Saturday, November 19, 2022
St. Andrews State Park, Florida High Point
Before leaving Panama City Beach and the Floribama Shore, we spent the morning at St. Andrews State Park, recommended to us by a guy we met yesterday in a parking lot. It seems that random people are always keen to chat us up in Florida. Friendly folks!
It was chilly and gray this morning, but we didn't let that stop us. This would be our last chance to spot an alligator on this trip. Spoiler alert: We never saw one. Apparently, gators are dormant around here this time of year, but we had fun looking. At least there were a few goofy birds.
St. Andrews State Park
Spanish moss
Egret and heron
Floribama goofy bird
St. Andrews State Park is located at the end of a peninsula separating Grand Lagoon and St. Andrews Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. We explored the poorly named Alligator Pond, then walked on the beach through soft white sand and onto a long fishing pier, admiring the Gulf's gorgeous blue-green water. It was a great goodbye to the coast.
Gulf of Mexico
St. Andrews State Park Pier
On the pier
Panama City Beach
Sand Pilgrim
On our way out of Florida, we knocked out another state high point when we ascended Britton Hill to Lakewood Park in north Walton County, altitude 345 feet. No ropes, no crampons, no altitude sickness. Yay, us!
Tom highpointing
Jana at the Florida peak
View from the top
The last photo-worthy stop of the trip was the National Monument to Textile and Apparel Workers, found outside the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Andalusia, Alabama. I give it a 10 out of 10!
Little Tom, big shirt
We stopped for the night in Gadsden, treating ourselves to a delicious dinner at El Patron Mexican Restaurante. We're just over three hours from home.
Lodging: Econo Lodge, Gadsden-Attalla, Alabama.
Parting shot
THE END
Afterword: The next time I went for a ride after returning home, I got yet another flat tire and had to push the bike a mile to reach home. Another in-depth investigation finally revealed a tiny pinprick of a hole in the front tire, and we also noticed a bulge in the rear tire. It seems that I completely wore these tires out! A new set of tires has now been ordered.
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