1/1/2015
The last day of 2014 began with a run through the city of Mobile, Alabama. I gritted my teeth as I ran through the ghettos of the city. In some areas the stench of booze and urine hung in the air. Groomed areas were intertwined with rough patches. My sore feet pushed forward on the trek. I grumbled as I looped around the city to reach a bridge which allowed pedestrians. I never thought Mobile could be so big. The detour added several unwanted miles to my day.
Crystal had found a great place to park right before the bridge. She prepared instant noodles in hopes of receiving some residual warmth. We welcomed the heat even if it was momentary. Lunch was a quick affair. The bridge to Spanish Fort Alabama beckoned. Once again there was no wall to separate me from the speeding machines. My stomach knotted on the bridge for some reason. I pushed forward thinking the stomach pain was just in my head. After a few more miles it brought me to a walk. When I reached Crystal I had to stop for a bit. I realized my body was rejecting the change of food in my breakfast diet. It wanted all dairy product out of my system.
On the eve of the New Year I would reach the town of Daphne. We would find no generosity in this town. The person in charge of their Pizza Hut wouldn’t even hear me out. We ended up parked in the lot of a shopping center where we drifted into a warm slumber before the twelfth hour. I slept through exploding fireworks but the sound of sirens pierced my dreams every so often.
When I hit the road on the first day of the New Year, I passed a wreck which involved several cars and a boat. It was right by the same Pizza Hut. The wreckage was on both sides of the street. I didn’t spend any time looking at the scene but, it did seem like everyone was alright. Once I got outside of town there was not much movement. But within the first few miles I faced an uphill climb. It looked steep at first but it didn’t take long to conquer. However, this mound was not just one. The hills persisted and even progressed. This road called the Spanish Trail was brutal.
Crystal had driven ahead, parked, and ran to meet up with me. She said, “I felt tired just driving up those hills.” When we reached the trailer, I found egg salad waiting for me. I could feel my muscles begging for protein. A second wind gusted beneath my feet. In the cold weather I stayed focused and ran towards Seminole. My destination was an empty lot located a couple miles away from the Alabama/Florida border. Thirty two miles done was the total on my first day of the New Year. It was a strong finish to Alabama and a strong start to the New Year.
Leave a reply