The coyotes got up an hour earlier this morning, getting up at 2 am. The ten million birds served as my alarm clock and had me up and moving at 7. After walking the mile back to the highway, I was ready to complete the 25 miles into my day off in Casper. I could very well feel the past two days in my legs.
10 miles into the run I ran into a slurry seal operation that had traffic reduced to one lane. It was nice running with a coned barrier and a full lane of traffic plus a shoulder to myself. The cost, however, was that my shoes picked up about a half inch of freshly poured tar and gravel. I distracted a flagger for a couple of minutes with my story and she was promptly yelled at by her partner for almost allowing a truck to drive onto a closed road.
A few miles past the airport, I stopped at a Taco John's-the first fast food restaurant since Jackson. I drank at least a half gallon of cold Dr. Pepper with my small cup. Free refills didn't stand much of a chance.
I proceeded to complete the four miles south to the Raicevich home where I would be staying for the next couple of days. After a mile of getting blasted by loose gravel by semi-trucks, I found a bike path that followed the North Platte River. It took me right to the road I was looking for and arrived at their home and met Olivia, their daughter.
After an awesome dinner of pizza and the great company of Troy, Jodi and their three kids, I went to the guest room in the garage and crashed on one of the most comfortable beds of the trip. I had survived the Wyoming flats, the last real desolate stretch of this entire run. Having wonderful hosts to welcome me back to civilization was a great plus.
Cool statue outside of Fort Casper
To our brave and adventurous Holden,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your interview in the Casper Star Tribune it dawned on me that you might not realize the impact you have on all of us following you on your running trek across the country. First of all, we are mentally running with you. Your blog is enlightening and terrific. As we read, we think, what would we have done if we were in your worn shoes? Would we have given up when you were shivering in a cold rain storm or pestered by a pack of dogs? Would we have sat in that disgusting overstuffed chair abandoned by a lake? (I don’t think I would have eaten the piece of candy you found on the road even if it was in the wrapper… but then again it might go well with a warm Gatorade.)
Even though you don’t have a “cause” you are running for, there is something wonderful unfolding here. We love reading about all the people you have met along the way who have given you food, shelter and company. You are a light that illuminates how we are all connected by kindness.
Thank you for that. Keep on running and writing!