2/24/2015
Again there was a light misty sprinkle. I threw on a sweatshirt and pulled tight compression socks over my calves. I had it in my mind that I would battle through whatever forces nature threw at me. The monochromatic colored day didn’t look as if I would be running shirtless. Again there was nothing paved for my feet. Grass hid the puddles and uneven grass but I navigated the roads with confidence and competence. I passed a little shop called the Carolina Cider company. It looked like one of those country stores that had built a reputation around its products. I wanted to stop but I didn’t want to lose momentum.
A dozen miles later, I reached a town with a sidewalk on my route. As luck would have it, Carolina Cider Company had a second store. Again I didn’t stop. I did reach Crystal and the trailer a couple miles later. She asked me if I wanted her to go back and pick up some peach cider. It was a nice thought but forward was the motto for the day. The breeze and the chill kept me moving. While my clothes didn’t get as heavy as when I ran through hard rain, they had gained some weight in the mist. I decided that I would change out of my gear for the second half of the day.
Crystal had found a sliver of a turnout on the 17 highway. When I entered the trailer, passing semi-trucks caused the vehicle to sway. We had a simple lunch of instant noodles. We enjoyed the heat from the steaming broth and I fell to sleep after my lunch. For an hour of my nap the trailer swayed side to side every time traffic passed.
The short rest energized my legs and I bounced out of bed. The rest of the day was easy. There weren’t any more obstacles and the weather turned in my favor. I just zoned out and enjoyed the nature that made up the back drop of my run. Before I knew it, and old run down factory appeared. Just past it was the Asheepo Grocery store. It was more like a big liquor store with random items. They allowed us to park the trailer on the side for the night. It was a quiet spot. The sleep would be deep.
The next morning I was able to take off from the spot. The run was great. I had wonderful trails which had swamp to my left and right. There was zero traffic on the dirt path to hinder me. The solitude brought me close to nature. I felt at one with the animals and my thoughts. It was a shame when the road merged onto asphalt a few miles later. Plantations owned the land on my two sides and the homes were colossal. Crystal found me on the trail and ran with me the last few miles. She brought news that we were going to stay at Lake Aire Campgrounds.
The last part of the day saw the clear skies begin to grey. I was lucky to reach camp without being rained on. As I entered I was greeted by a great population of trees and a beautiful lake. There were many sites and the grounds were at full occupancy but it felt very spacious. The hammocks by the lake looked relaxing. The owner Chris was very friendly and made sure we felt comfortable. Best of all the showers were very hot. My body was in heaven.
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