Day 13 - Saturday, April 3
Wake up at 4:54 to the sound of RV heaters blasting warm air throughout the vehicle. It’s 30 degrees outside.
Just as our world has its daily solar cycle to go from dark to light, one nights sleep is as dramatic to humans and thus I am energized to get out and test the body once again.
PLAN C: With last two days of 27 and 28 miles of walking, we will reduce mileage a touch and see if that helps. Today we go 22 miles to Jefferson Ga, then 23 to Gainesville GA on Sunday. On Monday morning we drive into Athens for MRI at 9:30am and then back out to Gainesville to spend the night so we can launch the 23 miles to Dahlonega on Tuesday. This town is a big milestone for the trip as it closes out Chapter 1 which i think of as the transition out of Jacksonville Beach to the network of trails that will lead all the way out to the west coast. The first trail, the iconic Appalachian Trail is something I have never travelled. once we arrive in Dahlonega, we will most likely rest on Wednesday to make sure all systems are go as once we are on the AT, there is no service to depend on rescue until we exit. But this is for another day.
MOJO: Today was epic…the MOJO is back!!! Yesterday’s low is in the rear view mirror; i was able to move today without stabbing pain in my shin and now only a dull pain. Where yesterday i absorbed 9 of 10 pain today was steady 6 and i can deal with that. Lucky was out early with me on a crisp day spent mostly on the less travelled country roads although the first few miles we dealt with the narrow road getting out of town. Somehow Lucky knows exactly where to be at all times.
TIM: I knew the day would be a great one as i left the main road out of town and hit a country road with suburban home and saw a person running our of a neighborhood and onto my street going against me. Anyone who has run with me knows that when Lucky sees another runner he takes off at them jubilantly attempting to corral them into his running pack. But, if you don’t know Lucky, and you just rolled out of bed and are in the first 1/4 mile of your run, and Lucky is coming at you, then you might get into a defensive position and yell - like TIm did. I approached him apologetically and we chatted a bit before I asked if he wanted to go on camera….that’s when he told me he just woke up, it was cold, dog attacked him - kind of - but what the hell. Very well spoken man who works for University of Georgia. As you will see in the interview his message is consistent with most of the others - we need to come together. Interestingly he pointed out that in Watkinsville, his town, it is all red and you can vote with plenty of machines. The town over - Athens - there are lines all around for voting and it is blue. “System is broken” he kept saying.
FAMILY OF 4: While some towns have perished along the rail, others have preserved their quaintness. As i travelled down winding roads of forests I came by a house with pickup trucks and 4 kids ran towards Lucky. I chatted with the mother while the kids played with Lucky and she told me they are working hard to get out of the rented house and into something they can afford - up to $300k. I asked her if she had anything to share on film and she shyly declined.
BOBBIE: As I came over a hilltop in Stadium GA and rounded the corner to go downhill and meet Alex, a chihuahua came running at us out of a yard. Lucky, the friendliest dog on the planet, came right at the little one to say hello and then the little girl ran straight back into the garage leaving a man with a cigarette and I looking at each other. He introduced himself as Bobbie and he and I were standing on land that has been in his family for generations. A strong, proud southern man, he had a story to tell about how they lost the 1,200 acres across the street in the depression to how the remaining siblings are working the land. That value - working the land - was evident through out our conversation and ended with his concern that because the next generation does not have that value, the last of the family land will be liquidated to build a development. I asked if he would be willing to share on film and he jumped at the opportunity. Afterwards, he was so excited to tell his story he invited me inside the house he built to show me the deer he had killed and mounted in the living room (one of the left was when he was 12), the hard wood floors, the bedrooms, the master, master bathroom, family pics, wife’s family pics, wood he had chopped for 9 hours on Gatorade and ending with a cold beer, hay he had stacked, the land he cleared and i think he would’ve taken me to the river on the 110 acres they still owned but i had to get going. If i had the time, a cold beer would have been good.
DEATH & LIFE: On one side of the road not too long after there is a cemetery long forgotten. On the other side of the street a tree house bigger than the RV where kids are just beginning life.
ROADKILL: And there in the middle of the road are a big ass set of keys!
SUCCESS: The most successful business I have run across in some time - the liquor/package store.
EDDIE: As I come into the final town of Jefferson GA 22 miles later, I see an awning on the side of the road and a big smoker. Several cars are pulling over, 2 kind women wave at me as I go by and I’m hooked. I turn around to ask them what is going on to find out Eddie’s BBQ is here. Locals are grabbing ribs, sausage and other meats with slaw, beans, soda or home made lemonade. I’ve been out all day and with a few miles to go I throw caution to the wind and get ribs and lemonade - and it was worth it! Meat melted off the bones, sauce that was subtle and complemented the meat rather than over power it. I was in heaven! Speaking with Eddie and his niece about Jefferson I learned it is a great place to raise a family - they pointed out they are #2 in the state academically and #1 in sports. Eddie is a 61 year old retired DOT worker who lives in a pristine little home on 5 acres and grows all his vegetables which last year round and cooks for pleasure. Eddie is a jovial man with a big smile flashing huge personality and he shared that he left Atlanta after seeing his friend die after getting hit by a truck and decided right there and then he wanted a quieter, simpler life. He starts the bbq process at 4am to get the meat perfect. P.s. the ribs were so good and I know how much Alex likes ribs I took a to go order and walked the last 2 miles with them! Anyone interested in what Eddie is doing, go to www.eddieyoung.com.
END OF DAY: I rolled into Jefferson to the parking lot of Los Vaqueros Mexican where Alex set up base camp for the night. Shower, put everything away and I am drinking an ice cold Dos Equis Amber with an excellent plate crispy carnitas, beans, rice, jalapeños, salsa and corn tortillas. It was a great day!
Thank you for the ongoing support -
Cheers,
David.
