Cat Food For Lunch: Century Resident Continues 500 Mile Hike Across Spain
June 12, 2010
We are continuing to follow the journals of Century resident Terri Sanders as she hikes 500 miles across Spain this summer.
As Terri hikes from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, she will file dispatches from her journal and send pictures when possible for NorthEscambia.com as she hikes the Camino de Santiago — the Way of St. James — to the Atlantic Ocean.
For her first entry, click here. And for her second entry, click here.
June 1 2010
Start; St. Jean Pied a Port
Destination; Roncesvalles
Just as I remembered Lou was up at the crack of dawn. Back home I had been getting up early for practice since my morning does not start until 8ish. I was well rested and much relieved to be here. The morning air was brisk but the sky was a beautiful blue. There are 3 separate paths over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain.
Of course Lou chose the most arduous one.
It is also the one with the most spectacular views. This path also benefits Pilgrims because the sun does not penetrate into the Valcarlos Valley until later in the day. We knew it was going to be a steep climb today. The worst one of the whole trip. After today the trail is relatively flat. As old as I am one would think that when I hear the word ”relative” that red flags should go up.
However Lou and I had hiked part of the Appalachian Trail and he knew what flat meant, or so I thought. I had not brought my hiking poles with me because on a relatively flat trail they would be pretty useless and just be extra weight. I had gotten my pack weight down to 22.4 pounds. That was before I let my new found friend back at the Madrid airport convince me that I would not need a sleeping bag. I dropped 2 more pounds ditching my sleeping bag.
He was meeting his friend Ronnie to send her off on her Camino. He was from Gainesville, Florida, and figured we could get together later to retrieve my bag. Will I ever learn to just trust my own judgments?
Anyway back to the day’s hike. The cobbled stones leading out of the city were easy to walk on. The farm land reminded me of being in rural Florida. If you didn’t see the building you would think you were in the states. Today’s hike is 19 kilometers. Metric were not taught to us when I was in school. I know two things about kilometers. A 5K run is 3.2 miles and a 10K run is 6.2 miles.
Our climb today would give us an elevation gain of 1450 meters over 25 kilometers. No matter if it is in miles or kilometers it was going to be one big long grueling day.
The guide book says that this route is a veritable baptism of fire into the El Camino and Spain and I began to believe it. We are encouraged to stretch our physical as well as our spiritual muscles as we climb. We are supposed to be able to sleep soundly tonight and reflect on our inner purpose for this journey, and if the purpose wasn’t clear we were to ask for clarity.
I didn’t need to wait until tonight to ask for clarity, I needed a divine revelation right now to help me get though today’s hike. Somehow I had left my hat at home so I had nothing to shade my face or the top of my head. Our reward was a clear day with stunning views although you can only see so many stunning views before you get bored. The thickly wooded countryside gave way to open hills and moorlands.
We stop several times to catch our breath and try to give our pounding heart a rest. I was extremely glad Lou had put on about 30 extra pounds since the last time I saw him. I seem to remember going up and up and up. All the while I am telling myself that this is the hardest day we will have.
There are lots of Pilgrims on the Camino but very few Americans. We are told Buenos Camino which means good way time and time again. We would climb for a couple hours then find some shade to rest in for a few minutes. Like any other climb, you think you can see the top only to have the trail turn and continue to go up.
At one point a herd of sheep came across the road in front of us then turned and climbed the bank to greener pastures. The lead sheep had a bell on and I guess the rest of the sheep followed him. That was the first wildlife we saw on the trail. Later on we would see cows and horses along the road. It must be free range out here.
At lunch we stopped at a shaded place and pooled our resources. Lou had done some grocery shopping yesterday while waiting on me. He had several cans of some sort of meat and some cheese. I had some bread and left over cups of yogurt. Lou opened a can of whatever it was, it looked like tuna fish. Neither of us had a spoon or knife so we used the broken handle of a little plastic spoon I had to scoop the meat out onto the bread, topped with a slice of cheese it was almost fit to eat.
We are sitting there eating when a Pilgrim came by. He spoke very little English. He picked up the can of mystery meat, howled with laughter and told us we were eating cat food. My stomach turned over and it was all I could do not to throw everything I had just eaten up.
The saving grace was that I knew there was no water to clean up afterward with so I just lay down and tried to think about something else. Frenchie took the can over to his friends and they too howled with laughter. I kept hoping he would confess he was jut pulling our leg, but he never did. I told Lou I would share his cheese with him but he could have the cans of meat!
We finally came in sight of our resting place for the night. It was a magnificent stone building with 60 bunk beds in it. Every other bed had a isle so two bunk beds were pushed together. Lou went down to make reservations for our Pilgrim meal while I unpacked my pack and made my bed for the night .Our reservations were at 7:00.
We joined the others in line and were escorted to our table. Another American, a young guy by the name of Ryan was seated with us. They just keep filling up the tables until there are no more empty spots. We had a bottle of wine and a bottle of water. Our first course was some sort of soup, I have no idea what it was but it tasted pretty good.
