Hello new friends, farewell good friends
Rob's next intended goal was another music festival at the Suwannee River Campground, near Live Oak in northern Florida the following weekend. However, I needed to start making progress north as I had a job lined up in Canada which started just before Christmas, and wanted to see more of the States and Canada before I got there.
Rob had been half-heartedly looking for one or more travellers to jump on board Bruno to share in the fun (and expenses) wherever they decided to go after Florida, and he had found someone, Rachel, via the CouchSurfing website who wanted to join Bruno's merry gang. You can find all sorts of things on the CouchSurfing website - and ride-sharing / road-tripping is just one of the many topics on the members' forums.
We had arranged to pick Rachel up in St Augustine, a little further up Florida's Atlantic coast, and en route to Live Oak, and a convenient drop-off point for me. It also gave us a chance to visit Melissa , who we had met at the MagnoliaFest a couple of weeks previously.
We picked up Rachel at one of the town's hostels, and, after a bit of trouble getting Tootie started, headed to a warm welcome at Melissa's - although I don't think she was expecting such a large group of weary travellers arriving on her doorstep!
In the morning we gave Bruno a good clean and tidy, and I packed my things. Unfortunately, still no sign of my lost iPod. Sometimes, Bruno will hide something from you, but he usually gives it back. Not this time.
Melissa's place was a little bit small for all of us to sleep in for a second night, but she helped us find a place to crash at one of her friends, Scott. Both Scott and Melissa, and also Melissa's neighbours Mike and Elise, were really great people, very welcoming, and we were made to feel at home knowing we were among friends. They were a little jealous of our road trip, and I think would have loved to join us if it were not for lack of funds and other commitments.
So we spent the evening hanging out with them, having a bonfire in Scott's back yard. Elise, a part time pirate girl and fire-dancer taught Alex and Destiny how to fire-dance. If only someone had brought marshmallows and a guitar, it would have been quite perfect.
The next day, Melissa had set up her coffee stall at a farmers' market, so we went to give her our support (and custom), and to explore the market. Later on we had a very brief tour of St Augustine, which is the oldest European settlement in the USA (Florida was first colonised by the Spanish before both the British and French settlements further north), but I had to dash back to Melissa's, where I had arranged to meet a guy who could drive me north.
So it was here that I said farewell to Rob, knowing he would be in good company with Destiny, Alex and Rachel (and of course Nutz and Roady). We had travelled together for a month and seen many sights across the southern States. Although some people may be put off by the bald head, bushy beard and rear-burns, he is one of the most genuine, easy-going, generous and friendly people I have had the pleasure of travelling with. He is a first-class travelling companion, loves life on the road, and has a great outlook on travel, and of life in general, and taught me a fair few things about travelling on a budget, introducing me to so many new and amazing people, places and experiences. Certain songs will always remind me of the those 30 days I rode in Bruno, and bring a smile to my face. I knew we'd meet again some day, but until then I wished him well wherever Bruno would end up taking him.