4/3/2015
The town of Supply went silent around 10pm. Not a peep was heard through the cold night. However, once daybreak came, birds began singing and cars began to park next to us. I got a late start on the running. I knew there wouldn’t be many people, let alone businesses with wifi, for a few days. I decided to try and make sure to complete all computer work that needed internet before I fell behind. There was plenty of breakfast conversation buzzing around this small town fast food restaurant. Girls talked about being knocked up, going to school, and minimum wage jobs.
Just outside of town I ran into the Green Swamp Preserve. The sight of charred trees greeted me at the beginning of the preserve which seemed more like forest than swamp. While their trunks were burnt, the tops and the branches stayed green and lively. That must be what they refer to as a controlled burn. Despite the charred ground and trees, there was no lingering scent of smoke. I inhaled the scent of pine as I ran on the lonely roads. The few cars that did pass were very friendly. My stride hit a steady cadence as I took comfort in my solace. Nature and I were at one until I reached the town of Bolton. There I met up with Crystal and we set down base camp for the evening. It was another town with a double digit population.
The next day was more of the same in terms of isolation. We almost took a shorter road but it was unpaved and uneven. After our various lessons on the road, we both agreed it was safer to take the paved route even if it was a couple miles longer. On this country road I passed farmland. I saw a few animals but my nose alerted me of many more that I didn’t see. The aroma of manure was strong in some places and it gave me the motivation I needed to pick up my pace. Though the people were few, the friendliness was abundant. People stopped to chat with me by the side of the road and when we reached Elizabethtown, the general manager of Cape Fear Bar-b-que and Chicken bought us dinner. Robert had a generous heart and a he had picked up running to go along with his cycling routine. He said he was happy to support what we were doing. Even though the restaurant was barbeque and chicken, they provided a large selection of veggies. After candied yams that melted in my mouth, hot hush puppies that were light and crispy, a potato salad, and collard greens we were full for the evening.
I continued to run right after I ate and I didn’t feel cramps. I only had to run two miles out of town though. From our stopping point, I got driven to the White Lakes beach resort. I had never been to a mega park before so I didn’t know I was going into a place so big. Their lake was enormous and there were activities everywhere. Ginger and Lindsey checked us into our spot and helped us set up. They allowed us to park in a spot close to the bathhouses which were clean and tiled. When the sun began its descent, it crept behind the trees and created a postcard for my camera. It was another treat on this surreal journey. 
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