Harold Williams Cooney

Thursday December 11th 2025. Twin Palms RV Resort Cabins & Camping, cowboy under the gazebo. Off m133.6 of the Florida Trail. Wake naturally at 5am. A lovely 54° and calm. 27.006872,-81.052254

Up reluctantly at 5am by an eager mind and the growing flow of highway traffic. Temp is low enough to consider a jacket! This is very good. The ability to shower before bed and the low temps overnight give me the first non sticky humid night of decent rest on trail. Just the best.

I pack up, head to the bathroom. I get water and make the place my office for a bit to try and understand the day and days ahead. Things are about to become more dispersed. Real hiking on trails and stuff, lol. Days between resupply, etc. Out at 545 am.

At 1040am, I make the place on the red line where things break for the wonders of the Dollar General, a small village named Buckhead Ridge.

I do my shopping in the General and, you know, maybe its a weakness in my personality, or an insight that I have that is common to everyone, but… I hate the Dollar General. As a culinary center, it is the most prolific nightmare of America culture. However, the employees are commonly the salt of the earth. Good people – almost always women from my age to nearing geriatric. The people working there make conversation about my trip. I try to encourage them to hike if it’s a dream they have.

Speaking on the chance that she might hike the Appalachian Trail, a dream she has from her father and childhood, one woman says, “I can’t hardly walk across the store, honey.” I smile and try not to agree while also being hopeful. Yikes.

I repack my resupply in the parking lot as America comes and goes. From the smell of the parking lot, I wonder why they don’t sell Dollar General cigarettes. I am wistful for my decades in the ash tray and thankful that I’ve been able to move on to other stereotypes.

I make the Ridge Market & Cafe and set to eating like it was my last access to food in this life. I ordered a Cuban sandwich. Crispy, which is good, probably 2 of 5. I ordered a 10 piece garlic and parm chicken wings, I believe that they were made with good intentions, but yeah, 1 of 5. I finish my chicken in about 5 minutes.

I get two Hershey Sunday cups (stale? Can ice cream go stale?) and my opinions of my life future starts to sink. I have become Dollar General. Sadness. Frustration. Inherent dehydration.

I open Google Maps and, in five more minutes, am looking at cheap hotels in Okeechobee for a potential zero. I make reservations and summon a Lyft. I ride with a very pleasant person to the Flamingo Motel, where I am checked in by another very pleasant person.

I am napping by 1pm.

Because I am my own worst enemy, when I am needlessly un positive, my mind wants McDonald’s, conveniently located next door to the hotel. I gorge there and go shamefully back to sleep. Twice.

I see another hiker! She was getting out of her ride to the hotel and wasn’t really into saying much, but she said her name was Stumbles.

Excellent day. I am so thankful to have the ability to make room for myself. Didn’t feel good. I got off trail immediately. Good times.

Milage:

I give myself credit for 15ish miles to the Dollar General and Cafe.