Day 73 - The Day Before Half Way

Last night was my last inside with the Lawlers, and I slept well. Up around 6, and quickly loaded the car to go back to where I stopped last evening. Kim made breakfast again, grapefruit and french toast. Then put some clear liquid in front of me to drink. How can a day get started properly without a soda? Anyhow, she and her girls really got a kick out of my soda habits. They were very gracious hosts. Kim drove me to the starting place, I loaded the cart, and headed east. Today's goal......reduce the distance between me and FT Worth.

The road was rolling, and more traffic this morning. I guess it will be this way through the DWF area. But, the weather is beautiful, and a good shoulder on the road. I talked a few minutes to a former co-worker, Dave Rogers. Nice hearing from him. I walked by a tree with muscadine grapevines entwined in the branches. Grapes were all over the ground, although I couldn't find any that were at the "eatable" stage. I can remember from my childhood in Gastonia, playing in the woods on my grandparents farm, and smelling the grapes hanging from the trees. One of those memories that never leave us.

I passed a fenced in area with a burro and a horse, so decided to try the mints on the burro. He loved them, and tried to come through the fence to get more. Then, the horse came over. Every time the horse tried to get a mint, the burro (which was no taller than the horses legs) would ram his nose into the horse's neck and push him away. I had lots of fun with them, but had to move on.

David Casstevens of the FT Worth Star Telegram called to find where I was. He's coming to interview me for a newspaper article, and invited me to have breakfast in Weatherford. He was there a little ahead of me, and walked out to meet me as I came into town. I also had a call from Jack Bradshaw, a friend and neighbor from my Modena Street youthful years. He has followed my walk from the beginning, and calls me occasionally to check how things are going.

Weatherford has a very nice town square, with one of the prettiest courthouses of any I've seen so far......just a beautiful building. Why don't we still do this? Build something designed to last, with architecture that stands the test of time? I immediately had a connection with David.....he ordered soda with his breakfast! We ate at the Weatherford Cafe, an older, established favorite of the locals. One of those great atmosphere, food, and service, places. David and I must have talked a couple of hours, plus he looked over my map to help find a way through the DFW area. He's from Ft Worth, so knows a lot about the area.

We parted and I headed east. Stopped at a convenience store for ice, then back on Hwy 180 out of town. I hadn't walked far until I came upon this Malt Shop. How could I pass that without at least getting something, so I crossed over and ordered a cup with one scoop strawberry, and one scoop pineapple.....just what I wanted at the time. The woman asked, " which one do you want on top?" You know, I wasn't ready for that question, so stumbled around trying to make a decision. Unable to decide, I told her to surprise me. She came back with the strawberry on top, so I asked how did she make the decision so easily. "I came to the pineapple first", was her answer with a smile on her face. Wasn't nearly as hard a decision for her. If I had it to do over again........?

I sat outside and talked to a Fed-Ex guy for a while.....I believe his name was Dick, but if I'm wrong, post a comment and correct it. Nice guy, on his way to Weatherford, stopped for lunch. He asked where I was going, I told him, and we had a good laugh about someone who would do such a thing. I had to leave, so headed out. When he passed me, gave me a big blast on the horn. Guess he was shaking his head and trying to figure all that out.

Hwy 180 merges into Interstate 30, so I have to find another place to walk for a while. Kim had checked for roads on her way back from FT Worth, and told me there was an access road all the way into FT Worth. So, I jumped on that. Good choice, very little traffic and ran right beside the interstate........so it is a direct route. Around Aledo, I switched to the access road on the eastbound side of the road, based on advice from a guy I talked to. Not sure I needed to do that, but, one seems as good as the other. It was getting late, so I started looking for a place to camp. Spotted an RV park, and stopped in. They only had concrete pads, so no place for a tent. However, there was a great place next to the RV place, so I asked about that. I was given the name and phone number of the guy who ran that place, called him, and he said fine to stay there.

I put up the tent, and the stakes pushed into that soil like into silly putty or something......what a great change from the rock and soil farther west. Soon the tent was up, and I was enjoying a nice, warm evening outdoors. Life is good on the road........!

Reflections From The First Half
Tomorrow I'll be in or beyond FT Worth, which I'm considering the half way point of the walk......mileage wise, at least. When this thought first hit me, there was a feeling of sadness that the walk will soon be 1/2 over. It seems like just recently I was planning everything, checking maps, buying gear, etc. The weather has been great, the people and scenery wonderful, and just being in the outdoors a rewarding experience. Sometimes people are so good to me I am almost embarrassed to accept their kindness. If the walk ended tomorrow, it would have been as near perfect as one can expect.

But, all that can change, and the second half might offer more challenges, especially with the coming of cold weather. Sometimes people tell me about a steep hill or some other challenge ahead, I just tell them it's part of the experience. And, that's what the second part of the walk will be, no matter the challenges. I can't wait to get started.