Blog-azic

On Sunday the 14 th of September, I awoke about 9 o'clock. I'd spent a couple nights in the old shelter by that point, so I was sleeping well and past dawn. See, when you're not comfortable in sleep, you'll wake up pretty soon after dawn. Well, I put a few more hours work into my camp - sprucing it up for the Dad's visit. I added some more leaves to the shelter and put some heavy rocks along one side to support the wooden frame (the shelter was built on a shelf in the hill with one wall on a slope). And I put up a clothes line and hung up my clothes. I didn't bring that many on account of I had to lug everything down there with me. In all, my pack consisted of: a knapsack, a satchel, poncho, wool cloak, wool pants, t-shirt, a small cooking pot, small cast iron skillet, a rusty tin cup, two big Nalgenes, dried tea, cooking herbs, rice, soup mix, rope, wooden backpack frame and some other small items (like knives, cell phone and charger, handkerchief, etc.). I al...

Woke up this morning at Simone's. Slept on the floor again, and again was real comfy (except the AC was on all night - a bit chilly). I've been feeling hungry since last night, so I went to Crumb's Bakery and bought a loaf of bread and some cookies for Cora later. Then to the library and ACME to get some business done. Had an IRA to roll over, phone bill to pay - you know all about it. Change my address to the post office box because I don't have a room anymore. Gave that up Sept. 2 when I left for my trip. I figure I can just crash with friends, or sleep in the park or something. Anyways, I'll be in and out of the city camping and whatnot. So, tomorrow when I leave Simone's, I might just go up to Bong Hill and camp. Now, that's the hill that overlooks Athens. I wrote about going up there back in May, I think it was, and on that little adventure I had so much fun and met so many people (it's a popular spot with the students) that I said to myself on my b...

Well I rushed off the computer last time all in a hurry to listen to that bell tower at the University of Rio Grande. So noon rolls around and there I am standing by the tower waiting for the bells to start - just trying to hold back all the anticipation welling up inside me because boy do I like the sound of bells. I have fond memories of doing yard work at my dad's house in the summer and catching a hymn played on the bells at a neighborhood church and stopping what I'm doing just to listen. So then I'm that much more disappointed when the bells don't ring. Now isn't that something? Here they got this real nice bell tower with all these pretty bells hanging there. And you can see them because there's just a metal screen around them. And the darn thing doesn't even play! Not even at noon on a school day! Go figure. So, after a stop at a bakery I hit the road and did real well. I'd finally gotten the hang of riding for long periods and I made pretty good...

So Saturday the 8th was mainly spent preparing for my father's visit on the 9th. I dreamt all day of the promised diner we'd catch. "I'm gonna eat a lot of carbs and some meat," I said to myself. "Then I'm gonna go to the store and buy more food for the camp." You can tell I was hungry. Riding a hundred miles on a pedal bike really gets the metabolism kicked into high gear. I spent most of the morning in a kyack (lord, I'm a bad speller!) that I rented from a couple high school-aged boys. It cost $10 an hour, but they only charged me $10 eventough I had it for longer. I tried to make it all around the lake, but that's a big lake. I'd get a better sense of how big tomorrow. I also spent some time worrying about the bike tire. I tried to patch it a couple more times with no luck. About the last time I was trying, a white sports car pulled up in the parking lot near Vesuvius and a large man greeted me. He introduced himself as Keith, the cam...

Well, last Friday I spent about all day trying to fix a flat tire and getting no where, both literally and figuratively. I found the hole easy enough, but the darn thing kept blowing off the patch, and then only after I'd put it on the tire and inflated it up. Figures. Don't buy a glue-less patch kit from Wal-Mart. In fact, if you're looking for anything of quality, stay away from that store. Anyway, I also worked on my shelter. I selected a spot that was halfway between the boat dock and the Oak Hill camp ground. Technically, I shouldn't have been camping there because one isn't allowed to set up primitave camps in that area (you have to walk about a couple miles out on the lakeshore trail), but I said, "I'd bet that there ain't no rangers gonna walk that path." And, I was right. I didn't even see anyone else on that path. Well, I got my camp set up and that was heartening, but that bike tire sure did make me sour. I was stomping through the w...

When I left you last, I had arrived back at Lake Vesuvius, Wayne National Forest, Ironton District, and I had begun to turn my attention to my bike. Now, that bike would cause me more headaches than I care to remember right now, so let's leave that scene for a bit and skip ahead to yesterday when I rode my (fixed) bicycle into Ironton. I awoke to grey skies forboding rain. I crawled out of my spacious stick and leaf hut and pondered what to do. Ryan had left for Athens just last night and wouldn't be back until Sunday, so I had some alone time on my hands. I'd planned to ride into Ironton today, but the rain made me feel uneasy about that. So, I decided just to eat breakfast and take it from there. Rain did drizzle down off and on while I ate, but because it wasn't much I decided to make the ride. It'd be fun to visit the town. Plus, I had a birthday present for my sister I wanted to mail. So, six miles into town without a hitch. The new inner tube Ryan brought bac...

Oh my. It has been quite a while since I've updated last. Please forgive me, but I've just emerged from a ditch on the side of State Route 93 where I've been trapped under a pile of logs that broke loose from a truck that was driving past me while en route to the Wayne. At least now I smell like cedar ... Of course, THAT WAS A JOKE, MOM! I stayed the night in Gallipolis at the William Ann Motel on September 5 (the date of my last post). As I was leaving the library, I chatted with the librarians who told me two things. 1. There ain't much between Gallipolis and the Wayne, so eat before you leave, and 2. there's a great hotdog place called "Remo's" right down the street. After a footlong with the works (which includes hot sauce), I said, "Well now, this is really a pretty town. Lots of old buildings, historical signs, a nice park - and it is fifty miles yet to the Wayne - I'll stay here the night." Got a room, stowed my bike, TOOK A SHOWER...

Delays, delays. It turns out that my journey did not begin until just yesterday. I had widdled away my time last week playing a video game, God of War, and by the time I's ready to do some business the businesses were closed! And they didn't open again until Tuesday (on account of the holiday). So, I waited patiently in Athens until Tuesday came. Then, after a fast-paced morning of business, I got on the road. I'm riding a new bike and carrying gear on my back headed still for the Wayne National Forest, Ironton District. My friend Ryan is there waiting for me now. Boy, I'll tell you, those first ten miles out of Athens were killer. I felt overwhellmed: "What kind of hair-brained plan is this? How do I expect to make it all that way with this pack?" But, I kept going. When I finally left Athens County for Meigs, I stopped at a small grocery to refill my water bottles. But, the woman attendant informed me, "No plumbing." Fortunately, there was another ...