After a slow morning, Charlotte and I make our way north, towards Jacksonville, FL
IT’s a slow day, lazily taking care of a few chores, but I end up at yet another local brewery, Intuition Ale for an evening libation.
I start talking to a number of locals – Courtney, Greg, Mark,Taylor and others, and the conversation eventually turns too politics.
Taylor has studied politics at college, and eventually we end up in a highly entertaining intellectual discussion about the American Constitution and politics in general. The conversation ranges across philosophy, principles of law, and the intention of law makers. I’m schooled in a few nuanced areas, but think I hold my own for the most part.
It seems the other guys have enjoyed it as well, as I’m invited to hang out with them the next night, and attend the opening game of the local AA baseball side, the Jacksonville Suns.
Everyone gives me suggestions of what to do the next day, from the best brunch spot (I sleep in and miss breakfast/brunch), the museum (closed for the week for a gala ball) and an old meeting place (Treaty Oak Park) home of a beautiful and old oak tree.
Eventually it’s off the meet the lads and head out to the game. We’re (of course I’m now a local team lad) playing Birmingham in our first game under a new owner who has invested money into the stadium.
At the game the lines for tickets are ridiculous, as it seems everyone has had the same idea quite late today.
We duck into the local pub for a beer whilst the queues clear, before heading in just after the first innings.
It’s a fun evening, the place is probably about 2/3rds full, its a balmy evening and the Suns play well, ending up 6-1 winners. Despite some teething problems such as no in-bay vendors, ridiculously long lines for beer and food, it’s a really fun night.
The boys decide to take me out or a celebratory drink, so we head out to a local bar, which has apparently the best hummus in Jacksonville (it does), a brilliant beer list (it does) and unbeknownst to the lads before we get there, hookahs (that type, not THAT type). Of course we indulge, and I’m taken back to my trips to the Middle East and the Phillipines where I first enjoyed this fine concept..
Finally it’s back to Charlotte. As a parting gift, Taylor hands me one of his 4 pitching wedges so I can get out a hit a few balls now and again. It’s generous and unnecessary but is now a fine memento of a couple of evenings spent with some fine Jacksonville folk.
