DAY 164: MARIANNA - GRAND RIDGE - SNEADS - CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLORIDA

Click click. This LARGE Vulture has just lifted off the ground. There was a pair of them eating on a recently (road) killed Armadillo. Never got so close before to such a bird.

A magnificent Oak Tree. Have read many stories of the 1700s British Sailing Ships built out such a tree. To form the "knee", the transition from the bottom to the side of the ship, natural shaped limbs were used...could not imagine how that could be possible...until, that is, I have seen hundreds of such Oaks with perfect "knees" growing in profusion.

SAM got on the road again today. As usual, she was in excellent shape after riding on her platform on the back of SPIA ever since CARLSBAD, NEW MEXICO, many weeks ago. SAM performed all day, up some steep hills climbing out out of the river valley. Used GREEN Power Pack. RED is all charged up ready to go.

Will try to use SAM the rest of the way to KEY WEST, FLORIDA.

SAM garnered lots of interest today, including a local Newspaper Editor & her camera.

Please say HELLO to Jake and Tyler, two young men hawking watermelon from the back of their pickup truck. Since I had SAM to carry the melon, I bought a $1.00 yellow-meat one from them.

And, here Gator # 3 of our walk. The water is about two feet deep as he stands on the bottom with only his eyes showing. He was staring at me as I took the photograph. My Panasonic view screen does not show through the water, so again, I cut off the tail...sorry.

Interesting - and scary - thing happened next. He ducked his head under the water and walked on the bottom until he was directly below me standing on the bridge 20 feet above. He then raised his head - still underwater - and stared at me through the water and through the 20 feet of air, looking directly into my eyes with his eyes. His eyes were EMERALD GREEN vertical slits a full 2 inches high...he stared unblinking...just waiting for me to fall into his jaws.

The Gator's pond was a previous stream, now nearly dried up. He must be VERY hungry and about to be evicted from his home...so like many of the humans I have encountered on this walk.

The Gator's Pond. This is a puddle really. The water stops just under the bridge. He is standing on the bottom - about 3 feet deep directly below me.

1/4 miles away is a large river. He will have to make his way to that river in a few days if rain does not come.

Please say HELLO to Mark, a resident of the town of CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLORIDA. At 46 years old, Mark is a "tile setter" getting by doing odd jobs. Mark asked me NOT to write about our discussion. I will paraphrase to the extent that not many have lost as much as Mark, who is about to lose more.

In this Blog, I have attempted to avoid comments regarding some events. Sometimes that is not an easy task.

SAM has reached main street of CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLORIDA, where she raised more than a few eyebrows and garnered a free Chef Salad w/Iced Tea for Me.

SAM also got her picture taken by the Editor of the local Newspaper, who will post the article on this Blog when it is published.

APALACHICOLA...the name of the local large river, which also happens to be the border between Florida and Georgia. Just for fun, I may walk to Georgia with SAM in the morning.

SAM standing on Victory Bridge over the APALACHICOLA River, looking at the WOODRUFF Dam, behind which is a large lake.

The State of Georgia begins at the Dam and continues North and East. Upriver is North.

WOODRUFF DAM

SAM on Victory Bridge looking down river - South - at a Bridge to Nowhere (now where have we encountered such a bridge before ?? Sarah, perhaps).

In the background is a magnificent City Park. An extraordinarily well appointed and LARGE RV Resort and River Front playground. CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLORIDA is a rather smallish town. It is good to see such a Park for her residents.

The park is OPEN years round and open to EVERYONE. RV overnight is $16.00, with 1/2 off for Good SAM and a few other recognized club members.

By far, the most desirable RV Park I have visited in the entirety of the USA.

SPIA, SAM & ME have Spot # 17 for the night...already enjoyed my HOT water shower.

From Victory Bridge, the APALACHICOLA River, looking South. The City Park is on the left bank.

The City Park as a backdrop to the Bridge To Nowhere...actually, the old US 90 Bridge. A nice touch leaving it in this posture.

Note the end pier. Water level is normally at the height of the Concrete Ring. As with all of the Florida Panhandle, water is drying up. This is the river the Gator must reach if he is to survive.

Roadway leading through the City Park in the RV Resort Area. Looking closely, SPIA is visible at the upper left through the trees.

CHATTAHOOCHEE City Park & RV Resort...OPEN TO ALL.

City Part entrance road.

Rather dramatic photograph of the Old US 90 Bridge, New US 90 Bridge and WOODRUFF DAM. Pic taken from the fishing dock at CHATTAHOOCHEE Park.

The Fishing Dock. Boat Launch Ramps are at both ends of the dock.

Notice that the water is nearly at the dock edge. This dock is normally 40 feet out into the water. The Pylons holding the dock in place, will have the dock sitting in the mud if the water goes down another few inches.

Gentleman of Leisure - actually a "floor Polisher" by Vocation, who tells me he would - if he could - spend 24 hours a day sitting here fishing for Cat Fish in the APALACHICOLA.

Another dramatic photograph.

DAILY REPORT: Walked with SAM 26 miles today.

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: Credit 24 miles @ $0.02 = $0.44 for the day.

Said I was NOT going to use GOOGLE to create my Blog. Tonight, I was forced to do so. FIREFOX loaded down Version 5 (I was not asked), and it has troubles with compatibility with GOOGLE. Hope they get the bugs out quickly. GOOGLE is VERY difficult to work with.

In the morning, will drive SPIA back up the steep hill from the river RV Resort to the town of CHATTAHOOCHEE, Florida; will park SPIA, take SAM down from her perch, and together, we will walk east on US 90.

It is now 2:37 in the morning. We entered Eastern Time Zone today. VERIZON service was VERY slow earlier in the evening...probably from all the "Daddies" coming home from work to play with their computers.

Yes, I am tired. It takes a bit extra effort to handle SAM...must steer her at all times.