I finally got on the Road. I waited till a few things settled down at home and we got past the Hurricane. I left on Tuesday and have stopped at a number of places so far. I am in Summersville, WV at ther Library using their PC. No way I can blog from a Blackberry. I also think I found every “Dead Zone” in the Verizon network. I was without cell or satellite a few times yesterday and today. More without service than with. I can’t begin to tell you the schedule I have had. Actually, it is not any kind of schedule at all. I just do what I need to and feel like doing. I am on all back roads so there is alot of “Americana” to see.
For instance, yesterday, late afternoon I drove on a road parallel to the Morgan river or Morgan creek in western VA. It was 5 PM and I hadn’t had a bath since I left home. So I said, lets go take a bath in the Morgan River. On with the swin suit, down to the river bank and voila’, I’m clean. Water was a little cold, maybe 70 – 72 but it was clean and clear. Back in Lake Michigan, in the middle of August, the best the water gets is about 70, so I wasn’t surprised. I will probably remember that bath till I die since I don’t remember the last time I did it. Must have been on vacation in ’58 with the grandparents at Sand Lake in Spooner, Wisconsin. Just before that, a few miles up the road, I stopped at the George Washington National Forest and climbed the trail to the top of the waterfall. It was about 2 miles and seemed like straight up. It wasn’t of course, but you get the idea.
Nights are fun. I drive till I feel tired and flop somewhere. Tuesday night I slept on a picnic table at a church ground. They are very hard to sleep on, but I’m really glad I got that sleeping bag before I left. Last night, I decided to sleep in the car at a Trailhead area in the State park just off the back road. I don’t know which I prefer, cars or picnic tables, but each has it’s advantage. My body feels pretty much equally as bad when I get up, it just hurts in different places.
Earlier today I passed thru a place called Richwood WV. Don’t let the name fool you. Except for the character of its population, there was nothing “rich” about it. Seems it was always a coal mining town, and according to Maxine, the local office administrator of the newspaper, in 1984, about 500 mining jobs were lost because at that time, the price coal was too low to make it worth taking it out of the ground. Since then, the town has been in slow decay. I got a few pictures of it and it looks right out of the 50′s 0r 60′s. Funny thing is all the people I spoke to there were not negative or angry. They were content at least and hopeful at best. There are Real Americans. These are the ones I came out here to meet and talk to.
I have some audio of my notes after interviewing each person. So far there is nothing unexpected about their response to What’s Right with America! There are a few common themes. I think as I get more used to this dialogue, I will need to find a way to bring these folks out a bit to get a little deeper into their thoughts. I have been happily able to stay out of politics, except on those occasions when the other person brings it up. I have handled myself excellently, even if I do say so myself. My Therapist will be proud.
Last night I met a really nice couple in VA. I stopped at a local restautrant, because thankfully, on this trip, all there are are local restaurants. I went in and sat next to them specifically wishing to start a dialoge. It was easy. By the end of the dinner we were like best friends and Ken, the gentlemen, paid for my dinner without asking or telling me. I’ll bet I have at least a zillion more stories to tell like that one before I get home. I will sign off now and try to put out more later today or as soon as I get to another library.
This was a great idea, and my feet aren’t even sore. Later Gang. Drake
