Day 59 - Bonifay, FL to Marianna, FL

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​I did more socializing than riding today. First I received a phone call from an old friend from RFC (Really Fun Company), who is now living in the FL panhandle. We talked about the good old days at RFC and current events, mostly related to health, family and travel. When we finished talking it was already almost noon; so I went over to a deli in downtown Chipley. There I met a local bicyclist who insisted on buying my lunch. We had a delightful chat over lunch about bicycling and life in the deep South.

By the time lunch was finished, the heat, humidity and headwinds had all ticked up significantly. Not in the mood to deal with those 3 H’s, I stopped about 35 miles into my ride at a budget motel that had a great swimming pool. 

At the pool, I met two German fellows who are bicycling westward on the southern tier. Like the two Dutch riders I ran into a few days ago, they were relying heavily on the hospitality of Warmshowers hosts, which often led them off route.

It is always interesting to learn the perspectives of foreign bicyclists who are getting a very up close look at our country. Like others I have met in this region of the country they are struck by 2 things: the unequal distribution of wealth here and the tendency of Americans to overeat! 

I ran into the German bicyclists as they were leaving the next morning. They had made contact with a Warmshowers host in Panama City, FL and would be spending the night at his place. I hope that these guys are also taking note of the incredibly generous nature of Americans.

Although I saw attorney billboards today, none was particularly creative or worthy of mention.


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