Maxwell Groves Country Store

A wild storm was coming, and we had to decide whether to ride it out or run.

We were in Jacksonville, planning to stay at Hanna Park campground. A beautiful, city-run campground, right by the beach. But being by the coast, and heavily wooded, it didn't sound safe. Jacksonville was closing schools and government offices, due to the expected severity of the storm; high winds, lightning, tornadoes.

We called the campground to get their take on the situation. Justin or Jason or something said they were expecting "some pretty decent" weather. His warning about the potential for trees blowing over clarified his meaning.

Sitting in a strip mall parking lot, we debated what to do. (I'd been in to a sporting goods store to try to buy a fishing license, but that's another story.) It was getting late and dark clouds were flexing their muscles in the distance. We decided to high-tail it south, hoping to avoid the worst of it.

That night we camped in a Walmart parking lot, and the next day made our way to Maxwell Groves, not only for a safer spot to ride out the storm, but also for the orange soft-serve.

On the porch we talked trucks and campers with some elderly midwesterners. Friendly people.

That night thunderstorms rolled through. We were frightened. Sitting in the middle of an open field; what happens if we're struck by lightning?

From the camper we could see a poor old bulldog tied up on the porch of a house across the street. She rode out the storm huddled in a corner. If she can get through, we can, too.Read more