunshine and comfortable temperatures (about 70 all the way).
But we cut it close on the tank range: the “low fuel” warning came on just a quarter of a mile short of our destination.
Sombrero Tower
Which was South of the Border. For those of you who have traveled the I-95 corridor – or those of you who, like me, traveled to Florida before I-95 existed – you will know the place of which I speak. Nowadays, even if you don’t stop there, you can’t be unaware of its presence as the billboards begin about 120 miles away and increase in frequency and size as you approach. Like Wall Drug in South Dakota, you are drawn to it, just out of curiosity. What in the blazes could justify such hype?
Well, hype isn’t needed for places that are truly interesting. I don’t think there is a single billboard for the Grand Canyon. South of the Border needs hype. It is a “tourist trap” of the first order. In its heyday – which is now so far in the past that you can’t see it with a telescope – was a glitzy extravaganza of pure kitsch. It was a go-to place for trinkets and souvenir junk of all kinds. Fireworks. Climb the Sombrero Tower. Eat and get gas. One-stop shopping for those who just needed to stop.
But Jett’s first comment when she saw the huge, sprawling complex from the I-95 exit: “It looks deserted.” And indeed it did. The kiddie carnival area had about 3 people there – on a nice Saturday afternoon. The shopping area had a handful of cars. There seemed to be no one at the restaurant. Overall… sad and dying. A fading monument to pre-Interstate travel.
But there is an RV park at South of the Border, which is a popular overnight RV stop for snowbirds. Which is why we stopped there. It isn’t a great RV park, but it is inexpensive (about $33) and decent. We enjoyed our one night – and the $1.86/gal diesel price at the SOB truck stop.
The SOB sign and beach shop
Our rig at SOB