Erik Johnson Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 (edited) I decided to have a little fun and post a Photo TR of what my normal Tuesdays are like as I drive around all over north central Florida as a wine vendor. My home town, Gainesville, is unlike the rest of north central Florida. I think its because its a University town. Once you drive 5 miles outside of Gainesville in any direction, you find yourself in the deep south. Im not kidding, there must be some sort of magically powered barrier that encircles the city from the rest of the area. Once you drive further south like Orlando or so, the atmosphere changes quite a bit, but in the panhandle and as far south as Wildwood...look out. 5 miles outside of Gainesville, heading towards Palatka. Well its time to get some gas for the van. I ended up putting $40 into the tank today. I average spending around $100 a week which I do get back in about 2 weeks. Ok, a new Monopoly game has started up. $1 Menu rules! I had two of these and some hash browns. Mmmmm, breakfast time. How many McDonalds are boxless when it comes to the Drive Thru? One of Phishybrewer's past avatars featured this particular wine. Here is the cart with my product all ready for me to put on the shelf. There are a total of 12 Publixs in my town. Though I only visted one today. Heading down the street to my first stop. My work vehicle, the Bug Eliminator 4000. Hooray, the most recent In the Loop podcast! Too bad all I got to hear was a two minute report featuring more of Robb. Super Walmart. Ok only Palatka. I guess Walmart did not want to spend the extra money to move out those couple of trailers in front of the store. Ok my 2nd stop of the day, though how often so you see people burning yard trash on thier property that's located in front of.... Ok, I am now close to Palatka. I can actually smell it. Palatka is famous for 2 things, its blue crab festival, and the paper mill. Still more driving, its about 45 miles to Palatka. I still never figured out what that thing being towed behind this car was. Maybe its a clothes dryer of some sort. Dang I should have brought a couple 50 gallon drums to fill up with gas. Passing quickly through Melrose. Stupid train up ahead keeps me that much longer away from TPR. Ok my third stop of the day. Yeah in case you happened to see that recent kids movie, Winn-Dixie is an actual grocery store in Florida. Another parking lot shot. I am glad I am able to adapt my accent accordingly while I am here. This is in case if you are wondering what wine (well actually flavored beer) is the most popular in Palatka. "That Boone's farm wine tastes sooo good!" Ahhhh, much better! Every week the shelves are a complete mess before I put the product out. Oh boy! there are over 50 cases for me to put out on the shelves today. Ok, now we are heading into East Palatka. This guy is always "happy" to see people. Crossing the St. John's river. If you happen to ever take an Amtrak from New York to Miami, you get to travel through the heart of Palatka. That's the paper mill on the left, while the power plant is on the right. Edited October 5, 2005 by Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson Posted October 4, 2005 Author Posted October 4, 2005 (edited) More pictures. Heading towards Crescent City. This is where Six Flags over Palatka is going to be built, they already started building the B&M flyer. Alright, the local mechanic/car sales store. I rolled the window down so I could hear the banjo music a bit more clearly. I am so glad to have a smoke machine driving in front of me. Downtown Palatka. Hey, this kinda reminded me of a lift hill. This guy was waving goodbye to me as I was leaving East Palatka. Feed me cardboard..... Ok, my last stop of the day!!! Woot! I think its great that they built a park right next to a power transformer. What were they thinking? Next to the river maybe, but here? You got to love flea markets. I wonder if I could enter my van into the local races. Well, heading back to where I came from, back on the highway to Palatka. Dang it! The Chek Cola machine is down again. My order was just sitting quietly waiting for me to put it out. Great! I made it to another Winn Dixie. Yeah, I am back home, and now I am going to add this as a random Photo TR. Its a little blurry, but at least I am getting closer to home. Edited October 4, 2005 by Erik Johnson
SharkTums Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 Wow, this really brought back some memories! I never even liked flying out of the Gainesville airport as it was too much in the boonies for me!
Erik Johnson Posted October 4, 2005 Author Posted October 4, 2005 Wow, this really brought back some memories! I never even liked flying out of the Gainesville airport as it was too much in the boonies for me! Yeah the airport is certainly on the very edge of town. Right on that Gainesville/the rest of North Florida border.
Kroger8 Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 LOL hahaha, nuclear powerplant and paper mill, so even if the kids there are not messed up from being inbred (lol and Im from SC) they are from the nuclear powerplant, and reek of the paper mill. Great WMR (Wine merchant report) Winn-Dixie shut down all its stores in SC a couple of weeks ago, and no one is complaining.
PhishyBrewer Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 Yeah! Bogle! The winery is 5 minutes from my house.
Sir Clinksalot Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 Awesome TR!!! We used to live off the boone's farm!!!!
PhishyBrewer Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 We used to live off the boone's farm!!!! But is Boone's really wine? Or just a fruit juice that get you buzzed and then you throw up?
Erik Johnson Posted October 5, 2005 Author Posted October 5, 2005 Its actually a malt beverage just like B&J's wine coolers....hence flavored beers. Mogen David 20/20 is wine though, and yeah it also can make you sick! Don't forget Cisco beverage flavored wine!
Bubba Z Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 I'm more a Mad Dog 20/20 fan myself. Was that a Mayo truck at the new Six Flags?
Token Yankee Guy Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 The supermarkets down in Florida have weird names...Publix....sounds like Pubix to me. Anyway, great TR Eric.
Hattuchili Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 Good photo TR. It looks like you have a nice job. You are driving the whole day thru the city! However, I am going to drink a wine! --Sören
Erik Johnson Posted October 5, 2005 Author Posted October 5, 2005 I'm more a Mad Dog 20/20 fan myself. Was that a Mayo truck at the new Six Flags? Yeah it was a Mayo truck. Someone on the city board told my boss (who lives in Palatka) that Six Flags has expressed interest in building a park near Palatka. Well, we all know better...so I posted a picture that sorta loooked like construction in a field calling it Six Flags over Palatka. I guess it was a stupid inside joke that only one or two people would get.
dandaman Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 The supermarkets down in Florida have weird names...Publix....sounds like Pubix to me. Anyway, great TR Eric. Don't go out in "pubic" with that mindset.
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