Part I
This is the first installment of a story about a little walk I took sometime back. I was hoping to start taking fairly long "hikes" over the next few years to see if I thought I could get myself in good enough shape to take off across several states on a long adventure. Silly, I know, but something I've thought about for a long time. Ever read "Walk Across America"? I have, a couple of times, and there is something attractive about the idea of trekking across the country and meeting folks from little towns between here and there. Of course I would have my mandolin with me and hopefully engage in some music-making from time to time. Anyway, a while back, I took off for what I hoped would be a couple of days of hiking and camping. Following is the result of this effort.
ON MY WAY
So here I am at Woodson County State Fishing Lake. A hard-to-find pleasant surprise. The lake is as smooth as glass, only an occasional soft breath of air now. Blue skies, not a cloud. No boats or other water craft either. Peaceful indeed. I had to trek with the pack on a good bit before finding a place to set up camp. I was just looking for a flat place to put my tent but there isn't one near the dam. I walked across it twice and up and down the berms along the road. I finally tracked back past my starting point and left my pack by a water meter next to the road, seemed like an odd place for a water meter but the grass was trimmed and the area was flat. If I had to, I would put my tent up here. I walked on without the pack and came on a dumping station. A yet larger flat area. I entertained thoughts of hiking on to Toronto as I came upon a maintenance yard. It was a fenced area with a building that had two garage doors, a couple of pickups and a couple of pieces of equipment. I walked all the way around the building looking through a couple of windows as I went. I saw no one. When I found the door I opened it and said “hello”. To my surprise there was a response. From behind a door labeled “OFFICE” came a young lady who welcomed me to the lake and gave me brochures on this lake and Toronto and Fall River. As it turns out camping is free here and just a bit farther down the road was this campsite. Picnic table and all. Well, there will be more to come, but just now my Beanee Weanee's are calling.
Woopsie. I brought plenty of kitchen matches but nothing to strike them on. I was able to light a couple by striking them against the rough paint on the picnic table leg. I remember lighting matches on my jeans zipper but that didn't work either. I scraped the sulfur off of all but two matches. My plan for tomorrow is to drink a small carton of milk and eat a couple of pop tarts. Then I'll head out for Toronto. Hopefully there will be a store or marina where I can buy some matches. The coyotes are already barking tonight. I don't know what's in season but there were shots fired right about sundown. Deer I reckon.
(to be continued)
