Latest Update from Karla

Subj: Woodbine, Georgia
Date: 7/7/03 3:49:00 PM !!!First Boot!!!
From: kbwalk@mymailstation.com

   I headed into Ponte Vedra Beach and stopped at a large Baptist Church and asked if I could spend the night there. They said no due to liability, and handed me $40 and told me to go find a cheap motel. So I kept on moving, somewhat discouraged after finding several $100+ motels but no cheap ones. Finally, almost out of town and with my options quickly dwindeling, I found a motel for $50 and took it. I've stayed in a lot of motels that were a lot better than this one, but after sleeping on a picnic table the night before, that motel seemed like bliss. It was wonderful, and boy did I sleep good.
   The next morning I headed on north along Hwy A1A. During the last couple days, I've been dealing with a tire that keeps going low on me, so I'm adding more air to it every chance I had. As I was leaving town, I pulled into an Auto Zone to buy some slime that you put inside the tire. Peggy was so kind! She was so much fun to visit with, and gave me a can of slime for free. One of the employees helped me put it in the tire, and I was on my way.
   I walked through Mayport and headed onto the Mayport Naval Station to take the ferry across the St. Johns River. The ferry let me ride across for free, and from there I headed for Huguenot Memorial Park. The campground let me stay for free, and they gave me an oceanfront camp site. It was great. So I pitched my tent, took a shower, and settled in.
   Still dealing with my bad tire, I filled it up with air and headed on out. By the time I got to Yulee, the tire was completely flat. I was uptight, agitated and exasperated. I found an Ace Hardware store and bought an innertube for $3. Right next door was an Auto Shop, and I limped in there with the cart. They were in a good mood, and found my story quite amusing. In ten minutes they had the new tire on, full of air, and ready to go. While I was there, a man from the Ace Hardware store came over to visit with me. He was probably 65ish, and was interested in my story, because he too has epilepsy. He handed me a fifty dollar bill and I was on my way again.
   Glad that the tire fiasco was finally over, I crossed over the Florida line and into Georgia. I had spent an entire 2 months in Florida. In Kingsland, GA, the Chamber of Commerce had contacted the Ramada Inn, and they said I could stay for free. While I was there, at around 4am, I woke up with some kind of a back spasm. It felt like I had a charley horse in my back. It hurt to sit, it hurt to stand, it hurt to breathe. I wanted to fart, but couldn't. I wanted to puke, but couldn't. With sweat pouing down my face I was pacing the floor. I finally decided if I was going to die, that I didn't want to do it alone, so I got dressed and headed for the lobby. Twice the lady handed me the phone to call 911, but I couldn't -- because I don't have any insurance. Finally around 6:30 the pain subsided and I crashed back into bed. Around 7:30 I was back on the road again. As I was heading out of town I saw a chiropractors office and pulled in there.
She gave me a treatment, and then put some kind of vibrator on my back for about 30 minutes. I felt a lot better after that, and wasn't nearly as tense and uptight as I was before. She wished me good luck on my walk, and let me leave without paying.
   From there I headed for Woodbine, and I spent the 4th of July camping out down under the bridge at a picnic area. The police said I could camp there, and it really was a nice place to be. Settling in for the evening, I noticed a big family-gathering party starting up. Sure enough, after awhile they brought me a plate heaped with food -- a hamburger, ribs, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, a piece of red white and blue 4th-of-July cake, and a can of pop. I set up my tent and settled in for the night.

These pages provided by: