Down In a Hole

Since we stayed in Marianna, we didn't have to rush to get out of the motel. I did want to get going at a good time though. J.J found this great breakfast joint called Gazebos Coffee and Deli. I had the bacon quiche and it was delicious! Coffee was good there too.

It was a five-ten minute trip to the Florida Caverns State Park. It was already hot and humid. The park itself was beautiful because it mixed Florida Upland forest with Cypress swamps and prairie. We got on the 10:15 tour because the 10 o'clock one was a school group. There were people of all ages on our tour so we got to relax.

First thing is that we were fifty feet underground and the temperature was 68. It was very comfortable. The rock formations in cave system were gorgeous. I wanted pictures of everything because it looks like nature planned everything to look good. We couldn't touch the stalagmites, stalactites, cones or anything really because the oils in our hands would stop its growth.

There were specially named rooms in the cave system : The wedding cake room, Cathedral room, Donald Duck Room, Christmas tree room, South America room and a few more. Also found out that they do small weddings in the cave system. Very nice.  We got the full tour because all the rooms were available. Sometimes when it floods, some of the bottom rooms flood and people can't go with them. When it is the rainy season,tours will be only limited to the top section. The bottom area was called the catacombs or Hell for Tall People. I only had to duck maybe once or twice because the cave system was my height. JJ had to duck a lot.

After the tour, we visited the Museum and Gift Shop. Picked up some patches, a bear claw and a raccoon hat. I freaked out when I saw them. Originally when I planned this trip,  I wanted to go to Wausau because on the first week of August they have a Possum Festival. I'm not kidding, a queen and a king possum pageant. It made me think of the Goofy Movie when Goofy and Max go to Lester's Possum Park. I was hoping fora possum hat or at least a raccoon hat. When I found the Hat, J.J. and I both got one each.

Since we had time, we drove to Chipley to visit the Falling Waters State Park. Lots of Pine Forest and is home to the highest waterfall in Florida, 70 feet. The water falls into a big sinkhole and into the aquifer river system.

I got nervous with the grading platform because it goes over the sinkhole but I got great pictures from there.

We took a strolled back to the car and I decided we were only 9 miles away from Wausau that we were going to make a quick stop and snap a quick picture of their Possum Monument.

I would like to see that festival one day. I wonder what the town would be decorated like. Would they serve possum kebabs? Would they sell possum hats?

After that, we jumped on I-10 for a few hours and made a stop in Greenville. This was where Ray Charles's childhood home was and he has a great monument / statue in Hayes Park.

Even though the city area look to be in rough shape, that house and the statue in the park are well taken care of. Very nice.

After seeing that, this marks the end of our tour. We had to miss some places but we can always make a weekend visit. Many places, I wouldn't mind visiting again.

J.J. was amazing during our trip. Prime Navigator, Consultant and always soothed me if I was beginning to get flustered. The only times we got edgy when we were misplaced in a big city but he would always find another route. He always got me snacks and drinks from the back seat and he would always set up and strike the camp.  He always offered to drive but I really like driving.

I brought all this entertainment but honestly once our camp was set up, dinner was cooked, laundry was done, we were just so tired that after about 20 minutes of reading books, we just went to bed after dark. We got home around 9 that night and it was weird. I was still in that find shelter mode. Didn't even have dinner but I got a yummy breakfast while I did errands.

We got home just in time for Father's Day and I surprised my dad with a tour of Florida beers commemorating J.J and I's road trip together and my dad loved it. He wrote down notes for each one to find out his favorites.

We drove around 2,300 something miles. I told J.J that I told him pretty much it was a one-way trip to Los Vegas. It's amazing that we didn't go all the way around Florida. We went most the way, we missed The tip of the Panhandle and the Sarasota area.

Overall, our trip was amazing and we showed people that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a great time. You just have to be up for whatever happens and you're still going to enjoy the day when you wake up as long as you're safe. Everything will be okay .Just keep an open mind.

Thank you for reading my story. I hope reading this journal inspiring you.  ^.^b