Meanderings Of An Abject Fool

Slept in till about 2 and went for an early morning hike. Packed up stuff and on to Teddy. Filled up on the road once and it was 3.70 a gallon. Saints be praised!!

That was about 20 minutes outside park because it’s beginning of week NP. That being said a family of rather large hillbillies just moved in next store so sleep may be an issue as they already pounding em and have grill fired up.

Hike was marvelous regardless of how many people on the planet I’m quite certain I was the only one for….well everywhere.

Hiked till phone could no longer get a signal. Which is true no signal but damn I was exhausted so I turned around and drove back to camp unaware of the NEATO coming my way.

Full day indeed. Eating sleeping and up early for more hiking. I’m no longer walking that’s easy hiking that’ll put hair on whatever. Goodnight

After setting up camp went for a walk thing is i walk oodles and this ain’t that this a hike. Started out nice on river very pleasant

Then things specifically the trail started going uphill. First not much but then i made the mistake of looking ahead.

Finished that part and crossed a road and spotted a groovy shack. What was shack hiding?

But silly me there’s a lookout tower why go all this way and not look ? Not look indeed.

After not breaking neck and kept going and saw what I found a bit upsetting. HA

Lovely Yes. Grueling ditto. Worth it heavens to murgatroyd YES. Now extremely tired worn out even time for dinner and a nap busy day tomorrow gotta start early for first national park. Teddy here i come.

Just pulled in view is extremely NEATO. Gonna setup camp and then hike.

Didn’t think this would happen in North Dakota in the middle of the day at a convenience store but go figure. I ran to bathroom sat down for #2 and received the much heard about but never experienced the under the door foot tap twice!! Apparently my lack of an answer wasn’t enough so after the second I politely whispered gate don’t swing that way especially in a toilet. I didn’t take a picture as this was creepy enough. Bout 1 1/2 hour outside of campground/hiking.

The hike today at Sheyenne National Grassland extremely groovy. All sorts terrine good stretches of hills along with lots of grass(no surprise). Lots of poop as well apparently for local ranchers who have permission. Obviously watching steps is required. For poop and prairie dog homes.

Woke up lateish for me anyway. Round 3 o’clock took bout 10 to pack up and hit the road.

My friend Tom sent an updated photo that I posted. Hope springs eternal.

Hit the road groovy drive to new campsite with several stops on way. Mostly to the powder room.

Currently preparing to hike Sheyenne National Grassland. More tomorrow.

I know it should be home again per the song not alone but I am alone and not at home but my father when I was ten till he passed always said it so seems a trifle apropos.

It’s 400 pm and I’m at Union Grove state park South Dakota. It’s rather lovely and am setting up tent for night. Not full on suv tent but my smaller tent. As its first night i figured this easiest and I’m just bout ready for bed. First night camping and all is well i got bout ten miles in today and will get more tomorrow morning before leaving on next leg and get that much closer to first national park. I’ll spend couple days at Teddy Roosevelt. Not as crowded as the west cost parks also not as difficult but lots of bison mustangs and prairie dogs. Perfect way to start.

Home safe and sound no worse off than before not saying much but it’s true. Got unpacked but definitely don’t want to stay put so other plans must be constructed.

While in Raytown the thought of a train west would seem perfect. Except it absolutely wasn’t. While I do long for the thought of a romantic past that never existed excluding in movies, books etc. Let me say again it never existed in the first place. There was also another problem.

It’s to damn fast. A train from here to California would take approximately 2 days or so including transfers. It could take longer, a layover here a break there but that also has a loss, one of control. The whole point of this thing was doing it all at my leisure. If i want to spend more time in a place then I can for no other reason than i wish too. With the train a clock becomes more important. That, for me, is the very antithesis of this journey. Arrival is not the point as much as the journey is.

No train no ADT. What next? How bout a combo. The death of my truck due to a mechanical problem caused me to get a car I didn’t want but had to have. Even while on my trip, walk, vacation, whatever id be paying for a vehicle that at its best would be nothing more than a placeholder in a parking lot.

So I’ve got a car and plenty of time. I’ve also got camping equipment and a destination, several of them actually. With this new plan maybe bunches more. It’s completely up to me and i dig that.

Ready Teddy(not a misspelling) Go.

To be continued…

Okay let’s start with my foolishness. The hiking trailer great for when on road, pathways, bike trails, etc. however they are also bulky oodles of moving parts and, at least the one I picked persnickety at best.

I was in Raytown when wheel gave me problems. So much so I had to get an Uber to nearest hotel to work on it. This was definitely no in hotel maintenance job. It was gonna take more than turning a screw or realigning a whatsu. Most likely order parts and waiting. Ordering parts was not part of the plan. That being said I did get 20+ in yesterday.

At hotel I looked other options as I have the time and went back to trains. While I’ve heard they are bulky, full of moving parts,and persnickety that’s outside my preview. So here’s me in a hotel that has signs everywhere stating, positively no marijuana, smoking, vaping of any kind allowed wishing I still had an affinity for pot or at least liquor which you can drink in your room. So both out of question so trains it was. Heading back to house and new plans for mice and N.O.C….to be continued.

This morning started out fine and got loopy quick. I’m walking and being followed. She said hello, her name eludes me, and asked where I’m going I said west Kansas for now. Me too was her reply. She was wearing sweatpants t shirt!! We chatted for a bit and clearly something wrong. I told her I’m calling you help as I’m in no position to do so. Called emergency services and as I did she scampered off. A trifle unusual but I imagine par for the course on this trip. It’s 2 afternoon and I’m waiting for phone to charge then walking again. Interesting day so far…