Day Fifty Five

Sunday, May 15, 2011
Distance: 32.7 Miles

Stunning, understated stone work.


Bold modern(?) art on a barn.


Early rise before the sun to get to Chillicothe, Ohio. I was racing the weather which promised rain sometime between early afternoon and afternoon. I booked it through the gentle Ohio hills of US 50 West. Stopped at a gas station. As I move, the gas stations are becoming small hubs of activity including general store, hunting supply, and small restaurant with gasoline supply. I chatted with a customer an the two clerks at that morning stop. I got enthusiastic interest in my trek. I pressed on. The road snaked along the streams that hug the staggered, low ridges of the Appalachian foothills. I slipped onto Old US 50, the chord to current-50's southern arc. In was chugging at a mediocre pace, and finished the piece where the two 50s reconnect. About to take a break, a young gentleman in a black Dodge Ram stopped, backed up and offered a ride. Having just put down my pack, I was relieved and happy for the ride. We talked on the twelve miles to town and the conversation spilled out of me. My reserved nature was no match for isolation. I think his name was Brandon, but I cannot be certain anymore. He worked in logging, had a bum knee that needed to be scoped, his sister's newborn was in the NICU but doing better, and he refused to let me pay for his lunch insisting that he pay for he both of us. It was a joy and the emotional flip-side of cloud-watching and waiting to be rained on. I got into town, lazed about the bed, and went to see Bridesmaids. It was funny. Only a half grade less successful than the comedians I follow on Twitter would lead me to believe. If you disliked it, my first reaction is to say, "you're wrong" and my second reaction is to think your baked in male-privilege prevents your pleasure centers to accepting the whole endeavor. But my third reaction would be to shut my mouth and not say any of that to anyone.