Other than the regularly scheduled whistles that announce oncoming freight trains, my night was comfortable enough. No one bothered me, and I lucked out once again in finding a suitable place to camp off the highway.
Unlike the Camino de Santiago in Spain with its albergues, or even the Appalachian Trail, where hikers can camp along the way, it’s difficult to find regularly-spaced and appropriate accommodations for the few of us attempting to walk across the US—unless one considers the American Discovery Trail (ADT), which is an entirely different (and longer) journey.
I was up before the sun, and while the temperature is no longer in the low 30°s, it’s still pretty chilly. Ironically, I walked an hour longer than I did yesterday in order to cover 1.5 fewer miles (21.5 miles today). The reason for this was a long stretch on VFW Rd., which has a lot of traffic and a very narrow shoulder, thus requiring more careful walking. In fact, a Randall County Sheriff pulled up and inquired about my walk, cautioning me to (drum roll) “Be careful.”
Q: What’s the chance of seeing both a softball and (miles later) a hardball on the side of the road?
I took a “shortcut” through “The Colonies,” a large housing development with tastefully designed, cookie-cutter style homes, many of which are for sale (they’re in the $500k range). This detour afforded me some quiet away from the highway. I noticed that some lawns are an unusual shade “green” and others are seasonally brown.
I stopped at the Burger King, where the staff was enthusiastic about my journey and wished me luck (“Be safe,” etc.). I’m becoming an expert on fish sandwiches at fast food restaurants; at this point Burger King is in the lead.
At the Days Inn (Amarillo/Medical Center location), Cassandra not only took wonderful care of my check-in, but later changed my room due to a running toilet that needs a new part.
Quote of the Day (posted in front of a church): “If Jesus had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.” Nice!
@ Amarillo, Texas