Shamrock, Texas.

A quaint and charming mystical town in the Texas panhandle. Shamrock is located on present day Interstate 40, but more importantly on historical Route 66.

Shamrock may only have 1,900 residents, but it has been an important little place for many years.

At one point in time, Shamrock featured the only place to eat for over 100 miles along Route 66. The U-Drop Inn Cafe was a very successful cafe and was known for its iconic architecture.

Of course, the days of Route 66 are long gone; however the town is still special despite being so small and being located in the desolate Texas panhandle.

Padre Island National Seashore.

Surely, the name itself invokes images of a beautiful, relaxing beach filled with young and beautiful people frolicking in the sand. Or perhaps just a quiet relaxing beach at least.

That’s what you might think if you didn’t know any better…

Geographical Dissonance

I have a feeling we aren’t in Kansas anymore.

Nope, we are actually in South Florida!

Likely unbeknownst to most, South Florida is not just a dense urban jungle consisting of beautiful beaches, exotic Latin nightlife, and kamikaze drivers.

Yes, there are actually massive areas of wild prairies and (mostly) untouched land stretching across the southern peninsula in between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Rainbow Springs is located just over an hour south of Gainesville Florida, or just to the west of Ocala.  It was the first stamp I received in the Florida Passport book. Only 174 more to go!  This park had a walk up entrance counter as opposed to the normal drive up gates, and as I was walking up, I nearly pissed my pants.

Cayo Costa is a remote, completely undeveloped island that is entirely a state park in southwest Florida.  It is the outermost island off of the coast near Fort Myers. This island is about nine miles long north to south and only a couple of miles across east to west. The landscape consists of massive oak trees, sabal palms, various seagulls and waterfowl, and of course wide, pristine white beaches.

There is no electricity on the island. No electricity, no lighting, no vehicles, and no buildings.

Hell yes! This was an experience I craved for 22 years, and I assume many other people have as well. An island covered in palm trees and cut off from the world where we can sleep by the beach, dance in the moonlight, and be away from the retarded, miserable, chaotic world and all of its problems for a while. (Or maybe forever…)