Off the Beaten Path

As I was driving late last night, I saw on my GPS that I was on a bridge over the Gulf of Mexico. For some reason, despite my bizarre hatred of being wet, I really enjoy dipping my foot into different bodies of water - just to say I did. I'd liken this to how people swoon over reaching out to touch celebrity's hands. If I've never been to Mexico, at least I can say I've touched water that's been to Mexico. So far, I've really only gotten the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean for big bodies of water. Touching the Gulf, especially after the whole oil leak fiasco, is a must. I was willing to do anything it took to dip my foot in. Here’s the play by play:

I was driving down the highway and saw a sign for a rest stop ahead. I was on a bridge, so clearly water was near by. I drove towards the rest stop and the road split in three directions. Clearly labeled were the fishing pier, left; the rest stop, straight; but the right was unmarked. My curiosity getting the best of me, I followed the unmarked road. There were no street lights but it was paved. I figured they don't just pave things for fun. It had to end somewhere! And so I drove about 3/4 of a mile and a sign suddenly said the road was ending. I came to a cul-de-sac and I turned around. Strange, I thought, there was nothing on the road. Not a house. Not a light. No destination. I did however pass a couple dirt roads, leading towards the water. I followed the bigger one and came to a very wooded area. There were a couple parked cars and a man standing outside. I couldn’t see water because it was far too dark and I felt rude shining my high beams on the stranger. My better judgment kicked in and I decided it would not be a good idea to get out and introduce myself to a strange guy, in the woods, well off the beaten path. And so I turned out, headed to the actual rest stop. On my way back, I saw another path.... well, I think it was a path. Perhaps not though, as it was just dirt ground that happened to have sparse trees, wide enough for the Jeep to fit though. There were no tire tracks. Determined, I drove down it. Put the high beams up and went up and over the bumps and stumps, hitting some puddles and bouncing around.

Pretty soon I found the Gulf and to my surprise, a flamingo searching for food. There was some other little bird there too, but I wasn't too impressed with him. From inside the car, I took photos of the flamingo, who was blocking the little entry way to the water. I didn't want to get to close and scare him. Do flamingos attack people?! I decided they didn't so I got out of the Jeep, kept the high beams on and ventured towards the water. About 6 steps away from the water, and my bird friend who wasn't even phased that I was hanging out with him, I realized other animals might be in my presence too. Getting to the water required going near some brush and reeds. Suddenly it hit me - alligators like brush and trees and warm Gulf water. These were not the lakes of New England where my worst enemy might be a slimy trout. An alligator was not something I wanted to encounter (unless from the safety of my SUV, in which case, that would be really cool and I'd snap 50 photos). I remember how crocodile hunter died - you cant mess with big hungry reptiles! Besides, off the beaten path, probably unintentionally trespassing on some wildlife reserve or private property, who would hear my scream? Who would come to my rescue? I was in dress clothes too. Certainly no attire to run from an alligator. I panicked and hustled back to the car.

But the water was so close! What if I drove closer to the water and used my high beams to look in the brush. They I could just jump right out of my car and in two steps be at the water. Thinking this was the best idea since sliced bread, I pulled forward. Mind you, the flamingo is still just hanging out, not even watching me. I got out, felt the ground, and realized the ground I was parked on was very very squishy. As an indoorsy girl who never lived near water, this thought hadn't occurred to me sooner. Duh, of course it didn’t just go from hard ground to water instantly. I got back in the truck and tried to back up. No luck, I was stuck in the mud. I got out again, did a full lap around the truck, trying my hardest to avoid the bushes and looked for solid land and tree stumps. Seatbelt securely fastened, high beams on, I reved the engine as hard as it went, the wheels spun, mud went flying by me and fortunately, I made it back to solid ground. I floored it on my way out of the woods and got back to the road as quick as possible. Off roading is terrifying. Not something to do alone, in dress clothes, in a foreign state with strange predators lurking about. Noted for the future.

Safe back on the road, I was still sad I never got to the Gulf. Sure, this would be a good story for the blog, but that’s not a happy ending. More determined than ever, I drove back to the rest stop, which also wasn’t very well lit. I parked and kept the high beams up and saw the water in the distance. If I climbed a few boulders, I could make it to the water. And so with my cell phone in one hand and the camera in the other I carefully inched on my rear end over the rocks and down to the water. Flip flops are not rock climbing shoes and I am also one of the clumsiest people I know. If I fell off the rock it might be a while before someone found me in the unpopulated rest stop. But, I made it to the water, dunked in just my big toe and took a photo. The water was so warm. Well worth the adventure.

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.
Success!