A Living Magazine - Day 223 - Homecoming - Kings Mountain to Gastonia

I'd set the watch alarm for 5:30 a.m. But I slept through it and woke up at 6:00. Remembering the big dog in the yard beside me, I got to work packing up immediately. I was exceptionally quiet, compared to my usual semi-clumsy footsteps around the tent. It had been relatively comfortable in the leaves. Old leaf beds both repel and attract me. They are likely to have sleepy winter spiders under them, but they also make for a warm padding under the tent.

There was no barking, and I made my way back out through the tangled pricker bushes and vines into the field. I got as close as I could to the straight tree line and walked quickly along it, back to the street and over to McDonald's. Checking out my route to Bessemer City and then Gastonia, I noticed that there were certain roads I would need to turn onto. I'd already turned off of Route 29 halfway between Grover and Kings Mountain--a story I can't believe I forgot to tell in the last post...

The day before, I had reached a point where 29 seemed to go up a hill and merge with I-85. I knew I was supposed to go left onto 216 at some point, but I didn't think it was at this point. I was wrong. And, for the fourth time since leaving Maine in October of 2014, I walked onto an interstate. I saw none of the prohibitive road signs that usually mark an on ramp. So I just kept going. I was getting that eerie feeling that something was definitely wrong. 

The Highway 29 signs were right under the Interstate 85 signs. They were merged, but instead of thinking that 85 had gone all country on me, I got the sinking feeling that 29 had gone all rock and roll. Huge trucks in convoys were flying by at 70 mph and as far as I could see the road was packed with vehicles. I was walking in the very large median zone of grass, so I was safe physically. I just began to get that little bead of sweat on my brow realizing that I was not safe legally. I stuck out like a banana in an apple basket. Shit!

I stopped and pulled out the laptop, which was almost out of power and barely visible in the bright sun. And there it was on my screenshot of the map--I'd screwed up. Now a mile from the intersection with 216, I turned around and walked quickly, head down, hoping, praying, begging to not be a bright banana until I reached the off ramp. 

Nearly twenty minutes later I got to it, just as a white van sputtered and pulled over right beside me; his engine producing massive amounts of white smoke. I felt bad for him but fortunate in my own situation. My "engine" never dies and he would create a distraction for any kindly highway patrolman who might happen upon me as I shuffled down the off ramp and back into the village of Legality.

Anyway, back to this day (the day after that debacle)...

The walk out of town was more interesting than the walk in...

I really liked this school. Full of pride, and apparently for good reason.

I guess along with the sad themes of dangerous roadways and stray cats the consequences have to appear evetually. I came across this one--now onto life number ten...

Sleep peacefully in the endless Light, little guy.

A look back at the welcome sign.

What I hope to never again be connected to in my future home.

Bessemer City was only about five miles up the road...

FMC Lithium processing plant for batteries, drugs and industrial machinery.

One of the more humorous and ironic signs I pass at railroad crossings that have no gates.

First, it's so tiny that it can hardly be seen. And, I can just imagine someone calling after a 

"problem or emergency": "Hi, yeah, I'd like to report that I've hit by a train.

I can't get up because my legs are on the other side of the tracks. Thanks. Yes, I'll hold..."

Finally! A welcome sign IN to town.

Loved this!

Awww, home sweet home...

It was so bright out, and my eyes were hurting a bit from a slight uveitis flare up after the prick-in-the-eye issue in Spartanburg. The Dollar General came into view, and I thought I might have a shot at lower priced sunglasses. Sure enough, there was a good pair for $6.00; one dollar above the budgeted amount, but well worth it. I also found a good sized bag of pumpkin seeds for only a buck! I took off ole' Saggy and the two of us rested by a lamp post; I, enjoying my pumpkin seeds, Gatorade and looking so fion en ma new shayeds, and Saggy drying it's back in the sunlight! Ha! Then it was back to the grind...   

Gastonia seemed like a million miles away even if it was only six. I had to turn onto route 274 (or so I thought). Later, I discovered that I could have taken 74 and shaved off two miles. I finally, reached the edge of the west side of Gastonia...

The two burger giants. One grills and one fries. Easy to tell the difference.

There was smoke everywhere. I actually thought a beef processing plant had caught fire.

I did eventually turn left onto 74 and saw all my favorites had combined...

?

Workers be damned! (Kidding.)

Lines and shadows.

Gastonia was a neat place. It was the biggest town I'd been in since Athens, I think. I will enjoy my days here. The nights, however, would prove to be a bit more problematic. But that was still to come. My destination was Starbucks on Cox Road. I figured it would be a five mile walk through town, but ended up being much longer...

I stopped to reflect on things.

The day's theme was partially based on old restaurants with well-known names.

When I got to Starbucks, I was beat, but not beaten. I worked to get a post up and scoured Google Earth for potential sleep spots. One major problem with doing this is that most satellite and Street View images of North Carolina are taken in the summer. The trees have their leaves and obscur import information, like how to get into a woodsy area. Also, the spots themselves - when I arrive at them - are sometimes bare and open to the road. The goal is to find pine trees (they retain their ability to hide tired campers). But it is very hard to identify where they are on Google, due to all the deciduous trees around them. Pines are rather rare here.

I worked late - until about 8:30 p.m. - and then headed out into the night to investigate my choices. I found a place not far away, but it certainly was not ideal, as I would discover the next night. After setting up my tent, I cut away pricker bushes in a path to the road so that I could get back in more easily the next night. Then I went to "bed." Sleep came quickly, and my body finally got the rest it needed.

Gastonia Sleep Spot 1

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