Manifest Destiny: America from the Bottom Up - 43 - Cherryville and Salem, MO - Tammy Major Southards and Sherry Biggs

Sherry Biggs and Tammy Major Southards

Took off on my adventure again yesterday. RhonnaLeigh dropped me off in Steelville, MO. I walked 12 miles to just south of Cherryville and spent the night in the woods along Route 19, going in there at about 4:30 pm.

The sleep spot was ideal in many ways. It was just off a relatively sharp turn. I walked into the forest about 100 feet. Beyond where I settled down was a 50 foot high hill.

Unlike other sleep spots I've stayed at, the woods was almost completely silent. Temps were at about 30 F, but there were a few moths flying around before it got dark.

The sky was totally overcast at first, then throughout the night it cleared completely several times, with a bright moon and stars above. The temperature slowly rose to about 34 F before morning. (It is in the 40's F now, as I write this.)

I didn't sleep very well. I was trying to get adjusted to a slight incline, with rocks and branches beneath the tarp which I laid down under the sleeping bag. I used the tarp because of the patches of frozen rain on the leaf bed.

Between 5:00 pm and about 10:15 pm the silence was unbroken. Then, I heard a huge number of foot falls on the top of the hill beyond. Over the top they came straight at me. I knew it was a herd of deer. That didn't bother me. But the fact that they were headed for me was a bit problematic. I didn't want to be run over OR cause a big surprise for them when they reached me.

So, I unzipped my pack and grabbed the LED flashlight (which is VERY bright). I held it up at the oncoming horde and they immediately stopped, with heads looking in both directions, wondering what to do. Then a buck rushed up in front of them and began barking loudly at me. The other deer turned and ran to the male's left. As the group faded away into the darkness, the buck stamped on the ground rather menacingly at me and kept barking.

I had turned off the light once the others ran away, but I still heard the buck stamping and barking sharply: "...chosh!! ... chosh! ......... chosh..." but with more and more space between his animal expletives, along with less and less intention. I couldn't even hear the others anymore when he decided his work there was done and finally took off after them. My heart was pounding, and I said out loud, "Well.... THAT was exciting!"

It took a while to calm down as I lied there. I found that I was much more comfortable on my right side then on my left. I didn't realize that I'd fallen asleep when I began to dream...

* * * * * * *

In my dream I was on a busy, rainy city street. My back pack was under a bus stop shelter while I was re-lacing my boots. The moon was in front of me, or maybe it was just a bright street light. Suddenly a shadow fell over over me. Someone in a long raincoat was standing uncomfortably close to me, right up in front.

I was on full alert and stood up. I couldn't see his face or anything about him. It felt strange as though I was about to be mugged, and clutched my walking stick tightly. Then he asked, "...you got the stuff?" ...in a low voice I didn't recognize. There seemed to be a low growl coming from his face.

* * * * * * *

Immediately, I remembered that I was actually sleeping in the woods and it occurred to me that the growl might be an animal. I woke up instantly to the sound of silence. I tried to roll over to sleep on my left side but just couldn't do it. The incline definitely favored my right side.

When I'd finally felt uncomfortable enough to roll back over to the right, it didn't take long to fall back asleep for a while. Still, I kept waking up and checking my watch. This repetition made for a rather long and frustrating night.

As is my habit in such situations, about one hour before my 5:30 am watch alarm sounded, I began to sleep much more peacefully. When the watch's beeping did start, I simply clicked it off and intentionally took an extra hour of sleep.

Pack up was easy. I'd left some heavy and bulky recording equipment with RhonnaLeigh and that not only lightened the load but allowed the sleeping bag to be fit in its pocket much more easily.

Unfortunately, I'd only had one drink (a cream soda left to me by RhonnaLeigh) and although I'd saved half of it from last night, the second half just didn't cut my thirst in the morning before I left the sleep spot. This means (for the third time on this journey!) that I had not enough liquid.

This problem, combined with the huge walk ahead made for an extreme thirst by the time I reached my goal this afternoon. I was so desperate that when I stopped for a pee along the road I discovered that many of the leaves had quarter-sized patches of frozen rain in them and I collected about 30 of these snowy pellets and ate them happily. This helped quite a bit. Yet, overall, it was a real grueling walk - and motivated mostly by thirst - of 54.55 km (33.89 miles in 8 hours!--the most I've ever walked in one day) down to Salem, MO--where I am now, at McDonald's.

I walked into Salem parched and very frustrated. Each corner led to more road. The bottoms of my feet and my thigh muscles were really killing me (still are). However the much more serious issue now seems to be my left shoulder. I think I pinched a nerve or something and my left hand keeps cramping into an open posture that I can't squeeze back into a fist. I've massaged the joints several times and that seems to help.

Anyway, after walking through much of the town looking for any place I could buy a drink, I eventually stumbled across the "Red Barn BBQ" - 1004 E Scenic Rivers Blvd, Salem - for a Coke which turned into 3 Cokes in about 20 minutes and a cheeseburger.

I also had a great discussion with Tammy, my server ( and now a new FB friend--Welcome Tammy! grin emoticon ). They were very generous to me and I won't forget it.

So, after all of the events of this last day, I now sit at a 24-hour McDonald's, praying it doesn't rain. Thankfully, I could just spend the night working here (as long as I buy something every now and then for the next 6 hours or so). I thought about getting a room, but I just want to save my money as best I can. Naturally, I will be at a major sleep deficit by tomorrow.

I would like to say one final thing about the people of Missouri. They are so friendly that I sometimes wonder if the state they own is a little piece of real estate in heaven.

That being said, I notice a big difference in the accent between the area around the burbs of Saint Louis (like Washington, where RhonnaLeigh lives) and this more "Ozark" region. People here have a STRONG drawl. It is often so prominent that it seems like they are speaking dialogue in a play.

I like it though. It reminds me a bit of the Texans I have heard. And, I think that it will be what I get used to as I reach Arkansas. I'm finding it harder and harder to resist changing my own voice to fit--since I sound so much more like a newsman than a local. And, I already look weirder than anyone else around! Ha!

At this restaurant right now are a group of about ten young teens who are being pretty loud. I guess this must be their nightly hang out spot since other kids keep coming and going. The adults are being VERY patient with them. Must be more of that Mid-Western courteousness. There are many senior citizens here too. They are the most patient of all.

Interesting to note that there are more people using the WiFi than I have ever seen at any restaurant yet on my journey. I find this strange and also comforting, since I have installed myself as one of them. Nice to be part of the human herd sometimes!

OK, enough for now. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a slow and painful walk toward the next town, if I make it at all before having to camp along the way. I will try to check in here at FB if WiFi presents any opportunity in the next few days.

I'm going to try to catch up on the blog tonight, but will peek in here at FB every now and then.

Love to All!