">
Fogged Roads and Farm Animals
This morning I slept in a little bit at the room. Then started to move around at about 5:30am. It was one of those morning where we really didn’t want to get moving. That’s how it feels most morning when we wake up in a bed. But the weather is supposed to be great today, but there’s rain coming in the following day on Thursday. So we need to get moving and get as many miles in as we can.
Once we were packed up we headed to the continental breakfast to eat something quick. Then hit the road! I had thought that our time on highway 231 was done, but totally forgot about the road walk through Wetumpka. We are back on the actual GPX file Alabama road walk route, so now this is all miles I’ve done before. I didn’t recognize much at first, until we passed a place called “Aw Shucks”, an oyster joint. That definitely jogged my memory.
Walking across a bridge along 231 this morning in the fog.
The road this morning wasn’t too terrible. The shoulder was much larger for most of the day. Though as we began walking it was very foggy out. Visibility was low even though it wasn’t dark out. So we had to be extra careful while we walked. I was just under the assumption that people didn’t see us. And got out of the way accordingly, regardless of whether or not they did see us.
The only thing that could make highway road walking more dangerous: a whole lot of fog rolling in.
Over the first couple hours we had to cross over some pretty tight bridges. And the fog was still heavy in the air. But we made out just fine. When we passed by one of the next gas stations I ran inside to pee. The options along the road were quite limited. Then decided to grab a chocolate milk while I was there. They had Twix chocolate milk! Which I couldn’t resist trying since I’ve never had it. And it was pretty dang good.
The sign in the bathroom at the gas station.
Then we kept walking along the highway for a few more hours. Mentally I was feeling a whole lot better though. The road was wide enough that it didn’t take too much effort to walk. There weren’t any close calls, and were way less large trucks. For some part of the day we even walked along a side walk! That was awesome.
After another hour or so we quickly headed into a Jack’s for another bathroom break. As I sat there at a table a girl who worked there came over. She said she had seen us earlier on the road, but hadn’t expected us to come inside. She was so curious about what we were doing and was ridiculously nice. Her name was Jesska and she took a picture of us and took down my info to follow along. On our way out, she was telling her coworkers about us and they were all so curious. Another girl came over and asked us a few more questions. It’s always fun to meet people who want to know about the journey. Especially individuals who may have never seen or heard of anything like this before.
Enjoying some side walk hiking through town.
Leaving there we continued on sidewalk for a while which I really enjoyed. Then it eventually ran out and we were back into the road. There were even some hills in this next section! So we got some climbing in. We’ve been joking that we’re “training for Flagg mountain”, which we’ll be climbing tomorrow. It’s the first mountain over 1,000 feet in the Appalachian range. And the start of our journey of mountain climbing along the east coast.
In Wetumpka there was a sign for a large crater, 6miles in length, which impacted the area.
We wound up really hammering out the first big chunk of miles for the day. We didn’t stop again until just before 2pm, when we were about 20 miles in already. The route kept us on 231 for the entire time. But it was relatively quiet at times. This section of road still wasn’t the most entertaining, but it was definitely an improvement from yesterday.
A river that the road crossed over.
While we walked I listened to music and started putting together a new playlist. I like to do that every now again when I’m getting bored of what I’ve been listening to recently. But I’m also a creature of habit and will often listen to the same single song, few songs, or album, over and over again throughout a day.
Just before 2pm the road brought us by Kim’s Corner. This area had a subway, dollar general, and a gas station that served hot food. I got a Gatorade, chocolate milk, and some chicken tenders and potato wedges. Then we sat inside the store to enjoy a break and have some lunch. We were already about 20 miles in for the day before 2pm, with likely another 11-12 miles to go for the day. Leaving there we planned to stay on 231 briefly. Then would get onto Buyck Road for the foreseeable future. We would only be getting off that close to the time that we’d be wrapping up for the day.
Kim’s Corner, which had gas station and a couple of stores.
As we walked along that next stretch of road it was super quiet. Hardly any cars went past us which was a lovely change of pace. We even saw a bunch of wildlife and adorable critters! Multiple houses had horses, cows, and donkeys out in pasture. Some of them came right up to the fence. One of the houses had an adorable cattle dog that was really playful. He got so stoked when we walked past, and ran right up to the fence. He jumped up and I pet him through it for a bit before we kept walking.
