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 !