Then we could choose from trout or stuffed peppers for the main course with French fries. Since I had already seen the trout and knew it came to the table with its head still on I choose the stuffed peppers. I do not like to eat the head of anything with the head still on except crawfish, I ordered the stuffed peppers.
They bring out this plate with three tiny stuffed peppers and some sort of red sauce. Thankfully there was a basket of bread that would fill me up. We had a slice of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce over it to finish out the dinner. Lou ate my French fries since I could only manage a few. I do not have any kind of attachment to French fries. I guess I cooked too many of them when I was working at a fast food place in my younger years.
After dinner we hobbled back over to the hostel where we paid 6 Euros for a bed. I will say that this bunch of hikers is a whole lot quieter than the Appalachian Trail hikers. It was lights out at 10:00 sharp and the doors were locked. Everything thing hurts tonight. I hurt in places I didn’t know I had.
Miles 14.9 (I felt we had hiked a hundred and fourteen.)
Elmira Gandy Crapps Passes Away At Age 103
June 12, 2010
Friends and family are mourning the loss of one of North Escambia’s oldest residents.
Mrs. Elmira Gandy Crapps passed away Thursday at a Pensacola hospital. She was 103.
Born in Butler County, Alabama, in 1907 to John Oxford and Victoria Black Gandy and married for 65 years to William Haynes Crapps, she was a member of Poplar Dell Baptist Church for over 75 years.For 45 years, she and her husband operated a successful trucking business, Gulf & Southern Transport, in Century, providing hauling services for timber, lumber and equipment.
Crapps lived an active lifestyle, even continuing to drive until she was well past 100. She never had children.
She was the third member of her family to become a centenarian. Her father, John Oxford Gandy lived to the age of 108. In 1973, the Florida Legislature named the Gandyville community after him. Another member of the family, a cousin, also lived to be 108.
In an interview on her 102nd birthday, Crapps said her secret for a long life was the love of God. “I’ve been blessed by the Lord and walk with him,” she said.
Funeral services for Mrs. Elmira Gandy Crapps were held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Gandy and the Rev. Mitch Herring officiating.
For the complete obituary, click here.
Grimes Facing Felony Drug Charges After Traffic Stop
June 12, 2010
A Century man was booked into the Escambia County Jail Friday on two felony drug charges stemming from an April traffic stop.
Javis Cain Grimes, 25, was charged with possession of drug equipment and possession of a listed chemical. On April 29, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Grimes in his pickup on Highway 4 near Byrneville.
During a search of Grimes’ pickup truck, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies found pseudoephedrine pills, rubber tubing, starter fluid and other potential meth-making ingredients, according to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report by Deputy Jason Land.
At the time of the traffic stop, Grimes was only charged with driving with a suspended license and release from jail on a $500 bond. The warrant for Grime’s arrest on the drug charges was signed this week by an Escambia County Judge.
Grimes was released from the Escambia County Jail on $40,000 bond. He has already pleaded nolo contendere to the traffic charge and was ordered to pay a $166 fine by October 12, according to court records.
Pictured top: Hydrogen peroxide, salt, pseudoephedrine pills, rubber tubing and a digital scale — some of the potential meth-making materials deputies said discovered during a Byrneville traffic stop April. Pictured bottom inset: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit Investigator Heath Jackson bags the items as evidence. Pictured bottom left: Javis Cain Grimes. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Head Graduates From Basic Training
June 12, 2010
Air Force Airman Derek J. Head graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
He is the son of Nicki Qualls of Highway 4, Jay. Head is a 2008 graduate of Jay High School.
Escambia Awarded $7 Million In Disaster Grants, Including $600K for Century
June 11, 2010
Escambia County has received a $7 million disaster recovery grant to be used on projects in Century and in the Pensacola area.
The $7,067,397 community development block grant from the Florida Department of Community Affairs will fund five projects, two of them in Century related to flooding in 2008.
Projects funded by the grant will include:
- Century flooding and drainage improvements on Jefferson Avenue, $193,300. The funding will construct Jefferson Avenue ditch outfall improvements to rework a ditch that is responsible for draining the central portion of Century. The town does not currently have a dedicated easement for the ditch, so the town’s ability to maintain it has been hampered. As a result, the ditch has grown up with heavy vegetation and debris from storms, and as a result it is difficult for the town to maintain it with hand labor and small equipment. The goal of the project will be to secure easements for the adjacent property owners and to clear and reshape the ditch to improve it so that it can be better maintained in the future.
- Century flooding and drainage improvements on Pond Street, $406,700. The funding will provide improvements to an existing drainage ditch in the Pond Street area, including correction of the easement issues as exist around the Jefferson Avenue ditch.
- Affordable rental housing preservation and development, $1.05 million to partially fund the acquisition of the Maison Deville Apartments, which were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ivan and further impacted by Hurricane Gustav. The 144-unit complex will replaced by units of mixed income rental housing.
