The Saga Begins:
Today began like any other day. Most people wake up to their alarm clock, but how many get to wake up to the alarm sounding the beginning of an adventure? It is an unfortunate observation when I venture to respond with "few."
I wipe the sleep from my eyes and great this journey by groping for the snooze. My body is not ready for the adventure yet, it seems.
After the alarm sounds its second warning, my body aligns with my soul again and this time I am up and grabbing my pack. All of my essential gear was packed the night before, all I had to bring with me now was my rations for the trip. Nothing says "I'm here, let's go," like a cooler and some granola bars.
I hit the road with all four tires going, Subaru's are great when it comes to needing more wheels moving, and I was off.
Florida, here I come!
The music was loud enough to grove, the beats pumping and the other drivers looking at my air drum tribute to Gene Krupa like I am nuts. The ride is like butter melting slowly in a pan. The same rigid fervor began to melt somewhere around Jacksonville in the pan that was I-10 and there was not a thing the A/C on high could do about it.
The sun was bearing down like an angry titan determined to boil the skin off my left arm and body. No, I would not give in to its pain, tomorrow I get my first glimpse into the underworld. But am I prepared to battle what I find there? Will I bow before its teeth or will I kneel, ready to be knighted in honor of facing its challenges. I plan on being the victor. But that is tomorrow.
Salvation from the heat came as I entered Lake City and was greeted by trees waving their mighty branches skyward and warding off the sun and its power.
I am almost there. Only a few more miles to go until I arrive at my testing grounds, High Springs, Florida.
When I pull in at the fabled Cadillac Motel, I am not surprised by what I find. Memories flood back to my as I recall my old dormitory at the University were I attended. Even the smell of curry in the office reminded me of an old roommate. What did surprise me was [user]vshearer[/user] standing there as well. I knew he would be in town to tackle the course too, what I did not know was his lodging arrangements.
The time has come to venture over to Ginnie Springs and see what we will be up against. I am aware that my course will test my nerve, skill and determination. I fully intend to great the cavern with the humility that comes from meeting such an embodiment of adventure and awe...
More to come.
Today began like any other day. Most people wake up to their alarm clock, but how many get to wake up to the alarm sounding the beginning of an adventure? It is an unfortunate observation when I venture to respond with "few."
I wipe the sleep from my eyes and great this journey by groping for the snooze. My body is not ready for the adventure yet, it seems.
After the alarm sounds its second warning, my body aligns with my soul again and this time I am up and grabbing my pack. All of my essential gear was packed the night before, all I had to bring with me now was my rations for the trip. Nothing says "I'm here, let's go," like a cooler and some granola bars.
I hit the road with all four tires going, Subaru's are great when it comes to needing more wheels moving, and I was off.
Florida, here I come!
The music was loud enough to grove, the beats pumping and the other drivers looking at my air drum tribute to Gene Krupa like I am nuts. The ride is like butter melting slowly in a pan. The same rigid fervor began to melt somewhere around Jacksonville in the pan that was I-10 and there was not a thing the A/C on high could do about it.
The sun was bearing down like an angry titan determined to boil the skin off my left arm and body. No, I would not give in to its pain, tomorrow I get my first glimpse into the underworld. But am I prepared to battle what I find there? Will I bow before its teeth or will I kneel, ready to be knighted in honor of facing its challenges. I plan on being the victor. But that is tomorrow.
Salvation from the heat came as I entered Lake City and was greeted by trees waving their mighty branches skyward and warding off the sun and its power.
I am almost there. Only a few more miles to go until I arrive at my testing grounds, High Springs, Florida.
When I pull in at the fabled Cadillac Motel, I am not surprised by what I find. Memories flood back to my as I recall my old dormitory at the University were I attended. Even the smell of curry in the office reminded me of an old roommate. What did surprise me was [user]vshearer[/user] standing there as well. I knew he would be in town to tackle the course too, what I did not know was his lodging arrangements.
The time has come to venture over to Ginnie Springs and see what we will be up against. I am aware that my course will test my nerve, skill and determination. I fully intend to great the cavern with the humility that comes from meeting such an embodiment of adventure and awe...
More to come.