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Route 98 along the Panhandle up against the Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful drive.   Drove through a town named  ‘Panacea’.

Driving Rt 98 across the panhandle of Florida with Bayou la Batre, Alabama as our goal in a day or two; the weekend in coastal Alabama/Mobile Bay. Lots of state prison prisoners working on the roads here.  In fact lots of state prisons in Florida, seemed to be one every where we went. The US incarcerates a similar percentage of it’s population to that of the Soviet Union; weird but not surprising when you think about it.

Reflecting on the first half of this trip I have come to realize that the places where we had the most consistent exposure to people and saw a fair cross section of people was in WalMarts. Sad commentary in my mind. It is an urban myth that WalMarts across this country allow you to overnight your RV in their parking lots.

Route One North, Portsmouth, NH and Kennebunk, Maine beat Route One South, Homestead, Florida hands down.

The Waffle House, all along the way, wins the award for breakfasts. Every single employee greets you the moment you walk in the door.  Friendly and inviting. Have you ever noticed that the size of the bench seat space at all booth tables whatever the restaurant are uneven, one side having markedly less space than the other?

Enjoyed the people of Florida. Did not met a single Floridian whom I did not enjoy; as we all do,  they present better individually than as a group.

Leaving the Eastern Time Zone for the Central Time Zone sometime today.

Citrus groves and scrub cattle ranches were more enticing than the crowded coasts.

Kudos: Florida’s State Parks have it figured out.

I enjoyed and appreciated all the photographic opportunities that Florida had to offer. Great birding and wildlife!