VII. LAST DAY ON THE ROAD, FOR NOW
IS THAT GOLD IN THE COFFEE
I woke up with a light dew on me and my gear. I grabbed my towel and dried my gear. After packing everything, I left my gear and went inside the truck stop for a cup of coffee. I grabbed a medium cup, filled it, and approached the counter to pay. The cashier rang up my coffee, and the total came to over $3.00. I looked at the cashier with an expression of disgust, and said, "What? You're kidding, right?"
She informed me it wasn't a joke. The other cashier joked, "Yeah, we put gold in our coffee."
I stated I didn't feel like getting ripped off today, and left the coffee sitting on the counter. I grabbed my gear, and headed to the I40 on-ramp. I stood there, with no coffee, for about twenty minutes. I decided to try the next exit up.
I stopped along the shoulder, once, to try my luck at thumbing for a ride. As the cars whizzed past, I realized I was not in a good position to find a ride. I gathered my gear and continued to the next exit.
I woke up with a light dew on me and my gear. I grabbed my towel and dried my gear. After packing everything, I left my gear and went inside the truck stop for a cup of coffee. I grabbed a medium cup, filled it, and approached the counter to pay. The cashier rang up my coffee, and the total came to over $3.00. I looked at the cashier with an expression of disgust, and said, "What? You're kidding, right?"
She informed me it wasn't a joke. The other cashier joked, "Yeah, we put gold in our coffee."
I stated I didn't feel like getting ripped off today, and left the coffee sitting on the counter. I grabbed my gear, and headed to the I40 on-ramp. I stood there, with no coffee, for about twenty minutes. I decided to try the next exit up.
I stopped along the shoulder, once, to try my luck at thumbing for a ride. As the cars whizzed past, I realized I was not in a good position to find a ride. I gathered my gear and continued to the next exit.
35.720638,-81.155825
The next exit brought me to Claremont, North Carolina.
I found a Burger King, and made a beeline to the restaurant. I dropped my gear at a table with a power outlet, pulled out my charger, and began charging my Android.
I ordered some breakfast, and a large coffee. When my order was handed to me, I returned to my table. I sat there, eating, sipping, and cruising the world wide web.
I posted my pictures, updated my status, and planned my route.
With several cups of coffee- and breakfast- coursing through me, I left Burger King. I went to the back of the restaurant, in search of a cardboard box, to make a sign.
I found what I needed and headed for the I40 on-ramp. I sat there at the on-ramp for about fifteen minutes, making my new sign. After expelling some of the coffee, I attached the new sign to my pack, and headed East on I40.
I found a Burger King, and made a beeline to the restaurant. I dropped my gear at a table with a power outlet, pulled out my charger, and began charging my Android.
I ordered some breakfast, and a large coffee. When my order was handed to me, I returned to my table. I sat there, eating, sipping, and cruising the world wide web.
I posted my pictures, updated my status, and planned my route.
With several cups of coffee- and breakfast- coursing through me, I left Burger King. I went to the back of the restaurant, in search of a cardboard box, to make a sign.
I found what I needed and headed for the I40 on-ramp. I sat there at the on-ramp for about fifteen minutes, making my new sign. After expelling some of the coffee, I attached the new sign to my pack, and headed East on I40.
35.726748,-81.128634
I came across a rest area, which I had not noticed on the map. I needed to off-load some more coffee anyway, so I decided to stop.
I walked to the restroom, relieved myself, and rinsed the sweat off my body. After changing into a clean shirt, I walked over to the water fountain and refilled my empty water bottle.
As I was leaving the restroom, two men were standing nearby, talking. I asked the man with a cigarette if he could spare a smoke. He handed me a cigarette, and I headed to the rest area exit.
I walked to the restroom, relieved myself, and rinsed the sweat off my body. After changing into a clean shirt, I walked over to the water fountain and refilled my empty water bottle.
As I was leaving the restroom, two men were standing nearby, talking. I asked the man with a cigarette if he could spare a smoke. He handed me a cigarette, and I headed to the rest area exit.
35.726748,-81.128634
1,077 MILES BEHIND ME, 176 MILES TO GO
I stood at the on-ramp for about an hour and a half with my signs out, waving and smiling to the passing vehicles. I was planning to thumb for a ride from here for the rest of the day. If no ride was offered, I intended to stay at the rest area for the night.
