FL Pan Handle into Alabama (5/14/2023 Sunday)

Riding up the coast to Panama City was uneventful. It was nice to see what Florida looked like beforAe all the houses and shopping malls arrived. There are still plenty of house building going on, it's just mixed with lots of tall pines and field/swamp like expanses. After my normal campsite coffee, the first stop was supposed to be for breakfast. But anything on the map that looked like breakfast either didn't exist or was closed. In the beginning it didn't matter too much, but eventually I needed gas. The only breakfast food passed was Woffle House. Eventually I reached Alabama on seconday roads and small highways. And I found Grandma's Cafe. One odd little place to eat with the locals. The average age was very old, with the majority of customers in their 80s. All of the workers appeared to be teens. Kind of nice in a way to see this place in action. They served up lunch almost like an old school hot lunch line, you pick what you wanted from the display pans and they plate it for you. Many customers carried their trays back to the their tables while using canes. I managed to spill my lemonaid on my table, in spite of being able bodied.

Back on the road I continued making good time, and realized my gps told me I would arrice a few minutes ago. That's when the realization that a timezone cross occured. So now my watch and bike clocks don't match my phone and gps clocks.

From my campsite last night I created an account on the Alabama State Parks website and tried to buy 3 nights of camping in Oak Mountain State Park. The final payment seemed to fail multiple times and I never received an email receipt. Since they had sites I didn't worry about it and just assumed | would buy in person. The line at the entrance made me question that decision. My turn eventually came. I may have a reservation, but didn't get a receipt. What's your name? Yes Mr Anderson you do have a reservation just ride in to the campround and check in. Still skeptical, but it turns out the transaction did go through and I really did get a site reserved. While filling out the final paperwork it poured rain for just a few minutes.

The tent sites in my area are on a hillside, and you can't park at your site. There are pull offs for a number of cars and you carry your gear to the campsite. Not a problem for me, but a bit of a pain if the rain returned. So first up went the tarp. That left me a dry spot for gear, which wasn't needed because it didn't rain again. The tent went up next then I sat in the tarp shade and planned my dinner. Finally giving in and going for breakfast at a Waffle House. But earlier, just after lunch I saw a Shoney's sign. And there appears to be one the other side of the city from camp. So if I get up early, it's worth checking it out. The Barber Museum opens at 1000, so there could be time for a 40min ride to breakfast that is still the same 30 minute ride to the museum as it would be from camp.

After waffles my evening shower routine and then this writing. Around dark the woods came alive with sound. I worried the other campers could be roudy, but the insects and frogs drowned them out. Except when the Bard Owls started up and all the campsites did their best response. That got a bit rediculous, but at least it was breif.

My laptop says it's 2309 (same as my watch). So if I can get to bed quickly, it's an early night in this timezone.