2009-03-13 The first part of my day saw many orange groves. In sharp contrast to the many leafless pecan trees of Georgia, these orange trees were green, and in some case very orange as well. As I was biking along I thought, huh a biplane--you don't see those every day. Turns out I didn't see one today, either, as it was a remote-controlled model. But it was a very big model. Soon I was beyond the oranges and into the ranches. This might as well be Texas with all the cows and trucks and big hats. I was able to see this aspect of Florida while pushing down a long, desolate and dry road. It wasn't long before I was out of water (and sulfur water was never tasting so good). After a bit I found a house and begged some hose water. I was also warned that the system had been recently bleached. It was neigh undrinkable until I added a little sports drink powder. Nothing like lemon-flavored bleached sulfur hose water to quench the thirst. The locals also seem to take great delight in running over pigs. Road kill wild pig is about the ugliest thing you will ever see. I met two other cyclists who I can only assume were on big loops from Orlando or one of the coast cities. They were equipped for speed and quickly left me behind. Eventually I found myself a place to camp--in a dry swamp in a cow pasture past a very official no trespassing sign near yet another noisy highway. In deference to the wild pigs I kept scaring (I only saw two but they've been making noise all evening) I hung my food up in a palm tree and fastened my hammock a little higher than usual. At least I know there are no bears here, as I was told that bears love themselves some pig. And having already seen the pigs, I shouldn't get so shook up when I hear things go crunch in the night.

long road it's what's for dinner cyprus and palms