After an hour and a half, an employee of the state approached me.
She said, "I gave you as much time as I can. I did my rounds, but you can't stay here. The state troopers will come and give you a big fine."
I stated I wasn't aware this would be a problem, and promptly excused myself. She expressed her regrets, and disgust, with the laws and wished me luck.
I grabbed my gear and walked about a quarter mile East, and posted my signs in the sun. I walked about fifty yards West, and stood in the shade, thumbing for a ride.
I didn't have to wait long, before a man and his sister stopped. I grabbed my gear and hustled to there car. The man got out of the passenger seat, greeted me with a handshake, and introduced himself as Paul. After I put my gear into the trunk of the car, I began to wonder if these people were religious.
I climbed into the back seat, and we started talking. Paul was my age, and a former 11B infantry man. Turns out, we attended basic training at the same fort; Fort Benning, GA. He reminded me of some long forgotten features of Fort Benning. The only thing I really remembered about Benning, was the sand.
Paul, and his sister Marie, were nice, level headed people. They were traveling from Asheville, North Carolina to the beach. Paul offered to take me to the beach, but I respectfully declined, stating, "I'm pretty exhausted, and all I really want is some much needed rest. And a shower."
During the ride, I learned Marie was getting married soon, and would be moving to Houston, Texas. 'What a small world', I thought to myself.
Paul asked me where, exactly, am I headed. I informed him I was headed to a small town called Centerville. Paul looked it up on the map, and decided it wasn't too far out of their way. He said he would drop me off at the front door of my destination.
Once we arrived to my destination, about two hours later, Paul offered me his card and said, "If you need any work, give me a call."
I shook his hand, offered my gratitude, and grabbed my gear. After Paul and Marie left, I looked at the card. Paul owns his own investment company.
I stood at the on-ramp for about an hour and a half with my signs out, waving and smiling to the passing vehicles. I was planning to thumb for a ride from here for the rest of the day. If no ride was offered, I intended to stay at the rest area for the night.
After an hour and a half, an employee of the state approached me.
She said, "I gave you as much time as I can. I did my rounds, but you can't stay here. The state troopers will come and give you a big fine."
I stated I wasn't aware this would be a problem, and promptly excused myself. She expressed her regrets, and disgust, with the laws and wished me luck.
I grabbed my gear and walked about a quarter mile East, and posted my signs in the sun. I walked about fifty yards West, and stood in the shade, thumbing for a ride.
I didn't have to wait long, before a man and his sister stopped. I grabbed my gear and hustled to there car. The man got out of the passenger seat, greeted me with a handshake, and introduced himself as Paul. After I put my gear into the trunk of the car, I began to wonder if these people were religious.
I climbed into the back seat, and we started talking. Paul was my age, and a former 11B infantry man. Turns out, we attended basic training at the same fort; Fort Benning, GA. He reminded me of some long forgotten features of Fort Benning. The only thing I really remembered about Benning, was the sand.
Paul, and his sister Marie, were nice, level headed people. They were traveling from Asheville, North Carolina to the beach. Paul offered to take me to the beach, but I respectfully declined, stating, "I'm pretty exhausted, and all I really want is some much needed rest. And a shower."
During the ride, I learned Marie was getting married soon, and would be moving to Houston, Texas. 'What a small world', I thought to myself.
Paul asked me where, exactly, am I headed. I informed him I was headed to a small town called Centerville. Paul looked it up on the map, and decided it wasn't too far out of their way. He said he would drop me off at the front door of my destination.
Once we arrived to my destination, about two hours later, Paul offered me his card and said, "If you need any work, give me a call."
I shook his hand, offered my gratitude, and grabbed my gear. After Paul and Marie left, I looked at the card. Paul owns his own investment company.
As I venture into the great wide open, I am sometimes offered food.
Some offer a ride, some offer money. In rare cases, a person will offer me all three, and then some.
However, most of the people pass me.
Many people look in the other direction, some smile or waive, and others look at me with disdain.
This truth is unavoidable. We live in a society where work is more important than the life we lead.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my adventures.
Some offer a ride, some offer money. In rare cases, a person will offer me all three, and then some.
However, most of the people pass me.
Many people look in the other direction, some smile or waive, and others look at me with disdain.
This truth is unavoidable. We live in a society where work is more important than the life we lead.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my adventures.