As Zapata as my witness, I will return my temporary vehicle import ticket to the border this time. I’m not leaving until I do and don’t care if I ever go back to work. This ticket will be returned at the right place at the right time which I haven’t been able to do the last two times. I’m beginning to worry about my slide down the evolutionary ladder.

Either way, I have to get to Mexico first and pick up Mike on the way. At 2 AM I leave Florida trying to beat the predicted fog. It’s thick, but it will get much worse around sunrise. An added bonus for leaving early will be the sunrise over the salt marshes around Pensacola. The view wakes me up and the smell is invigorating. If only I could bottle it.

In Mobile, the bridge is very windy and the tunnel is warm. More importantly, the weather is clearing and getting warmer. I had a brief bout with rain as a front went by, but with the change in weather I’m in the mood for some miles. The thought even crosses my mind to push through to San Antonio, but I stop short of Houston for the night with about 900 miles. Mike and Sarah are putting up with me for two nights as it is and I can’t subject them to another night. Tomorrow will be a short day.

It’s 39 degrees outside. The flesh of a Floridian starts to freeze around 50 degrees. It’s a well documented fact. Other than the cold, it’s a good day to ride and I’m at Mike’s house by noon. In the next couple of days we get ready, have a great buffet xmas morning, have a couple of Sarah’s famous smoothies and talk about Mexico.