After the blue car was damaged from its drive in the mountains, I often found myself taking the train to Florence, Carolina. I first bicyled to Florence on _______ . In total, it was a fifty-five mile journey from Moncks Corner to Olanta. The best part was is that it wasn't an ordeal at all. It was slow, warm, and enjoyable. All I remember seeing is a field over the first bridge out of St. Stephen and the railroad tracks stretch onward. I did thirty miles from Moncks Corner to US 521/US 52 and relaxed for two hours at a fuel stop, eating fried chicken and watching 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'
The next half of the trip is what will from here on out be known as the Barren Land, where your camelbak runs out of water, and all there is to eat is cotton. The only water comes from the swamps and the spigots of church buildings. There are no towns for landmarks, only passing highways. Sumter highway, Turbeville highway, New Salem highway. Once Burnt Branch road became Park road, Olanta snuck up on me. It came about eight miles sooner than I had expected. I was amped! I just kept going, for all of four miles. I felt like an arrow that could shoot out all the way. I stopped in a field by a row of small trees lining a long driveway to a house and laid in the grass with all my sweat and bicycle helmet. I felt like victory. I imagined being approached by a law officer and saying to him "aaah, yes, you aren't used to my kind are you? I'm one of the few left" "I'm sorry, son, what are you getting at??" "The tramp or transient, you know. I know most people prefer to drive, but I like to do it my way" "Well, what you doin' laying around, this is someone's property" "When drivers need to rest from driving, don't they pull off the side of the road until they are ready to get on again? I'm doing the same thing, 'cept I don't go by car, I go by bicycle. Surely I am not trespassing any more than a tired driver is" "Don't let me see you still here in thirty minutes" "Can't promise nothin' sir, I just gotta listen to my muscles and go when they are ready and rested." But I mainly enjoyed what was left of my chicken and dinner roll, singing some songs from the movie. You always think about these things though. I got picked up as agreed and wheeled in to Magic City, happy and chattering all the way. Soon I will travel all ninety-five miles
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