- Development of Homeless Service Facility, $1.8 million. The money will be used for a new homeless service center that will house the Waterfront Rescue Mission and provide homeless services. The existing Waterfront Rescue Mission homeless facility is currently located in a flood-prone area.
- Lakewood (Warrington) area sewer construction will receive $3.3 million to eliminate septic tanks that impact Bayou Chico during flooding.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Grants totaling $81 million were available statewide under funding approved by Congress for areas declared disaster areas due to 2008 storms. Escambia County was one of six counties in Florida declared disaster areas due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav.
Football: Northview Assistant Coach Headed To Escambia County Atmore
June 11, 2010
A Northview High School assistant football coach was hired Thursday at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Karl Smith was hired by the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education as a special education teacher at Escambia County High to replace Christopher Hill.
Smith taught for six years at Northview High School, according to the school website, teaching ESE math and career education. He was the defensive line and tight ends coach for the Chiefs, and also served as the head track and weightlifting coach.
Four Arrested In Flomaton Drug Raid
June 11, 2010
A drug bust Thursday in Flomaton landed four people in the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center.
The 21st Judicial Drug Task Force and the Flomaton Police Department executed a search warrant on Sue Street.
Charged were:
- Kimberly Ann Costa, 22, of Sue Street, first-degree possession of marijuana.
- Tonya Lee Johnson, 41, of Sue Street, first degree possession of marijuana; unlawful possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), unlawful possession of a controlled substance (prescription medication), and distribution of a controlled substance.
- Donald Ray Wilkerson, 49, of Holt Street, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Christopher Wayne Morris, 24, of Cary Street, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), two counts of possession of a controlled substance (Clonopine and Lortab), possession of drug paraphernalia and distribution of a controlled substance.
Officers reportedly located cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, marijuana and illegal prescription pills in the home on Sue Street.
Escambia’s War On Oil In Full Swing
June 11, 2010
The battle to keep oil away from Escambia County shores was in full swing Thursday night.
Crews responded to a reported plume of oil 12 miles from Perdido Pass Thursday night, possibly with plans to set fire to oil.
“One option may be to try to burn some of the plume. If they decide to burn off some of the oil, you may see a glow in the Gulf along the horizon,” said Sonya Daniel, Escambia County spokesperson, late Thursday night.
Earlier Thursday, tar balls and sheen were reported to be coming through Pensacola Pass an into Pensacola Bay. Boom was set in Pensacola Pass as the majority of oil in the pass was collected by skimmers, Daniel said. Pensacola Pass is the entrance into Pensacola and Perdido bays. The Coast Guard authorized the closure of Perdido Pass so boom could be deployed.
Pictured above: Boom in Pensacola Bay; the Pensacola Bay Bridge and Gulf Breeze can bee seen in the background. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Robs Three Convenience Stores, Nets Less Than $100
June 11, 2010
Authorities are searching for a man that robbed three stores, netting less than $100 total.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the man they said robbed the Circle K at 330 Kenmore Road, the Circle K at 560 West Nine Mile Road (across from Home Depot) and the Tom Thumb at 6495 W Street on June 7.
“In all the robberies a black male entered the store and demanded money as he displayed a small caliber black handgun,” according to Sgt. Ted Roy, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. Roy said the man will face at least three armed robbery charges that could carry up to 20 to 30 years in prison.
The man was described as being between five-foot, three inches and five-foot, six inches and weighing about 130 to 145 pounds.
Photographs released Thursday by the Sheriff’s Office also show a white female and a black male with dreadlocks. “These two individuals are being treated as possible witnesses and investigators are trying to identify these two individuals as well,” Roy said.
Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to contact Investigator Tom Watts at (850) 436-9620, or to remain anonymous call Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured top: A black male robs the Circle K at 560 West Nine Mile Road on June 7. Pictured bottom: Two people seen leaving the Circle K at 330 Kenmore Road moments before the black male robbed that store. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Narcotics Investigators Serve Drug Related Search Warrants In Century
June 10, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit served two narcotics search warrants in Century Wednesday night — one in the 4700 block of Highway 4A and one in the 100 block of West Highway 4.
At the Highway 4A location, several people were seen handcuffed outside the residence as deputies searched the house, an outlying shed, several vehicles and even a grill.
“We served a search warrant here tonight in connection with an ongoing investigation,” Narcotics Division Investigator Heath Jackson said while at the Highway 4A home. “Drug related evidence was removed from the residence.”
No one at the home was arrested or charged with any crime Wednesday night.
“Future charges are expected in connection with the search,” Jackson said.
There was no one at home as deputies searched a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4 near the Century Care Center nursing home. Jackson said evidence was also removed from that home, and charges were possible against the persons involved with that residence.
Pictured top: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit agents question the occupants of a home on Highway 4A after serving a search warrant Wednesday night. Pictured inset: Investigator Heath Jackson and other undercover narcotics agents at a home on West Highway 4. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.