December 30th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,USA (FLorida)
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 33.2 miles / 53.4km
Average speed / 平均速度: 10.6mph / 17km/h
Time on skateboard / 走行時間: 3h 08m
Total skateboarding distance to date / 今までスケボで走った距離: 1201mi (plus 266mi) / 1932km (plus 430km)
Ascent / 上り: negligible
Descent / 下り: negligible
End-of-day GPS coordinates: oops, forgot
Great tailwind blew me all the way to Inglis on US19 today. That was the fun part, along with great unadulterated mud bath wonder at a mud pit just outside of Inglis.
Unimaginably high, jacked up 4x4s pitted themselves against the waist-deep mud. There was a US$12 entrance charge to the event, but the gate people let me in for free for a peek.
After this however, the day sort of went downhill. No shoulder on US19 after Inglis meant that I was more or less risking my life on the highway. Speed limit was 65mph. Not fun. After an hour of carefully making my way along the highway, a State Trooper by the name of Scott saw me and pulled me over. After explaining what I was attempting to do, he said “And I was going to write you a ticket!”. Great guy, and very helpful. It was getting dark at that stage, and I was keen to get off the highway. Officer Scott gave me a map of the area, and suggested alternate routes. He also offered to give me a ride to the next intersection where I could pick up a less busy side road. It was very tempting, but I declined the offer. I walked the remaining three miles to Gulf Hammock.
There is a small petrol station at Gulf Hammock, and it was here that my luck changed. Enter Skip and Bob. Two loud, boisterous bikers with Harleys, kitted out apparently to make as much noise as possible.
I was in line at the petrol station store, buying two quarters of a pizza displayed in the food heater. Skip made the usual small talk, looking at my strange skateboard. “You gone far on that thing?” he asked. The usual amazement ensued as I explained my journey.
We were holding up the line in the store, so Skip, Bob, and I headed outside where we continued to talk. One thing led to another, and I was invited to spend New Years with them in Chiefland, 12 miles up the road. We swapped phone numbers and they left me to camp for the night at a small picnic area.
