Friday 27Mar20 RIP Tony
Day 71
Pete woke me up wanting out at 5. I was able to go back to sleep and got up for good a little after 8. It was a beautiful sunny day.
Realizing that southern Florida has become a hot spot for the Coronavirus virus I have taken Key West off this year's route.
Instead I will be heading straight East until I reach the coast then turning North.
My decision was based on reports that the availability of hospital beds is already extremely limited in southern Florida. I am taking severe measures to not be exposed but this virus is extremely contagious. If I should be infected I want to be in an area where beds, staff and equipment are available.
I have been to the Everglades a couple of times before so it isn't like I haven't seen southern Florida.
The first time was with Alison and Zack. We went on a guided kayak outing. Alison and I in one kayak and Zack and the guide each had a kayak of their own. It was a lot of fun. That was the same trip that we went on a Western Caribbean cruise with MCI Cruise Lines. During that trip on of the last Space Shuttle launches was scheduled. As usual it was delayed. I had considered staying a couple of days there by myself to visit the reschedule launch Due to the additional cost and the low probability of that launch happening either I just came home as planned. The launch did actually occurred on the rescheduled date. Watching a manned space launch is on my bucket list.
The second time I was in the Everglades was combined with a work trip. I went on an airboat tour that time. We saw a few alligators on the tour.
When I got on the road this morning, Google Maps routed me on several back roads from Panama City to where I hit I-10 West of Tallahassee. I saw so many dead conifer trees and huge swatches of forest that had been cleared. Uncle Orman had told me earlier that the beetle infestation had decimated the forest around their place in Mississippi. I assume that is what has happened here as well. Around Greensboro Florida I started seeing where young trees had been planted.
I stopped at a Sam's Club in Tallahassee for fuel. It was $1.75
I got back on the road and stopped at a reststop about 40 miles outside of Jacksonville Florida.
A week ago today a man that worked with me for a couple of years in the C-130 Master Scheduling Office passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Anthony Tony Church was the best partner I ever had in that office. He was a great guy and loved by everyone in the C-130 squadron. RIP Tony.