1/8/2015
Panama City Beach was a stop filled with great people. It would have been great to arrive at a time when school was in session. The beaches I ran past were ghostly due to the weather. When I ran on the sand, I saw only one set of footprints. They were mine. The muted sound was the perfect symphony for my leisurely run.
The morning had started out with word that NBC news in Panama City Beach would be doing an interview about our mission. The momentum of this run was slow to build but as with all organic growth, there is more longevity. Like a marathon versus a sprint, the mindset had to be on completing one step at a time. The interview with reporter Kelly Baumgarten was thorough. Both Crystal and I were impressed at how much information she acquired. We conducted the session on the beach and quickly realized the temperatures were dropping. I was glad to have the day off. By day off, I meant I would just run a fun nine miles to the Courtyard Marriott from the news station.
I ran past the local college and into the actual Panama City. Next to the college, I jumped over the hitch between two trains because of a call from nature. It was rather urgent otherwise I would have waited until I reach a store. After things were settled, I heard a sound like hydraulic pressure leaving a tank. It seemed to be coming from the boxcar which I had jumped. Did I accidentally push something? I jumped back over and started running to find someone when the train began to move. I sighed deeply before returning to my stride. The rest of the road was much like every city I had run through. The same retail stores and the same fast food chains peppered the landscape. My view was pedestrian by all standards.
I was happy to find a bathtub with extremely hot water. Of course I would soak my body several times before leaving. The rest of the time was assigned to relaxing. Crystal and I lounged around our room in the Courtyard Marriott and waited for the news broadcast. When the five o’clock news aired and we didn’t see the report we wondered if something was wrong. Crystal read my face and saw the wheels turning in my head. It wasn’t until we caught a glimpse of the upcoming report that my body relaxed.
After the report, we discovered the best restaurant in Panama City. Pana Roma Pizza and Pasta was a little Italian restaurant with big taste. The proprietor, Carmella brought a piece of Sicily to Florida through her kitchen. The food could very well have been the best Italian food I had ever eaten. Crystal and I always order different meals so that we can taste a wider variety of items. As the freezing temperatures outside dropped below zero, I ordered a warm toasty eggplant parmesan sub. Crystal had the spinach calzone. The eggplant was prepared perfectly and fit neatly between the fresh made bread. The cheese and sauce were plentiful without running onto my hands. After just one meaty bite, I had to keep myself from gobbling the entire thing. I wanted to savor the taste of the eggplant.
Carmella surprised us with dessert when we finished eating. She had made tiramisu and a cheesecake bread pudding. Part of my journey has been dedicated to finding the best places to eat. I never thought I’d find the best dessert I had ever tasted. The warm, pudding just melted into my mouth. The pieces of bread were tiny but the pudding flavor seemed to just explode. Through the entire experience Nathan attended to our table. He was very friendly and gave excellent service. If you ever find yourself in Panama City, Florida, make sure you eat at Pana Roma.
We spent the rest of our day off in our room. When the news ran again we saw that the temperatures would drop to zero. I had tried to avoid extreme cold when I planned the route but I guess it was inevitable considering the duration of the journey.
The next morning there was sun but the freezing temperatures lingered. I decided to bundle up from head to toe. I asked Crystal to park at nine mile intervals. I didn’t want to stop the circulating blood. If that happened, I was sure I’d become a popsicle. It was a quick twenty five miles. I didn’t take many photos or do much talking with the exception of a couple that insisted I should accept a ride from them. They said they didn’t want me to freeze on the side of the road. When I saw a raccoon that was frozen stiff I knew what they meant. I said thank you and then made tracks for the Pine Lake RV. Resort. The place was huge with tons of sites. It would have been a wonderful place for recreation if the temperature wasn’t so cold. 
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