Nightmare Begins

November 9 ,2001 - Friday Day 14
7:30am - We should be hitting Tampa soon (which I am uneasy about) and I'll probably try to cross it in one straight shot . It will probably be our last chance for food for a while . Maybe I will luck up on a Soup Line or Mission .
There was a thin layer of frost on the ground when I got up this morning . Not looking good ! At this moment Skil's is sacked out and steam is coming off his paws . Really looks odd .
12:30pm -Just outside Gibsonton , this is really where Tampa really starts . Tampa proper is 9 more miles . I found 3 more tomatoes this morning , which fell off a truck . Thank God , for overfilling a tomato truck . Small , but tasty . I am still looking for something to eat that has some "oomph" to it .I'm starting to feel weaker and weaker , from no fuel in my tank . I did get Skil's a can of food this morning .
I have Saturday and Sunday to cross Tampa , I'd prefer making it in one day . But being realistic I'll shoot for 2 days . Then the adventure will really begin . Still waiting for this trip to get better , I know it can't get too much worse . I just have to stay the same old optimistic me and don't let it get me down .
3:20pm -Inside Gibsonton proper now , and checked out the dumpsters behind the U-Save , but they were empty . Must have heard we were coming and we are hungry . It hasn't been to long since the garbage truck passed this way .
Somebody dropped 2 bags of fish in the road , right in the middle of the turn lane on 41 . I thought "allright" but it turned out to be minnows and a few saltwater catfish . I did open the bags to see if they were fresh , though . I couldn't stomach this , but I did clear the road for the good freaks in Gibsonton .
Let me explain the freak word - Gibsonton is the resting grounds for all the Circus folks from days gone by . They have the Giant Bar , and all kinds of little business's named after circus freaks . Lobster Boy , Bearded Woman , etc.
Got to get some salt , I am starting to get cramps , feet hurt , back hurts , legs are tired , Darn , I sound like an old person ! Wonder what all these aches and pains are telling me? Her comes another train , Probably scare the little boy to death . It did .
6:30pm - Six miles from Tampa , now ,and we stopped underneath a billboard that is all lit up . It has a very sexy woman on it and a phone number . "MMM" Wonder what she is selling? A man stopped and gave Skil's a Bar-B-Q sandwitch , that was really nice of him . I lost my hooded sweatshirt along the road , sometime today , I'm not going back to look for either .
I seen a sign that read Lake City 174 miles , so that would put Georgia at about 200 miles . I hope I can run across a map , because I am pretty sure I want 441 through Georgia . Going out of the way ain't too much fun when you are afoot !

Out Of Town For Awhile!

