Marlow had the lead for the day. They were traveling on roads with which he was very familiar. Oblivious to any residual bad luck, they putted past the scene of Steve’s final breakdown on US 19 before joining US 27. The Florida section of this original northern Indiana-to-Miami road still possesses much of its charm. US 27 has good bones. You must look well beneath all the accreted tacky build up from the 80s and 90s.

It was more than mobile home parks, strip shopping centers, sinkholes, crap real estate developments, Indian names ending in atchee, horse farms and orange groves. It was a trip back to Florida’s prehistoric vegetation and geology of the dinosaurs.

At a late morning fuel stop in Ocala, they spotted a business sign that spoke to them. It noiselessly said that within awaited great, not just good, food. This would be the day’s brunch stop. Once inside, this diner’s neighborly atmosphere gathered them up into its arms and snuggled them.

The waitress was warm and funny, quick and sharp. The food was wholesome and generous, cheap and local. Aunt Fannie’s was an American restaurant where road trippers ate well, paid less, and should tip more than 18%.

They made as quick a crossing of the metro Mouseland area as humanly possible.

The day’s next trip in the way back machine along the shores of Lake O was delayed by what followed next.

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