It had to happen. I left my credit card in Lamont, Florida, where we filled up with gas before leaving at 6 a.m. The problem was that I did not realize it until we stopped to fill up again some 200 miles along Interstate 75 close to Tampa. Fortunately, Renae was able to cancel it and the second card will now have to do. Worse than this is the fact that George had warned me (he pays cash whenever the gas pumps call for zip codes - which we obviously don't have) about giving my card to someone while I pumped the gas. Cash for gas from now on!
Today also presented a different class of road kill; alligators and armadillos. Beats dead skunks, opossums and squirrels.
We crossed the Florida peninsula by the most southerly route, highway 41, so that we could experience the everglades. The attached pictures show a typical shot from the road. We also experienced close up views of a few alligators. George would not agree to hold him by the tail while I took the shot so a pair of rather serious eyes (viewed from 10 feet away) will have to do.
I did have grilled gator as an appetizer for supper to commerate the day.We also were confronted by our first serious rain. It started south of Tampa and kept up for 3 hours as we began crossing the everglades. We are experiencing some of the threatened "severe" thunderstorms anticipated for the next few days. The power has been going on and off over the last hour, interrupting our very pleasant dinner at the Capri, a nice Italian place just up the street from our motel in Florida City (at the tip of the Florida peninsula). Despite being a little wet, we fared well in the rain and it broke the 10 days of non-stop sun. We now know we can deal with a little adverse weather.
We have now travelled a total of 7403 kms/4600 miles (same as across Canada) and will reach the third "corner", Key West tomorrow morning. Our pace thus far (740 kms/460 miles per day) has bought us margin to explore more of the eastern seaboard. We will then have, and use, the remaining 10.5 days to make our way to Madawaska, Maine (some 3350 km/2100 miles if we were taking the fastest route, which we won't).
Now, a word to any readers of this travel monologue: are there details, questions or issues I am not addressing that I should be? Feedback please. If you prefer to email I am ONLY getting emails at bobkuhn1@gmail.com.