Panama City Beach - Port St Joe, FL
Daily Elevation
Daily Elevation
Another morning waking up in an AirBnB…so nice. Patrick actually showed up before 8 AM, so we loaded our luggage and headed out to meet the others at the RV park. It was only 2.5 miles to the RV park so we got there early enough to take care of all our morning tasks (fill water bottles, pump up tires, make lunch, apply bag balm, etc). We were all ready to leave at 9 AM as planned.
As soon as we left Panama City Beach and crossed over the Hathaway Bridge to Panama City, the hurricane destruction began showing up. We knew that we were going to ride through the area that Hurricane Michael made landfall 6 months ago, but we weren’t really sure what to expect. At first it was just a few buildings here and there with some damage. Then it became more and more damage and more and more buildings. When we arrived in Parker, the place for our first stop, it was entire streets that were knocked out. We were lucky the gas station was even opened, although they still didn’t have a working bathroom.
As soon as we left Panama City Beach and crossed over the Hathaway Bridge to Panama City, the hurricane destruction began showing up. We knew that we were going to ride through the area that Hurricane Michael made landfall 6 months ago, but we weren’t really sure what to expect. At first it was just a few buildings here and there with some damage. Then it became more and more damage and more and more buildings. When we arrived in Parker, the place for our first stop, it was entire streets that were knocked out. We were lucky the gas station was even opened, although they still didn’t have a working bathroom.
 Damage |  Tim riding past damage |
We soon crossed over the Tyndall Highway bridge and the damage at Tyndall Air Force Base was pretty apparent. The base housing we destroyed as was many vehicles lining the fence. Buildings looked damaged and gutted. There was a hanger size building with huge gaps in its side and roof. Every other tree was snapped at the trunk. It was just amazing.
We continued riding, with a tremendous headwind, into Mexico Beach which was pretty much the epicenter of the hurricane. There was pretty much total destruction. Entire neighborhoods are not there anymore. We saw many, many lots with an RV sitting on it, obviously being the new family home for now. Luckily Patrick made an appearance and decided to pullover to provide support for our lunch stop since there was nothing else.
After a police officer chased us off because we were stopped in the middle of a street, we were back on the road for the last 24 miles of the day. That wouldn’t be too bad except for the fact that there is a 15 mile per hour wind directly in our face.
As we continued south of Mexico Beach, the destruction just continued (as did the wind). Then at around mile 50, it sounded like I was loosing air in my tire. I pulled over and found a nail going directly through my tire and back out:
We continued riding, with a tremendous headwind, into Mexico Beach which was pretty much the epicenter of the hurricane. There was pretty much total destruction. Entire neighborhoods are not there anymore. We saw many, many lots with an RV sitting on it, obviously being the new family home for now. Luckily Patrick made an appearance and decided to pullover to provide support for our lunch stop since there was nothing else.
After a police officer chased us off because we were stopped in the middle of a street, we were back on the road for the last 24 miles of the day. That wouldn’t be too bad except for the fact that there is a 15 mile per hour wind directly in our face.
As we continued south of Mexico Beach, the destruction just continued (as did the wind). Then at around mile 50, it sounded like I was loosing air in my tire. I pulled over and found a nail going directly through my tire and back out:
Quite the flat
Since everyone was struggling with the wind, I told them to continue on to the RV park and that Tim and I would be fine. I am, after all, an expert flat tire fixer by now. After about 15 minutes, Tim and I were back on the road that actually turned to the south getting the wind out of our face for about 8 miles which was a relief. Oh, I did see a bald eagle which was pretty cool:
Bald eagle
Tim and I pulled into the RV park just before 6 PM…the reason it was so late is that we crossed into the eastern time zone today, so we lost an hour. After setting up camp and showering, we had dinner (left over salmon for me, and chicken tiki for the meat eaters). Tonight is supposed to rain and there are thundershowers in the forecast for the morning. The plan is to ride at 9 AM, but if there are thundershowers then we will delay. We will just have to wait and see.
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