030108

                                                                            Panama City to Tallahassee, FL

Saturday March 1, 2008

     7:11am  I woke up around six. I got seven hours of sleep. I woke up and made breakfast. Kim is still asleep. She stayed up a little bit later than me, I think. I'm going to clean up the house one more time before she gives me a ride.

     11:14am  I am leaving! Kim and I had a good farewell. We're going to go to her friend's house first then she's giving me a ride closer to Tally. I'm all packed up and I've done paranoid-checks up the ass. I wonder how far she'll take me. Hopefully she'll take me all the way. She says she can't be gone too long because her work might call her. Geez, this is like her only day off. She's a workoholic. I'm going to put my pack in her truck right now. Today's March first, by the way.

     1:16pm  I am about forty miles away from Tallahassee. Random highway shot. Kim just dropped me off at some Shell station. I don't know where I am. Oh yeah, I'm at the Chatahoochee exit.

     1:31pm  I walked to the onramp and no cars were going East at all. I'm going to walk the highway. I don't even know where the next gas station is. Alright.

                   Oh yeah, I put on my WPTMJ shirt. I did all my laundry at Kim's right before I left.

     1:53pm  In no-time George pulled over for me. I appreciate it, George. Everybody gets credit. Thanks a lot. I am thirty five miles away from Tallahassee. Here I come, Tally

     2:18pm  I just got dropped off ten miles away from Tallahassee where I10 hits 90. I'm going to walk the ten miles to I90. Hop, skip and a jump.

                   I hopped on the other side of the highway opposing traffic so I can wave at cars.

                   Pretty picture

     2:29pm  Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I jumped back on the other side of the highway where there's shade. I'm going to eat and smoke. I'll take my last hit of weed. I'm hoping somebody might pick me up while I am sitting here.

                   I am proudly wearing my shirt. I smoked the last of my weed. They ain't got nuthin' on me.

                   Oh yeah, that guy George who gave me a ride, I tried to tell him my story. In my introduction when I say, "...only if you are willing to listen. I wouldn't want to waste your time," he straight up told me, "You'd be wasting my time." I told him alright, thanks anyway. That's why I asked.

     2:42pm  George dropped me off at 90. I'm walking on the opposite side of the road so I can give cars the peace sign.

     2:57pm  Passing sign that says Entering Leon County. Ochlockone River.

     2:59pm  I said hello to some black dude fishing in the river. I'm crossing the river now. Welcome to Leon County.
 
     3:05pm  Passing Sassy Tree Lane.

     3:17pm  Passing Ida Road.
 
     3:30pm  Passing Horseman Road. Leon County Horseman's Association. I'm surprised the Babylon isn't thicker. I am less than ten miles away from the capitol of Florida. It seems like country out here. Hopefully there will be a bus pretty soon.

                   I've almost walked for an hour now. I think at forty seven it will be an hour.

     3:36pm  Passing W.B. Rogers Road.

     3:40pm  Coming up on Aenon Church Road. There's a Thrifty Mart here.

     3:56pm  I am leaving from the Texaco here. I guess Highway 90 turned into West Tennessee Street. That's what I am walking now into town.

     4:18pm  Paused and took a picture of the Tallahassee City Limit sign.

                   Capitol Circle, half mile.

                   I'm coming up on Capitol Circle and I spotted a city bus. I see a sign pointing to Civic Center to the right. I'm going to cross the street now.

                   I didn't see any bus stops anywhere. I've already walked like a mile on Capitol Circle. I got the impulse to look back and I saw another city bus, turning. I should've gone straight instead of turning at the circle. Duh, I want to go into town, not around it. Alright.

     4:26pm  Walking back up to Tennessee Road. I'm almost in front of the Walmart. I am sure there's a bus stop around here somewhere.

     4:31pm  I walked to the bus stop. Star Metro Star Stop. talgov.com

     5:03pm  I am having some great exposure here at the bus stop next to the stoplight. All these cars are driving by staring at my shirt.

     5:05pm  I just saw the 21 bus going the other way. I'm hoping it will come pretty soon. I wonder how much busfare is. I've got ninety cents in my pocket. I wonder if they'll let it slide. I have a five dollar bill Kim gave me.

                   I'm at the bus stop in front of the Taco Bell and Office Depot and Beall's Outlet.

     5:15pm  I've been standing here at the bus stop and this guy Pete walked up. He just got out of prison. He just bought a prepaid cellphone at the Walmart and he bought a dime of weed from this kid and he's going to smoke me out! He also gave me change for busfare. I appreciate it, brother. Everybody gets credit. Thanks a lot.

     5:22pm  The bus came.

     5:44pm  We just got to the transfer center in downtown Tallahassee. There's no tall buildings at all. It's getting chilly.

     6:04pm  We walked to Copeland and Tennessee. We're going in a liquor store. Pete needs some "elixir."

     6:59pm  We walked Tennessee to Macomb and Pete is going to get me some Popeye's.

                   It's like one hour later. It's eight 'o clock right now. Did I pass a timezone?

                   Some museum

     8:29pm  Dude, the coolest shit. This dude Pete and me walked off from the transfer center. He went and got some alcohol, so I wasn't too eager to tell him my story. I did eventually get it out to him. He asked me if I was hungry and we randomly walked around and found the Popeye's on Macomb. We went outside to smoke a cigarette afterwards and what do I see across the street? A place called The Shelter! I took a picture of it. Dude, that's a place to crash. Look where I ended up. How perfect.

                   I took my WPTMJ shirt off in front of the Popeyes.

     8:54pm  I walked across the street to the shelter. The front door was locked, so I went to the back and asked some guy if it was too late to get in. He told me no, but that there was a better shelter like a black away. So I came to the Frenchtown Chapel and Community Center. It says, "God's mission is our mission." I went in there and talked to Jaime, this Mexican dude. I hit him up for my story. He listened good at first, but right when I got to the pirated software part he voiced that he did not like the marijuana part and he cut me off. He says that I am welcome there and I can stay up to fourteen days if I want to.

Next day..