Sun 12/13/09 5:33 pm

Day 8

Location: Adamsville Tx

Comments:

Adamsville is a 1 store no light town. I met Ronnie Hamilton – owner of “The Store” - and asked him if there was anybody around that would rent me a room or let me sleep in their yard – he referred me to a guy named Antony about 100 yards down 281. I went down and talked to Antony – young clean cut guy in his early 20’s – and he offered to let me sleep in his 5th wheel trailer – I told him I didn’t want to impose and asked if I could just put my mat and sleeping bag down under a tree in his yard – that’s when another guy there named Anthony (with an “h” added) suggested I sleep under the gazebo in Antony’s yard – which worked out perfect. After I unloaded there, I went back down to “The Store” with clean clothes and a washcloth – went into the bathroom took a spit bath. When done, I ordered a cheeseburger, fries and large strawberry shake which I ate while watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Ronnie Hamilton and I talked for an hour on the plight of the economy and its effect on this part of the country. He told me he had made a motorcycle by fitting a small motor to a Trek bicycle and also revealed that his business had gone from good to nothing in less than a year. He was closing his store in 2 weeks. This is a conversation and theme that was repeated several times on my trip – small businesses going out of business. Times may be good for some but for much of small town America in Texas, it’s really bad.

Day 8 miles = 50. Total miles = 329.