November 8, 2001 - Thursday Day- 13

7:35am - I found a little creek for us to take our first break at , just past 275 and 41 intersection .There is a cow path here and it has the little guy on edge , they have been through here recently . This part of 41 seems to have no civilization on it for about a 1000 miles or so . We are surely out of town now ! We are just gonna take it easy today . Got a might brisk last night . I ain't to sure I am ready for the winter which lies ahead of us . It would be a great morning to have a cup of coffee as I sit here for an hour .
9:00am - We are behind a CircleK a few miles north of 275 . I got Skil's a can of food for a dollar and myself a $.35 candy bar . I guess I have to eat too . I just understand that it may not be today , but Skil's has always eaten daily , and he doesn't understand that it might not always be possible on this adventure .
There is about twenty cats living here and they don't seem to impressed with our prescence . They don't run from me , but seem to shy away from the dog a bit . I did stop a pick some orages today back down the road . Little ones but super sweet . I like this area and feel safe going through here . Wish I knew how to talk to people . That's just not my way . Growing up in Miami conditions a person to always expect the worst , I guess . Need to shave today , in case I do decide to try and communicate with the local population .
10:20am - I am having brunch in an orange grove now . I am definately sated on oranges . I seen a coachwhip snake coming in here , I haven't seen one in more than thirty years . It's about ten miles to Ruskin , I am makin more progress than I thought . Only 20 miles to Tampa after that . Everything should be alright after Tampa , but I have this feeling of impending DOOM when I think of going through Tampa .
I have enough money to get Skil's 2 more cans of food , if I can find a grocery store . There is nothing on this road as far as I have came and nothing as far asI can see .
I am sitting here in this orange grove , miles from anything and here comes a DOT cop and parks in front of me in the median . He didn't stay long though , he took off after the 3rd semi that went by . But why pick this spot to set up to write tickets ?
The skeeters are bad here , but not like Naples . Even if I think they are .
1:40pm - We have finally entered Hillsborough County and the anxiety is starting to grow now . The bugs are really hungry in this area , its hard to function like this . I am near the RR tracks and I'm thinking how nice it would be to ride the rails . Like an ole' hobo and hodog . I could never get Skil's to get in a boxcar though . The little guy is exhausted , he's been having a rough time , walking in the sun . I have to walk in the daylight , its the only way to look for lost money laying on the ground . Which has been a really rare occurence since I left Naples . A few pennies here and there . Outside of Collier Co. , the folks semm to value their money a little more than the Snowbirds from down south .
I am going to hang out hereuntil 4:00 and let Skil's rest some . Might be a bit cooler by then . At least the sun won't be shining straight down on him . I passed a field of tomato's a ways back and sure would of liked the courage to harvest a few . Maybe , I'll pass another one and take the chance .
The gnats are worse than the skeeters in this area . Its about 8 more miles to Ruskin , ain't making much headway today at all . I am hoping to find a grocery store tonight and practice the art of "dumpster diving" . Wynn-Dixie has a habit of trashing some really good stuff . I could use a few things for myself , like a book , bug-spray , and on-and-on .
I may have to make some smudge pots tonight to keep the bugs down . I'll also be keeping my eyes open for a shoe tree . Haven't a clue as to why I bought these boots for hiking . I'll surely trade them for a pair of tennis shoes .
3:20pm - The wind is coming from the southwest , thats a pretty good sign that some weather is heading this way . Hope it doesn't have too much rain , Sure need a newspaper with today's weather report in it .
7:30pm -We passed a CircleK and I inquired as to where the next grocery store was at . Hey , its a start ! About 4 more miles , so I'll wait to feed Skil's rather than buy this high-priced dogfood at this store . I walked 3 hrs. from the last stop , made it through Ruskin , and slept in an open field . One of my better nights , my little dog ate 2 big cans of food and he was really happy . Nowhere near as happy asI was seeing him get a full meal.

Making My Escape From Sarasota

November 7, 2001 - Wednesday Day 12

6:50am - I slept without any problems right up til 5:45am . Other than it being cold and awful wet , it was a pretty good rest .We didn't waste any time trying to put this place far behind us . Not much shenanigans going on at 5:00 in the morning . Glad to be gone from there!
8:45am - We are just south of Bradenton and looks like we will be entering the city limits soon.There seems to be a few miles of open road ahead and there is a six foot high fence along each side of the road .That doesn't surprise me a bit , after that last neighborhood I was in .I can picture "crack-heads" climbing these fences and helping themselves to anything that would possibly get them their next hit.
10:30am - Just crossed the Manatee River and 301 turns to the east , so I'll stay on 41 for awhile . The next town will be Palmetto (large farming area) might be able to rob somebody's tater patch . We are just gonna take it easy today , I hurt my ankle yesterday and I pushed Skil's pretty hard trying to get out of that last "Hell-Hole"
Right now , we are in a place called Oneco under a oak tree , I have been picking up snipes as I go along , so I'll have something to smoke along the way . I haven't seen any of those farms that Palmetto is so famously known for .
The last 24 hours were a nightmare now that I am sitting here feeling somewhat relieved . When I thought I was near Bradenton , boy , was I way off .By about 10 miles , and a very hot 10 miles . Had no water for the little boy , then the bridge itself was a nightmare . It goes way up in the air and the gaurdrail is at kneehigh level . Scary , add the traffic to that and you can almost spell disaster . The little curb I had to walk on was only 12" wide . But , we're here and one more day we are safe (positive note?) We can relax for a while , at least for the next 30 miles or so .
5:00pm - I had to buy 2 more cans of dog food at a buck apiece at a Race-Trak store , man , that hurts . I have to figure out some way to feed him cheaper , but I am just about as broke as I can get now . It seems that I am in the black section of Palmetto , but then , it's probably all black . I don't intend to stay here for the night , the poison ivy is running wild here . There must be something better up the road . I have to make something happen soon . It is 38 miles to Tampa and then the hair-raising experiences start all over again .
6:40pm - We are stopping for the night at the intersection of I-275 and US41 in the island between the ramp and the bridge . I have for company a bunch of bee-hives and the ever gathering swarm of skeeters . I could stand for some colder weather now to ease the bug problem .
Skillet is being such a good boy on this adventure . I sure do love that little guy . Its just so hard on him and I can't carry enough water . I'll start looking for a gallon jug to tote along with us . We still haven't passed a grocery store . Have no clue as what tomorrow might bring , hell , don't even know what town is next . But , we are making forward progress . "Get-Ur-Done"

