As we think about Florida, white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and the world of Disney's magic and happiness comes to our minds.  As I continue exploring this large expanse and populated state, I am discovering something else - unique land formations, our oldest of history and an array of cool oddities only found in the Sunshine State - Florida.

Traveling south to the Gulf of Mexico, we enter the ever so popular city of Panama City.  I do plan on ending my day strolling on the white sand beaches and dipping my feet in the turquoise waters.  That will come.  For now, I am on a destiny to see the 'entire' city of Panama City and its surroundings.  I begin this morning, with the help of a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable Visitor Center representative, marking various places of interest to visit.

A highlighted map in the passenger seat, I take myself downtown. I am surprised with the widespread art community.  Multiple bland walls jumping at me with their energetic life of swimming sea turtles, intense hammerhead sharks, and even superhero bears!  The streets are full of life with sidewalk patio restaurants, specialty shops and chattering local folks and tourists.

Hurricanes can rip through communities along the Florida coast with no exception to Panama City Beach.  In 2018, winds up to 160 miles per hour tore through this beautiful city.  Massive damage occurred as this was one of the only three category 5 hurricanes which touched land in the history of the United States.  

Local chainsaw artist, Chad Gainey, took several 20-foot stripped and left for dead trees and brought them to a renewed life.  Near the waters, there is a most peaceful place - Oaks by the Bay Park where Chad's creativity stands tall.   Throughout this beautiful, landscaped park one finds a massive shadowing 250-year-old Oak tree - the Sentry.  

As I stroll through this 3 1/2-acre park, I notice a huge metal tethered bowl.  I learn many of these were used along the shorelines as sea kettles.  The Confederates would boil the sea waters to evaporation, which left the minerals of salt in the base.  The salt was crucial for preservation of foods and curing of leather.  When the Union soldiers encountered these pots, they would try to destroy them using heavy blunt objects.  As I examine this particular one, I see the huge dents and pieces ripped out.  One of the little-known strategies to win the war.  I find a local picnic table to enjoy my lunch.  I find myself content as I am enjoying this beautiful park long the St Andrew Bay.

Traveling east along the coastal waters I begin to notice large areas of stripped and snapped trees.  There are remnants of structures with blue tarped roofs.  I stop and enter a fenced area gasping in awe.  The attempted cleanup of an apartment building brutally ravished by Hurricane Michael four years ago.  I cannot imagine the circumstances nor the emotions of the local residents during and after such devastation.  

At the end of my day, I fulfill my words - 'ending my day strolling on the white sand beaches and dipping my feet in the turquoise waters'. 

This is a first.  A first for a city in America and a first for me.  A city, holding high and proud the insect, which changed their history - a grossly infesting, almost impossible to exterminate, cotton eating beetle - the Boll Weevil.  Welcome to downtown Enterprise, Alabama!

This 1/4-inch insect invaded the southern cotton industry from our southern neighbor, Mexido. in the very late 1800's.  Check this out - one mating pair produces 2-million offspring!  The city of Enterprise, located in the Coffee County, almost lost everything as cotton was their economic support. This multi-offspring and indestructible beetle were raining havoc on all the farmers.

One area farmer, C.W. Baston decided enough was enough.  He took a chance, bought enough peanut seeds for his entire farmland.  In one season, he was able to pay off prior years of acquired debt and still was able to pocket a nice chunk of change.  His prosperity rang throughout the streets.  Other farmers followed suit and began to diversify in their crops - peanuts, sugar cane, potatoes and such.  Ther sandy soils began to thrive once again while the boll weevil became almost extinct as it could only survive on cotton.  Today, the county of Coffee generates over 250 million dollars annually in the agriculture and forest industry. 

Near the downtown boll weevil monument is a barely funded museum housing many artifacts of the past.  Some of the antique objects are covered with blue Visqueen protecting it from a leaky roof in dire need of repair.  One piece of machinery grabbed my attention - the Boll Weevil Killer (I gave it that name).  This homemade contraption would shake each passing plant throwing the beetle into a leather pouch for later destruction.

Several times in the city's history, residents woke up to the reaching arms broken off of this unique monument and the black beetle missing.  Some got away with and some got caught.  In the window of a downtown building, displays the last time the Greek god's arms were broken a 'bugnapping' on the evening of May 15, 1981.  A local radio station installed cameras and to this day, she remains intact with the Boll Weevil proudly on display.

As I drive in and out of the streets of city of Enterprise I see it everywhere - the celebration of the Boll Weevil.  A town takes something 'evil' and turns it into prosperity!  Way to go! Also, thanks for the bit of weirdness making this a first for me - visiting a city because of a bug - A Bug's Life!

Where would we be without peanut butter? Who doesn't love a handful of peanuts on occasion?  Did you know that 50% of American peanuts we enjoy so much are harvested within a 100-mile radius of the City of Dothan?  Dothan claims to be the 'Peanut Capital of the World'.  This draws me in to take a drive to the southeastern corner of the state to see what all the hype is about.  Today will be my last road trip in Alabama.  I hope it will be a good one. 

Entering Dothan, it is little obvious they are super confident in their claim holding an annual National Peanut Festival - a little nutty?  Well, it does attract over 200,000!  As you drive through the streets, huge child-size peanuts are waving to you.  

As I am going 'nuts' searching for these peanuts, I begin noticing many huge murals on sides of buildings. A local tells me there are 19 murals within an eight-block radius and with each mural is a unique story to be told.  In my travels I have seen a lot of murals, but there is something different about these.  This one definitely grabbed my attention.

