Day 75 - Fort Worth To Grand Prairie

Friday, November 12, 2010

Boy did I ever sleep last evening.......a soft bed makes a difference. Up around 615, packed, and

ready to leave before 7. Susie goes to work early, and before leaving handed me a bag of goodies for the road.......sodas, cookies, cheese sticks, and an apple. David was helping me load the cart and here comes all these neighbors to get a look at this guy who's pushing a cart across country. Very nice that they're interested, and asked lots of questions. We took some pictures, David gave me directions how to get on the road to Dallas, and I headed out.

As I walked along, passed a guy taking his kid to school on a tandem bike. The young boy was in the back, with his book bag, and peddling away. I stopped at a convenience store for ice and a few supplies, and what's that in the cooler but my favorite soft drink, Sundrop. For any of you not from the Carolina area, you might not understand. I loaded up, and headed out. I noticed something about FT Worth......seems they don't put sidewalks in front of empty lots. You can be walking along on a sidewalk, come to an empty lot, and the sidewalk ends. What's that about? But overall, it was good walking.

About the time I got to the corner of Rosedale and Lancaster, the rain started. Slowly at first, then harder. I went into a McDonald's to get something to eat, and wait out the rain. It didn't stop, so on with the rain gear and continue east. This is only the second rain I've been in since starting in late August. It rained for about 30 minutes in Arizona, and that's it. Today's was harder and longer. I have decent rain gear, but the shoes and socks get wet which makes for not good walking. But, after a while the sun came out, and all was well as I rolled into Arlington.

Hwy 180 through Arlington is not good walking. No sidewalks, no shoulders, and little scenery. I stopped at the Division Street Diner for lunch, and continued on. Before long I saw the roof of Jerry's House.........the castle for the NFL Warriors. I love the Cowboys, but the stadium is a little over the top.....even for Jerry. Maybe he'll give some money back to Arlington for sidewalks along 180? I could never figure out Arlington.......FT Worth has it's cows and culture, Dallas all the corporations and sophistication, and Arlington? Maybe 180 is just a bad way to see what the city is all about.

I was soon in Grand Prairie, and it was getting late. I asked around about camp sites, and was told there's a park in town, so I headed there. Before I got there, saw a business with lots of grassy area around the side and back. I stopped in, asked if i could put up a tent out back, and the guy agreed. Before long I had it up and was inside. Along with the rain came a cold front, and the wind was howling and shaking the tent. But it was warm inside the sleeping bag, and I think there's one more Sundrop in the cooler............