Rest days are important, regardless of what it is you’re doing that makes you tired. And they’re particularly nice when unexpected and complete rest days! Didn’t walk but a few hundred steps, didn’t write but a few words, and loved being away from the road and hotels for a little more than 24 hours. My friend and once co-worker Kendra drove a long way to pick me up, and an equally long way to drop me off, very appreciative, and so nice to just have a Sunday hanging out with her and her son Jared, nice Mexican meal with Juan from Michoacan, in Lebanon. The only little chores involved a very timely backpack scrub and rinse and laundry in a real washing machine; Set off this morning smelling like a rose with 6 pairs of clean socks. Funny how life comes around in circles… Kendra and I were working together in San Antonio, and she was one of the first people I told about my long walk idea, two and a half years ago! Nice it came around.
This morning came with a very welcome rain delay. Woke up wanting a few more minutes before leaving, looked out the window, and lo and behold… rain, for only the second time since my departure. So nice leisurely prep, uplifted by a long talk with Alex, Alexandra, Allie, my favorite middle child! Still amazed that I can see her in Guadalajara while sitting in a little motel in Waverly, Tennessee. Allie supported this walk from the onset, and I appreciate.
And off I went, felt great, feet a lot better (that rest thing), but a very busy Route 70 made for a difficult walk today. Relatively narrow shoulder, and then literally thousands of cars and trucks kept me on the alert all day. Had to stop dozens of times to pull over, let the cars and trucks pass, then start again. Very tiring, and this is not one of those things/thoughts that I can just replace with something else much more positive and forget about! But here I am, safe and sound.
Had a couple of taste throwbacks at Memories and Marmalade, a cute little country store and deli in McEwen. Besides a great sandwich, and in the absence if water (yikes) I had the first root beer I’ve had in easily 10 years, and it sent me back about 54 or 5 years to Tucson, Arizona. My parents both grew up there, and we’d go back at some point every year, but I vividly remember the root beers. They weren’t available in Mexico, and a root beer was like a really big deal. Likewise for Beeman’s Gum, which was a dime a pack in the little store in Greer, Arizona, where I’ve spent some of the best moments of my life… and realizing I’m sounding like an old reminiscing f**t.
So Tennessee…
Slowly making my way across Tennessee… a little over a third of the way.
Started on my statistics today. but got sidetracked, shocker. I’m actually getting a little curious now, having not paid a lot attention to the totals, focusing more on the day. But I sense we’re getting close to halfway, which still kind of blows my mind, but more importantly, loving what I’m doing, loving the freedom, the independence, the simplicity of my goal, feeling better than ever.