Summer 2010 SE - Parts Nine and Ten - Limits

Blue lines on the maps are the planned route. Red lines are deviations.

“Humility is a virtue, not a neurosis.” Thomas Merton

9. Limits

The trip from Bankhead to Apalachicola that I had intended maps out as 421 miles. I made it 325 miles to Eufaula, Alabama, right on the Georgia border just before the Walter F. George reservoir before I quit. I had spent an hour or so meandering the Mountain Top Sunday Flea Market near Attalla where I picked up a new pair of boots, Rodeos, for $35. Hecho En Mexico. “In Mexico these are $70, here they are $35” said my Mexican friend. I couldn’t go wrong.

Stopped for a lakeside lunch in Wedowee.

By the time I hit Eufaula I was finished. I was exhausted and out of time. I dislike riding at night and the weather was threatening. It was another 90 miles to the park, so I took an Econolodge for $50 instead. My Indian host was very cordial, the room immaculate.

The next day I crossed the reservoir and went south on Georgia 39 to Bainbridge. After that, the weather turned really ugly as I headed south into Florida. Severe thunderstorms with high wind gusts and driving rain. I abandoned my plans to go down to the Gulf at Apalachicola; pointless in this weather. It took almost 4 hours to go 50 miles as I worked my way west toward Lake City on Interstate 10, stopping when the rain got too bad, checking the radar for the direction and holes in the storm.

There was a break in the weather from Lake City down I 75 and then the Florida Turnpike until just south of Ocala. By then it was dark and the rain unbroken south to Palm Beach. Fatigue, rain and darkness; cars and trucks passing little Birdy and me on the 2 lane turnpike, throwing up more water and air turbulence as they went by. I put the flashers on, but with one directional gone it looked like a blinker. It was the best I could do to keep from getting smashed from behind.

I kept hopping from service plaza to service plaza, about 50 miles apart, for more coffee and a letup in the rain. The driving became so treacherous I decided to give up, but no motels were available near the I-4 corridor. Everything was full or a fortune. I just pressed on, fighting off the sleep, concentrating on the wet, hypnotic road.

I left Eufaula Monday morning at 8am. It's a long drive to Boca, 570 miles, even under idea conditions, and this was not at all ideal.

When I arrived on Tuesday at 4am, Mr. Magoo barked, welcomed me home, then went back to sleep.