Me and Hank

April 7, 2002 - Sunday - Day 163
8:00pm- I worked on Hank's house again today, I guess all that Bible Thumping doesn't count when there's work to be done. Me and Hank went to Blue Ridge Lake to pick up my jacket and clean up my camp. Can't leave a mess! Rule-of-thumb in the woods is "Leave no trace" and I try to live by those words of wisdom. We passed by a Food Lion and I related my story about how I fed Skillet along the way, Hank being Hank, had to go behind there to see for himself. His eyes lit up like neon when he seen the stuff in the dumpster. He was like a kid in a candy store. Hank don like to buy food, he never has. Grow it, kill it, or steal it, just doesn't matter as long as he doesn't pay for it.
I am in my tree-house now writing by candle-light and I find it quite humorous that Hank is worried about a bear getting me. I have had 3 encounters with bears and I have been the victor everytime. Nice to be worried about, though. I've known Hank since 4th grade and I don't think he'll ever change. Every day that I have run into him since 1970, he has asked about my sister, I am wondering now, did I miss something? Great to be alive!

April 6, 2002 - Saturday - Day 162
I worked for Hank today and I was felling good about it. I don't think there is anything I wouldn't do for him. So, if I can help him out, that's GREAT! I have to walk from my tree-house, about a half mile from his house to eat dinner. I have always thought Cynthia's cooking was top of the line, so the walk was well worth it. I don't think I'll ever get use to praying before I eat, though. The Riding's clan is a firm believer in this ritual. I don't md bowing my head for a good meal, though! Its worth it.

The Tree House

April 5, 2002- Saturday- Day 162
Hank came early and picked me up and said he wanted me to hard-coat his house for him.That is not a problem for me, as I would do just about anything for him. So, we headed to Blairsville to pick up material and headed back to get to work. It was a little rough on my poor old legs getting back on stilts after my little 2,000 walk. Tough old birds like me are a glutton for punishment. It makes me feel alive. I'll have to get back to the lake and pick up my tent and stuff after work. There is a lot of woods on Hank's mountain, with a ice cold stream to jump in, any time I feel frisky.
After I retrieved my belongings , Hank took me in the back way of his property and I didn't believe what I seen. He built a 3 story tree-house up on the side of the mountain. He told me to stay here and to keep an eye out for bears. Really cool tree-house. No water and no electric, but when was the last time I had any of those luxuries?

Relocation

April 5, 2002- Friday- Day 161
1:45pm- I am going to move my camp today, its just to far to walk to the store. Like that should bother me, huh! It is different when I have to carry stuff in my hands and the trip is always the same. I have to figure 3 trips to the store is something like 10 miles or more. I like to get what I need and not half to struggle to get back and enjoy it. I saw a patch of woods down by Ingles, but I don't know whats in there yet. Have to go explore it first.
This is a pretty cool way to live though, I have to agree with that kind of logic. I don't know when it will become not so thrilling, but then it will be time to re-adapt. Then I can go back to my old mantra-"Taken from here to where it came from and taken to a place and used in such a manner that it can only remain as a representation of what it was where it came from"
I like being on the lake but its no good for a foot soldier.

Phone Home!

April 4, 2002- Thursday- Day 160
3:15pm- Me and Skil's just got back from walking down to Ingles Grocery. Earlier Junior came by and we sat and talked for a while. It was nice just hanging out and having a couple beers on the lake. When I walked to Ingles I called home and the phone number belongs to someone else now. I guess Laura changed the number, so I couldn't call. Well, such is life! Across the street from where I am camped is the local fly fishing hole, I guess. I went over early this morning and watched them try and catch these little stocked rainbow trout. The ones I seen caught were on the average 7" long. We have bream in S. Florida that would eat these trophys of the north Georgia woods. I am going to walk around the lake shore and do a little exploring with my partner in a bit. Maybe we'll find some atifacts or something left over from the Civil War.

Junior Ridings, Is That You!

April 3, 2002- Wednesday- Day 157

8:00am- Me and Skil's found a old road up on a mountain that was somewhat flat, so we pitched camp for the night. We don't have much of a view here, I'm kind of looking down on a store roof. I just feel like I am heading in the wrong direction going this way. I am going down to the store and call Hank and buy a map.

8:30am- I called Hank and he is coming to pick us up, Good ole' Hanky! While I was down in the store I saw a guy who was staring at me and I stared back, because he was sure familiar. I just couldn't place him, and anyway I must have been mistaken. He was probably a pervert out trolling.

It will be good to see Hank, though!

4:00pm- Hank showed up and we went to Elijay, Hank bought lunch, then we went to Blairsville to the Home Depot, to get some stuff for the house Hanks building. We went to his house and I got to see Cynthia and the kids, damn, they have grown. A really great family and really good friends. Junior pulled up and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, he was the same guy from the store this morning. We had a good laugh over that. He thought he knew me and I thought I knew him. Neither one of us would ask "who are you"? I have known this guy so long, I have no idea why I didn't recognize him. Hank was building a huge house across the street from his other house. Now, that makes about 5 houses he owns. That one in the Redlands in Fl. is probably worth over a million by itself. This one he said was around $350,000 and he got all this with a hawk and trowel. Poor guy can't read or nothing, so he just accumulated all his wealth by hard work, and saving his money. Good for Hank!

He ask me to hang around a few days and I agreed, so he took me to 'Lake Blue Ridge' and I set up camp there. It is a great big old lake and the temps. are cool enough, I shouldn't have to much company. It would take a hard-core individual to go swimming this time of year. The walk to the store is a little uncomfortable, over a mile down the highway. I feel that I'll be alright now, I am among friends.

Blue Ridge Exit!

April 2, 2002- Tuesday- Day 158

8:30am- I almost started to walk back to Hank's, but whats the use? I don't even know if I was at the right house, but I didn't see any signs of life down the road. We just went back to Blue Ridge to contemplate the next historical move. I'll give him another call on my way out of town. Me and Skil's just hung out most of the day on Ada Road and 515 in the woods out of the sun. I'll leave when its gets a little cooler. This sudden change in the weather, sucks! I was just getting to enjoy freezing my ass off all the time. Suppose to be more rain tomorrow, that is always great news. I see a sign that says Jasper is the next town. I better think about getting a map before I leave here. I want to try and get back on US64, if at all possible. Doesn't seem like a town that is all that interesting, seems kinda boring. I better hit the road!