Panama Beach City, Florida

We pulled in today and have elected to stay in a hotel for 2 nights so Doug can do some work. At lunch we realized we crossed into the Central Time Zone today -- we've officially begun our return leg to Seattle. Our plan is still to return by end of July (another 6 months) so we are busily mapping out the next major legs to our journey. We're beginning to consider an "S" tour through the southwest, heading across the warmer southern parts of the country before heading back into into higher altitude, more northern parts of the southwest. We're hoping to enjoy Mardi Gras in New Orleans and/or Lafayette before heading west across to Austin and San Antonio, Texas to visit friends. We plan to then trek down to Big Bend National Park on the Mexico border for a stay. Our next main destination will be Phoenix, Arizona by way of meandering through southern New Mexico. This would buy us time for Spring temperatures to warm sufficiently for planned longer stays in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. We're eagerly looking forward to enjoying the many great National Parks and high desert of the southwest and realize that we have most fun when we are able to spend sufficient time living outside (versus being stuck inside the small van in poor weather). Fortunately, the natural lengthening of days will also make living a little easier so we can stay outside longer in the evening and eat a little later (when cooking by campfire). It's been fun to "hide out" in Florida for the Winter but we're welcoming the longer and warmer days of the months ahead.