So free campsites.com is a great tool that I recently discovered. I enjoy camping. I like being alone sometimes. I enjoy camping alone sometimes. I found a "free campsite in the little city of Oakland, Ill. If this campsite ended up being a hoax then the next option was Hoosier Natl forest. That was quite a distance away and I really was hopeful that I could just crash for a few hours and be on the roads early.
So as I enter this small town off the road in the middle of nowhere. I had a sense of peace. Kids playing, fishing at a damn by the lake. It looked like a great little community. My directions on the GPS led me to a cemetery. I knew that was not the place. I looked for the water tower (that is what the description on the web site said to look for) and so I asked the boys at the damn. They told me that it was right near the pavilion through the trees. I thanked them and headed to the area.
I found the site with the fire ring and rode in. Very soft mud. Went to put the kickstand down and it instantly started to sink as I unweighted the bike. I stuck my glove under the kickstand and notice another pavilion so I drove to up on to it and waited.
I waited for the folks to appear. I was right. A small town with residences all around the little city park with the high school next to the park. Sure enough kids started to appear. Young teens with nothing but time playing basketball. Some guy was doing lawn care on a riding mower and he started to approach. He shut off the mower and I started the conversation.
"Hi, I was wondering if camping is allowed. I won't be impactful, just need a place to bed down for the night."
Young man: " I don't think it should be a problem. Let me make a call and find out for sure."
His name was Tim. Tim Cotton more specifically. He went on to tell me that he is buying the lawn car business from another guy who he tried to contact. He figures he could pay off the business in one season ($20,000) and the rest would be pure profit. I asked him if there was a place near by to purchase some food for the night.
Just then the phone rang and he answered it. "yeah the guy rolled up on his motorcycle wants to camp. what's that? a sign that says he has to pay $10.00 as a donation at city hall? Ok. He says he needs to just stay to sleep and will be out of here in the early morning. Ok, sure, I'll tell em.." "He says you can stay for free"
I asked Tim if I left my gear here while I purchase some grub would anyone mess with my stuff. He said I wouldn't trust it but you know what I'll watch your gear while I pack up my mower"
"Are ya sure?" I said
"Sure thing"
Before I geared up I put together my tiny wood camping stove. He was amazed and thought it was awesome. I told him I would be right back.
I got to the store and got a big diet coke and a fifth of the Captain. Captain Morgan and some hot peanuts.
When I got back to the site he showed me how he gathered some twigs and small branches for my portable fire pit.
Hell of a nice guy.
With that the local LEO showed up. He said it should not be a problem. He told me he would check up on me during the night and then we started talking about how he wants to travel east to the New England states. I gave him some pointers about what to see and what not.
With that they were both gone. So I started a fire.
My campsite in Oakland
The horseshoe club welcomed me. must be some big entertainment. They had about ten pits and bleachers for spectators to watch the games.. Home town folks. I love it.
At about 9:30 a white pick up rolls up and an older gentleman rushes out of the truck and starts hollering...."Did they open up the bathrooms!!!!!!!"
"I don't know, haven't been in there" I said as I added more wood on the fire.
He rushed past me and starts cussing as he enters the shed next to the bathrooms. He starts cleaning and making a ruckus with a broom. I hear him talking to himself and after about 5 minutes I ask him if needs any help. "Nah, They open the bathrooms and then they don't know how to turn the water on and then I have to take care of it.... blah blah blah.... and he goes back to work
10 minutes later he calmed down enough, locked u the shed and comes over and talks to me. "So Tim says you are on a motorcycle traveling through huh?
"Yeah, He said it was ok. Are you the guy who he is buying his business from."
Yeah that's me, I hope he does well if he doesn't spend all of his time talking to people"
"He actually was mowing that whole section, I interrupted him, so you can blame me for that."
"Oh he was mowing was he, that's good"
After that he softened up, I introduced myself and he told me his name was Allen. I asked to take a pic of him (knowing that I forgot to take a pic of Tim Cotton) and that I was writing a story of my journey but he declined. We talked for a good hour. He showed me videos of the tree they had chopped down in sections, and how he burnt the stump for two days...
I showed him some pics of my journey. I asked him if he wanted some of my hootch. He declined. He thanked me for burning all of the dead branches in the area
I told him I had to get up early. We wrapped up the conversation. And as he was leaving he asked if I needed anything, "I could bring up a ham sandwich for ya." He said
I declined and thanked him for his time and visit. Good people everywhere.
The next day was a no picture day. 400+ miles of highway 70 then on to 77 south to good ole Marietta, OH. With the hopes of conquering some of the wonderment that is south east Ohio. Got in about 5ish. Tried to find the free campsite but I needed a shower. My nerves were fried. I parked in the Lafayette motel parking lot on the water, opened the Diet coke and capt'n that I had left from the night before and took a couple swigs. I got a room, showered, and went down to the bar and ordered a stiff Bombay Sapphire and tonic and took a look at the menu. Ideally did not eat a whole hell of a lot during my trip and the adrenaline alone was burning some fat stores. Got a great burger with fries. Umm Umm Gooooood
The next morning I awoke at 5:30 and took at look at the weather. HMMMMM doesn't look good to the north so ohio is out. There was a sliver of opened skies to the south east of me but I am talking a sliver. If I left in a few minutes I could find some coffee and figure it all out. So here are the pics of that
Does this helmet make my butt look big?
Looking slim if I do say so myself:
The Lafayette at o'dark hundred
At the seven eleven for my life blood: Caffeine
I like how the blinkers light up when the lights are on...
A little robin hanging with me while I plan my route:
Damn Camera:
She's a keeper: ;D
This last section of my tale will be pic heavy. West Virginia is one of my favs. Thought I could get in some "real riding" for the last day of freedom. Clouds loomed all around me. The roads showed remnants of rain on the roads mostly where ever I went but for some reason not on me. I was parting the clouds as I moved. The Gods of Motorcycling were with me as I traversed Rt 50 to get to the good stuff..
I got off the highway (50) at Clarksburg. I set the GPS for shortest distance, no tolls, no highways, no u turns, and rolled the dice to get me to the top of the mountain ahead to the windfarm up near Thomas....
Here are the pics that go with the story:
Sand hill road was as my wife and I say was a "gooder"
Then Hunters Fork road
which turned into
Sugarlands rd then on to
Seneca Trail rd...
OMG
The goodness of West Virginia.
