Day 106, July 18, 2012

 I woke up at around 4:30. I had not slept too good yet and was no way ready to walk. I needed more energy before I got up so I went back to sleep.
      I slept a little more than I wanted but I felt much better and thought having the extra rest would be better overall for my mind and body. Even if I had to deal with more heat.
      I got up and packed up my stuff. I brushed my teeth and put some moisturizer cream on some dry areas of my face.
       I mapped my route and started walking. On the map it showed a frontage road that came back around to the 287 highway that I normally walk on. So I started down the road. But it quickly turned into a dirt road that seemed like it was fading out. Also there was a parked train on the tracks that might keep me from being able to cross over to the highway. I ended up walking on some rocks and dirt when eventually I came to a houses driveway and the train fired up and started rolling. I waited until it passed then I crossed the tracks and came out to the highway. So the GPS was a little off.
       I started down the highway. It was already warming up and it was only 9am. I walked about 7 miles when I passed a bucket truck reading meters off the highway. There was nothing around at all and the guy working walked out towards me. He came out and gave me a cold water and said I looked thirsty. That was awesome! Just a stranger wanting to help out. That water hit the spot!
         I walked a few more miles up when I came to a rest stop. I stopped there and used the bathroom. I also refilled my waters there to have colder water. I sat there for about 15 minutes inside a big building with air conditioning. Then I headed out again.
        I walked up and down some hills and there was nothing around but some very dry looking growth. It was hot and I was really feeling the heat. I was making sure to drink plenty of water and to keep the towel on my head wet to keep myself cool.
        I came to a town after about 15 miles of walking for the day. The town was Hedley TX. There was not much there except some houses. As I was just about out of the small town, I heard a honk and looked over. It was a mini van. Inside was the guy (Trey) that I had met in Childress a few days before. He was on his way to Amarillo with a group of people and wanted to stop to give me a couple waters, and a snack package. That was really awesome!
        I left town and started the second half of the walk. My towel was dry at this point, so I poured more water onto it to re soak the towel. That really helps to keep my neck and head cool.
        Another little while later another van pulled off. A lady brought me some snacks and drinks. She had heard about my journey through some friends and wanted to stop to help me. She was on her way to Vegas and saw me walking. She also had $60 she was going to give me but I told her no, and that I was all taken care of. I really don't need more at this point. But I thanked her and I was so thankful for her stopping to check on me and give me some snacks and drinks.
       I walked down about another 5 miles and it was a tough stretch through the heat. I stopped for a short break and to drink water.
      Up ahead was another small town with not much in it. I was about 7 miles away from Clarendon TX. As I was leaving from that small town I saw someone walk out to the road. It was the same guy from the bucket truck who had brought me a drink earlier. He came back and brought me a gatoraid and another water! That was so cool. He was on his way home and wanted to stop and help again.
          I was almost to Clarendon TX. I had about 4 miles to go when another car pulled off. It was a friend of the lady in the store with the dog from a few days ago. She had a phone call letting her know I was headed that way so she brought me 2 cold drinks and a few snacks too! She said she had an insurance office downtown if I wanted to hangout there the next day while I was in Clarendon. That was awesome! I told her I would keep it in mind. Just as she was there talking to me, another truck pulled off. It was a guy who had passed me and wasn't sure if I was on a bike and it broke down or what. He saw me right before the lady pulled over. So he turned around to check on me. That was awesome and he was just a complete stranger. I really enjoy when people just pull off to make sure I am ok. That really makes me feel like I'm watched over.
         I left there and finally made it to Clarendon. I had a couple different offers from strangers on Facebook and twitter to have a place to stay there. But I was on a roll and am comfortable outside now. I don't want that groove to be disrupted, so I decided to stay homeless over the offers to maintain the momentum and just being used to being outside.
        I went to pizza hut in the town. There was only that and dairy queen. I ordered a salad bar and pigged out! I sat there and charged with an outlet under the booth I sat in.
        As I sat there someone had come up to my seat and said they had something for me. I followed them outside and they had given me some cold drinks and some cracker snacks. They just wanted to make a quick stop to help and they had also heard of me through friends.
        After about an hour a lady who sat next to me said she heard about my journey. It was wild! She asked some questions and we kind of talked a little. I felt bad because I was so tired and out of it. I had walked 28 miles in 104 degree heat all day. So I was for sure not focused. After her and her group were done, they gave me their left over pizza! It was very cool. They had also dropped a care package in my cart with some clothes and off spray before they came in. And after they left she contacted me on facebook to offer me to stay at their home. But I still was set on staying outside.
         The pizza place closed at 10 and I was heading out after I paid. As I was leaving a family came in and gave me cookies! It was so cool and the town was apparently spreading the word which was awesome! We visited for a few minutes and they were such nice people.
       After I left there, I went across the way and walked behind a best western hotel. There was a fence next to a storage type building where I snuck between and felt like it was a decent place. It was one of those where I was good at night, but might be seen when the sunlight comes out. I laid there on a slanted surface on the dirt and was a little uncomfortable.
       The parking lot of the hotel was right on the other side of the fence and there were some guys playing music loud and yelling off and on. So it took me a while to fall asleep. I finally was out around midnight.
       In the middle of the night, I was woken up to something loud at my feet! It sounded like someone threw something at me. I sat up quickly!.... I looked around my cart and all of a sudden something was startled and looked at me! It was a cat. It stared at me for a second then darted off!... It had pulled the pizza box out of my cart and onto the ground and was eating all the pizza. I was awake about an hour after that, and then eventually fell back asleep. I didn't rest good at all that night.

