Instead of flying to DAL or DFW to get truck in Ft. Worth, TX the company changed plans on me and booked me a ticket on Southwest to Panama City, FL (ECP). I took shuttle to BUF, checked in after a well-moving queue and my bags weighed 50 and 47lbs. I cleared security after short queue and opted for the patdown rather than the machine and the whole process took just under 30 minutes.

Southwest #386 BUF-BWI B-737-700 Boarding Pass A2
Seat 2F Cruising altitude 25,000 feet Estimated flying time not given, actual 0:56
Depart: Gate 18 Scheduled 08h35, actual 08h54 Taxi: 6 minutes
Arrive: Gate A5 Scheduled 09h50, actual 09h59 Taxi: 2 minutes

The plane was late arriving. We boarded via jetway and the plane was not totally full with 98 out of 137 seats taken. It was announced there were scattered clouds and it was 47F at BWI. Pushback was 19 minutes late. Takeoff was to the west and we went into clouds in under a minute and I felt some bumps in the early part of climb.

Seatbelt sign went off at 0:10. At 0:14 I got a cup of soda. At 0:15 I felt descent begin. Seatbelt sign went on and descent was announced at 0:24. It was announced it was 45F at BWI. I saw downtown Baltimore and Interstate 695 and the Dundalk Terminal on approach while heading east. We swung out over Chesapeake Bay then turned south and west and I saw some fall colours and some green trees on final. We landed east to west and arrived at gate 9 minutes late.

Southwest #40 BWI-ECP B-737-300 Boarding Pass A3
Seat 4A Cruising altitude not given; Estimated flying time 2:00, actual 1:51
Depart: Gate B8 Scheduled 11h35, actual 11h38 Taxi: 23 minutes
Arrive: Gate 2 Scheduled 13h00, actual 12h55 Taxi: 2 min
Reclaim bags 18-20 minutes after arrival

We boarded via jetway and the plane was almost full with 131 of 137 seats taken. It was announced it was clear and 70F at ECP (Panama City, FL). Pushback was 3 minutes late and takeoff was to the southwest. At 0:07 it appeared we crossed the Potomac River then I saw part of Interstate 495 Beltway around Washington, DC and part of Interstate 66 through breaks in the clouds. Clouds increased as we headed southwest.

At 0:20 I got peanuts and Cheese Nips. At 0:31 I got cup of soda and at 0:41 I got second cup of soda. Clouds started to break and I saw what looked like Charlotte and CLT. At 0:58 we crossed what looked to be Interstate 26 in SC and at 1:00 we crossed Interstate 385 and I saw the split between Interstate 26 and 385. We crossed into Georgia airspace at 1:06.

I felt descent begin at 1:38 over southwest Georgia or southeast Alabama. At 1:42 I saw what looked to be the junction of Interstate 10 and US231. I saw pine trees on approach and had a hazy view of the Gulf Coast in the far distance. We landed north northwest to south southeast and arrived at gate 5 minutes early. I hired a taxi to the shipper.

Trip: Panama City, FL to Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC 1,480 paid miles
Make: Georgetown at Forest River, 2007
Model: RV/Motor Home
Transmission: Automatic (note: this vehicle ran on gasoline, not diesel)
Route: US231 to US431 to US280 to US80 to Interstate 185 to Interstate 85 to Interstate 285 (ring road around ATL) back to Interstate 85 to Interstate 77 to Interstate 81 to Interstate 88 to Interstate 90 to Interstate 87 (Adirondack Northway) to Quebec 15 to Quebec 20
Maximum elevation: unknown but Hillsville, VA was 2,565 feet
Highest gas price USA: $3.659/gallon at Flying J New Milford, PA
Lowest gas price USA: $3.079/gallon at Love's Blacksburg, SC
Permits required: none
Border Crossing: Champlain, NY/Lacolle, QC

I made the pickup and this was my first experience with an RV/Motor Home. I talked with the shipper to be checked out on some things. Then I got started and stopped at a filling station in Panama City to take on gas as the tank was down to a quarter full. When I opened the exit the stairs extended. I got the gas then noticed the stairs did not retract when I closed the exit after I got in. I phoned the shipper and he came down but was unable to get the stairs to retract so I couldn't drive the vehicle in that condition down the highway! Fortunately there was a motel next door and the parking lot was accessable without going out on the public road so the shipper drove the RV slowly over to the motel parking lot and I ended up spending the night in Panama City, FL.

Saturday morning a tech came to fix the stairs so when I checked out of the motel the stairs were retracted and extended when I opened the door but would not retract again so I made another phone call to the shipper and the tech came out while I was waiting in the motel lobby and fixed the stairs so they would not extend but stay retracted for the duration of the trip. I notified the company about this issue and made a notation on the bill of lading inspection sheet.

I headed to Panama City Beach to take a walk and take some pictures as I never was in this area before. I took some pictures and then saw a little of Panama City but could not get close to the Pier as Paul Ryan (Vice Presidential Candidate) was scheduled to make a campaign appearance. I then headed north on US231 and stopped at Laropa's BBQ in Alford, FL and had some smoked mullet. I've been wanting to try mullet for some time and I found it very tasty though I did not like having to pick out the bones. I took on gas in Cottondale, FL then headed north and shut down and spent the night in Dothan, AL.

Sunday morning I attended church at Greater Dothan Baptist Church in Dothan, AL. The subject in both Sunday School and church was prayer. I had lunch at Dobbs Bar B Que then proceeded north. I stopped for gas in Newnan, GA, cleared the Atlanta area and shut down and spent the night in Commerce, GA.

Monday I continued north and it was a nice day. I saw gasoline as low as $2.929/gallon at some places in South Carolina but couldn't tell if those places were suitable for the RV. I stayed up late and got as far as Dublin, VA where I spent the night.

Tuesday was election day and I mailed in my absentee ballot before I left California. It was cloudy and there was some light rain near Dublin, VA. I continued up Interstate 81 through VA, WV, MD into PA and that evening I listened to election returns. I cleared Harrisburg and spent the night in Jonestown, PA (near Lebanon).

Wednesday I did not encounter any precipitation but I thought I might as a Nor'easter was hitting the east coast. I stopped and took some pictures of Wilkes-Barre, PA then continued and took on gas in New Milford, PA before crossing into NY. I approached the Albany area and the roads started to look wet. Once on Interstate 87 the roads were wet but there was no precipitation falling though I saw some northbound cars covered with snow. I realised I narrowly missed the storm and if I took Interstate 78 east into New Jersey to Interstate 287 to Interstate 87 I would have been snowed on for sure and may have been delayed. I cleared Albany and spent the night in Queensbury, NY.

Thursday it was cloudy and breezy to windy. I learned I would not be able to cross the border until Friday due to a rule that a copy of the title has to be at US Customs for at least 72 hours before export would be approved. I had a short day and stopped in Plattsburgh, NY where I spent the night.

Friday I stopped at US Customs in Champlain, NY and got the title cleared. Then I crossed the border and was sent to Immigration before being allowed to contact the broker. The broker made some mistakes and the paperwork was sent back a second and third time for corrections. Finally I was cleared and I got stuck in traffic in Montreal. I got to the Flying J truckstop in Vaudreuil-Dorion and was met by the receiver who led me to the delivery point. I delivered the RV then got ride to hotel and spent night in Pointe Claire, QC

To be continued