valdosta to hostel in the forest

4/14
41.5 miles
found:
more butterflies, gloves, and a nice old crescent wrench (craftsman!)

stayed in argyle, GA with a very kind family. the indian woman at the gas station and the mexican woman at the little store across the street both told me that i would not find a place to pitch my tent in this town. 'people don't like that kind of thing around here'. but i followed my intuition down a street to the left and approached the first folks i saw sitting on their porch. they had seen me riding on the highway earlier, which may have helped, but i also found these folks just have good spirits.

i connected with the mother in the morning as i sat and ate the breakfast i had cooked*. we spoke of god being love, these being the last days, and the human condition. she asked what denomination i am and i explained that, though i feel the holy spirit in my life, i choose not to be part of any religion. she seemed to understand and respect that.

when the father told me he is a mechanic i jumped up and retrieved the wrench that i'd found! he accepted it and expressed his appreciation for its quality. *bacon with greens and onion over rolled oats. picked these very tasty greens from plants growing in two spots in the street gutters of homerville. they may have been some kind of broccoli. many of you will think this is not a healthy place to pick greens from... but i figured it is okay if it is only a rare practice.

4/15
nearly 60 miles

found:
more gloves (still more left hand), good heavy copper wire, knife blade(dirt knife!)

story of the day:
as i was struggling slowly into a headwind, without much energy left, a wish that i often have at these times, for a pickup truck to pull over and offer me a ride, came true! the guy's name was Union and he was from waycross i think? anyway he was very kind and would not accept gas money.

it was like in 'the never ending story' when falcor swoops in and grabs atreyu out of the swamp of sadness.