Hey Hey Hikers!

I must preface this blog with a warning. I’m going to write about a couple of sandwiches. My description may include graphic depictions, adult situations, partial nudity and adult language.

Just kidding.  But the sandwiches were not. 

The first is the “Down Home Crews Burger.” Fabricated by the Lucky 13, a restaurant that happens to have a truckstop on the premisis, this cheeseburger is big enough to warrant a birth certificate.  It comes half buried by the best French fries you may ever have.  It is not to be missed if you’re passing through this away.

Sandy Friend, well-known hiking book author and Communications Director of the Florida Trail Association highly recommended the Lucky 13.  Clay Dutton, his girlfriend, Catherine Millhouse and I met our trail angel Alvin Blocker there for an early dinner.  Alvin, owner of Crestview Taxi provided Clay and Catherine the necessary shuttle service to enable them to preposition their vehicle at the Lucky 13.  Alvin met us there and then ferried us to trailhead – quite a distance – and, once he found we were on this hiking journalism project, refused to take money for the fare. 

We agreed instead to meet at the Lucky 13 the next day, where he would have to let me buy him one of the aforementioned cheeseburgers.  We got to know each other better over dinner.  Turns out Alvin is a hiker and is currently planning to attack the Appalachian Trail.  Problem is that his cab company business is growing by leaps and bounds.  Crestview is one of those spread out towns, the grocery store is six miles away from the hotel.  Walmart, a pretty good supplier, is five miles away.

Here’s the tip – Call Alvin at Crestview Taxi. (850) 682 – 0007.  This is the guy to call if you need to make a couple of stops.  Very reasonable and up to speed on what you need.  He’s talking about starting a hostel near the SR 85.  That would be nice.

Well, the Dutton – Millhouse combo dropped me off back at the trailhead and I started easing my way through the woods, finally ending up about dead center of Eglin AFB, where I wrote the blog previous to this one.  What a beautiful night, me and the coyotes got together and howled at the moon.  I was hoarse this morning.  You know you’ve had a good howl when that happens.

I jumped up early and headed out, making it quickly to a road that leads to Mossy Head.  You see, a restaurant there had been recommended to me, and it wasn’t out of the way by all that much.  PLUS , I needed to recharge my batteries on this laptop and send you all a blog - as promised.

Well, I ease on in to Mossy Head, a small place with a gas station and small restaurant.  I eased over to the restaurant, anxious to have one of those Bar-B-Q sandwiches I’d heard about last night. 

The place is called “Simply Good” and is owned by Merlin and Marian Smith.  They bought the place three months ago from its long time owner, Gerald Darby, and had the wisdom not to change a thing.

The Bar-B-Q here is worth a drive from Tampa.  It is phenomenal.  I had the combo BBQ Sub.  Chicken, Pork and Beef.  All done so well that you could taste the distinct differences in the flavors, yet Merlin’s preparation makes them rhyme like a poem.  Don’t miss this place.  I had the 16” er.  A Sub you should order only if you’ve played an organized contact sport. Preferably varsity.  If you still have your pads, bring them.

That’s where I am now.  Merlin is letting me charge my stuff here, write to you and eat a perfect lunch.  All washed down by first-quality sweet tea.  Yeah, this is really roughing it. 

I had a wonderful time with Clay and Catherine.  It was Cath’s first backpacking trip.  She executed it like a veteran.  She’s hooked, I think.  And as sweet as Tupelo honey.  She’s at Auburn studying to be a veterinarian.  Yeah, I know.  That’s cool, isn’t it?

Any way, just a couple of restaurant tips and hello form me and the trail.  I need to get back to it, now. Six miles to go until Bull Campsite, my next stop.  Cheers, no worries and a smiling belly from Mossy Head, a jewel on the Florida Trail.  Mike