I exit the trailhead, and immediately see some broken down RVs and a tent with large plastic cold insulating containers.
These people have been here for a while.
0.2 miles into town, there’s a brewery that is rated highly, so I stop in. Fresh Meat It’s nice to see people again.
My frustration from the day has taken a toll on my emotional state, so I decide to get a hotel room for the night...except there are none. None that are reasonably priced, at least. This is a small town, small enough that there’s not even a Walmart - just one Main Street. Any commercial infrastructure is just one street. There’s a town about 17 miles down the one road with hotels and a Walmart, but no way to get there. I could walk. 17 miles along a state road. But that’s a whole day.
A man named Bill takes interest in my gear and we talk a while. I don’t think Bill expected me to be so prepared, based on his questions. He goes back to the bar as I eat and figure out what my next step is.
I ask Bill if there’s any way to get to the next town. Nope. There’s nothing. He stands there for a bit. I wonder if he’s going to offer to take me there. And then the unexpected. You can stay at my place tonight if you like. I look up with a side eye. Don’t offer if you’re not serious. “I’m serious; I mean, it’s only for one night, right?” Internally, I think, I probably want two nights. Yeah. Only one night. “Ok. I’m almost finished up, and we’ll head out.” Alright. The waitress comes over. “Don’t worry, he’s a great guy” That hadn’t actually entered my mind. But I guess we’ll find out. Bill is an older man who lives in a wood stove-heated log cabin he built himself. His daughters are grown and married, and he lives with Lucy.
Lucy loves EVERYTHING.
He shows me my bed in the upstairs loft. It’s a queen bed with a fan, because sometimes the wood stove gets too hot. Too hot is not a concern of mine these days. It is wonderfully toasty. Lucy’s tail is wagging so hard that it throws her balance off a bit. “Lucy loves company” Lucy loves everything. Lucy doesn’t trust cameras. She knows they add 10 pounds.