Picking up where we left off on the 29th, let's think... Left Sunset Coffee Co. and started heading east on the 98. After a few hours, I met Ezra, real interesting guy around my age I want to think, rolling around in this old SUV, damn cool thing, picked me up and we headed towards Inlet Beach. We talked and got to know each other, he was a cool guy, would like to be friends with him haha reminds me how different people can be that you come across when living life. He was from a pretty well off family, father is an artist and mother staying at home, I want to say. Sibling, a sister that was a property manager or something, worked with some high profile houses. As we drove, I seen some amazing views of the coast, of these multi-million dollar homes, some little coastal towns. I learned how big the 31A Highway was, in terms of renown and significance. I ended up having dinner at Donut Hole, letting my stuff charge while I ate. I eventually found a beach, off Orange Street and Park Place. It was here I began taking pictues of the night sky, stars much more visible than the night before in Santa Rosa Beach. It was later this night as well it dawned on me, as I tried to find a bench to sleep on, I was no longer a traveler, I was homeless, out of money and sleeping on a bench on a pier headed towards the beach.. It was a cold night and sleep did not come easy; it was a low point for me, felt depressed and cold as hell..
As morning rose, around 35-40 degrees, I did my best to wake up and make my way to the gas station Ezra left me at the day before, across from Donut Hole.. I sat here with my thumb out, hoping to get further east, maybe to Interstate 10. I t was here I met a guy, around my age, though I forgot his name but recall he was Jamaican, married, had a kid, and worked in a kitchen. He seemed like a cool guy, helped me get to Panama City Beach. It was here I sat for a while, maybe a couple hours, till I caught a ride with Donny, and older man with a beard, tattoos, and pretty big gauges. He told me about himself, how he liked to help travelers, about his new side hobby of making things out of wood, and some stories about his life. This dude has an alligator in a swimming pool, cool old guy, but with limited time, terminal condition that'll take him one day, told the doctor he doesn't want to know the time frame, just wants to keep living to the fullest and helping whoever he can. He dropped me off on Interstate 10, Bonifay, though he initially said he'd drop me off short of there, good guy. I grabbed food at Burger King, my last $6 or so dollars, and headed out of town to sit and hoped to catch a ride. As I sat on the East bound on ramp for the 10, an older man and his son seen me, flipped around to give me a bit of money, said they wished they were going the direction I was headed, but wished me luck and went on their way, the money would be well needed later. After what felt like a long time, I met another older man and traveled down the road to Chipley, said if he wasn't having to run an errand in the area, he'd have driven me further. Once again hitch hiking, I caught a ride with a middle aged man with a truck, finally made it to Marianna. First thing I did, got dinner at the diner there with the money I'd received earlier, all you can eat that day at the TA Restaurant, ended up making friends with Ira and Kathy, a truck driver and his wife, we had a great conversation, felt nice feel safe somewhere, having a good time just talking about why I was doing this trip. They gave me some incredibly useful info, said that if I were heading north, they'd have made a little room for me to join them, but I was headed toward St Augustine. I ended up taking a shower, doing laundry and basically just staying up all night and not sleeping any..
The 31st, found me outside the TA truck stop catching a ride with a trucker in his 50s, funny guy, helped me get all the way from Marianna to Jacksonville. We talked about a lot of stuff, mostly himself and the stuff he was going through, actually, that's all we talked about, nothing about me, the wandering traveler haha. Anyway, got to St Augustine, caught a ride again with an older gentleman, unfortunately I am drawing a blank on his name, but he showed me the historic areas of Jacksonville a bit before heading to a place I meet up a with a friend of mine, Darby, currently living in St. Augustine. Upon arriving at Darby's, I was exhausted, so I dropped my pack, grabbed a drink, and promptly passed out while she ran to work for a quick minute. We ended up having a delicious dinner she cooked before watching fireworks from her front door, no need to leave with a view so nice, so close.
New Year's Day, waking up on the 1st, I woke up late haha. No special anything, no big eventful morning, no halfhearted resolutions or "Happy New Year's" texts to anyone, just another day. Later than night, Darby and I walked downtown St. Augustine, checking out the lights and the historical spots. We hit up a bar, Shanghai Nobby's, played Jenga, really big Jenga... Haha. Wandered around and took pictures of the area, some good stuff.
The 2nd found me just hanging out, slowly working on pictures and updating the blog. We, Darby and myself, took turns playing this interesting game called This War Of Mine: The Little Ones. It was on PS4, though I think it's on different consoles. Anyway, felt nice to be able to just hangout, have a drink, play video games, feels like it's been a while since I'd done that.
On the 3rd, we went to the beach, a quick, 10 min walk, if that. It was a little overcast, a little chilly, but still in the high 50s, low 60s. Ended up being able to see some of the lasting effects of the recent hurricane, sand completely covering the parking lot leading to the beach, signs only peaking out of the sand, parts of concrete exposed that shouldn't be. Felt good to see the Atlantic Ocean, can really truly say I've seen the ocean from both the East and West Coasts. She later told me of the local favorite coffee shop/cafe, right on the edge of the beach.
January 4th, nothing super exciting, went through my backpack a bit, worked on the blog a little more. I ended up going for a walk while Darby worked and almost got hit by a car, so that was interesting haha.. I'm not use to having so little going on, or being in a rush, so the lazy days are not something I'm use to. Ended the day making a bit of dinner, Jambalaya, and calling it a day.
Thursday, the 5th, Darby worked, I hung out, later that day her daughter Charly got home from school. I later ended up going through old pictures, just thinking about old times, things that are different, that have changed.. felt really homesick, for a place that doesn't exist and a time that's long since past, a lifetime ago, when I was just.. I don't know.. I was really melancholy afterward, really made the night harder.. Talked to Meagan about it, about Her, might have even talked to Her, I don't remember.. I probably tried, but she doesn't always respond, when she does, it's always just something short, without substance, which sucks considering how much we'd been there for each other.. Talked to Molly too, she seems to be having a tough go of things, really feel bad I can't do much to help. Eventually the night came and I finally fell asleep, though I didn't feel that great from it.
We were supposed to have a bonfire/BBQ on the 6th, Friday, though the day started out well, it was beginning to rain by the time Charly got home, and down pouring once the evening came, so a night in with Netflix and drinks.
It is currently the 7th, with the bonfire/BBQ scheduled for tomorrow, probably. I've mostly just been working on this, being in my head a bit from looking at old pictures, again.. Anyway, I feel like that's a decent little update, maybe update some more when exciting things go on.. I don't know, just stuck in my head right now.
Later.
“There’s poetry in sickness
Life is beautiful and cruel
That’s just the way it is
And I can sleep but I can’t rest
They say the old songs are the best
And I am still a young man
Ooh ooh it’s a funny old life
Bottle keeps spinning spinning
Devil keeps grinning grinning
Thinking about a war he’s winning
Ooh ooh everybody is a star
Everybody is a star... look it up.”