2025 Late-Summer Road Trip - Day 27-of-35 - September 9, 2025

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 - My first full day in Florida - 523 miles ending up at Days Inn, Fort Myers, Florida:

Pretty cool driving through the Florida Panhandle:

After arching around the Florida-curve (and letting Cary know I'll be there at 2, not 1), I arrived at her place exactly at 2 PM:

Yes, it is hot outside. Basically, after the first hour, I drive with the windows rolled up and the AC on.

When Cary was up visiting us in August, we asked how the property was going. She said that she had a big branch come down, and it was too big for her little hand-cutter, and she needed a chain-saw. Well, I said "I have a chain-saw - I'll bring it with me on my trip!" So after a tour of the house, we tackled the back yard. My battery-powered chain-saw worked perfectly, and ran out of power just when I finished my last cut!

So then we headed off for a late-lunch at The Silver Dolphin Restaurant & Country Store - I had chili (well, 1/2 a bowl - the other half is lunch-tomorrow):

I was able to get down to niece Shelley (and husband Rey) in Pinellas Park (halfway between Clearwater and St. Petersburg) at 5:10

They said "Where do you want to go to dinner?" I said "I don't know - where do you want to go to dinner?" Shelley finally said "How about Texas Roadhouse?" I said " LOVE Texas Roadhouse - that's PERFECT":

I had a 1/2 of a rack of ribs (well, 1/2 of a 1/2 - the other half is dinner-tomorrow)!

Once again, VERY COOL SUNSETS:

Around 9:30 PM, I checked into the Days Inn, Fort Myers, Florida:

523 miles today (and 15 Post Offices) - This is what they looked like:

My favorite today is 32683 - Otter Creek, FL - did this used-to-be a gas station? or a bank branch?

Thank you God for another wonderful Adventure Day, seeing Relatives!

Music for today:

various - Avalon Blues: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt, 2001 tribute album, last heard (on a Road Trip) never - Because it wasn't on my iPod yesterday

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedoes, 1979 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 5/13/2024 - Petty is a Florida boy

Afro Celt Sound System - Volume 3: Further In Time, 2001 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 8/29/2017 - excellent song w. Peter Gabriel; GREAT rythmns for moving down The Road

Kenny Chesney - No Shoes No Shirt No Problems, 2002 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 7/10/2024 - I thought he was a Florida boy, but he's from Tennessee. A BRUCE SONG!

2025 Late-Summer Road Trip - Day 26-of-35 - September 8, 2025

Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 - Just making my way southeast through Mississippi, a little bit of Alabama, then out the Florida Panhandle - 469 miles ending up at Wingate, Panama City, Florida:

Early morning in Indianola, Mississippi:

So, I'm less than 10 minutes from my hotel, going south down Hwy 49W, when suddenly I see a little sign for The B.B King Museum - right down this road. So I do a quick u-turn and go down the road:

It was before 9 AM, so nothing was open, but it was still pretty cool to be there.

I get the feeling that ALL THIS LAND is pretty CLOSE TO THE WATER TABLE:

Early afternoon, going through pretty flat country:

I'm not going to New Orleans on this trip:

So, if anyone gives you a hard time, just park A TANK in your yard:

Lovely moss-draped trees in Mobile, Alabama:

Looking at the USS Alabama in Battleship Memorial Park:

Entering Florida at 4:50

Over the next few blogs I will have some not-nice things to say about Florida, but I must admit they have AWESOME CLOUDS and SUNSETS:

Around 8:30 PM, I checked into the Wingate, Panama City, Florida:

469 miles today (and 30 Post Offices) - This is what they looked like:

My favorite today is 39479 - Seminary, MS - anytime you can have columns ...

Thank you God for another wonderful Adventure Day, making my way through more of the country I have not seen before!

Music for today:

The Eagles - One Of These Nights, 1975 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 9/17/2018 - Lyrics "Take It to the Limit":

So put me on a highway
Show me a sign
Take it to the limit
One more time

Drive-By Truckers - Live From Austin, TX, 2009 live album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 9/23/2021 - Lyrics "The Righteous Path":

I'm trying to keep focused as I drive down the road
On the ditches and the curves and the heavy load
Ain't bitchin' 'bout things that aren't in my grasp
Just trying to hold steady on the righteous path

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Live 1975-85 (3 cds), 1986 triple-live-album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 10/10/2015 - lyrics "Racing in the Streets", "Born To Run":

Now, some guys, they just give up livin'
And start dying little by little, piece by piece
Some guys come home from work and wash up
And go racin' in the street

--------------------

The highways jammed with broken heroes
On a last chance power drive

Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do, 2010 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 9/22/2022 - I like The Truckers: