We left New Orleans around 9am in the morning. Traffic was good, and we tried to keep as close to the shore as possible. The start was really boring, with a lot of forest, fields and bridges crossing several bays and creeks. Even though we mostly drove on small roads (wich use to be a good thing), the drive was not that interesting at all. We drove in and out of Alabama a couple of times without really noticing. We got really surprised though when we arrived the state of Florida. Somehow we pictured the state border even further east, but Florida actually stretches pretty far west along the Mexico Gulf.
Arriving the town of Pensacola in the afternoon, tired of boring roads, we went out to get some dinner. What struck us was how few people was out in the street. Later on we found out that there were loads of people on "The Fish House", a local pub by the shore. I seemed like the whole town was in that very same place. Going to bed early in Budget Inn, we went to sleep with a baseball bat beside the bed for insurance. Our place tonight was not placed in the best part of the sleepy little town of Pensacola.
Day 16:
Woke up at 06:45 this morning. Back on the road by 07:30. Another breakfast at Subway with coffee. We suddenly started seeing this white beaches, and the brown water of the Mexico Gulf suddenly turned azure-blue and palms started popping up everywhere! All the boring landscape we had seen the day before was all forgotten as we now entered paradise. As the temperature raised through the day, we stopped at one of the wonderful beaches for a refreshing bath in the Mexico gulf. Martin got sunburned on his shoulders, Erik in his face and I got burned behind my knees. In Panama City we made a short stop at one of the antique shops on the search for an old wooden tabletop radio (It's a long story). There we was introduced to another customer, that happened to be a journalist from the local newspaper. She wanted to put a short story on us in the paper, and took our picture. Deadline monday for that story. We all look forward to see how that turns out!
Another wonderful dinner at Hooters in Tallahassee (don't underestimate their food) we continued our journey towards Jacksonville. That was our original goal, but after discussing a bit in the car, we decided to head towards Miami. The thing is that when you drive on interstate roads in the US, you cover a lot of milage in a short period of time. So, tonight we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of Orlando FL, and in a hotel across the road of Universal Studios. So that might be one of the things to experience tomorrow.
So this is today's drive:
To the Three Musketeers of Explorers Club, Norway Branch.
SvarSlettIt is still highly interesting to follow your amazing progress cross the continent, and I was glad to see your updated logbook this morning. Acutally, I did not belived that you would have time to visit Florida,- but, now your are there! Take care. All the best from Pps in Karlskrona, Sweden.
Hallo over there:)
SvarSlettThough I've not given a sign before today, I surely follow your trip across a continent I,ve never visited myself.How nice you boys had the ide, and DID IT!
Some days ago I sat with two old ladies(at my work)watching 4-5 young sparrows leaving their parents' nest from under the roof-stones.One of the ladies said :How funny they can fly without having tried it before..
Have a nice trip further, boys!
Greetings; Eva-Lotte.(Martin's mother)
Hallo boys - I am impressed of your language skills and your ability to tell the story of boring roads so interesting!
SvarSlettAnd - you are really creative - I would never go to an antique shop to ask for radios.
I have looked over your fathers` shoulders many times these last weeks - to get a glimse of your experience. And I am happy to hear that everything goes all right. All the best from Kristin