Miles: 533.5 | A true zero in Marion unfolds slowly — sleeping in, cheap McDonald’s brunch, laundry, errands, and long conversations with trail friends. A well-intentioned but unsettling ride from a local reminds me to stay alert, even in moments of kindness. The rest of the day is quiet and restorative: a care package from home, naps, catching up with Chelsea, and low-key beers with friends. Marion isn’t the best place to sleep, but it gives me what I need before moving on.
We got up super late. Rain clouds hung low in the sky outside. We went to McDonalds first to get ‘brunch’ on the cheap. We saw Grandma Shorty and Plod Along there and we, of course, had a lengthy conversation with them. Then we went to WalMart (again) to get Miles’ resupply. We ran into Future and Tang on our way there. After we headed to the laundromat. We were there for a few hours and I got some blogging done.
While Miles waited for his sleeping bag to dry (we do have to wash them once in a while), I went to the post office to pick up a package my mom sent me and to send out my resupply box. On my way there a car honked at me and waved me over from across the street. I walked over. A woman rolled down her window. “A girl like you shouldn’t be walking around this town in a dress like that alone! Hop in and I’ll give you a ride.” I hesitated.
The middle-aged woman seemed harmless but her statement surprised me a bit. I was wearing my town dress, them hem of which fell around my lower shins. I took of my pack and put it in her trunk. I snapped a photo of her license plate as I closed the trunk and sent it to my parents just in case. She took me to the post office.
On the way, she told me that there was a lot of drugs rolling around Marion and that it wasn’t the safest place for a young girl to be alone. She asked where I was staying and told me that the motel I was staying at used to be a drug den before it was bought out by this nice Indian couple bought it out recently. She said hikers really changed the motels around there.
We got to the post office and she waited for me while I did my business. When I came back outside she drove me over to the motel. She wished me well and made sure I got back to my room safely. She told me she would pray for me. It was generous of her to give me a ride and I, of course, thanked her but the experience rattled me a bit.
Back in the room I sorted through my laundry. I called my friend, Chelsea, and caught up with her. We hadn’t talked in a while. It was so nice to catch up with her. Miles got back shortly after and we both took naps. Later, Maverick arrived to the motel and him and Rick James came over and shared some beers with us.
They went back to their rooms after a few hours and Miles and I just hung out until we fell asleep. I slept a little that night but, overall, Marion was a sleepless town.
1. Nap
2. McDonald’s (don’t judge me)
3. Care Package from Mom (thanks mom!!)
Day 65: Errands, Uneasy Kindness, and a Slow Town Day