11/25/2014
While we rested at the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Columbus Crystal we found ourselves with the perfect opportunity to eliminate the odor of sweaty, damp, rain soaked clothes from our trailer. The running gear could have run off on its own. I had doubts that a washing machine could eliminate the overpowering smell but we needed to try. If it didn’t work we were prepared to incinerate the clothes and replace them.
After having a large breakfast at the hotel, we returned to bed. The firm mattress was perfect for my muscles. I drifted into a comatose state in moments. Extra sleep was a luxury my body appreciated.
The nap didn’t last long but it did the trick. With most of my body rebooted I felt strong. I did have an odd feeling by my left knee though. It felt like a small needle poking my joint. I wanted my entire body to operate at one hundred percent so I threw everything I had into a hot bath and made an attempt to refresh myself. It was enough to keep everything intact for one most of the day. Something strange funny happened around a mile before Sealy though; my leg buckled from underneath me. It was like a numbness that attacked my leg for a few brief seconds. I lost my balance and almost fell over. I recovered and the feeling was gone. A sense of urgency took over my legs and the parking lot that would be our shelter for the evening became my focus. There I massaged my legs, watched some video and went to sleep early.
It was another cold night in the trailer. The good thing about the cold evening was the deep sleep. I hardly moved in an attempt to keep the heat trapped under the sheets. I dreamt about the warm motel 6 we would have the following night.
Day 87 started with a light breakfast. I hit the winding road after there was enough sun to make my blood thaw. Due to an area along the I-10 access route that didn’t have pedestrian access across the Brazo River, I had an extra four miles to run. The farm road curved through rustic country beauty. The leaves and landscapes were a mixed salad of colors. The red, orange, yellow, and green leaves fell gently from the trees with every light gust of wind. It wasn’t until I got to Pattinson that I would take in more nutrients to power my run. Crystal discovered a little place called Mamie’s. It was a southern kitchen with all the southern favorites: mac & cheese, broccoli and cheese, fried okra, and onion rings. While eating Crystal informed me our lodging plans had hit a snag. The manager that had approved our hotel donation took leave for a family emergency and the staff was unaware of our arrival. Crystal was visibly worried after lunch, I ran three more miles into the last small town of Brookshire. From there, the serene country landscape and vegetation disappeared. A massive concrete jungle sprouted before my feet.
As the sun dropped the prospect of having a warm room looked bleak. By that time Crystal had plead our status with every hotel in Katy TX. We decided to park in the lot of a huge sporting goods store and search for affordable shoes. I had burned through six pair already and our shoe donations didn’t look like they would last us until Florida. Fortune had deft timing and in the eleventh hour everything fell into place. We were able to purchase a pair of running shoes on the clearance rack for fifteen bucks, the Motel 6 called, to tell us they reached the manager, and we would have a place to stay. Two days before thanksgiving and I am very thankful!
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