    
   

Day 105, July 17, 2012

 I heard a truck that sounded like it was coming at me. I looked up and saw a garbage truck roll by just a few feet away from my feet. Then the garbage man looked at me and had the funniest surprised look while on his cell phone. I waved to him and he did the most confused wave back. He was driving on the grass and going behind the hotel where there were some dumpsters.
        I laid there a while then got up. It was about 8. I packed up and went to sonic to get breakfast burritos to eat for the walk. It seems like my sonic card has lasted forever. It was given to me in Denton and I mostly use it to buy cheap stuff. So I got 4 breakfast burritos. The guys working said they saw me on Facebook and wanted some pictures. That was cool.
           I took off down the highway. I left about 9 and was walking slow for some reason. It was pretty windy to the point where I had to take my hat off. There were also some hills along the way and I was getting a bit of a workout walking up those.
            I came to a small town called Esteline. All there really was was a couple little liquor stores. I went into one of them hoping to relax and take a midday break.  I went in and the owner asked right away "your the guy walking right?!" I was suprised and said yes. She said she also seen me on Facebook. Turns out the pastor I met the day before was pretty popular around this area and everyone knew about him and saw his Facebook post about me.
         I got a fountain drink and she wouldn't let me pay for it. I sat at a little bench in there and talked to the owner a while. She was really cool and we thought a lot of the same things. She had the coolest little puppy there and he was laying around being lazy and was always in the funniest positions.
        I sat there until about 6:30 and when it cooled down I headed down the road again. I passed over a bridge and a sand area where they were riding dirtbikes. It really made me miss riding. As I was walking along the bridge a truck passed and pointed behind me. I was looking back thinking something fell out of my cart, but then he slowed down and pulled over.
        I walked back and he got out and came towards me. He said "man I been looking for you!". He shook my hand. He looked to be around my age. He said he has been following me through a buddy and wanted to find me. He said he had some waters for me. I walked with him next to his truck and he opened a cooler and gave me 4 waters.  Then he reached into his pocket and handed me $100 bill! I said no way! I can't take this man. He said take it or I'm throwing you off this bridge. I know he was joking but he was showing how much he knew he wanted me to have it. Then again I said to just give me $20! But he said no way! Then he said what do you need? Shirts? I have a pack of my clothes, take what you need! I told him I was all set. Then he said how about shoes? Here take these and gestured to his shoes on his feet! I told him no no its ok. Mine are still new. He asked many times for me to take more. He was such a nice guy! He showed me his tatoos and said he admires my trip and the faith that I join him in. He was a very bright person with good energy. A guy who would give the short off his back (or shoes off his feet). He said to get some good food or a place to stay or whatever with the money. But I knew inside this gives me a chance to share a lot with others. And that's what I need to keep me going and keep my head up.
            After talking a while we shook hands and left. Great person. I kept walking and the sun started to set. It was a nice night and very peaceful with fields around me. I was just thankful for everything that comes to me. All without asking and always after I'm living in a giving manner. That is such an awesome reality!
        It was dark and I was getting close to Memphis TX and the 30 miles mark for the day of walking. All of a sudden I hit a wall and was beat tired. I started looking for a place to stay but there were really no good spots. I walked another 30 minutes and was fading out. I finally found a pull off right off the road. That was all that was around and I needed to lay down. So I pulled about 30 feet off the road and was also about 20 feet from the railroad tracks on the other side of me. I laid there and it was very loud with the big rigs. But I was relaxed.
       So I slept there and didn't get much rest. Every big rig would wake me up and the trains were so loud and shook the ground. It was a horrible night of rest and I maybe slept 3 hours if that.

