Sunday, November 21, 2010
I had a great night inside at Guy Gauthier's business, and appreciate what he, Sherry, Lynn, and Joe did to make it a good evening. I caught up on email and the blog, charged all the battery stuff, and watched a little TV. I actually came to Longview a little too early...... Michael Martin Murphy is going to be in town on Dec 9, and he's one of my favorites. Guy showed up this morning with breakfast, and we ate and talked for a while. Soon it was time for me to get back on the road, and he had a golf match scheduled. The goal today is just putting some miles behind me, heading toward Marshall. It's about 27 miles from here, so I can't get there today.
I hadn't walked too far when I met a young man heading west. I asked where he was going, and he replied Shreveport. That's where I'm heading also, but I'm going East. I invited him to walk with me, but he doesn't like walking......he's heading to the train station to hitch a train. Trent (his name) 17, and his small dog, Mr. Burns, have traveled all across the USA, "hoboing" as we used to call it. He's traveling with 2 other people, but they went ahead of him for some reason. I wished him well, and we went in our opposite directions.
I passed a Kroger Grocery store, and that reminded me of home. Hwy 80 between Longview and Hallsville is 4 lane divided, with an adequate shoulder. The traffic was crazy heavy, and almost no trucks. I figured everyone from Hallsville was coming into Longview to have Sunday lunch. By 11am it was 70 degrees, and by 1pm it was 80. An old friend, humidity, has returned to my life for the first time in several months. There's lots of color in the trees out here....orange and yellow maples, deep red Bradford pear, multi-colored gums, etc. There are camellias blooming, much like they do in the Carolina's this time of year. A freight train moving slowly, and carrying military vehicles passed on my right. I guess Trent is not on that one......but wait, was that someone sitting in the front seat of the Red Cross truck? Surely he wouldn't, or would he?
I was soon in Hallsville. Stopped at a convenience store, and then moved on into town. At the one stop light, there was a sign showing Hwy 80. But, according to it, I was walking west, not east. Did I get turned around in the convenience store, and headed the wrong direction? If in doubt, get out the trusty compass.......it never lies. Sure enough, the one sign in the middle of Hallsville is pointing east and west in the wrong direction. If anyone out there knows anyone in Hallsville, might want to let them know.
I had a great night inside at Guy Gauthier's business, and appreciate what he, Sherry, Lynn, and Joe did to make it a good evening. I caught up on email and the blog, charged all the battery stuff, and watched a little TV. I actually came to Longview a little too early...... Michael Martin Murphy is going to be in town on Dec 9, and he's one of my favorites. Guy showed up this morning with breakfast, and we ate and talked for a while. Soon it was time for me to get back on the road, and he had a golf match scheduled. The goal today is just putting some miles behind me, heading toward Marshall. It's about 27 miles from here, so I can't get there today.
I hadn't walked too far when I met a young man heading west. I asked where he was going, and he replied Shreveport. That's where I'm heading also, but I'm going East. I invited him to walk with me, but he doesn't like walking......he's heading to the train station to hitch a train. Trent (his name) 17, and his small dog, Mr. Burns, have traveled all across the USA, "hoboing" as we used to call it. He's traveling with 2 other people, but they went ahead of him for some reason. I wished him well, and we went in our opposite directions.
I passed a Kroger Grocery store, and that reminded me of home. Hwy 80 between Longview and Hallsville is 4 lane divided, with an adequate shoulder. The traffic was crazy heavy, and almost no trucks. I figured everyone from Hallsville was coming into Longview to have Sunday lunch. By 11am it was 70 degrees, and by 1pm it was 80. An old friend, humidity, has returned to my life for the first time in several months. There's lots of color in the trees out here....orange and yellow maples, deep red Bradford pear, multi-colored gums, etc. There are camellias blooming, much like they do in the Carolina's this time of year. A freight train moving slowly, and carrying military vehicles passed on my right. I guess Trent is not on that one......but wait, was that someone sitting in the front seat of the Red Cross truck? Surely he wouldn't, or would he?
I was soon in Hallsville. Stopped at a convenience store, and then moved on into town. At the one stop light, there was a sign showing Hwy 80. But, according to it, I was walking west, not east. Did I get turned around in the convenience store, and headed the wrong direction? If in doubt, get out the trusty compass.......it never lies. Sure enough, the one sign in the middle of Hallsville is pointing east and west in the wrong direction. If anyone out there knows anyone in Hallsville, might want to let them know.
Hwy 80 changes to 2 lane east of Hallsville, and less traffic. The road is tree lined with few houses along the way. It is so warm and nice today, but colder weather is just around the corner, I'm sure. After several hours I spotted a really good camp site, and pondered a while whether to stop now or go a little further. I still had at least another hour of light, but decided to stop here. It's a big field with maybe a hundred or more of those big, round, hay bales, spaced far enough apart so i could put the tent in between. It blocks the wind, plus gives me privacy. The moon was full and the night was warm.......what more could a walking man want? Plus, the Cowboy's won again.....a good day.
Too bad you missed you weren't in town for his concert..."Wildfire" is one of my favorite songs!!
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