Journey Day 419 | CDT Day 82
Sunset over the Great Divide Basin.
9/4/87
Candy bar breakfast, I hike out on a road with the others under cloudy skies. Uneventful walk, other than a few mule deer. Hit road to Seminoe Reservoir, one car headed the wrong way lone traffic on our approach. Chill, wind, rain threatens as we settle in and try to hitch with only sparse traffic. No luck. Hopeless feelings pervade as cold, gray skies make waiting hard in strong winds. Almost run over by two vehicles turning into the road we're hitching from. Decide to begin walking the 27 road miles to Rawlins. One truck passes. Cold even walking with raingear, polypro top. Begins to rain, storm inevitable. Decide to chance ride, success with a tractor-trailer hauling a large land mover. Major storm taken riding on the flatbed, Laurie in the cab.
Stop for wiper repair gets us soaked, nearly lose my pack when a cable pulls on a turn. Almost lose my pack cover, saved only by my foot holding it down. Ride past the North Platte River, little to see. Freezing as we make Sinclair, wait for a ride to Rawlins in the post office as drivers check in the heavy equipment, pick up pick-up.
Quickly down the interstate in a flatbed. Dropped happy, but chilled, at Straight Shooters Eating House. Megacoffee, burger plate, excellent peach cream pie from a nice, friendly waitress. Next to the post office, letters and box. Get room at the Jade House, showers, settle in.
Jade House closed, according Google Maps in January 2021. Yell at Leonard about talking during a movie. He gets upset and leaves the room. Carl and I go to dinner after I apologize, we agree too much time together. Catfish and salad bar, but Mexican waitress is poor. Meet Cleveland Heights father, kids at the door, long talk, pick out postcards, eventually pay after talk with the manager.
Back to the room for much letter writing. Half gallon of ice cream shared with Carl. Leonard seems bummed. Watch tube, others crash. Try to last through "Sophie's Choice," but commercials put me to sleep.
