Waking up that morning there was some showers and I knew it by 7am the rain has stopped. I checked the weather pattern to see where is the next rain rolling in. From the report and the pattern it shows that no rain will come in until 12pm. I knew it was about time to keep moving north then head west. For me to go west I will need to head north for a day and from there ill be in a turning point where if you have to follow the Mexican gulf you will have to head westward already. I have heard that the beaches in the Gulf is great but still not at par with the Atlantic side.
The route I was to take will be in the mainland. As much as I want the scenic coast there is just no state parks that’s in between Tallahassee and Clearwater that’s near the coast. Most state parks are inland and are far from the beach. I wanted to do and keep an average of 180 miles a day. I could do 100 miles and just take more time but like I have mentioned time is of the essence now, with the weather and budget issues. If I do take the coastal route that means I can do about 100 miles that day but the next day ill have to do 240 miles. Which doesn’t make sense at all. I rather break that into two equal parts and just sacrifice the coast. I have seen mostly the coast at this time so just a little time off from it could be a change of view.
I went downstairs to load my things on the scooter. Tito Omar was already awake and waited me to finish. We chatted a little bit and he was still trying to convince me to stay. I have mentioned to him the days coming are still going to have some rain so I will gamble a little on the window of opening that morning. There’s not much more he can do now to change my mind. Tita Nina went downstairs to say good bye as well. We just discussed my route quickly and I set it on my GPS to make sure. I looked back and waved at them and I rode away.
The plan now, head west as much as I can and stretch the remaining budget I have for the entire trip. For what remaining money I have, I know I can only finish the panhandle. I rode up and pass the storm brewing behind me. As I continue riding up north taking highway 19 up north. This route was still close to the shore line so I was still getting a great breeze and a view of the Mexican gulf. But I knew at some point I would have to keep heading north and not take west for my next camp site, Lafayette Blue Spring. This was close to Tallahassee and a great stop since from there all I have to do now is just keep heading west.
I did not encounter one drop of rain on the way. As I went rode much more I could tell I was no longer at the southern part of Florida. The landscape has turned much more into farm land and seeing this has reminded me back in the first week of my trip. The farm lands were totally different, it wasn’t oranges like the state promised to grow in abundance but more on fields and different vegetable variations. The breeze from the ocean slowly disappear and I can sense the salt small from the air has turned into a drier type of air. I was gaining great miles and I know before 4pm I will reach my destination.
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Leaving highway 19 has some disadvantages as well. From the moment I used highway 1 I have never had any issues with gas since there were gas stations for every 5-8 miles. But now I have noticed that the gas station gaps are getting bigger again. This did not stop me to keep pushing since I knew if I did loose gas there’s always the gas tank behind me. For some strange luck there was always a gas station every time I see the meter moved a little. My gas meter was still broken and for me my warning for short gas is when the meter goes down to full. Regular people normally would still push on upon seeing that you haven’t even passed half tank. I was averaging close to a gallon per gas station I reach. I was so afraid of just stopping from no where and gassing up on the road I rather gas my scooter even if it’s not a full gallon.
I was getting close to my destination but at the same time I am also running out of gas again. I didn’t know how much further the gas can last but I was less than 4 miles from the campsite. There were no gas stains anywhere so I just told myself to reach the camp and if I do have to use the extra gas tank then so be it. I saw the park sign entrance and slowed to a stop. The small window from the booth pop opened and the Rangers head stuck out. I greeted him and asked him about camping at the park. The ranger responded “it’s only tent camping are you ok with that?” I answered “Yes sir. The more primitive the better.” Then the ranger answers back “Well that’s good. You’ll also have walk a little bit.” My cheery face quickly changed to a but of a panic face and asked him again. How much of a walk is it from the parking area? One mile?” He replies “Oh… About 200 yards.” I knew is wasn’t much. I was even ready to one mile if I have to. The ranger then tell me “$19 cash only” I stepped closer to him and asked him if he was accepting card. He replies by pointing me his booth. I think the park is still new and his booth only contains a cash register. No computer, telephone and even a credit card processing machine. I looked at him again and said “I can but could you break a $100 bill?” He replies “I can but would you be ok with 10’s and 5’s as your change?” This was my last cash if. Break it I know I will be using now. I replied “yes this ok am sure I’ll be using the change at some point.” He then gives me the change and directs me to the parking and sites. And then tells me “You should try to go to the water if you want cool off.” I just thanked him again and rode to the lot.
The park is not the biggest I walked about 5 min on the camp trail and saw the tent campsites. There was only family occupying the campsite, the rest was not taken. I introduced myself and ask if he was the campground host. He replies “No were just campers as well” I asked them where they were from and how long they were intending to stay. They are actually from Georgia and they were staying for the week. I then replied “Why go all the way here to camp?” He replies to me “We don’t have cool springs in Georgia. The humidity has been a little too much lately.” I though to myself “Cool springs?” I started setting up my camp and my fire. He came up to me and offered me cartons to start my fire. I answered “No thank you I think I will be good.” He insisted for me to use it since he said he had plenty and it would be faster if I use it. I just nodded and thank him again. I haven’t had any food from the whole day so I was practically eating my first meal at 4pm. I prepared rice and opened a can of sardines. I made sure I cooked extra rice for me to eat it at dinner time.
The family not to me set up their fishing boat and rods. It really got me curious on how this river is. From where I was it was the Swanee river that flows through that area in Florida. I walked back to the parking lot and through the entrance to the springs. And this reminded me of the hot springs back in the Philippines. There were round lagoons connecting each other that leads back to the Swanee river. People were doing water sports in the river and people in the small pools were having a great time. I hurried back to my camp and changed into my swimming shorts. I took my camera with me and went back down to the springs. You will not believe water. It was about 70 degrees. The warm sun and air with humidity was scaling to 105 degrees and water just gives you that fix from the heat. From what I’ve read the cool water comes from underground and flow out back to the river. This makes it cooler since it’s the water is not under the sun. More like a reverse hot spring… The water was such a relief and since it flows out back to the river, it creates a current strong enough to sweep you off balance. The water is only knee deep but each pool flows to he other thus creating that current. I lay down to a funnel where the current hits and just pushes down he river while I held on to the rocks to get a massage effect. I stayed there for the next 30 min just letting the currents hit me. The water felt like it was my reward after a long hard ride with e heat and dust. When I had my fill from the water I went back to camp. I started gathering more wood since the are is heavily wooded. I could use those for my fire pit and maybe later cook the spam.
The campsite is a primitive set up so this means there were no shower or bathhouses set up and no laundry also. I wanted to take a proper shower but since there non available I rather take the dip on the spring my bath. I started looking at my next destination for the next day. I won’t be going north now, it would be all west from here on. I finished my dinner and waited for exhaustion to just set in and put me to sleep fast.
