Cold front

October 18th - Eastpoint, FL
Gulfview Campground
Mileage: 128 km
Total mileage: 5,629 km

Tonight we are staying in a rare find, a campground. Once plentiful they are now far and few between. One of the campers/tenants here told us that the owner of this campground just about had it sold for $4,000,000 when the hammer fell and the crash occurred. Thus, my suspicions were confirmed that the once plentiful campgrounds on this coast have all turned into condominiums. Oh well, all is well for tonight.

We are camped beside another 'Chong' just as we were back in Pagosa Springs. This one however, is much more amusing and entertaining. He told me of his shark fishing expeditions in the Gulf. He said that the sharks pull him around in his old kayak until they tire and then he pulls them to shore on the end of his line by paddling his boat in. Hard to believe, but another camper/tenant backed his stories. I think you would have to be high to do this kind of fishing, but only having known this 'Chong' for a short while, I think he is ready to do this kind of fishing at anytime. An airbrushed picture of 'Chong' fishing in his kayak would be a beautiful mural on a 1970 Ford Econoline Van.

Another tenant we met here seems to be dirt poor. When I asked him what he did for a living I could tell he was making up a job in his head to tell me of. He was concerned about us tenting in this Florida cold snap and gave us an electric heater to use in our tent. Funny how some of the people that have the least care the most.

Meanwhile 'Red Dog' roams this campground. A skinny hound that won't let anyone get near him. Chong told us that a hunter left him behind 2 years ago and although Red Dog won't come to them, they leave food out for him. Interesting place.

Cold front, today's daytime high was 64 degrees. The low tonight is supposed to be 42 degrees. We were all bundled up for riding. Strange, we never thought that we would be using the warm clothes we brought along in Florida. Supposed to be back into the 80's pretty quick though.

A fantastic ride today. Very scenic with light traffic. East bound we rode on Hwy 98 through the adjoining cities of Panama City, Cedar Grove, Springfield and Callaway. Then through a forested stretch to Mexico Beach. To Mexico Beach and beyond we had the road to ourselves. It seems that a lot of traffic must go north to the interstate from Panama City.

Mexico Beach is back on the coast and the ride was right along the beach through Beacon Hill and St. Joe Beach. The ride continued beach side to Port St. Joe and then inland through the trees to Apalachicola. Nice variety of riding all day long.

We saw signs today warning motorists to watch for bears crossing the roads. I had heard before that Florida has bear problems. I guess it's true. Princess was none to happy to learn from the guys at the campground that this area has the highest concentration of black bears in Florida. Maybe we will have to eat bear the next time we dine out just as we ate alligator back in New Orleans.

Over and out.