Day 49

I didn’t sleep well at all. I was comfortable and really happy with how the tent was holding up but it was just one of those nights. I couldn’t sleep and neither could Domino. Maybe it was the noise of the cars passing by or maybe it was the rain. I had a head ache and contemplated just packing up at 2:30 AM and walking.

I knew that wouldn’t happen. I just had the thought. I finally went back to sleep and tossed and turned my way to sunrise. I heard a break in the rain and packed my stuff up and ate a granola bar. I only had about 9 miles to go today and I figured I’d just try and fly through it.

I had to put rain gear on myself, Domino, and Lt. Dan. We set out and I felt like I had a hang over. A terrible head ache. The rain was bothering me, every move Domino made was bothering me, cars were pissing me off…

OK breathe Brett. I took some breathes and collected myself. I gave Domino a pat and told her that today was going to be rough. Had no other choice but to just keep going so I did. Walked for about 2 hours straight in the rain and made it pretty far into my goal for the day. I saw a place to seek shelter from the rain for a second and chose to pull up under it so that I could put some calories in me and Domino as the granola bar was burned off long ago.

I got myself wet when I took my rain gear off. Stupid. Didn’t matter though. I was so close to this one sign that I was very excited to get to. I ate some beef jerky and gave Domino a few pieces also. We set back out and were both in worse shape for stopping. I needed those calories though.

So the American Discovery Trail is a route that I am using as a guide on my walk across America. I am not following it turn for turn but I will be on and off it for my entire trip. It has the option of taking a northern or a southern route. This sign marks the intersection of where you have to make the choice. Keep going straight to take the northern route, turn left to take the southern route. I’m a Georgia boy. I always choose southern…

I was so glad that I’d made it to that point as it is a big milestone for cross country hikers who use the America Discovery Trail. I was also very close to Indiana. I walked on and came to State Line Road. I had crossed into Indiana and immediately was faced with dismay as I knew this road was going to be bad to walk on. It had no shoulder and it was way busier than I thought that a “State Line Road” would be. Cars were flying on it. I had to bravely walk head on as there was a ditch and literally nowhere to go but the far side of the pavement. When people reach a certain speed in their cars, I think they forget how to slow down. They just whizzed right by me. Most of them splashing water from the road onto me and some people even honking at me. Not one person slowed down to wait for the opposite side traffic pass by and then get into the other lane to pass me. Fuck all of them. Seriously.

I get to a sign that says Indiana and I almost got killed to get to it. I take the stupid picture and get onto an ever busier street with no shoulder. I see a Sheriff car pass by and once he was out of sight I wished that I had flagged him down and asked for an escort to the road that I needed to get to that was about half a mile ahead so that I could get off of this busy highway. I chose to jog a little to lower my chances by decreasing the amount of time that I was on that road.

This was a 4 lane highway with NOWHERE to go except on the pavement. I literally had to jog in the center of the right lane so that people would take the hint to get over into their left lane to get around me. They didn’t like that. Again, fuck them. I finally get to my street and was safe from everyone who would rather put my life at risk than slow down for 5 seconds.

At this point, I was over it. My feet were soaked as was everything else. Domino was hating life too. We were only about a mile from a hotel though. I had arranged to stay here because of the rain. It is supposed to be worse tomorrow with stronger thunderstorms. Other hikers may call me a wimp but I think it’s just stupid to walk in that when it’s unnecessary. The rest of the week is supposed to be beautiful. I’ll make up the miles then.

I get to the hotel around noon and the hotel didn’t have any rooms ready until I told them about the walk. Amazing how that one room just magically appeared. I didn’t even care for cordial politeness. I just got my key and went to my room to take all of my wet clothes off and get myself together and get Domino dry. I dried her off, hung up all of our wet stuff, took a shower and then headed next door to a restaurant to grab a burger so that I could take some ibuprofen and a nap.

It worked. I feel much better now and I have officially caught up on my blog!!!! YAY! Off day tomorrow and I am going to meet up with an advocacy group here in Southern Indiana. I am looking forward to it!