     

Day 104, July 16, 2012

 I woke up around 9 on day 104. This day would basically be an entire day off doing nothing but relaxing! I laid there a while stretching and relaxing. A few dump trucks came by to unload the dumpsters, and a truck dropping supplies to the stores came in here and there. I never spotted them seeing me at all though. After an hour of laying there I got up and halfway packed just throwing my stuff in my cart sloppily.
          At about 10 I went to McDonald's. I left my cart right outside a window where I sat next to an outlet too. Then I got in line to get a breakfast burrito. When I was in line the guy in front of me asked where I was traveling to. So I told him. Then the lady in front of him turned around and was amazed. She said to come up and order my food and she would pay for it. I said no its ok. Then she said please, it would be an honor! So I did. I ordered a 99 cent burrito and a 99 cent drink. She said order more but that was more than I was gonna get already. I would have got an ice water. Then she said to come join her and her friends to share my story.
         So I went over and it was 4 pretty old ladies and they were so funny. They were asking me such funny questions and were a bit confused about some things. I was cracking up! But they were sweet! They asked if I was a Christian and I told them no. That god is with me but beyond that I still have unanswered questions and am searching for a more evident truth. But that I know he has a plan now and I just need to keep walking with him. They thought that was cool. And they asked if I knew what a Christian was? I said yes, it's when you accept Christ into your heart. And I have not got to that point. But I do know god has my back. We talked a while then they left.
           I sat there and suddenly a man came up to me and said "nick?" and I smiled and said ya and shook his hand. He was a pastor there in Childress and located me through twitter updates. He sat down and asked about how this trip started. So I told him how I was just lost and needed to search for truth and purpose, and to find myself in a deeper sense. He said he enjoyed it, and he travels to Honduras and gets to hear of miracles the people there experience. Things beyond what doctors say. Things only a prayer can cure. That was awesome to hear. We discussed how in this country we have so much to rely on that we don't need miracles. And that causes trust in god to fade as the generations go on and things become easier. So it was a very stimulating talk and he is a great guy! When he was leaving he asked if I wanted a hotel for the night? Money? Anything? And I said, as I always do when asked that, all I need is prayers. He said he can do that. Then he set $40 down on the table and said to take that incase I need it down the road. I said no and I really didn't need it. But he said, then share it. I couldn't say no to that. Then it would just be me being prideful. But I can and will share that.
           So after he left I sat there all day. It was busy and I was getting some pretty interesting looks from people. But I'm used to that.
          In the evening time I went to the bathroom. When I came out there was a 10 piece chicken nugget box on my table and piping hot! It was busy there and I had no idea who gave me that. It was very cool! But also awkward and I wondered if they were watching? But I ate them and smiled anyways.
         After the sun set and it was dark, an employee came up to me and said if I wanted to fill my water jugs, that I could use their water. That was cool. I said thanks. He must have seen my cart with the empty water jugs outside.
      Then a little later another employee came up and asked if I wanted company? He was on break. I said ya! He sat down. He asked if I was traveling and I said yes. Then he asked where I was staying that night. I said I wasn't sure but somewhere near by. He asked if I was staying at a hotel? I said no that I'll find a spot to camp out. Then he said " man I'm homeless myself, I just got this job and am just getting on my feet". He said he has been homeless a couple years and recently lived in his car, and just started staying on a friends couch now that he's working. He was such a nice guy. I could just tell. He was maybe 21.
        So then after he told me that I knew what I had to do. I pulled out a $20 bill and said "here man. Take this to help you out a little." his eyes got huge and he said "NO WAY! I can't take that!". I love these moments! He had no idea yet of my story or anything about me. I felt he was telling me this stuff to relate to me and possibly trying to make me feel better. So then I told him people give me money and I try and find others to help. He was blown away. He asked where do you get this money? Then I told him my whole story. 10 minutes later the entire McDonald's crew was around me and they all said they thought I was just homeless. I laughed and said I am!
         The guy I gave the $20 to went and broke it and gave $5 to one co worker, $5 to another, and kept $10 to himself. That gave me chills. While he did that his buddy who works there too (guy who offered me to fill waters up) said that's the guy that gave you the nuggets. They get a free meal on break each day and he gave his item to me. That also gave me more chills. He came back after everyone went back to work and told me he was down to $10 to his name, and the $10 he has from me will give enough gas for him not to have to walk to work the rest of the week until payday. That was cool! He was so thankful and couldn't thank me or shake my hand enough!
         So I left McDonald's and went across the way near two hotels. I checked the area out earlier from the McDonald's window and noticed a big grass area behind them. So I went back and made my bed behind a storage container. I laid down at about 11:30pm there. There were two guys drinking beer listening to country music as I laid there. They were at their truck in the hotel parking lot. It was good music and listening to how much they were into singing it was funny. It was relaxing actually, and I passed out around midnight. I was getting bit through the night by something, and cockroaches were very heavy in that area. So at least 10 times I woke up to them crawling on my skin in the night. But I slept ok aside from that.

