A Living Magazine - Day 274 - Homecoming - Wake Forest to Franklinton

It was my last morning with the Conrads. I didn't need to leave until near sunset, because I could find a sleep spot in the next town more effectively under the cover of darkness. We puttered around a bit during the day. Jeff worked in his office and I at my writing. Natalie brought Spencer to school.

I was in need of a watch and had enough money to buy one. So, the plan was to drive to Walmart, buy the watch, stop at Wendy's for some dinner and then they would drop me off between Wake Forest and Youngsville, right along Route 1 Alt.

The time came to go, and the four of us piled in the car. We went to Walmart and looked over the watches. I'd  wanted to get a pedometer but they were just too expensive in watch form. I know my pace very well now anyway, and as I would discover I could estimate distance very accurately just using the time. I have adjusted my average walking speed down to 3 mph, from 3.33. I'm a relatively slow walker compared to just about everyone I've walked with or paced myself against. Some other numbers I remember while walking...

1 mile = 20 minutes

0.5 miles = 10 minutes

264 feet = 1 minute

With these, I can estimate within five minutes or so exactly what time I will arrive. Conversely, if I am delayed, I see how much time I've lost and recalculate. Similarly, if I am not sure of the distance I need to cover I will know by the amount of elapsed time whether I've gone way too far, or not far enough. In short, no more need for a pedometer. The only thing I miss is the other info (number of steps, calories burned, fat burned, etc.). But all of that info is available online once the distance is known.

I found a reasonably priced watch with the three extra things I need: water resistance, alarm, and light. At check out the Conrads intervened and purchased the watch along with two bags of jerky for me. The watch and the jerky would come in extremely useful in the next five days as you will see.

When we were done, we headed over to Wendy's and got a last supper (so to speak). We were joking around as usual about politics and other things. I mentioned in an earlier post that Jeff has a extra keen sense of humor, super-quick wit and mixes them both with a mischievous streak that pretty much kept us all laughing the whole time. And, I did an impression of Elmo endorsing Donald Trump. Channeling my inner Elmo is always fun.

I lost track of the time and noticed it was 7:40 p.m. and dark out. We left and headed to Route 1 Alt and out toward Youngsville. I'd forgotten just how quickly distance goes by in the car. And, we ended up in Youngsville proper. It was okay, I knew I'd still be able to find a place along the highway. We parted at a gas station, and it was bittersweet goodbye. When they drove away and I was back on my wallk again, I smiled continuously, but admit to being a little bit choked up. My stay with the Conrads had been a stupendous experience; far more enjoyable and satisfying than I'd ever hoped to imagine. I missed them immediately and still do more than a week later. I dearly look forward to the time when we will be together again--hopefully the many, many times.

I bucked up and pulled on my survival-thinking cap. I had a sleep spot to find and with the Conrads' warning about copperheads (one had bitten Natalie last year and they had killed several others on their property) and spiders, more to be vigilant about. I walked quite a bit further than I thought I would which was good and this habit of walking extra miles each day would stick with me for the next hundred miles, shortening my trip by two days. And as we will see, there were other reasons for the longer periods of walking.

I wasn't sure which town I was in, but I finally saw a place that was level with the road. All the other spots along the way had been too far down embankments. With this opportunity, I turned and darted in as soon as I saw traffic lighten up.

The place was rough, but not overly so. I found a level spot and as the temperature dropped, I was happy to get the tent up and crawl in...

Being in the tent again gave me that feeling like one gets after a short warm vacation in Florida, then returning to Maine to a cold dark house, before the heat has been turned up. In truth, it felt like my visit with the Conrads was more of a pleasant dream and that I'd been staying in my tent all along. It didn't take very long to reacquaint myself with the hard ground, the tight sleeping bag with the splitting zipper, Saggy hogging half the tent, the feel of my shoes sitting outside the sleeping bag, all the stuff from my pockets making the little side net droop down, the sound of peepers getting more and more frigid and the purple glow of the clear moonlight. I took a picture of the full moon through the tent flap. It was the fifth full moon I'd slept below since leaving Allyson's house way back in Minnesota...

Franklinton Sleep Spot