Sarasota Sucks!!

+November 6, 2001 - Tuesday Day 11-
7:15am- Me and skil's are sitting in the middle of Osprey , in a grove of Australian Pines, Not many of these invasive species (trees) left in S. Florida. They are really nice trees , though.We slept pretty good last nite and I feel really rested. Skillet has been wanting to play all morning.
It was cold last night and I hear it will be somewhat cooler tonight. Today the sun is shining and that is almost like a "Godsend" after not seeing it for the last week. I need to warm up the old bones , this will help.
9:05am - We just found an abandoned camp across the street from a mall-type shopping area. It sits behind a billboard, and a pretty smart location except for the fact a body has to walk out onto main street U.S. 41. Right out in front of the whole world to see , if you plan to go anywhere.
Who ever had this place didn't drink or make to big of a mess. Unlike most camps , that you usually run across . A whole bunch of root beer cans was about all laying around. This camp has musky-vine ceiling like Danny Mizzel's camp back in Naples at Skillet Lake. It appears the ex-resident had a dog too . There is a water bowl built into the ground and a little two foot high plywood fence barrier around the campsite . I noticed the litter along the highway is starting to accumulate more and more . Must be entering Sarasota proper.
11:15am-There doesn't seem to be many empty lots along here to take a break in . We found a cemetary to rest up for a minute . I have been hoping to find a grocery store , so I can get the little guy a can of food . Five miles or so and not the first one.Did I mention Sarasota Sucks , and more so when it gets hot ? What next? I found a tick on the little boy.
Seems like graveyards are a popular place in Sarasota , people seem to be walking all over the place. Lots of cars in here too. I don't see any on-going buriels happening right now . There are 2 guys riding around on a tractor picking up limbs and fixing flowersthat have been blown over on the headstones . I need to get out of here and find my baby something to eat
1:15pm - Man , it looks like I am in a mess now . Millions of stores and no empty lots . I did find a Circle K and got Skil's a small can of food for a dollar , which I sure didn't want to do .I just don't know when I'll find a grocery store . They are as hard to find as a native Floridian . If I could find a placxe to stop , I would hang out until dark and walk part of the night . At least long enough to get out of this Metropolis . Right now , we're sitting behind a strip mall and people are coming and going .I think I have been spotted and I better get on the road . Can't afford to bring any attention down on me , at least until I get out of Florida.
2:00pm - We found a place by a construction job , but its not a good place at all. There's a barking dog on the other side of th fence and he seems to be upset that we are here . This town is crazy , I feel like I am walking down Biscayne Blvd. in Miami.The stores and business's are endless. Just like Miami this place has those noisy-assed green parrots all over the place. My arms hurt and Skil's is one tired little boy . I really have to find a different route around this town . Definately around Tampa . Don't think I like this town , to much like Naples , only bigger.
5:00pm - Right now , we're sitting in some mangroves on the side of a creek in the middle of downtown Sarasota . I picked up a few of the local community free-papers to read . I think I am right beside the Jail or Courthouse . I think I will be out of this town within a few more miles . Highway 301 intersects 41 here and I will be taking 301 up to Bradenton . I think the road is pretty sparse going this way . Hope so anyway.
8:20pm - I found some high grass at a defunct go-cart track in the black part of town . Across the field are holly trees but as I approached I could hear a lot of conversation going on in there . I slowly backed off aways . This is a really bad place to be , a lot of camps back in there . So , we made a bed for the night in some high grass closer to the street and if Skil's don't bark at anyone I think we should be allright for the night .
Next to this field is a business of some sort and their alarm just went off . It took a long time for someone to come and turn it off . This is the land of action for Sarasota , I suppose , I hear people back in the woods yelling and a fight broke out right across the street . People coming and going in all directions . Plans are to leave real early in the morning .Lord ! , I'll be glad when Tampa is behind me !

