Date: December 31 2000
Trail Day: 214
Miles Today: 35
Location: Days Inn, Montgomery
Section Mile: FAR 103
ECT Mile: 3246
A personal record today - 35 miles. Was quite worn out when I got to Montgomery. Also saw
the first Cypress trees in the hike. I thought they grow only in South
Florida. I have now seen Armadillos, Cypress trees and flat terrain, all
things I have seen in Florida. The only thing missing is the warm weather.
Got up to partially frozen water bottles. I was woken up by some people
shouting. There was a fire in one of the homes.
Had lunch in Wetumpka. People are very friendly and wave to me from cars. A
police officer stopped me to talk and make sure things were OK.
Most of the shops are closed because of Sunday and New Years eve. Got a very
good room at the Days Inn.
Date: January 1 2001
Trail Day: 215
Miles Today: 16
Location: Knights Inn, Montgomery
Section Mile: FAR 119
ECT Mile: 3262
Decided to do a short day and just walk across town to the southern side. It
was very interesting. The downtown was nice. It was deserted because it was a
holiday. Then the neighborhood became quite rough and run down. I look scruffy
enough to fit right in. One guy tried to buy drugs from me, another tried to
sell me gold chains, one asked me if I was homeless. A lady police officer
looked at me dramatically while driving by. The look said - Be careful mister,
I 'm keeping my eyes on you.
Got near I-65. There are atleast 10 motels here.
Date: January 2 2001
Trail Day: 216
Miles Today: 0
Location: Knights Inn, Montgomery
Section Mile: FAR 119
ECT Mile: 3262
A 0 day
Date: January 3 2001
Trail Day: 217
Miles Today: 25
Location: Near Davenport
Section Mile: FAR 144
ECT Mile: 3287
Because I have no watch I had failed to realize that I was no longer in
Eastern Time Zone. I have been in a different time zone since I entered
Alabama.
Had breakfast at Shoney's and started off. A rather uneventful day. 2 Police
cars slowed down to look at me but then moved on. Its somewhat difficult to
find a tenting spot here because US 31 is a somewhat busy road and most of the
adjoining land is private and fenced off. In general I try to stay out of
fenced areas. I found a good unfenced spot near Davenport and decided to stop
although I still had another hour of daylight left. My knees are also hurting,
so its a good idea any way. I think its the hard road that causing the pain.
Heard some snorts as I was setting up my tarp, so I could be in some deer's
territory. I haven't experienced this in a long time.
The FAR is now well underway and I should be in Florida in another 4 days and
should be starting the Florida Trail in about a week. The forecast is calling
for warm temperatures although it will still go below freezing at night. They
say we will have 60 F this Sunday. I haven't seen that in several months now.
Date: January 4 2001
Trail Day: 218
Miles Today: 25
Location: Near US 31 & CR 30
Section Mile: FAR 169
ECT Mile: 3312
Got an early start. I was up even before the sun. The water bottle was almost
all frozen. So I am guessing the temperature went to 25 F or so. It was a
bright and beautiful day. I had to take off one of my jackets and gloves in a
couple of hours.
There is a fleet of trucks that is hauling timber. The drivers had seen me all
day yesterday and today. They have started waving at me.
About noon I heard some noises behind and saw a big german sheperd. I tried to
drive it away, but it kept following me. I realized it was lost. It came to me
when I took a break. It was quite frightened. I tied a string to its collar
and walked it to Greensville. It always stayed very close to me. I am quite
surprised he hadn't been run over. US 31 is a fairly busy and fast road.
Got to a gas station and asked the cashier to call the number given on the
tag. The owner came and picked it up in about 15 mintues.
Walked another 5 miles and found a good spot similiar to yesterdays. Since the
terrain has become flat its easier to find good spots. The only problem now is
some areas are too thick with vegetation to camp.
Date: January 5 2001
Trail Day: 219
Miles Today: 30
Location: Near Wilcox
Section Mile: FAR 199
ECT Mile: 3342
Got an early start again. Over night temp again 25 F or so. I can still
see ponds etc. partially frozen. Continued walking on US 31. Saw a
post office in Chapman. I have not been able to bounce my stove and related cooking stuff since Anniston because I have no seen a post office or its been a holiday. Finally saw one today. Also mailed another set of journal
entries to Suriyan.
Was stopped by a police officer. He asked for my id and ran a check on it.
I wonder if they are allowed to stop people minding their own business and
harass them. I know I'm in Alabama - the backwaters of civilization, but
still. The cop had no tact. No wonder the local people hate cops.
Had lunch in Georgiana. Had fried Creole chicken - spicy. Enjoyed it.
Got another order for dinner. Filled up my water bottle and decided to walk
the CSX railroad to Evergreen. I have been heading south west and
paralleling I-65 since Montgomery. I use US-31 and the railroad. From
Brewton I will head south using roads to Pensacola. I should be in
Florida on Jan 7 and in Pensacola on Jan 9. However its supposed to
rain Sunday. I will have to see how badly I get wet and how cold it gets.
Today was a beautiful day. I had to take off both my jackets. The railroad
is fairly active and I saw 3 trains go by. They are loud, but I love
to watch trains go by.
Date: January 6 2001
Trail Day: 220
Miles Today: 25
Location: 3 miles South of Castleberry
Section Mile: FAR 224
ECT Mile: 3367
Overnight temperature was slightly below freezing. There was ice on my tarp. You can get a mini-snowfall in your tarp. Here's how - the breath condenses
on the tarp and turns to little ice particles. Once enough of them
accumulate they fall down like snow.
The day turned out to be hot. I had to take off both my jackets - At one
point I was even day dreaming about a dip in the pool ! How quickly things change.
Today's hike - a stretch along the CSX railroad where I saw one train
stop for another travelling in the opposite direction and then move on.
I had to stop just before a bridge and as the first train came to a halt it
took a long time. Then came a road hike from Evergreen to Castleberry.
Had lunch in Evergreen. I am now seeing a good number of Florida license
plates even though I am about 25 miles from Florida. The reason - all
traffic going to Pensacola has to get off I-65 and go by this road. Evergreen is a nice, tidy town. Most towns in Alabama including Montgomery have been
quite run down. Evergreen was a good change. Here's another thing I have
noticed all the way from Cap Gaspe. Areas that are backward and poor have
numerous churches. I wonder about the cause and effect on this one.
Dinner at Castleberry and then back on the CSX track. Saw 2 trains go by.
Tomorrow I should be in Florida. I asked a local guy and he said the weather
is supposed to warm up with no rain for the next 5 days. Thats good news.
Tonight I sleep in the open. I haven't done this in several months.
Also a little experiment I did with railroad tracks. As children we had
been told that you can hear a train approaching by listening to the tracks.
The rationale was sound travelled better in solids. Not true. I listened
to the tracks with the train about half mile away. Couldn't hear it on the
tracks but you could clearly hear the train approaching.
Also both of my tips on the poles have failed. The grip is now poor.
Need to be replaced in Pensacola.
Its getting dark with a three-quarter moon. It has become quiet. Time to sleep.
