Chapter 3...Part 7

The 3 of them had dinner then headed north back to Ocala. The guest said this was the best route to get to the island. It was very late by the time they got to Ocala. The guest said he would go inside and sleep in the movie room and the girls could sleep in the SUV.

After the guest got out of the vehicle the girl tried to explain the situation to Don. She told her that they had been away from home for 5 weeks and explained how the guest had kept telling her they were getting this place or that place and how every time they had money then he would spend it on cigarettes or find something else to do with it all.

Eventually Don said that she was not tired and that she was going to go inside. The girl fell asleep and the next thing she remembered it was early morning and Don and the guest were getting into the SUV. They had decided the best route to take. They had been awake for hours drinking coffee and had it all figured out. They said they were going to fill up the gas tank with the money that was left and head to Daytona Beach. From Daytona they could figure things out and head to Saint Augustine. The girl brought up the fact that they had little gas but both Don and the guest both told her it would work out. She felt she was completely out numbered and that the only chance was to head to Daytona.

They headed west across Highway 40. The drive was gorgeous. The girl was sad that she didn’t have her camera. They were driving through the heart of the Ocala National Forest and she couldn’t even take pictures. The guest and Don slept most of the way and they were soon at Daytona.

They drove past the car racetrack and right over the bridge to the beach. The girl had only ever been to the beach on the west coast and Don had never been to the ocean at all.

The day was overcast but the beach was beautiful. The sand was white and warm. The water wasn’t as warm as the girl had thought it would be but it was warmer than the water on the west coast.

They all spent a couple of hours picking up sea shells and playing in the water. Then it got windy and stormy. It looked like rain so they came in from the beach.

Once they were back in the SUV they discussed what to do next. Don said she had some jewelry that they might be able to pawn but she wanted a promise that she would for sure get it back.

Don and the girl went into a pawn shop to see what they could get. They were able to get some money and get ready to head to the island. They all drove back into town and the guest called about the bridge to Saint Augustine. He said the bridge was closed so they were going to have to figure out what else to do. They grabbed a cheap breakfast and headed to Saint Augustine.

The winds were horrible on the drive north. The rear end of the SUV was already having problems and the drive was very scary. It seemed like the vehicle was going to fall apart.

They arrived in Saint Augustine and it was raining. They went to the Flying J truck stop to wait out the storm and hope that the bridge would reopen soon.