Sorry to abruptly end my last post. The truth is I was down to seconds on the public library's time limit and had to jolt to a finish. I suppose I was at day five when i left off. I finished out the night with a delicious Papa John's pizza and a swell campsite which was offered to me for free and was equipped with laundry, showers, bathrooms, water, and electricity. It was luxurious. I woke up the next morning in a sort of lazy haze, I had slept the best out of all the nights thus far and was not moving very fast. I talked with a guy next to me who was from Ottawa for a good while during the time I cooked breakfast and packed up my things. We both agreed that south Florida was the place to be right about now and were celebrating the sunshine and our lack of depression.
I was soon off towards Orlando. I found a few bike paths and went with the flow, otherwise I was traveling very slowly as I road along bumpy, tedious sidewalk paths. at about 2 I stopped in a vegetarian restaurant for some lunch. I got some vegetable curry with tofu, good, but I wouldn't get it again, which I'm sure I never will.
I got kind of lucky later that afternoon. A woman, named Kat, who owns antique shops picked me up in her dodge ram, all my stuff, the whole bike at once we managed to pick up. We drove around looking for her friend who was about my age, played banjo, and was interested in organic farming. She insisted that i meet him. Unfortunately he was not where to be found, but in the end she let me sleep on her couch, which was very kind of her. We had dinner complete with brussell sprouts and sweet patatoe, a little turkey, and some rice noodles. It was delicious after a long day and we spent a little time drinking tea and conversing about the state of the country and of nutrition. My deepest gratitude goes out to Kat for her wholesome hospitality.
I arose quickly the next morning at about 8 and set into the town of Eustis for some coffee, oatmeal, and directions. I was grateful to find a cool little coffee shop named Olivia's with Olivia right there glad to help me with directions. She lead me right through the Ocala National Forest which was the most beautiful stretch of land I have been through yet. There were beautiful lakes and golden prairies and the gigantic oak trees that were decorated in that Spanish moss you see everywhere throughout the south. IT was pristine. I think yesterdays trip was about 65 miles. As I was coming in I decided to stop at a pier that goes into a natural preserve called Paynes Prairie. Its a neat place where lots of animals including bison are visible. The interesting thing for me was not the landscape, but an old man I met on the pier. He has a strange resemblance to my grandfather, Hugh Sullivan. He looked very much like him for one thing and perhaps thats all, but since I do not remember his personality, it was neat to feel like I could be talking to my grandfather. He had an abundance of history and stories, I just knew, so I did not rush away, but enjoyed his company, as he did, mine.
When I finally arrived to Gainesville, I found some kids playing frisbee and decided I would try and get in. We played and it was a good game, my team barely losing 11-10, but good competition. I soon realized I had a flat tire as I pulled away and decided I need food more so found a nice sushi restaurant and got FED. It was great. I was fast asleep, stealthily.
Today I am thinking of hanging around till the Hare Krishna lunch. It is an Indian religious group that does free meals. They have one in Detroit at the Fisher Mansion. Amazing Indian Food, my favorite. Anyways, Ill most likely be heading out after that to some state park after that, hopefully get about 40 miles in today.
Blessings,
Tommy