February 7: Hanging in Fort Walton Beach

Cattani Auto Center in Chiefland not only diagnosed my brakes, but fixed the issue the same day. It took a couple of test drives to figure it out. You know how that is ... you fix one thing and something else shows up. It was an all-day affair, but I found a local coffee shop, some thrift stores, and a deli to keep me occupied. While they could not work on the diesel engine, they did note that I need my tires aligned and that the front struts are quite rusted.

The next day, the crew that fixed my mirrors helped power wash Karmalita. She's so shiny and bright. I can't wait to gussy up and take some pictures to update my website.

Thursday I drove as far as Tallahassee, reaching Fort Walton Beach Friday in the early afternoon (thanks to crossing into another time zone), to deliver needed items to the friend of a friend.

On the advice of the best shop that ever worked on my buses – Ultimate Auto in Cromwell – I changed plans and booked an appointment for next Wednesday to have Karmalita properly diagnosed at Guaranteed Truck Service. (The printout from Auto Zone was more or less useless in this situation.) I figured if all these diesel mechanics have a long waiting list, they are most likely worth waiting for. So until then, I will spend some time with my new friend ... who also has purple hair!

I went to a park on the Santa Rosa Sound, but couldn't get into the seafood restaurant next door, so I retreated to a church I found through Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome. There aren't many places around here. And those that are, are booked. Campgrounds, too. After all, it's Florida in February. I am grateful I can park in the truck lot if I can't find someplace else the next four nights.

I am about to make something to eat and catch up on posting my card-a-day to the intuitive tarot ... and getting to sleep early. There's a crew coming into this church at 8am and I want to see if there is a fort still standing.

Back at Jappa, my friends are probably sitting around the fire again tonight. I wonder if they're talking about me. LOL.