A Living Magazine - Day 163 - Red Skies At Dawn

My last morning at this campsite started with what every sailor learns as warning sign. And, thanks to Intellicast.com, I knew exactly what was to come: Rain. I just wasn't sure how much of it there would be...

Tent sunrise.

Pack up went quickly. And, as I stuffed the tent into its bag, I was sure glad I hadn't used the tarp. Although there was a chance of rain over night, it never came. It would have been way too warm and muggy for a night under the tarp. 

When I was all ready to go, I stood in the place that had seen me through another week in Alabama; slowly turning around to store the image in my mind as best I could. A flash of white caught my eye...

Atamasca Lily (Zephyranthes atamasca).

These usually bloom at Easter. I imagined that it opened especially for me.

I had been watching these plants all week, wondering what kind of lily they might be. I wasn't used to seeing such short versions. I was especially not used to the idea that they might bloom in the autumn. But with each day's observations, I saw a bud growing. It seemed so fitting that it would open on this last day, in this spot. I couldn't really get close to it because the bushes and vines surrounded the small bed in which it grew. The picture would have to do.

Looking back at Saggy, I thought it looked happy to be moving on. Not sure why I anthropomorphize things so often. Maybe, I just miss having a pet, so turn the things around me into "pets". The little table held my typical message to the world. I knew that the next most likely thing that would touch it was a bull dozer. But, maybe the operator would get a kick out of a table standing in the middle of the woods...

Goodbye sleep spot 2. You were a great refuge.

I wonder who will find the little table?

My plan ended up being a good one. I walked to the bus stop at Wal-Mart and the bus was waiting there. It happened to be the number 11. I asked the driver if she knew which bus I would transfer to get out to the Greyhound station. She said, "This one, after a stop at the transfer station, but just stay on. I'll get you there." Montgomery bus drivers rock. They were like trusted aunties, taking care of me whenever I rode. I started out not liking the bus system, and ended up loving the bus drivers. They did the best they could with what they were handed. And, their best was excellent.

The next phase of the plan was to get to the McDonald's across from Greyhound, write as much as I could about the crazy ride the day before, and find a very close sleep spot, since I knew it was going to rain, and wanted to have a short morning walk to the station.

When I got to Greyhound and was waiting to cross the busy highway, I saw an anthill there on the lawn. There was no activity on the surface. I hadn't tried this yet, but my curiosity got the better of me. I pushed a small amount of sand down from the side. And this is what happened...

Ants of one mind.

If this had been night time, and I had been standing there for more than a second, I would have become a very unhappy camper. Mental note made!

Essentially, everything went according to plan. It was just starting to rain when night fell. I knew exactly where I wanted to go, and went there. The woods was much more swampy and the vines and sticks were so rotten that simply touching them caused them to crumble. I also knew that these woods were connected to a vast woodland, so the chance of other creatures being around was much greater than at the green island. 

But I had to clear the leaves and branches of the area I chose, and just trusted in the Universe to keep the creepy crawlies off my legs--checking constantly. 

I would find that one of them wanted the shelter of my tent and stuck around until morning, but for now, I met with no resistance, and set up the tent...

Ready to go!

I crawled in and went to sleep on top of the sleeping bag. It was so humid, nothing was dry. But the sleep wouldn't last long as we will see in the next post.

Montgomery Sleep Spot 3