Day 9. Headed to the Beach!

Tuesday January 17, 2023

So nice not having a schedule to live by!

I didn't set an alarm clock just kinda rolled over and enjoyed a warm bed...ahhhh.

So I slept in a bit and had the house almost all to myself as Jim and his family had already left for school, work and stuff. With the house removed of family life it was just me and Cujo to keep each other company.

Wait! Maybe I didn't mention the dog? The family pet that before coming to this lovely home spent four years in a shelter because of a rap sheet a mile long? Several families even tried to get him out of the 'shelter' on an early release program only to come running back with him (well one person limped back cuz they were missing a foot) saying Cujo ate the neighbors kid. And he was starting to look hungry again.

When I was first introduced to Cujo I was instructed to keep all fingers and toes completely inside the car and the seat belt fastened at all times because I may find myself missing a digit if I didn't. "Be still, don't look him in the eye, wait for the hair on his back to relax down to semi-kill /maiming mode before you even blink.

Oh and you've had all the kids you want right? Cuz...."

So before I went to bed the night before, I took a steak from the freezer to throw near his 'cage' when I went downstairs in the morning. Jim might wonder why there's steak sauce on the living room floor when he gets home but hopefully he'll forgive me.

Pretty uneventful day though! My plan for today unfolded after talking to Jim...he mentioned Santa Rosa in Florida and there would possibly be a few great roads to ride there which really resonated with me. I ride all the time along Dune Rd back home and this looked similar and would give me a great 180 degree perspective from riding in the mountainous woods of Georgia.

I pegged the GPS for a town called Woodstock first ( see yesterdays post lol) to grab a coffee and check out the lil' town before heading south to Florida. Woodstock was ok...yeah just ok. Building a little bit and a cool little "old school" train station that had a restaurant in it but not much else. Grabbed a latte and made for Florida.

Great day to travel again...rain is smacking the windshield and music is blaring again. Perfect timing though...I mean if it has to rain I'm glad it's on a day I didn't plan to ride! Yesterdays weather was perfect... Feeling grateful to the heavens for that!

So we all kept our eyes on the wet roads for safety. Yup all of us. Me and the three little ducks. Maybe I should name them something other than lil' Petey? I mean they all can't be Petey right? Who do I think I am...George Foreman?

Maybe Huey, Duey and Lewey? Is that how you spell Louie? Any ideas for names all y'all? Maybe I should have a naming contest...

Then I guess I need a prize though to huh -

Free access to duckpondpete blogs for life. First prize. Done. Ha!

Send me some names!

Oh and Speaking of sending!

Share this blog with anyone you think may be able to provide me with a paycheck. Or free bikes even. Or one bike. Can never have enough bikes. I'll make a sign..."Will write for Bikes". Or cash. Or even a pb and j actually. Love me a pb n j.

Wow one hour out from my destination I see the temperature on the jeep readout...70 degrees! YASS!

I could begin to smell the salt air...there were some palm trees popping into view even in the dark of night. A balmy foggy kind of weather but oh so nice to feel.

The campsite is literally a hundred yards from the ocean on a little paved parking spot. I can hear the ocean waves crashing thru the tent walls.

Tired and looking forward to feeling the salt air in my lungs on a ride tomorrow...

Inside

Faith. Trust.

Wait! Maybe that turns you off for whatever reason. But it's kinda cool when you see it in action. Even on a small scale.

In the past, as a dad with small kids on vacations I would be so much of a planner and getting 'things' done because sheesh we had to get everything possible we could in.

Well this trip I don'thave much of a schedule at all...and that is actually by plan so maybe I do still have some control lol. But as of 6pm last night I had no idea where I was going today. Jim comes up with a comment about the beaches here and I am instantly stoked...and it expanded into a road ride etc....perfect.

When we place our trust that whatever step is next will indeed present itself when it is needed, life unfolds so much easier, so much less stressful and it flows just like a river into the sea. This applies to bigger events in our lives...sometimes leaps of faith are needed...sometimes we can't see the whole staircase before we take the first step...that's ok. Just take that first step...then you'll be able to see the next one, the next move, much clearer...

Outside

The beach!

The beach is in my blood for sure. So stoked I am (why do I sound like Yoda all of a sudden?) to see the waves that I hear crashing not far away! It's that same awesome nature I felt in the woods, but a little closer to home for me. Maybe because I think their might be a bear around any tree I come upon out there in the mountains lol...but here the worst fear is a Sea Gull dropping on my forehead. Kind of a lil' more relaxing. Clean up a little poop on my head vs. (at a minimum!) clean out the poop from my shorts! Just hearing that sound of the surf brings me home...

Upside

Wow the internet is crazy cool huh? I know it's been around a while lol. But I mean I literally pulled over at 2 pm to look up campsites from my car on a phone. Found the one I'm at, loaded up Recreation.gov and made a reservation for a spot on the beach in Florida. All taking what...15 minutes including researching it!? Amazing huh!? The site works awesome for anyone interested also...it has pictures and descriptions of the actual site too...exactly what I needed to see.

downside

A pb n j sandwich is one of my all time favorites but tonight it just didn't cut it. I passed all kinds of seafood places late and I wanted to get the campsite set up etc... so I ended up eating a peanut butter, honey and granola sandwich on wheat bread for dinner. I mean it was delish but just not a hot fresh fish meal for sure...

Every which way but east

South! See pics below for the rainy drive south from Marietta GA thru Pensacola FL to Fort Pickens...right on the beach.

Duey and Louie? Send some name suggestions!

Downtown Woodstock GA. Yes there was a Holistic "Peace' hippie store lol.

Train station /restaurant in Woodstock GA

Definitely not a salmon dinner

Wow reminds me of Dune Rd. Westhampton!

Fort Pickens FL campsite for two nights.

Beach area and inlet remind me of Cupsogue beach and Moriches inlet back home!