The idea of a road trip is to see the things “in between”… So here is my story about learning my first lesson on how to enjoy my trip.

I left off from my last post talking about how bittersweet it was to drive my parents to the airport.  I meant every word.  And I was still in the driving mode of having to get to the next place.  I mean, from the beginning I was a bit pressed for time.  Leave Phoenix on May 10th.  Have to be in Nashville May 13th at 9am.  I started to feel a little more free about my trip but I had to be in Memphis and New Orleans because I had to be in Orlando by the 17th of May.  I enjoyed my time in Memphis and NOLA, don’t get me wrong, but I was still pressed to be someplace at a certain time.

So I drop off the parents and I’m going to Jacksonville when there is an intervention.  You see, I have about 26000 miles on my front tires and I thought I could get through my trip and then get new tires.  Here I am buzzing up I-4 to I-95 forgetting why I’m on this trip when I hear a ticking sound coming from the right front of my car.  After determining it’s not the car next to me I pull over and I see a cord wrapped around my tire/axle.  I pull on it and realize it is the inside of my tire coming apart.  I take the next exit and I’m at the one and only Daytona International Speedway.  How apropos, I need a tire change and I need one fast!  Pep Boys doesn’t have the tires I need but the guy calls a friend who says he has them.  After a brief conversation on the phone the guy at Pep Boys looks at me and says, “do you know where the Daytona flea market is?”  After my initial shock I say, “no I’m from Phoenix.”  He gives me directions and when I get there, I couldn’t have met nicer people.  While they worked on my car we talked about Daytona and what I was doing and they told me to get off I-95.  They all jumped in with suggestions and then agreed I should take the FL 100 to Flagler Beach and then the A1A up the coast to St. Augustine, all the while taking in the beautiful views of the east coast of Florida.  The beaches and views are spectacular.  Little town after little town slowly pass as I go into cruise mode rather than hustle mode.

As I arrived at St. Augustine I was caught by the drawbridge as a tall sailing ship asked for permission to gently pass through.  And there it was, the oldest city in the US, founded in 1565.  And it hit me, this is why I’m on this road trip.  Yes this is a fairly well known and travelled area now,  but that wasn’t the thought that struck me.  My thoughts were of how I got off the path and met some great people who put me on a new path.  I explored the Castillo de San Marcos built in 1672.  I walked into town for a history lesson and lunch and I got both.  The city has narrow brick streets and it was a lovely walk through time.  The fish is fresh at Catch 27 and the folks are friendly.  I left St. Augustine knowing I will be back.  As I slowly drove away I thought about how many other unforeseen paths I would take on my journey across our great nation.

See you in Savannah, Kevin