Entering Sarasota , Fl.

November 6 , 2001 Tuesday , Day 11-It's 7:15am and we are sitting in a grove of Australian Pines in the middle of Osprey . Not many of these evasive species left . I really like them when the wind blows through them. We had a pretty good night last night , and I feel really rested . Skil's has been wanting to play all morning .It was chilly last night and suppose to be worse tonight . Good sleeping weather! The sun is going to shine today , something I haven't seen for 5 days . Might feel good!
9:05am- We just stumbled on a abandoned camp across from a mall type place. It's behind a billboard sign , and in a very good location , except for having to walk out on 41 to go anywhere.For all the world to see . Whoever had this camp didn't drink and was neat enough not to leave a mess. Neat little camp ,though , Has a ceiling made of wild grapes , I seen one of these ceilings before in Naples . At a guys camp (Danny Mizell) on Skillet Lake . There is a water bowl set into the ground and a little 2ft. high fence , made of plywood , around the site . Must of had a little dog they had to leave alone while they worked . Have also noticed the litter along the road is beginning to accumulate more . Must be coming into Sarasota .
11:15am-We found a cemetery to take a break in , not a whole lot of choices along here . All of these stores along here and not one grocery store . It sure seems that graveyards are a popular place . There are people walking all over the place . Lot's of cars too. There are 2 guys riding around on a little cart , picking up limbs and fixing flowers that have blown over .I need to get out of here and get my little dog something to eat. Found a tick on him today , none were found yesterday.
1:15pm-Boy , it looks like I am in a mess now . Millions of stores and not one grocery store . I ended up getting one of those little cans for a buck at the circle K . I sure didn't want too , but grocery stores are as rare as native Floridians . If I could find a place to stop for awhile , I would wait until dark to proceed. Right now , I am behind a strip mall and people are coming and going . I think I have been spotted . Better book!
2:00pm-I found a place to rest by a construction site , only if it is for a short rest . There is a barking dog on the other side of the fence , he is very annoying , giving my location up .This whole town is crazy! I feel like I'm walking down Biscayne Blvd. in Miami . Just business after business , and just as many of them noisy-assed green parrots as Miami .My arms are hurting and Skil's is one little tired dog . I have to find a way around this place and especially Tampa.I don't think I much like this place , just like Naples ,only bigger .
5:00pm-I foI am sitting in some mangroves on a little creek in the middle of Sarasota . I have a few of the free community local papers to read .I think I'm right by the jail or courthouse . This is at the intersection of 301 & 41 , this is where I say good-bye to 41 for a while . I'll hit it again when I get to the Manatee River .Up above Bradenton , I hope.
8:00pm-We found some high grass on 301 , smack-dab in the middle of the black section of town . There are a whole line of Holly trees on the back side of this lot , but when I walked back there ,I could here voices . Must be a bunch of homeless brothers living back in there. I am in a really bad place . As I was digging in the alarm on the building next door went off. It was a long time before someone came and shut it off . I hear people back in the hollies , people fighting across the street and all sorts of folks coming and going , from every direction . If Skil's doesn't bark , they'll never know I'm here. Needless , to say , I am leaving here very early , gone before the action starts all over again .

