3/11/2015
Spending the night in a McDonald’s parking lot was a horrible idea. Sometime after midnight I heard a group of juvenile delinquents yelling and screaming at each other. At least I had enough distance between me and the drive through intercom.
I crawled out of bed like I had done many times on this journey. I couldn’t depart from the spot because I had to get driven to the point where I left off. Crystal was busy doing work. I had mentally prepared myself for another thirty mile day but I never anticipated the poor sleep. I was lucky the sun was warm and the path was clear. For the first six or seven miles a sidewalk had been laid on both sides of the road. The area was well planned with plenty of trees, sturdy bridges, and zero litter.
After a couple of miles I spotted the guy on the bicycle from the previous day. I tried to yell hello to him from across the road. I don’t think he heard me. He was screaming like a madman. I couldn’t tell if he was yelling into a phone of just yelling in general. A drum like sound rang in the air when he pounded on his plastic cylinder that housed his cold sodas. I considered running over to see what was wrong but then reconsidered. When I spotted the trailer parked by several fruit stands, I stopped for a break and told the girls about the guy and his breakdown. My mom and Crystal thought it would be nice if I offered him something to eat or drink if I crossed paths with him again. We were headed on the same route so there was a chance I would see him again. Perhaps in St. Augustine.
The Florida citrus fruits called to me and I went to sample them all. While the fruits were juicy, the sweetness never came close to the oranges from Harvey’s Grove. As I sampled the oranges, Crystal received a call from Holiday Isles Hotel in St. Augustine. They informed her that they would be delighted to host us for the evening. I could have done cartwheels at the news. After days of cleaning off with wet wipes, my chance to bathe properly finally arrived.
My legs carried me to St. Augustine and beyond. I could see a chapel from the road. Everywhere I looked, I was bombarded with the legacy of Ponce De Leon. The excitement of a hot bath extended to my legs and I ended my day with plenty of sunlight. The first news I received upon my arrival at the Ocean Isles was that their hot water had just gone out and that a repairman was working hard on the property. I tried my best to hide my disappointment but I’m sure my face dropped at the news. I was still grateful to have the chance to clean up.
I actually enjoyed the cold water that ran down my dirty body. After a few minutes under the cold the water warmed a little. The problem was apparently fixed and I would get my hot bath. I knew the rough patch had to end.
I almost stayed in bed the next morning. Fog blocked out all light and the roads were wet from sporadic rain. Of course not running was not a possibility. I threw on a sweatshirt to keep me warm in the light drizzle. That was a mistake. After a mile on the road the sun began cutting through the clouds. The sun grew more powerful with each step. I had to peel off pieces of clothing after every mile. I began chasing shade as I tried to stay in the shadow of the few clouds that remained in the sky. The humidity had me practically swimming on the road. My body was soaked and my breathing was difficult but I continued pushing on.
The Pizza Hut in the south of Jacksonville had agreed to donate lunch. When I got there, it took me a few moment to cool down and dry off. We ate our lunch in the trailer where it was surprisingly cool. I didn’t spend much time resting. The focus was on continuing the daily average of thirty miles. I had no inkling the clouds would come roaring back. Lightning struck in the sky followed by a rumbling thunder. Suddenly the sky was dark yet again. A fierce rain began to pour. I picked up my pace and then just before the Hyatt I found Crystal and my mom waiting to rescue me. The moment we got to the hotel the sky cleared up once again. If anything the trip has been unpredictable. 
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