After a wonderful Saturday surprise of a Fredericksburg side trip with cousins Mike & Tia Throop + kids, today is the day to continue walking from Brownwood. I awoke just before 6:30 AM outside the Baptist Church in Early, Texas, to a very darkly lit sky. Still inside the nearby gas station, which has a TV giving weather reports, I’m seeing that the most severe systems, hail-dropping thunderstorms, are now passing north of us. We’re seeing light rain and 20mph winds here. It hasn’t rained here in months, and most serious storms occur in the late afternoon or evening hours. So, yes, leaving feels like an intimidating option, given that I’ll be back walking through miles of wide-open spaces, likely without an emergency-saving cell signal.
That said, I feel the strong energy within to at least attempt to move forward, despite how many miles I actually succeed with today.
For the first time this year, my rain gear is on. I’m digging out the waterproof socks too, just in case. The windy road ahead is heavy with uncertainty, yet I’m ready to faithfully walk forward, and make the best of what the universe is about to bring my way…

UPDATE:

20 miles today to Mullin, population 175. I had rain gear on all day. I reached town at 8 PM, found three churches, and saw a woman on a porch smoking. I asked her for pastors’ names/locations, she pointed me to Pastor Reece Bishop of the local Baptist Church.
Reece invited me in immediately (no need for the tent!). We’ve been talking now for hours (CST here). Lots to write about him– what an awesome, open man.