November 5 , 2001-Monday-7:30am- I'm sitting on a seawall in Nokomis , just drinking a cup of coffee and contemplating our situation . Have no choice , but to keep heading north until we're out of Florida. I try to find some work that I can do with Skil's so I don't have to leave him alone somewhere . Weather is starting to chill down a might , hope it has an adverse effect on the bugs.
3:30pm- Boy!, todays adventure turned into a nightmare . I tried to avoid Sarasota proper and skirt around the edge . I walked down Laurel Rd. for about 5mi. and I delivered myself to a dead-end . This I don't need today and headed back . I came across another road with pretty good traffic heading north . Ah! Says I ! This one looks good . Two miles down that road I find a gated community . Can anything else go south today .Back to square 41. As it stands at this moment , I have walked 9hrs. and am 5mi. from where I started from this morning . No more guessing a route without looking in a phone book at the map.
I had a feeling today would be like no other I have experienced , this morning starting out , after my coffee ,I tried to cross 41 . Skil's is always anxious to get to the other side and this time he bolted and the leash broke . A million cars coming down the road . I dove for him , but missed , landed really hard too. Me hitting the ground so hard was enough for him to come see if I was alright . The cars coming down the road had enough time to see what was happening and braked hard.
5:30pm-We just walked into the woods next to Oscar Schearer State Park , this is it for today. I'm in the town of Osprey . I think Sarasota is next and I sure ain't looking forward to that . I am going to try and get on U.S.301 , if I can find it . Maybe, it will take me around the city part . I am still carrying that unused bar of soap and I am also sitting here with an empty water bottle . So much for planning ahead .
Sure is a lot of traffic trying to get into the park after hours . I saw the ranger lock the gate at 6:00pm . These people park in front of the gate and walk in to get a key , or someone with a key . Only one RV pulled up , but he got in . Be nice to have a tent !

A Taste of Venice

November 4 , 2001_ Sunday Day 9-At our first reststop of the morning , just over the Myacca River .We are sitting in the woods by a tower and I see a lot of hog sign around this area .Skil's seems to be in better spirits this morning . Slowing down , helps the little guy adapt to the rigourus trek we have undertaken . Whatever I thought about my luck changing for the better , sure is taking its time showing up . This sign here reads 80 miles to Tampa and 8 til Venice .
9:10 AM- Somewhere between North Port and Venice , and there isn't a whole lot of life on this road at all.There does happen to be a lot of strange flies , though. I have never seen the likes of these things .They aren't scared at all , I try to brush them off Skil's back and they just jump over my hand and re-land . I almost have to scrape them off. Really strange pests ! I forgot to get water at the Myacca store , hope something comes along soon . Skil's is having a tick problem , but not a catastrophe yet!
11:45 AM-I know how Columbus must have felt when he discovered America . I feel like that being here in the first sign of civilization , I have seen today. I suppose this is S Venice and I found a little spot behind a Hess station . I promised Skil's he could rest awhile and its not a great place , but it will do . I figure we have made 12-14 miles today and the only life (other than the flies) that we encountered were a family of otters , Skil's sure wanted to get 'em too! Gonna leave here at 3:00PM . We have been here 3hrs. now , that's a pretty good rest . We'll see whats on down the road . We may not be in Venice yet , but soon will be .
5:10 PM- Just walked 2hrs. in what I thought was Venice . We stopped behind a Shell station just passed a sign that said "Entering Venice". I wonder how big this town is? I don't think anybody has ever heard of it except fot Danny Rust . If I would have known this , I wouldn't have taken a three hour break .
Another day , I didn't get to wash up , have to do something to get cleaned up before the cold front gets here. As far as today's news goes , there is no war yet , Skil's caught a squirrel (it got away) , my goodluck I'm expecting is running late and been rained on once . The worst rain is yet to come .
6:00 PM- And the rains came! We are sitting under a scaffold at a construction job waiting on the rain to quit . It's a good sized job with a lot of foam work and in a little while I am going to borrow a few sheets of their foam and make a bed out of it . The Motel 6 that me and Laura stayed at once is across the street , at least I kind of know where I am now .
Rain has stopped and we made a bed back in the woods behind the construction job . I got me a quart of beer and Skil's a can of food from the store across the street . Just sitting here watching the world go by. A cop keeps riding up and down the street . Wonder what he's looking for ? Maybe , the big styrofoam bandit , me . About 3:00AM , a cop pulled into the store parking lot next to a van that had parked there fifteen minutes earlier . They talked for a bit , then left together down another side street . Strange going's on around here.