The story goes like this - In 1889, the city tried to impose a tax on commercial carts.  The locals went to the streets and a huge riot broke out on Main Street (exact spot of this mural).  Marshall Toby was one of the instigators.  Many folks today say the ghost of Marshall Tucker still patrols the streets, late evenings, trying to keep them safe. 

During the War of 1812, many soldiers were taken by malaria and dysentery. An outdoor care center, Camp Recovery, was built to separate the sick soldiers from the healthy soldier.  As I view this most unusual mural, I find my eyes being drawn to the left corner where a man is offering a cup to very sick man.

As I am about to depart from Alabama, I realize one thing I have missed.  A certain meal all Alabamans know too well - Meat and Three.

I remember reading that there is a restaurant, on the outskirts of Dothan, which has won the the award, 'States Best Meat and Three'.  Oh, I have to make one more stop!

I grab a red plastic tray and get in line at the school-like cafeteria style buffet.  My meat - easy - fried chicken, of course.  My 3 sides, well that gets a bit more complicated with so many southern options.  I am told by multiple staff members to get the cabbage and mac n' cheese.  I stop at the desserts and smile spotting banana bread pudding.  

As I gather and eat the crunchy crumbs, which fell to my plate earlier from the fried chicken coating, I smile knowing what I am about to do next.  I looked around, as I don't want to be seen to do what I am about to do.   I pick up my Styrofoam banana bread pudding bowl and begin licking the entire inside. As I set it down, I smile realizing, in that moment, I returned to my childhood. As I leave the store, the owners Zack and Diane ask me if I enjoyed my meal.  Zack walks me over to a wall where there are over 25 awards for their restaurant.  Zack tells me the biggest honor was, 'Businessman of the Year' award.  His last comment to me is asking how many meals I think they served today between the hours of 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Zach smiles and humbly says, "Over 600 lunches in 4 hours".  

My last day in Alabama goes out in style!  Dothan is a city worth the visit for so many reasons, including feasting at Zacks Restaurant.  In my 13 states of traveling so far, this lunch is one of my top 10 meals I experienced - yes it was an experience.  By the way - Why did the man smear peanut butter all over the highway? To go with the Traffic Jam! Haha!

I feel an intense adrenaline rush through my body as I prepare myself physically, psychologically and emotionally for today.  I am about to take on a task that takes quite a bit of preparation and skill.  I fill my backpack with the essentials - water, protein, flashlight and a compass.  I securely lock up my trailer as I do not know when I will return. As I am driving north, my mind races with thoughts of adventure.  I am about to climb the highest point in Florida!

Forty minutes north of the city of De Funiak Springs, I enter the parking lot.  There is no one in sight and no vehicles which I find odd.  Is there no one else out there who has the courage and endurance to take on this task?  I feel empowered.  I take a deep breath and enter the park.  The first steps are easy as I look down at the plush green grass. As I venture on, I begin to feel lightheaded and dizzy.  I reach into my backpack for a protein bar.  I take a few sips of the rationed water I have brought with me.  I breathe deeply before venturing onward.  Ten steps later through the plush green grass, I throw my arms up in the air in celebration.  I did it!  I climbed the highest peak in Florida - Britton Hill.  I am standing at an elevation of 345 feet.  Watch out Mount Everest (elevation of 29,032 feet) as I am coming your way.  

For some this is a serious adventure.  A group, known as Highpointers, travel the United States to conquer all the 50 state's highest points.  On record about 280 people have accomplished this remarkable endeavor.  As I humor myself today with this simple adventure, I realize the locals do the same.  The point offers a simple park, with picnic tables, a restroom and a grassy are to play frisbee.  Yes, even your grandmother can do this incredible feat - the highest point in Florida. ​

In the far northwestern corner of the panhandle of Florida is a most unique body of water - Blackwater River.  The cool water's color is like looking into an endless cup of freshly brewed tea.  The tannic acids in the leaves fall into the waters staining the water brown.  As I walk along the trails and beaches of the riverbanks my eyes are delighted in the extreme color contrast from pure white sand ever-so subtly migrating into the tea-colored waters.   I step into the cool waters to enjoy this peaceful moment.  I submerged my lower torso felling the coolness of the slow-moving river. I stand for several minutes enjoying my surroundings.

Driving over the small bridge I enter Blackwater River State Park.  At the entrance gate I pay the meager $4 entrance fee and begin taking notes listening to a very enthusiastic gate attendant.  I am told to keep my eyes wandering the higher-than-normal swamp waters for such reptiles as snakes and turtles.  Melanie also shares with me a most unique place to explore a couple miles out of the park, which is her favorite place to explore.  As I walk along the wooden boardwalks and through the various stilted pavilions, I spend almost 30 minutes inspecting the waters.  Nothing in the stillness.  In the final moments, about ready to give up on my search, I spot a slight reflection on a distant log.  Yes!  My first turtle spotting in Florida!  I am now complete and anxious to move on to my next destination.  Looking closely at my photo I notice its back leg waving at me. :)  

Within a short couple miles, I find my trail dramatically changes from soft, white sand to hard, orange colored rock.  

Parking my car on the dirt lining of a thin two-lane road I enter Juniper Creek Trail.  I notice on the trail trees are tagged with a small purple square-cut plastic keeping on the main path throughout the limitless trees.  The trail begins to change texture and color right before my eyes from a soft, white to a hard, orange.  The trail takes me along the 65-foot edges of deep red clay bluffs.  I scour the grounds looking for a way to the bottom.  Within minutes I find myself back in the waters, knee deep enjoying the red cliffs in front of me.  Melanie was right - This unique area is a gem.  

I head back to where I will rest my tired body in the ever so friendly city of Niceville, Florida