Day 44 – Cincinnati

First of all, I am so sorry that it took so long to post this. I have no excuse. I was just lazy. Here is what happened on the 25 mile day going into Cincinnati 🙂

 

The weather was perfect and I was ready to make it to Cincy at all costs. My feet were in desperate need of a break and so was the rest of me. Domino needed one too. We walked for a while early in the morning with no problems. The first 8 miles are usually pretty easy every day. I ended up on a small road that was connecting me from one good road to the other.

Sometimes you just have to take a short section of walking on a dangerous road in order to get to a better road. Most drivers were being good and slowing down and moving over for me. There are always a few A-holes though who think that I have just ruined their lives by putting myself in their way to where they have to slightly move their foot over and press down on the brake and then move their foot back onto the gas pedal after they pass. I guess that is too hard for some people. My bad…

After one guy that was just a total jerk almost ran me off the road I was boiling. I have very good anger management and it came into practice here. I needed to sit down and breathe a little to chill out. A break was in store anyways. I chug some water and give Domino her food and water and we sat next to an old cable box or something on the side of the small street. I looked over and realized I was across the street from a daycare and some of the teachers were out there looking at me.

 

I was thinking that I was about to be hassled because I did kind of look like I don’t need to be there and I realize that they have to protect the kids and with all the weirdos out there in the world that they are probably on high-alert. A pretty lady that worked there came down and shouted from across the street, “do you want some water?”

 

So much for me being right about anything, ever. I was relieved and I did ask her if she could fill my water bottle up. She took it and went in to fill it up. When she came back, she brought sandwiches and snacks for me and Domino too. I told what I was doing and thanked her for her kindness. Domino highly appreciated the string cheese!!

I got back on the road and shortly made it to the larger road with a sidewalk and was relieved. It crossed my mind and I had to check… yep, I left my good cell phone charger back at the hotel. F@#*! I made a note to stop into an AT&T store and buy another one. I was entering the suburbs of Cincinnati at this point and was confident that I’d pass one.

I did. I walked in and asked if I could by the charger that they make for my phone. I have back up chargers that work but the one that came with my phone works amazingly fast. It was worth it to buy a new one as I often have to charge up quickly. They didn’t sell them 🙁

He was saying that it was something that Samsung probably sells but AT&T doesn’t sell them. It made sense and I felt silly for thinking that they would. I told him about the walk because my cart and Domino were sitting right outside and he looked like he wanted to ask but was trying to be polite. That happens often. He knew people who had overdosed too. We talked about that for a while. It’s so bad how many people this is affecting. The type of phone charger that I needed may or may not have gone missing from the back room. I wouldn’t know 😉

Kept walking and made into a beautiful town named Anderson. The houses were stunning as was the landscape. Quite hilly but worth the views. I felt like I was in a modern-day Pleasantville. A young man pulls over and asks if I needed a ride. I did because my feet felt like some huge mustached man was slamming a sledge hammer on them every time I took a step. I declined though and told him what I was doing and thanked him for stopping. A kid on his way home from high school asking a total stranger if he needed help. I was impressed. Way to go kid. Keep it up!

 

I FINALLY made it to the Ohio River Trail trailhead. I had been looking forward to it because it is a paved trail that takes me right into Cincinnati and NO CAR TRAFFIC!!! Me and Domino laid in the grass on the side of the trail and watched airplanes take off from a small airport nearby as I dozed off for a nap. I propped my feet up onto Lt. Dan and let the swelling go down a little. People that passed by tried to avoid looking as they probably thought that I was a bum or a drunk or something that they didn’t want to get involved with. I don’t blame them. We were looking rough. Didn’t care. I had a great nap.

 

I was struggling a lot at this point as I had already reached 20 miles and still had 5 to go. I trudged along taking frequent breaks and taking in the scenery. I rounded a corner and saw the Cincinnati skyline in the distance! I sat on a bench and elevated my feet and took another quick nap while reflecting on walking all the way to Cincinnati. Even though I wasn’t technically there yet, I knew I would make it.

 

I slowly slugged along and was so thrilled to be taking in familiar elements of the city life-style. I live in the city of Atlanta and I love being a city boy. I had missed it. America is full of a bunch of “the middle of nowhere” to a city dweller. There were many people out running, walking, cycling, etc. I finally made it to downtown and walked through all of the people and shops so that I could get to the hotel.

 

I finally made it and we looked crazy when I rolled up to the front desk. Luckily, the girl working was cute and nice and interested in the walk. I considered flirting with her but didn’t have the energy. I just got my room key and settled in to the room and that was that.