A clear river with rocks beneath it, just off of the road.
This stretch of road was so enjoyable. There were beautiful trees in the yards and wide open fields. It was just what I needed after days and days of 231. One of the yards had a bunch of donkeys and one was a big fluffy baby! It was a big baby but was still nursing on its mom. And was the fluffiest thing I’d ever seen.
Some of the adorable donkeys that we saw in a field.
Toward the end of the day we went through a residential area. Then we started trying to figure out where to set up camp for the night. We had already passed 30 miles for the day, so anywhere was fair game. But we didn’t want to be near any sort of private property. So we walked until we passed a big dirt pull off with some downed trees. Then walked a ways into the woods until we found a flat spot. It was close enough to the road that there was still noise, but far enough that we wouldn’t have any issues.
The country road was adorable and such a great change of pace.
I got my tent set up and then ate some snacks inside. Then did a bit of writing before calling it a night. This is my first night in ages where I don’t have service. Which is no biggie! It just means I’ll have to do all of my video uploading and blog stuff tomorrow in the afternoon at some point. Plus tomorrow I’m supposed to get my week 5 YouTube video up as I do every Thursday. So it may wind up going up later in the evening or the following morning. But these things happen.
Walking along this quiet country road was the perfect way to end the day off.
If you enjoyed this blog and would like to support my hike by buying me a soda or a snack along the way, there is a “Tip the Author” button below! It links directly to my Venmo. Any and all support is incredibly appreciated!
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Comments 12
Loving the bit of countryside and animals ❤️ That restroom sign – hilarious 😂. Sleep tight ❤️ You’re almost on the trail ❤️
Chicken tenders are always good trail/road walk food. No bones, minimal trash. Those frozen fully cooked chicken strips like Tyson can also.be eaten cold after thawing which can take a few to several hours to thaw depending on weather and whether you have something like a soft sided cooler or a make shift insulated pouch made of reflectix insulation (foil covered bubble wrap). Pouch also works well when leaving town for the woods to freeze some cheese and sandwich meat for later if your room in town has a fridge.
You go girl. Such an inspiration to a fellow wanna be thru hiker.
I just finished reading “Grandma Gatewoods Walk” last night, it’s about the woman from Ohio in the 1950s who hiked the AT solo with a sack slung over her back, broken eyeglasses etc. Apparently she is a legend among thru hikers but I was not familiar with her story … Anyways PegLeg is a modern day Grandma Gatewoods, inspiring everyone to push themselves and take on big projects that most people would be afraid to even attempt. Thanks for the inspiration! Ps it’s a good book written by Ben Montgomery
Replying to myself … My neighbor Wanda is elderly and in her 80s, recently had a stroke and although she read voraciously throughout her life she is no longer able to read due to the stroke, so every night I go over to her house at 8:30 and read a book to her. Wonderful bonding experience, tomorrow we start “The Hidden Lives of Dogs”
I’m amazed by what you’re doing this year! Looking forward to continuing to follow along, and I’ll hope we meet somewhere on the AT. Glad you stayed safe on those road walks. Go Peg Leg!
Such a great episode. And thanks for the Wetumka Crater info.
I agree with a lot of the commentary. We are enjoying your journey and appreciate you providing us the blogs, vlogs, photos, etc. I’m catching some of your stuff on You Tube as well. And you are inspiring in many ways. Keeps me thinking about what people like you are out there doing and makes me want to push myself, even in my 70’s. Trying to stay in the game.!! (There is always a contingent of older folks telling me to slow down and smell the roses…LOL). No way.!!!
So, thank you for inspiring me and keeping me thinking about being young and active. I know I’m only a spectator at this point, but I feel like I’m more than that.
Safe travels and happy trails.
Hey Peg Leg,
You brighten my days with your stories about your adventures. I love the rest room sign too! I have seen a lot of quirky signs while traveling. I feel like they help connect me with a place even if I am just passing through.
I just read your last 3 posts and now I’m caught up. Route 231 gives me bad dreams!
You two are doing a great job and have some actual trail time!
You forgot to include the heading picture of you petting the sheep in the article as you usually do. Is she on the ground or climbing the fence to see you? So cute!
Keep your head down and your chin up! You, little PL, you are a warrior!