January 16, 2002- Wednesday- Day 82

7:00am-

***Wet pages and hard to read!***

We are still behind Food lion in King's mountain. Its already warmed up to 34F, have to put on my beach clothes. Got razors last night and feel much better, maybe the radio DJ's won't dis me on the radio now.

9:45am- We are at the intersection at I-85 & US74.**can't read this section**

Skil's almost got run over and the Mexican never even hit his brakes. It was very close.

*** all this must be XXX rated because I can't read it***

Welcome to Gastonia!

January 15, 2002- Tuesday- Day 81

11:00am- We are packing up now and fixing to head out, I waited until now because this mornings work traffic was really heavy. We're going to have to go slow until I get some room to walk. I have a lot of food for Skil's, so that won't be a problem. I washed all the fire smoke off of my face this morning, man, I was getting black from our campfires. The things you'll do to keep warm. I wish I had a razor. I felt like my confidence was fading the last few days, but I am starting to get that positive force back now. Just have to stay focused.

12:45pm- We are in Gastonia already, it was closer than I thought. I have a little more room to pull my trailer now, without getting splattered all over the highway. Its a really nice day

***NOTE*** These next pages in my journal are unreadable, so I'll have to rely on memory***

We are passing through Gastonia and I remember not many places to take a break. We found a copse of trees and went in for a break. No one could see us from the road, and I heard someone coming around the back way. We are tired and I ain't going to hide. So, we wait. A girl comes into the clear and says she was trying to find me, so she could give me some money. We talked and she said good luck and would she like for me to walk her back to her car. She said she was okay, her father was the sheriff. Oh Geez, again!

We made it to Bessemer City and located the old faithful campground behind Food Lion.

Cramerton Departure Tomorrow!

January 14, 2002- Monday- Day 80

1:30pm- We just got back to the camp from a little trek to the next town, Lowell. This morning I fed Skil's a whole deli-chicken. I think the shortage of food had a lot to do with his acting poorly, since Friday. I just hope he's not getting sick, I can't handle seeing him feel bad. When we leane here its going to be a tough haul down to Gastonia, there is no sidewalks or a shoulder to walk on. We'll just have to be careful, we came this far, and getting run over aren't in our plans. I feel really dirty and I need to find a place to get cleaned up. We are leaving in the morning, this afternoon when they close the deli, I am gonna stock up on Skillet food for the trip. I had to compete with a couple guys last night, when they brought out the deli stuff that didn't sell, there was two guys waiting in a car. I just walked up and said, Hey let me have one of those chickens for my dog. They gave me one, but tonight I'll be there first, and they can ask me for something. I wish I would have kept that blanket I found yesterday walking here. It was laying on the side of the road, probably blew off the back of a truck. But it was frozen stiff, stuck straight out, and I didn't want to wait for it to thaw out.

I Heard of You!

January 13, 2002- Sunday- Day 79

11:30am- It was cold last night, like North Pole cold. Brrrr! Its been somewhat of a good morning, so far. I got Skil's a little bit of food this morning in a dumpster in Belmont. I guess they had a busted bag of dog food and swept it up and trashed it. Probably could have found the rest, but I haven't steeled myself up to getting in Dumpsters yet. If it laying right on top, then I don't need it. There were also a bunch of potato chips, and other snack things like that. I surely think that stuff like that would stay good for ever. What do I Know?

We walked back out to the road and here comes the law, Shit! He gets out and comes over and says where you headed? I gave the same story that I have told everyone, always seems to get me some sympathy. He says, I heard about you, (What?) Then he says come on getin and I'll take you to the county line. Couldn't figure if he wanted me out of town or he was trying to help. I've been confused a lot lately as to the law's interference in my travels. I actually think the last two wanted to help. The FBI guy did, for sure. But now I'm born again, whatever that is.

