Yippee! Civilization. If you can call the suburbs of Gary, Indiana civilization.

I'm at 526 miles on my trip to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Only 41 miles to go. If I were a real man, I'd do it tomorrow. But, realistically, it will take me two day. Oh, well. If I can find three hours to ride my bike tomorrow, I'll try. Nah, I won't.

I'm up way too late. The mid schedule ruins me for weeks after. Last night I slept for over ten hours and could have just stayed in bed all day. I went up to Elizabethton, TN (you pronounce it "elizaBETHton" or you die) to look at the Watauga (pronounced "wuhTAWguh") River. I drove to this trailer park on the river and spoke to four rednecks on their porch. Nice people, few teeth. The husband and wife had contusions on their faces like they'd been punching each other. The other guy had on a Harley cap, and Tennessee Vols National Champs 1998 tee shirt. He stayed in his chair except when he jumped up and shook my hand vigorously. It happened like this:

Me: "Do you remember the Doe River flood of '98?"
Man: "Oh, yeah I was living right here. Big un. Biggest one ever."
Me: "Yeah, seven people died. I was working that night and put out the flood warnings for the river. I even did a tv show about it."
Man, eyes lighting up: "That was YOU! You was awn the Discovery Channel! I seed that program! That WAS you! Ceptin' you had hair then (yuck yuck)!"
Me: "Yeah, that was me. I can't believe you recognize me. Yeah, having three teenage daughters will take your hair away."
Woman: "Boy I hear ya."
Me: "Yeah, I got a bunch of teen age boys buried in the back yard."
Woman: "I got one I'd like to bury, less'n you want him."
Man: "Yeah I seed that Discovery Channel show bout the flood and you was awn it. I seed you. You had more hair then."
Me: "Well, thanks for your help. I need to get back to Morristown, now."
Second woman: "Wait, I think grandma knows more. She's been here all her life".
Grandma (inside the single wide): (bottom line, she knows nothing about flooding and wants to watch her soaps and wished I'd go away so I do.)


Thirty minutes later

Me: "Ok, thanks for your help. I need to get back to Morristown, now."

It was valuable, and I paid for it. Apparently everyone I know and don't know has done seed me on that Discovery Channel special, ceptin' me. Ain't never seed musehf.

Goodnight all y'all.