A week and a half ago, I woke up in a bit of a mood. Just one of those meh mornings, when you're apathetic about getting out of bed. But I'd been thinking about going to a lake and looking for gators, so after grumbling to the pillows for a while, I headed out.

Went to a place called Myakka River State Park. It's only 25 minutes away from where we're staying, and I timed it so I'd get there half an hour before the guided airboat ride. Ticket bought, waiting in line, ended up sitting next to a Scottish couple when we finally got on one of the "oldest and largest airboats in the world."

There were three seats right in the front of the boat, so that's where we ended up. And brilliant seats they were. instead of having to look through the boat from side to side to see anything, it was all there for us to see. The alligators doing their celebrated 'floating log of death' impressions (apparently there's between 500 and 1000 of the buggers in the lake). Anyway, between the chatting and the gators and a Bald Eagle trying to steal an Osprey's fish, it was a good hour.

After the boat, a couple more gators - one on the river bank about 20' from me, and another in the water trying to steal fish from a fisherman.

And then to a 'birdwalk.' It's basically a walkway, like a pier, just not over the water cos the level of the lake is a little low. Not much going on, until two elderly gentlemen asked me if there was anything going on (it's amazing to me the number of people assume I'm a professional photographer based on the size of my lens....).

Eddie and Dan. Eddie is from Jersey, in his sixties, tanned and sun-beaten. He's been retired ten years, but occasionally drives coaches for visiting pro sports teams. He told me about the time he saw two guys killed on some dock in Brooklyn, 45 years ago, with .25's behind the ear. Dan is from Wisconsin, was in the merchant marines, and made a concerted effort to lay his way around the world. Likes to sail, and was wearing the same type of Tilley hat I was.

We must have talked out there for an hour. Talked about travel, and watched the Ospreys dive for fish, and I learned about how easy it was to steal shit from dockyards before container shipping was invented. Just complete randomness, three random stories coming together for the blink of an eye.

Episode two was forty miles away. Driving along Longboat Key, a random stop for something to eat. First meal of the day, I realized as I looked for somewhere to park. The only space I found was designated for the Bridge Street Bistro, so that's where I ended up eating.

Half price drinks and appetizers, and a conversation with Dan about how he ended up working there (his own business didn't do well), how much he enjoyed it (loves the area but misses his wife and kid, who live in Montana as she has benefits with her company and his kid just graduated high school), and how long he plans to be there (until he can have his own restaurant). Talked to a couple who were there on vacation, convinced them to go diving and not worry about sharks (because sharks are one of the coolest things about diving). Another couple who own and run a different restaurant around the corner (and I think it says a lot about the place that other restaurant owners go there for happy hour). We bullshitted long enough to get through happy hour and for the kitchen to open proper, and the main course was gorgeous. I'd eat there again if we were here longer.

After food, I figured I should probably head back, get to a mirror, see how badly I was burned from all the outsideness of earlier in the day. But on the way back I got distracted by a movie theatre, and got there just as the movie I wanted to see was starting previews. So I saw Tom Cruise get schooled on how to be a badass by Emily Blunt. And after that, made it back just in time for the opening credits of Game of Thrones, Caste Black Battle Edition.

And I wasn't even burned.

Here's the thing. At first I was a little bummed that no one really seemed interested in going with me to the park. And about the time I got there I realized it was okay. And as the day progressed, it was better than okay. I wouldn't have had the day I had if I'd been with someone I knew. The random meetings, the conversations of the day, the perfect pace that was just enough to relax and experience everything, and make it back in time to see Edge of Tomorrow AND Game of Thrones.

So sometimes, if I don't want to hang out and do anything with you, it's personal. Personal from my point of view. I need a personal day, a day to just go out and remember why I like to travel, and why I'm going on tour, and why I'm looking forward to being in a different city each week. Because now I'm looking forward at some of the cities, and thinking about what I should do there, and which places I want to go out and do something on my own without seeing a single bugger I've ever met before or will ever see again. And I won't take it personally if you do the same. Get out there, meet some random people, have conversations, share stories, and remember that despite all the horrible shit going on in the world, strangers don't necessarily hate strangers. Some days it's hard to remember that, so it's up to us to remind ourselves.