A Living Magazine - Day 254 - Homecoming - McLeansville to Whitsett

The spot had worked excellently. The sun was already well up by the time I got my act together and popped my face out the flap. I wondered how long this old fence had been here. During the night, I'd heard a small critter walk by and into these tangled trees. He'd probably waited until he heard me snoring... 

Good shelter if you can find it.

After the pack up, I left my symbol...

Every Nomad should have a mark. It both shows what he has temporarily "owned"

and has permanently now left for others, even if it is just the animals that live there too.

Black vultures pretending not to see the deer carcass they had been feasting on when

I walked out of the sleep spot. Tricky little devils!

The black vultures that had been all over the dead deer on the other side of the road acted all nonchalant as I passed by. They did this, so that I wouldn't go over and steal their meal. I'd seen it before in Alabama. As soon as they see another potential predator/scavenger, they get all like, "La, dee dahhh, nothin' to see here, just keep a'walkin'..." Fortunately for them, I wasn't that hungry. Ha!

Only a short distance down the road I saw the real street view of a quarry that I'd only seen on Google the morning before. It is so neat to see things live, that you've just seen in images. It happens every day, and it doesn't matter what they are...

It took this photo, because I found it interesting how this company would excavate and then so

clearly separate the various materials. It was efficient and very well organized.

I guess maybe others might only see piles of rocks--okay,

finding this interesting is one of my disabilities. Ha!

Another shot to be added to my "Muddy Rivers of the Southern Winter" series.

This trek from McLeansville to Sedalia was a hilly one. I always dread seeing the next hill, but strangely, they really aren't that bad once you get to the bottom. When walking, the incline seems much less angled. Hard to explain. Ya kinda have ta be there, as it were...

Hill after hill...  At least there's a bit of shoulder.

I liked the materials and architecture of this place; kind of Mediterranean.

That's a water tower in the background.

I was thirsty, hungry, and needed a break at some point. Whenever I get like this, I become just a bit irritable (imagine that!). And, one of the things that is most irking to me (and I won't spend a lot of time ranting on this, but...) is the constant appearance of churches. 

Now, don't get me wrong. Churches play an important part in people's lives. I understand, appreciate and respect this. What they don't do is offer solace to the weary traveler. Think about it. For about six days a week they are empty. They are NOT there to give water to those who literally thirst, nor food to those who hunger (unless they have a soup kitchen--which I hardly ever see), nor overnight shelter to those who need to rest, nor do they clothe those who are exposed in the cold of winter and baking heat of summer. They are just buildings taking up space, carefully maintained, fully funded, greatly cared for by their congregations; great for spiritually symbolic purposes. But, let's face it they are absolutely and completely useless to those who are in physical need.

I've often wondered what would happen if I went over and knocked on the door, asking for a cup of water, a piece of bread, a pair of gloves, or to warm up inside, dry my belongings on the lawn, or GOD forbid, camp for one night on the lawn. What do you think the answer would be? Probably nothing at all! Why? Because no one's around, except for the Lord of course. Cold comfort when one's throat is dry, frankly.

But, hey! Now at least they have pretty LED signs to entertain me as I walk by their ten acre estates. I want to "drink" in every bit of important information about this "Urgent Church"...  

Well, no lemonade, but at least I can "like" them on Facebook. Yippeee!!

No need for "hell," when "heaven" is locked away from those in need. Now even more thirsty and tired, I ventured on...

Ever wonder where those highway signs are stored?

In a space rented out by the church! Social religion and car culture, colluding

for the benefit of all mankind.

I knew that once I got into Sedalia there would be some kind of place to stop and eat. I thought I'd even seen a McDonald's on the map. It was sunny out and still quite warm. My sweater had remained in the backpack. And, appropriately, I saw that one neighborhood was taking advantage of this sunny spot, with a very extensive solar field. Almost reminded me of California...

Finally, Sedalia!

This sign was across from a very nice campus of old brick buildings.

I wish now that I'd taken some shots of them. However, my mission really

just involved resting and I didn't diverge very far from it.

Winner of "Cutest Lil' Ole Post Office in the Nation Award."

Then, able to provide even what even God's "Urgent Church" could not, the golden arches of McDonald's...

McDonald's brick work.

I happily bought a McDouble meal ($3.68), with refillable drink. Drink, food, shelter, rest, and a place to do my work online. The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

When I'd rehydrated, eaten, rested and published a post, it was time to find a sleep spot nearby. The clouds had rolled in quickly and the sky threatened rain. In this situation I always like to get to a camp site before it grows too dark...

Beautiful early blooming yellow trumpet daffodils (Narcissus).

Just ignore the styrofoam trash. That's what I do.

I traveled out of Sedalia and into the tiny community of Whitsett. It was really time to get my shit together and settle down for the night. I passed by a large tract of land where motorhomes were parked and some wooden booths were being erected. I couldn't tell if it was related to this, or not...

I didn't think the Methodists were into revival type stuff. And, I could not glean much from their website. All I knew was that rain was coming...

A short distance further I found my sleep spot, just past the road for Walnut Crossing, an incredibly dense subdivision. I had a good spot though, and even the constant in and out of cars from that neighborhood didn't bother me a bit. I forgot to take a picture of the tent. But, you've seen it a few times by now and know what it looks like. Ha! Besides, there would be a chance in the morning.

I climbed in and fell asleep, awoken at about 2:30 a.m. by the tapping of light rain on the tarp/fly. It was so light, than even when I got up to place the extra blue hiking tarp on top, there was not enough water surface tension to hold it there. So, I figured I would simply wait until I felt a drop on my forehead, or the morning--when no tarp would be needed, whichever came first.  

Sedalia Sleep Spot