Mood: a-ok
Arrived in Inverness Fl. at Chuck and Vanessa Karlesky's house. Chucks an old friend from United (maybe he just feels old) Rich O'Sullivan, another United Oakland vet, who works with Chuck up in Georgia also came down. Hadn't seen Rich in 13 yrs., still handsome as ever. Glad to have the Florida panhandle behind me. The long stretches out West have nothing on the endless forest/jungle here. Passing thru swamps and bayous and a gas station every 40 m or so for days. In Wakulla. camping in the woods behind a restaurant a black bear was snooping around and didn't seem to mind me yelling at him to scat. When he finally decided to climb the tree beside my tent and hang out I resorted to the slingshot. Kept plinking him until he decide to move on. Just a curious fellow, just do it somewhere else. All along the way I keep meeting good people, all interested in my journey. It's a great conversation starter, the bike loaded down, everyone almost has to ask "where you going on that thing...?" Going to hang here for a day and then only a 2 day ride to Orlando to end the state side stage and pack up the bike and myself to England. I hope to keep the good times rolling into Europe because so far I feel fortunate on how well the trek has gone. Looking forward to Orlando, seeing some old friends there plus getting ready for the next BIG leg of the trip. Thanks for checking in and thanks for everyone's well wishes. Y'all come back now ya' heeah!