12/2/2014
The unpredictable weather has kept me on my toes. Day 92 looked like a wash. The clouds covered the entire sky and the humidity was at a hundred percent. I could have worn a wetsuit and rode a surfboard to cover some miles. Running was not a possibility. I massaged my leg muscles over and over as I sat in the trailer at the Goose Creek RV Park. Our compact living quarters quickly filled with the scent of menthol and hot chocolate. The hard pattering rain on the roof was much like a lullaby and the temperature was cold. I had no choice but to take comfort under the covers. I read a little bit but my eyelids grew heavy and I slipped into a slumber.
Around 2:30 PM the pattering mysteriously disappeared. I looked out and saw my window of opportunity. I slipped on my already tied shoes and I rolled the dice. I wagered that I could put in at least a dozen miles even if I had to contend with another onslaught of rain. I sloshed through puddles, ran through soaked grass, and faced the oncoming traffic with pure focus. There were areas where my stride ground to a halt but I continued to tell myself to take one more step. Somehow I had run thirteen miles when Crystal found me. It was 4:00 PM. There was enough light peeking through the clouds for me to continue on so we took down five more miles and ended just shy of Raywood. Steam was rising from my heated body as I climbed into the vehicle so I cracked the window. Crystal wasn’t amused as she had been running the heater to keep the chill out of the car. I quickly came to see things her way when the night air and open window hit my wet clothes and made me shiver.
Thirty-three miles remained until Beaumont. Luckily we were far enough east to avoid more rain. On day 93 fortune seemed to take a turn for the better. During my first seven miles, Crystal managed to secure our stay at the Hampton Inn Beaumont. She also arranged for us to give some books to kids at an orphanage in Beaumont and to speak at a school in Orange. She was like a well-oiled machine. The previous day’s rain left everything soggy. I slipped on a slight incline while running a patch with no shoulder. The grass was wet and the oncoming traffic was fast but the news early in the day gave me a boost and it lent focus to my feet. The towns seemed to be every six to seven miles apart. This gave me markers to reach and it kept the day interesting. Each of the towns had huge silos and I passed a couple of roadside markets. Seven miles before I reached Beaumont, I spotted a farm which raised a few peacocks. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t imagining the exotic birds. They strutted around and a couple of them flew into a tall tree. That was unexpected.
The final destination held one last surprise for the day. Joe’s Crab Shack which was located right next to The Hampton Inn generously donated dinner for the evening. I could say their veggies were perfectly cooked. The broccoli was buttery with garlic and the hushpuppies were warm, light, and had a nice onion flavor. The good days always help make the bad days feel like a distant memory.
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