Day 35

We rode from Crestview to Marianna for 87 miles and 1771 feet of bicycling elevation gain, facing head winds and two rain storms. After we ordered up a good breakfast at Waffle House, We passed through a few interesting towns. The first that caught my attention was Ponce De Leon; spent about 15 minutes riding through the town looking for the fountain of youth. We stopped in Bonifay for lunch at the Holiday Restaurant. We were served by Selicia, and I had the Friday Lunch Special. The Friday lunch special menu was well worn, if not parched. Assuming that the Friday lunch special must be special every Friday, I ordered it. Although Selicia was not one for words, I figured out how delicious the special was when it was placed in front of me; it came with ice tea, fried chicken, barbecue beans, cole slaw, rutabaga, and coconut cream pie- all homemade. It should be noted that the Cole slaw had shredded bits of dill pickle for a little bite. We also passed through a town named Caryville; the “worm fiddling” center of the world, and celebrates it fame with an annual festival. We arrived in Marianna at a motel being renovated; after desk clerk Selena and cousin Duffy cleaned the pool, we went for a swim. Selena told us about how the motel had been dormant for 15 years before the new owners acquired it. Once acquired the owners had to displace numerous squatters via the legal process.

Tomorrow we hope to ride past the capital.