Day 93 - W. Monroe, eastward

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tomorrow is December.......wow! Can't believe it's already here, and Christmas just around the corner. Today started off rainy and cold. I wanted to stay inside again and rest, and let the cold get better, but the motel was booked solid tonight, so I couldn't stay there. I ate breakfast, packed up the cart, and headed out about 10am. If it kept raining I would try to find another room somewhere, otherwise would start walking. Wasn't long until the clouds started thinning, giving way to the sun. It is cold, but dry. Sometimes things just work out, and I'm glad now the motel was booked. Today I'll leave W. Monroe, pass through Monroe, and head out into the countryside toward the Mississippi River.

I walked a while on the I-20 frontage road, then stopped to ask directions. Was given a shorter way to get to Monroe, so headed out. Along the way I passed a Gracie Jiu Jitsu school. Gracie is a famous name in jiu jitsu, having invented his own style in Brazil. Anyone familiar with martial arts will probably recognize that name. After walking a couple of miles was almost to the river that separates the two towns. Walking down the street, a guy in a pickup truck pulled over to the side of the road, introduced himself as Jim Peters, and asked if I'd had lunch. I said "no", and Jim told me to walk about a block to Kayla's Kitchen and he'd meet me there....and I did.

Not only is Jim a nice guy, but he "gets" it! He understands why someone would want to walk across America, because he's done some of the same type of stuff.......except in Alaska. For his 60th birthday, his family gave him a trip to Alaska. The lunch was great........beef tips, salad, candied yams, and apple pie. We talked for a while about our adventures, then it was time to get back to walking. Jim gave me some directions, and I headed out. I crossed the Ouachita river into Monroe, and headed down DeSiard Street to find Hwy 80. Along the way I stopped and talked to Virgil Richardson. Jim told me about Virgil, and said he was an interesting guy to meet. And he is......83 yrs old, and still running a welding shop. I could have talked longer, but had to move on.

When I reached Hwy 80, I stopped at a convenience store for ice and a few supplies, and headed eastward. Traffic along the road was awful, with no sidewalks or shoulders. As I moved further away from town, the traffic thinned, making walking easier........and soon I was in the country. This is an agriculture area of LA, and pecan trees every where. The road is flat, and straight for miles. I'm not sure of the elevation in the area, but couldn't be much over 100-200'. This is down from the 8700' in Cloudcroft, NM! The land is so flat, sometimes it's hard to find a dry camping spot because there's no place for the water to drain.

It was getting late, so I started looking for a place to camp. Came upon the Russel Sage Wildlife Management Area, and found an area with camping sites. I found a good one, and soon had the tent up and stuff inside. I bought a new tarp today, and hopefully it'll keep moisture from coming through the bottom of the tent. Before long, I was inside, in the sleeping bag, and ready for a good night's sleep. It's been a good day, and I'm feeling much better.

About the pictures:
That's Jim Peters, adventurer......outside of Kayla's Kitchen
The other is looking across the Ouachita river from W. Monroe to Monroe.