Day 180

I walked across the street to the National Forest office before getting started today. I was hoping to get some information to help with camping for the next few days. The woman who worked inside was intrigued by the walk so I began to talk about it. Then I told her why and she was very happy that I walked in. Her family is going through some stuff because of addiction right now. We talked about it and I wished I could’ve stayed longer but I had to get going.
I stopped in for breakfast at a place called the country cafe. I ended up telling stories the entire time as everyone was interested and they didn’t charge me for my breakfast. Good day so far…
I start walking knowing that I have to go uphill for 12 miles today and then downhill for another 6. It started off ok and the first few big hills were hard but manageable. Jon and his wife, the people that fed me dinner last night, came by to bring me a sack lunch. I love when I get to eat a sandwich and other snacks rather than clif bars. 
Things were going well until the wind picked up. It was blowing nonstop in my direction all day after that. Not even a half a second break. Just a constant gust blowing right at me. The hills became harder and traffic was trying to kill me. Literally. They didn’t give a crap. I had to start walking further into the road just to get them to slow down. Sometimes that still didn’t work.
Just as I was about to just start standing in the middle of the road in protest, a nice couple pulls over and I calmed down instantly. We talked for a few and then went our separate ways. I stopped for lunch later on and was sitting by the road and getting pissed off again. Mainly at the wind but at everything else too just because.
Then of course, right before I was going to do something stupid, some nice ladies pulled over and we talked for a while. One of them had a granddaughter who had overdosed and survived. It was a good heartfelt conversation and I was very thankful they stopped. 
After lunch it was more hills wind and traffic. I was thinking of how I could rig up some retractable spike strips onto my cart. That would’ve came in handy today. I looked up and there was only one steep hill left until I finally reached the summit. I pulled off the road for some water and checked my phone. 
The woman I met this morning told me that she had a moment after I left and wanted to thank me for doing this walk. I brushed off all of the day’s struggles right then and there. She reminded me of why I’m doing this. From then on I didn’t care about the challenges. Just the objective. 
I put some music and reached the summit. On the other side of the mountain, my side of the road had two lanes. Beautiful. Now I could get some space. I still had to move into the lane to get some people to move over for me but it was pretty easy from then on. Just 6 miles of downhill bliss. 
I came upon a rest area and decided to camp here even though it says not to. This allows me to have water and a bathroom in the morning. Two pretty nice things to have out here in the middle of nowhere. Now I get to sit back and watch the play by play of the football game on my phone.