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May 24, Sunday
Rain during the night, then more light rain in the morning. I was awakened by the lilting sounds of Louisiana natives discussing their ride home just outside my tent at 6:30. I got up for a pancake breakfast, then hung around a bit since the rain stopped and I wanted the tent to dry off a bit. Once I was all packed up, and just as I was putting on my helmet, it began to rain again. Off I rode, taking all non-interstate roads and generally easing my way north and west, while trying to stay in front or behind the rain showers. I had a bit of something to eat at the Commodore Hotel and Cafe in Linden TN on US 412. I met the owner, Mike Dumont and we had a nice chat. More bands of rainshowers, some I missed, some I rode through, and I stopped in Hayti MO, soon after crossing the Mississippi. The Drury Motel has a hot tub, and indoor pool, and I waited out the tornado warnings inside, while several storm cells went by.
May 25, Monday
Up and on the way with a bit of off and
on rain showers again. Skies are gray, low clouds, then all of a sudden the sun and blue poke through. Soon it's back to gray again, I think the earth is just trying to tease me. I needed to get the tent up and give it a chance to air out, even if it was raining, just so it wouldn't mildew in the bags so I motored along to a National Forest campground a couple of miles west of Guthrie MO. This was a cute little 8 site campground, donations of $8 per night suggested but not required. Of course I let my conscience be my guide with that question. I arrived along with a light rain shower, so I simply sat at the picnic table in my rain gear and waited until it stopped, then I erected Big Agnes along with the vestibule. The only other humans in the area were apparently involved in a little tete-a-tete, two cars pulled up next to each other in the far corner and both in the same vehicle. I didn't investigate the activity level. Rain off and on all the rest of the day.
May 26, Tuesday
I decided to
remain at this campground another day, but as I was on the last couple of chapters in my book, and almost out of food, I took advantage of a break in the rain showers to run into town and pick up some food at the grocery, and two more books found at Dollar General Store. The only two they had, other than childrens bible story books, were a murder mystery, and The Nanny Diaries. I bought them both at $3 apiece. Back at the camp I had a nice lunch, and simply read most of the afternoon. Another couple arrived, this time to actually camp, and we had a nice chat. They've been wandering Missouri for many months, picking up painting and drywall jobs as they can, and very often camping in the "free" NF campgrounds to save money. I mentioned that I didn't have a job either as a precursor to explaining I was retired, but their immediate reaction was to commiserate with me, " Oh my gosh, we've been there before too, it'll be alright, you'll see. Everything is gonna work out for you, just hang in there." After that, I really didn't feel right about telling them
that I was really retired on a government pension at age 50. Another night with a few more rain showers, nothing very hard.
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