Clinton

That stick bug frightened me last night, greatly.

A day of rain meant a day of sitting inside and laying low for a while. After so much walking, sitting in the back corner of a Hardee's for an entire day really gets one feeling restless.

A second night on the banks of the Mississippi, while counterproductive, was enjoyable.

At least six times last night I woke up to find my tent illuminated, as if by the sun, and the ground violently shaking below me. If I was anywhere but Missouri the trumpeting howl and obnoxious rumble might have been taken as sure signs of an elephant stampede; but as I sit up and realize where I am, I identify the sounds as a train. Still it is a unnerving, and I can't help but worry that maybe the train will change direction and hit my tent.

It is cold here, and getting colder. Walking around town this morning in a T-shirt and bathing suit was probably a poor choice...

The signs of fall are all around us, and if can get far enough south before winter arrives, it will be just barely, and the cold will be snapping at our heels.

Tonights destination is Bowling Green, only an eleven mile trek. With the rain and cold winds though we aren't too upset that the town isn't a few more miles west.

If you are ever in the area, check out the famous Day Break Donuts, its right on the river. Five dollars bought us 19 gourmet treats, much more than that amount should have fetched us. Alas, life is pain, and now I have to carry donuts :(

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A message from Nick, to the rest of the world:

To quote Ansel Gruenberg:

"You want to remind yourself of your goals when things get rough, and remember that a little pain is more than worth achieving your goals."

A lot of this journey is a test of willpower, to push through cornfields only to reach more corn. Life on foot is something too few people get to experience now days.

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To quote Nick:

"Dog! Be quiet! You are not a doctor, you can't add anything to this conversation!"

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We have now been gone for forty two days. We have met way too many people to count, and would find it hard to list every town we have walked through.

The general reactions from the people we meet?

"You guys are crazy!"

"Stay safe!"

"I wish I could do something like that..."

Our general responses?

"Yes, we are."

"Yeah, that's the plan..."

"You can, and should!"

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If anyone has any questions, message me, and I will be glad to answer them!