Day 86

I woke up early and wanted to go back to sleep but I got up so that I could hang out with the crew. How often will I have the chance to hang out with 4 other people on adventures!? We all talked while packing up and enjoyed the moment. I was the last to leave and went down to the river before starting to walk.

I took in the moment and got myself psyched up for the day. Walking was pretty boring actually. I saw a few turtles soaking up the sun but nothing else really. I started singing out loud. Whatever song came to mind.

I saw a pretty house on a hill far away and stopped to take a picture. While I was holding my phone up, I heard the sound and looked up and Lieutenant Dan took off rolling on his own down into a ditch. Luckily, he remained upright and I was able to fetch him out without any issues. It was kind of funny. Luckily, Domino wasn’t in it at the time…

I was approaching a town and read the signs about the history of the town that they had posted. It’s an old railroad town from the late 1800s. It’s been vacated and rebuilt 3 different times. One time, in the early 1900s, they decided to build a jail. A very small stone structure. The guy who the town hired to build it got arrested for public intoxication and was the first person to be held in it. If you build it….

When I walked into town the fire alarm started going off. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard a small town fire alarm but it’s pretty intense. I had to make sure domino’s ears were ok. She is used to loud noises by now I guess because it didn’t seem to be phasing her much. It stopped after a few minutes anyways.

We roll up to a restaurant. A really neat bar and grill that has probably seen some great times. I walk in and a man told me to pull up and grab a seat and that my meal was on him. Sweet!

Great guy named Tom. He had hosted another cross country walker at his house just a week or so before and we talked about that and about his mission that he is on. He has gone from 600 pounds to around 300 from dieting and riding his bike. Very motivational and inspiring guy. I enjoyed his and his friend’s company and we became friends on facebook.

With a full belly, I went on back to the trail. I had heard about a hostel up ahead and wanted to stay there for the night. I get there and it’s a tiny little town and the building stood out. I pull up and was met by a small town reporter to do an interview for the Fulton Sun newspaper.

I did the interview while sitting outside and right when it finished, my friend Tom that is cycling from Orlando to Oregon rolls up. I say goodbye to the reporter and hello to Tom. Tom decides to stay there with me for the night. He was the guy I ran into just a couple of days ago. We talked for a while on the patio and then went inside.

This place was amazing! Only $5 and had everything you could ask for. Supposedly it was donated by a woman who loved the Katy Trail. It’s totally on the honor system and people respect the hell out of it. The place was in great shape to have no overseer. Tom and I enjoyed it.

I made Ramen noodle tacos for dinner. Yeah. Don’t ask. They were freaking amazing. Then laid down on a double mattress and slept great!!!!