Last night I was laying in my tent wondering if it can get any colder and I was listening to the local talk show. They were discussing the homeless situation in and around Charlotte. Nothing new here, I've heard all this before. Then he says, "Today I seen one that had a pull-along luggage and a dog. He wasn't bothering or pan-handling, just walking past. He was probably the sort, that works his gig at night" Man when I heard that I wish I had a cell-phone, I'd call and cuss his ass out!But Damn! I am getting popular in North Carolina. Oughta' think about running for some office. In Gabriel now, I think Cramerton is next, probably find a spot to set up the tent there.

9:30pm- We are in Cramerton behind a Food Lion, I'm starting to feel at home when I see a Food Lion. I am about 3 miles to Gastonia, where I should be looking for a turn to the south. My ankle is in bad shape today. Seems I always hurt my ankle in NC, it was in Greenville NC. that I crushed it into a 1000 pieces. Damn, that was 10 years ago, time sure flies when you ain't paying attention! The folks at Food Lion just threw a load in the dumpster. Well, off to work, maybe that radio guy was right about me liking night work. Ha Ha! Dammit! I like this kinda shit! I want to walk to Alaska and eat some moose!!!

City of Queens!

January 12, 2002- Saturday- Day 78

6:30pm- Me and Skil's is beat to a frazzle, we finally made it across Charlotte and what a long trip with no where to take breaks. We came straight through. As we went through the downtown section amongst the sky-scrapers, at every little patch of trees had a camp in it. Passwed a few bridges and they had cities under them. We encountered some really grundgy looking homeless folks. I sure hope I never look that bad. As far as eating we didn't even slow down long enough, but I did have a can of Spam, I gave to Skil's.

After we got passed all the big buildings, we had to stroll through the red=light district. Iwas propositioned a lot, so I must not look too bad. I could have negotiated a good deal with all tyhe competition in that 2 miles. Probably could have got a deal that would include the dog, if I had been interested. Get me out of here! Leaving the city of "Queens City" (what they call it up here) is all I have on my mind.

It was a long way across this place and I am going to throw my map from the newspaper away. No way, is it even close to the distance I walked today. We are about 2 miles passed civilization and down in a hill in the woods and going to get some much needed rest. We are still waiting for that cooler weather, can't wait until its back in the 20's again. Oh Geez!

A Call For Saturday!

January 11, 2002- Friday- Day 77

2:30pm- We didn't leave today, I have decided to wait for the week-end and hope there is less traffic. Temperature is suppose to start dropping again, that's good news. I can't take much more of this 40's and 50's, just to hot!

Me and Skil's went out exploring again today. We discovered a nice hiking trail, called "The Mallard Creek Trail" I would like to explore it, but maybe some other time. I have noticed that when I am on the move "Good Things happen to us" but while I have been here, nobody loves me anymore. Maybe I need some Depression therapy! Tomorrow we will be moving!

Makin' Plans

January 10, 2002- Thursday- Day 76

11:00am- I am still in the same place, just can't get the courage to cross this town. Maybe if I leave at around 6:00pm and walk it in the dark, I'll be alright. We explored some more today and walked back down to Winn-Dixie to look in the woods. Man!, there were a lot of camps in here. Must have been a whole city of homeless people, and not long ago, either. I am starting to use my brain a little now, they were all rounded up because of the weather we had last week, that makes sense. That is a procedure they even use in Naples. Wimps! I survived it, I think these Tar-Heels would fare better than a greenhorn from the south.

4:00pm- I am just sitting around the camp, trying to plan a route. I keep coming back to the same one, get back to Campobella, see whats up with Danny. If nothings going on there I'll slip down back into Georgia, whip through Atlanta and into Alabama. We'll work our way down to the gulf and see my sisters. Then cross that desert one more time and see that other ocean again. Sounds easy enough! Plans made, now I have to get the Charlotte NC problem behind me.

8:30pm- Just scrambled a bunch of eggs, I forgot how good eggs tasted. I have to go back out and get something to smoke. Getting chilly!