November 15
Already 10:15 PM, so will add photos and blog tomorrow.
** It is now November 16, with time to add comments about yesterday.
The television in the hotel lobby was turned to the Weather Channel as folks ate breakfast. Florida was up on the screen, and a tornado warning was in effect for the Keys. I did not realize what that was going to mean for me until I stepped outside. Wow, the rain was coming down. And it was morning rush hour. And too many Miami drivers seem to be maniacs. Mix those three factors and that could explain the wreck which caused me to lose 45 minutes on route 997. By the time I reached Oasis VC for Big Cypress NPres on route US 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail) the traffic was gone but the rain was worse. A big attraction in the park is the wooden boardwalk which parallels US 41 at this VC. I decided to stay dry and look out my car windows at the canal from the vehicle bridge. There was one alligator enjoying the flood of heavenly waters. One is better than none. Previous times I have stopped here there have been upwards of 25 of these large reptiles up and down the length of the boardwalk. All this rain also meant the two trails I was going to hike would either be flooded over extremely muddy. Bag that. On to DeSoto NMem in Bradenton. I-75 whisked me northward towards the Tampa Bay area in no time flat. But once I exited onto route 64, elevator music became my friend. What a sea of vehicles, and too few lanes. One thing I learned driving down the Keys Highway (US 1) is that in many areas of Florida, trying to make a left turn onto a major road and even trying to make a left turn off of a major road is a MAJOR HEADACHE. The traffic going on the main road is non-stop, so few chances to make those left turns.
The rain had quieted a bit by the time I walked into the DeSoto VC. I was talking to the staff volunteer when two people came out of the theater and said, “Hi.” Tom and Pam are NPTC members and had driven down from the home in the Tampa area to meet me. That was one pleasant surprise. We talked for a bit in the theater since there were no other visitors in the building, but then moved out to the lobby. The volunteer joined in the discussion, and after the conversation she may even be joining the club. A major asset in the club is our “Master Db”. This has the location of every Passport Cancellation Stamp ever made. Stamp enthusiasts would give XXXX (you can fill-in the blank) to have access to this information. But the rest of the club’s website is also fantastic. Tom and Pam pointed to where I should start my hike along the shoreline of the park, then we said good-bye. I will be seeing them in Portland next year at the club’s annual convention. The volunteer was gracious enough to let me borrow her big umbrella, in the hopes of staying somewhat dry. The trail takes you to two large monuments, the second being a cross. This was erected to honor the 12 Catholic priests who accompanied DeSoto on his expedition.
I had to make Tallahassee for the night. It was fun to see signage around Gainsville proclaiming Florida Gators to be tops, while in Tallahassee everything is Florida State. My hotel had FSU pennants from one end to the other. They lover their college football down here.