Day 33 - Pensacola, FL to DeFuniak Springs, FL 91.47 miles/15.0 mph average 5 hrs 38 min

Today we pick our way out of Pensacola along Cervantes Street which turns into Scenic Highway/90 high above Pensacola Bay. We could live in Pensacola. It seemed bike friendly, clean, nice place to retire. Just a thought. the route winds through several small towns; Riverview, Milton (we stayed on Highway 90 and skipped the Blackwater Trail out of Milton - saved 9 miles), Holt, Milligan, Crestview and finally Mossy Head, 14 miles from DeFuniak Springs.

Highway 90 parallels Interstate 10 most of the route, as we ride just north of Eglin Air Force Base. while leaving Crestview, we rolled along a section of 90 with plenty of residential homes. coming up a slight rise in the road, an older car piloted by an even older man slowly pulled out from a driveway, taking up the entire shoulder. We braked, allowing the driver to casually pull out and eventually get up to speed, merging off the shoulder into the lane of travel. We are certain he did not see us, as he did not bolt out into the lane to beat our arrival. He only cut us off due to the speed we were traveling. I noted the sticker on the right corner of the bumper, knowing it belonged on no other bumper than this gentleman driver's:

Prepare to meet thy Lord

How true. I'm thankful he gave us the option of picking our own Lord, and not sticking us with the standard issue Lord. I then imagined him hitting a pedestrian or cyclist, blissfully oblivious, driving on. The victim now lying prone in the road, this bumper sticker the last thing they see as their eyes close. It's not often such an experience comes complete with instructions.

On the outskirts of DeFuniak Springs, I called the motel wondering where they were. Nobody in town knew of it. I then looked at the name; Rodeway in Mossyhead. Oops, motel 14 miles back in the wrong direction from where we stood. One rule we'd adhere to at all costs: No backtracking - if we're not heading east, we're going nowhere.

I immediately canceled the reservation. Continuing on to Downtown DeFuniak we found all the chain (read predictable) motels lying on the Interstate 10 corridor. Another 5 miles and we pulled into a Days Inn, under new management. Book the room honey! By the time we showered for dinner, the rain poured. The short walk to the local buffet restaurant paid off. We ate well, good American food, desserts, ice cream, just perfect.

On the way back to the room we stopped in at a Chevron for cereal and juice for the next morning. It was only later that I looked at the receipt. One box of Raisin Bran - $7.00. Worth every penny.

Over and out