A Living Magazine - Day 105 - Supplies for the Wallk South

This was going to be a nice day, I just knew it. Allyson didn't have to work on this day and she and her husband offered to take me with them to go grocery shopping at a place called Aldi, in Crystal. But, we could also check out the Unique Thrift Store in New Hope. It sounded like fun. Both have incredible deals.

We stopped at the Unique Thrift Store and went inside. It was large and reminded me of a Goodwill Store, but with a lot more stuff. We looked through all the different sections. If you were looking for a curling iron, for example, there are 30 of them! But most useful to my situation was the men's clothing department. $6.00 for a pair of good jeans. T-shirts, sweaters, jackets--they had it all, and many of the items were in my size.

I found a very nice Redhead coat for the colder seasons coming up ($9.99) and a great pair of thick socks ($2.00). Allyson graciously offered to buy them for me. When we were well satiated with pre-owned goodness, we left and headed across the parking lot for cheeseburgers.

With a delicious and satisfying lunch in our bellies, it was a better time to go grocery shopping; smarter that way, so we wouldn't be tempted to buy everything when we got to Aldi. But, it didn't matter anyway, since the prices there were so good. They stocked up on everything they would need for the week. 

Allyson does a great job of balancing the things she does. She is a very giving person, and though she is practically swimming in testosterone (having three men in the house!--her son lives there too as he prepares to go to college), she has a light-hearted attitude about it all. It is not just a little bit encouraging to see. She understands the value of simplicity. Something we've talked about at length. I really love her, because she also understands what I'm doing and shares such a clear vision of it with me. When she comments on the adventures she's read about, it is as if she experienced them in the same way I did. I'm inspired by her reactions, since they are so very close to my own AND exactly what I would want my readers to take away from these posts. If she can see it with such lucidity, maybe others will too?

We got everything bagged up and into the car, then headed home. It was great for the three of us to just relax and hang out. It was also a good opportunity for me to check out the tent that Jeff had sent. I pulled it out of its little carrying sack, along with the rain tarp and stakes. At first, it just appeared confusing. I couldn't remember exactly what it was supposed to look like, assembled. Allyson's husband was outside watching my hemming and hawing. When I said I better look for the instructions, he said, "You don't need instructions." Then he helped me figure out that the longest pole goes from head-end to the toe-end of the tent. It was then easy to see that the smallest pole would naturally go laterally across the toe-end, while the middle-lengthed one would go across the head-end. After doing that, I staked it down, we got the tarp on, and voila...       

Ready for rain! FINALLY. Wouldn't this have been nice

to have in Massachusetts last year? 

Looks cozy.

And the logo WAS on the "North Face".

Here it is for clear nights, bug proof and airy. No more condensation.

After taking the above shots, I disassembled the tent and got it all back in the sack. It was a great blessing from a Jeff--another true friend, who has taken care of most of my supplies from way back in the Connecticut leg of the last journey. He was the "Human Protector" I spoke about back then.

Along with Allyson's gift of clothing, huge assistance with travel expenses recently, this wonderful place to sleep and hang out, and her natural familiarity with this crazy project, I counted myself as one of the most fortunate people in the world on this day. Before and since then, several other people have stepped up to support the operating expenses (food, drink and maintenance). All of this humbles me. I thank the Universe for being able to explore this nation, meet new and old friends, and give you a real-time slice of this era in history, from different places, through the eyes of someone who just can't get enough and wants to show you it all.

We all had a few adult beverages and then went to bed. As I was lying on the comfy-couch, being overtaken with the natural narcosis of sleep...again...I smiled.