This place ain’t so bad when the sun comes out. Still a little chilly with highs in the sixties, but who am I to complain when the Midwest still suffers through single digits? Had the whole place virtually to myself during the week, some days I didn’t even see a park ranger. I spoke not a word for nearly three days as I find myself withdrawing deeper into my self-imposed exile. When I finally did meet a guy and his wife, come down from Virginia trailing his Russian sidecar rig to escape the cold, my voice cracked from lack of use when I tried to speak to them.
On the weekends however, my sleepy little hideaway transforms itself, filling up with locals. Raucous kids, hillbillies, ill-mannered dogs, hillbillies, loud shitty music screeching out of tinny speakers and hillbillies. I retreated deeper into my little sanctuary and endured. I’ve plenty of time to read and just finished, once again, Cormac McCarthy’s brilliant Border Trilogy. Incredible.
The park is known for its fifteen miles of trails. I’ve hiked a little using a broom handle as an improvised walking stick, may explore them further this week. Today I plan the one-hundred mile round trip to the nearest Wal-Mart. I need supplies, namely a proper hiking stick, beer and some toenail clippers.
The excitement never ends.
The Border Trilogy, amazing, Lonesome Dove but somehow grittier!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing indeed Andy. Completely unlike the typical shoot-em-up dime-novel normally associated with the "Western" genre. With McCarthy every paragraph is poetry.
DeleteI understand he may be writing another novel, can't wait.
...have ya got anything without hillbillies in it?
ReplyDeleteNot in north Florida, Larry.
DeleteLook at it this way... At least the Rain has Stopped for a while. The Hell with the Hillbillies, they come and they go, as long as they just GO! I understand that the "Close Breeding" does cause some noticeable side effects... Stupidity, Loud Speech and the ever popular Banjo Twang! You may want to stock up on additional Ammo?
ReplyDeleteYep Paul, by Monday morning had the whole place to myself again. They weren't all that bad, just a lot of them. Actually it was kind of cool to see kids playing ball and tearing around on bicycles instead of sitting on couches, faces stuck to video games.
DeleteAnd yes, your state has some fine weather in February!
How was the journey to WalMart? Just curious, can't stand the freakin place myself. When I do rarely make it into one I can't help but be amazed at all the different cultures being represented. Sort of like the United Nations but with retail. Enjoy the rest of your journey down south,spring is coming.
ReplyDeleteAh Yes BC. The trip to WalMart was as one might expect. All walks of life enter those hallowed automatic doors. Rednecks huntin' tire tools to teenagers with purple hair and decorative peircings through their noses, welfare queens with six kids in tow to the snobby woman with her nose in the air, as if she's too good to be there. But really, they're all the same people dressed in different costumes and there for the same reason; to sample the all the fine and exotic products imported from China. When you think about it, Amërïkä was discovered by accident when Columbus stumbled across it looking to find the Orient. Well, now the Orient has found Amërïkä, and there is no greater example than in the orderly, gleaming aisles of your local WalMart.
DeleteLike all good people, I hate WalMart with a passion, just like all good men hate attorneys, but if you're in legal trouble you best hire one. And, if one wishes to find bananas, sardines, a lawn chair, dog food, sox, a 9mm wrench and a twelve pack, all in one place, sadly he must go to WalMart.
Thanks for the well wishes, I'll be following spring north.