Yesterday I hung around town waiting for 6:00PM Phat Tire shop ride.
Last night I slept in a parking lot behind the buildings that are on Central ST which is the main east west street thru old town. Very quiet until 6AM when the dumpster truck made its rounds. I got up then drove out of town looking for a gravel lot to park and make bfast. I prefer gravel as it allows my sink water to perc into the dirt instead of running out on pavement.
I passed a store selling knives along side the freeway that I drive to to check out as I want to replace my lost clip knife. I shopped and bought a suitable replacement. So many choices.
I stopped @ Atlanta Bread company for a baked treat. I saw a converted Sprinter in the parking lot. I didn’t check it out. I was sitting inside the store when a guy walked up to me and reintroduced himself. Pat was his name and I rode w/ him and his friend Riley who also owns a Sprinter conversion @ Lake Leatherwood when I visited here back in 2010.
Next was to find bulk filtered water that lead me to one of the big local Walmart stores. The customers here appeared normal, the parking lot was filled w/ good condition vehicles. I was sitting @ a picnic table under oak trees when I watched a guy park behind my van then take pics of it. We said hello. Later after he returned from the store he stopped to chat. Justin is in corporate Walmart management and a member of bike club FAST which takes care of Slaughter Pen trails. He told me of an epic ride they do then worked himself into inviting me to do it Thurs night after work. Cool. I showed him my owies that he diagnosed as chiggers. He said treatment was coating the site w/ clear nail polish. He said clear was for aesthetics, any color would do. The polish suffocates the bugger that is living under the skin. I had heard of this b4 and I had read somewhere that it is old wives’ tales. I decided that a bit of polish would be worth it for itch relief. I went back into WalMart shopping for polish. I picked a clear coat w/ pinkish glitter. I now have splotches of hardened glitter on my body. Later I researched chiggers and learned that indeed polish is old wives’ as the larva form of the mite bites to feed then drops off. Treatment is itch management.
I joined the shop ride lead by Josh out to Slaughter Pen. Progressive Designs built new trails extending the Pen towards the downtown. Machine built w/ tech challenge lines. The park was being well used. FAST has a young kids skills camp going on. Great to see adults developing skills in kids who were gleefully participating in. Fun ride. One of the riders I met @ Lake Leatherwood previously who remembered me.
Back in town about 10 of us sweated riders filled the bar @ Pressroom for beer and food. Wettest driest county in the state.
Josh told me he told his building’s management that I would be camping overnight in their parking lot which I did not know about previously. The shop shares a wall w/ Pressroom and city hall. last night I slept w/ impunity not fearing rousting. But the dumpster truck of another company got me.
Two nights ago the heat and humidity broke which allowed me to sleep w/ a blanket. Last night was even chillier.
Today the skies have cleared making for a darn right nice day.
Going to visit Crystal Bridges then do a trail work project this evening followed by my first night ride using my light. Whoohoo.
Leaving here is hard as I keep meeting new people who pass me to new adventures. I need to be in Huntsville, AL by next Wed, however, to pick up INR test strips. Mtn Bike subculture.