Road Angels to the Rescue!
Despite having hosts lined up for most of the rest of the month November, I set off today with no known place I could rest my head tonight. I even shot a short video before leaving Kings Mountain Park, in which I stated I’d be happy with whatever was present itself of the day.
A few miles into the afternoon, Steve Cabinum roared past me on his homemade motorcycle, turned around, and stopped to say hello and ask about the Walk. We got to talking, and he invited me to his house for lunch. He lived a couple of miles off my route, and I wanted to reach Clover, SC, before dark, so I politely declined the offer. I told him I’d be more than happy to join him & anyone else for a meal in Clover, and we exchanged phone numbers. An hour later, Steve called me, offering to bring me lunch on the road. He also told me he’d like to introduce me to some people: his wife, her dad, and coworker. 20 minutes later, they all caught up to me on SC Hwy 55. Exchanging warm hellos, we all chatted for a few minutes, and they ended up offering both to host me tonight AND to play a support driver role to me for today. (Wow!)
I’d spent all of a few minutes with the quartet, yet was more than comfortable enough with them to simply load up all of my belongings into the back of their truck, say goodbye, and walk another six miles before dark. They reached me on the east side of Clover, took me to eat at a local, home-cooking restaurant (where the Baby Boomer waitress laughed at my not eating meat), and then to their cozy rural home, where we sat and chatted for hours in front of the fire, in the company of their two loving chihuahuas: Mercury and Venus.
Steve & Leah will return me tomorrow to the east side gas station where they picked me up, and I’ll finish my 17 miles to Yorkshire & Rocio from there.
I love the magic the road brings!