10/30/2014
Doctors always tell patients to rest. It is the key to recovery. The body repairs itself during nourishing sleep. I can testify to the healing power of sleep. After every rest day I’ve had on this trip my body has rewarded me with strong performance. It is nice when the body isn’t aching.
Crystal and I woke up eager to have another meal prepared by Tushar. The days when we eat canned goods in the middle of nowhere encourage our appreciation of the slow cooked meal. The value of nutrition is a major emphasis in our routine. While we read our food labels and make sure we are providing our bodies with the right vitamins, the body still reacts better to freshly prepared food. Our breakfast this morning had a couple of new twists and ingredients. As the odor of our omelets permeated the wooden doors of other guests’ rooms, bodies began to emerge. Everyone was coming down to find the source of the fantastic scent.
Breakfast was a quick affair. Even though we agreed to a rest day, it was only such in theory. Right after breakfast, Crystal and I dressed to go to do an interview at the Alpine Avalanche. As we drove into the town that I had run through on the previous day, I got a chance to take a second look at the old town architecture. Up the street an old church served as a glowing landmark while the middle of town had a few art pieces on display. This included a couple bright fresh murals. The investment into this journey has grown with each passing city. Now rest just means a day without running. Our reporter Jim jotted down some tidbits of my story and shot some running footage from the route. Crystal and I felt great about the increasing interest in our endeavor. Without a cloud in the sky the day was looking bright.
Everything about this day of rest revolved around literacy in one way or another. We rode the wave of support from Marfa right into the city of Alpine. A warm cheerful member of the newspaper, Gwin, invited us to attend the local rotary club’s weekly lunch meeting. We met some great people and we got to share our story over a buffet of Chinese food. As the meeting came to a close the members pointed us in the direction of the Alpine Community Center.
Upon arrival, Chuck and I were greeted by hugs and eager young minds. All eyes were locked on the sporty looking individual in their midst. Seeing their interest fed my energy. It motivated me to give them my best. In return, I received an appreciative new group of fans. I had no clue that all the kids would ask to buy books after the reading. With the trailer unhitched at the Ramada, we were fortunate to have had a spare box in the car. I must admit, seeing kids interested in reading is a most gratifying experience. 
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