But not until after a several-day delay!
To complete my goal of visiting all National Park Sites in a reasonable timeframe, I will need to take trips through the winter months. However, I moved to Florida to escape the bitter cold of both Ohio and Iowa winters, so these trips will need to stay somewhat warm.
In reviewing the various groups I had created, Group 15 seemed like a good choice. This trip will take me across the Florida panhandle (Gulf Islands National Seashore) into Mississippi and Louisiana, with a quick trip into Texas. There were ten sites to visit, including two in and around New Orleans.
There was one issue – my back. In 2018 while still in Iowa, I had a major eleven-hour surgery on my middle back to fix badly bulging discs and a few other issues. At the time, I was told I would need a second surgery on my lower back someday.
Some day appears to be here. Over the past several months, my legs have become weaker, yet very painful due to pinched nerves and issues with my spine. I finally got a referral to a neurosurgeon who could see me on what would have been the second day of this trip (due to a cancellation), or a month later. I chose to delay the trip a few days.
So, I will see the doctor on Wednesday, then leave on Thursday. Rather than reschedule everything, I simply canceled reservations for the first few days, moving them to the end of the trip, and will simply start at Poverty Point National Monument on Friday as I had planned.
Steve
