Southern Tier

So, while Eric was riding a long ride, which started late because of the unexpected drive around Mobile Bay, I was busy getting lost and spilling coffee on myself. My attitude started out just fine as I drove back down through Gulf Shores. I found my way to the highway and then discovered that I was very tired, which necessitated a coffee stop. So, I pulled into a Shell station, which was new and flamingo-themed, and decided to fill up the car while I was there. I was met by a chorus of Harley mufflers and that went on for a while and really began the nerve-grating. After getting my coffee and wondering why my eyes felt so hot, I drove off and was having a merry old time. Then for some reason I decided it would be nice to spill hot coffee on myself, so I did. Really though, I didn’t plan that. I decided then that I should not be allowed to drink coffee and drive. I pulled into another gas station and then attracted local attention by dousing my chest with water to try to prevent stains. I did succeed, you’ll be happy to know, and my shirt is fine now. But anyway, I drove on and tucked a paper towel in my shirt to prevent further spillage idiocy and all was going well. I arrived in the Pensacola area relatively easily. However, I thought I was done with spilling episodes so I removed the paper towel and then spilled on myself again. So at a stop light I poured bottled water on myself and was given suspect looks by the people in the neighboring car. Still, I managed to forestall the development of coffee stains.

I was trying to find the Comfort Inn in Pensacola and drove in the direction that I thought was the correct one. It was not. I ended up going over a very long bridge and found myself in the suburb of Gulf Breeze. That was not right. I turned around and ended up taking 101 north to I-10 and getting right off and finding the Comfort Inn without event, or without further event. It was at that time noon I think and I was ready to chill. The Comfort Inn, however, was not. They had been sold out the night before so I could not check in so this pushed my bad mood to new heights.

Eric called with a tale of triumph. He had run across a triathlete and rode with him for a while and showed him who was boss. That made him feel good. I expected Eric to arrive soon after that. He did not. When he did arrive, he was met by me and my bad attitude. We had just been allowed to check in and Eric napped and I went and ran on the very noisy treadmill and watched Headline News (but could not hear it because of the din of the treamill). We then went back to downtown Pensacola, walked around, and found somewhere to eat. I, for one, was not blown away by Pensacola. However, to be fair, my bad attitude prevented me from giving it a fair chance.

One funny thing did happen though at the Comfort Inn breakfast buffet, which I popped in to to get some coffee. As I was standing in front of the coffee machine, I heard someone say “out of the way big guy.” And then a chuckle. I turned around and a man was standing there and made some joke about Derek Jeter hogging all the coffee or something -– and then I was in on it. I was wearing my Derek Jeter shirt and I love it when people talk to you like you’re the guy in the shirt (“Hey Jeter! Nice game yesterday!” or “Jeter, you bum!!” or some such thing). Anyway, I talked to the guy for a minute about the Yankees and their woes, found out that he’s actually a Cardinals fan and that I have no problem with that, and that I am actually a Tigers fan but have a familial obligation to root for the Yankees. So that was all nice and then soon after that I drove to the next destination.