I had very low motivation to get anywhere yesterday. I woke up next to a lake with frogs jumping about, and it was beautiful and cool outside. I wasn't sure what my overall game plan was, but I knew I was going to drive a couple hours down the coast and see my cousin and his family for a little side trip. The drive was lovely, and there is something about the Florida air that made me all languid and unfocused. Or it was the sun, cooking my brain beyond function. I mentioned the no A/C feature of Odin, right?
It was good to catch up with some more of the family, even if it was just for a quick visit. I did have to get some miles under my belt, even if I didn't really feel like getting anywhere. Clem and I called it early, and had a nice relaxing evening outside Tallahassee. It was good thing, because I woke up today full of fire and ready to GO! I guess it was knowing I was making that northern turn today, and heading up the coast. I did make a couple little stops along the way, to check out some roadside attractions, and one was quite a trip...not in miles, but in it's totally bizarre existence.
I found 'The Kingdom of Oyotunji African Village' on my Roadside America app (So worth the $5) and decided to take the venture down a long dirt road into the woods. There are stucco buildings and fences, with tribal paintings on them at the end of the road, but it looked totally deserted. I went in the open entry, and was quickly greeted by a bleating goat! A few minutes later, two men came around the corner, and said they would send someone out to talk to me. I didn't really know what I had walked into, because I don't read too far into the descriptions on the app for surprise sake. This for sure had a children of the corn feel to it...when the young lady that was to give me the tour of the grounds appeared, she was so confused by simple questions and unable to speak, that I tried very calmly to back out of there. She kept saying she didn't feel well, and that it was ok, she would give me the tour, and then began mumbling what I'm guessing was the introduction to the tour...She stopped mid-sentence to tell me she like my tattoos, and then mumbled some more about not being able to think. I bailed. It was too weird, and I felt like I would have been there for hours. After reading about it after I got down the road a bit, it seems that it's a cult of sorts, founded by the first African-American to be initiated into the priesthood of Oyotunji. I'm kinda bummed, because I bet it was super interesting...
After driving for more hours than I have put in during one day yet, I ended up in Myrtle Beach. I've wanted to come here ever since I saw 'Shag'...And it just so happens to be bike week here...tomorrow should be fun...
