Oct. 20 – Radicals and The “Twilight Zone”

The sun rose this morning in a blue sky, but is was pretty darn cold until the sun was high over the hills. I took my time breaking camp and enjoyed some hot coffee, getting on the road with a sweater and a jacket at 9:30 or so.

I shouldn’t have worried about the cold, as a few climbs in I was shedding both the jacket and the sweater. It was about 40 miles from Hartville to Houston, and as I got there I noticed a little used bookstore on the way into town. As I needed a new book (and I like bookstores), I checked it out. It was what you would expect, with half the store crammed with used books shelved or piled by category and the other half housing antique and rare books. The difference was in all the anti-government and protest slogans and rants that were scrawled on pieces of paper and pinned up everywhere. Then I met the owner (never did get his name) and it made sense. Slightly whacky, ex protester from Boulder, CO – you get the picture. And here is the picture:

We are buddies now and I bought a book for a buck. I kept riding the rolling hills with my goal being the town of Summersville about 25 miles further, where there was a little motel called the Rusty Gate that seemed like a good place to rest. I had called the motel several times throughout the day, but never got an answer and wondered if they were open. I found it, but when I pulled up the office was locked and empty, but a note said to call (the number that I had been calling and a second number) and leave a message. I then called a number for the community center as I had read that they had some rental cabins – left a message there too. Then I rode over to the town square and went to the City Hall/Police Station to see what info. I could get on lodging or camping – I walked in and the lights were on and offices were open…but nobody was around. I started to feel like I was in an episode of “The Twilight Zone”. Next I went to the library….and there was a librarian there! As I started explaining my many predicaments to her, my phone rang and it was the manager of the community center who did have a cabin available for $45 cash. I left a visibly relieved librarian as I went a few streets over to check in to what was indeed a little duplex cabin – a bit funky but a good deal. I found the grocery store and had a nice little dinner back at the cabin as I relaxed and read. Whew! (The motel owner did call me back later).