       

Day 103, July 15, 2012

I woke up at about 7:30 from the heat of the sun on my skin. I usually sleep with my sleeping bag unzipped and just folded over me. So by the morning I'm all swooshed around in it and half way on the ground. So my skin is being hit by the sun.
        I slept decent and was feeling ok. I got up and packed. I brushed my teeth and was about ready to go. I went to sonic again and filled up my water jugs from a spicket in the side of the building.
        I hit the road by about 8:15. I started walking and the next town of Childress was 30 miles. There were 2 very small towns I would pass through on the way and they were spread about evenly between each other. I planned to walk 20 miles and then stay at the 2nd town which was still about 10 miles away from Childress. So I got on a roll and wanted to get it done before 4 which is about the start of the hottest part of the day out here.
         I walked non stop for 14 miles and felt pretty good. I was snacking on some bars I was given to from the family in Wichita falls. I stopped at the 14 mile point and took a break. There was not much around for shade, but there was one bush that I tucked under and sat there. My water at this point was very hot and not enjoyable at all. Strictly for keeping me hydrated and that's about it.
          As I sat there for about 20 minutes it was burning hot. Nothing was around there and I was just sweating profusely. I was pretty hidden and the cars couldn't see me as I passed. I was trying to hide, just tucked away to get into the shade. A car passed by and pulled over behind where I came from a little ways. It was an old white car. It sat there a minute, then a bunch of trash flew out the window. It looked like he stayed there until there were no cars and then threw it out when it was clear. Then he took off down the highway.
        I was annoyed by that and felt bad so I went to pick up the trash. When I got close and saw it, it was 4 unopened water bottles? I was confused. There was no way he saw me, and if he did he would have given them to me or said something. It was bizarre. So I picked them up and took them with me. Didn't want to drink them just incase.
        So I finally got to the little town where I had planned to stay. But it was basically nothing! A few old shop like buildings that looked abandoned, and nowhere that looked cool where I could relax for the heat of the day. I sat there thinking what about I should do? Then I just thought, I didn't feel to sore or anything, and it was only about 4:30. So I continued walking.
          It was hot and when I drank my water it burned my throat. But I figured if I could make the last 10 miles and get to Childress, that would be a 30 mile day. Which would make the total in 4 days of walking 88 miles. And I could afford to take a full day off to relax. So I kept pushing. It was tough and mostly the hot water situation was hard. But I pushed through that and the heat.
         I made it to Childress right at sunset! It was great timing. I walked all the way through town and to the west end and stopped at a sonic. Since i was taking the next day off I could stay up a little later and try and sleep in a bit the next morning.
        So I sat in sonic and ordered a slushy with my card I had been given. I charged my things at an outlet and relaxed. 10 o'clock came around and I was exhausted. So I left there and walked behind an Aaron's furniture store. Behind it were dumpsters and then a grass field with a couple bushes. I tucked up close to a big bush at the right angle so I was hidden from the street on one side. I laid down and fell right asleep about 10:30. There were some bugs biting me waking me up that night but not sure what they were. I slept ok that night.

       

Day 102, July 14, 2012

 I woke up feeling the sun. I had slept very little that night from the noise of the highway right next to me, and the train that was nearby too. I got up and took a whiz. I was just down a slope where the cars wouldn't see me. I packed my things up and brushed my teeth.
        I hit the highway at about 8am. The next town was about 4 miles up, then after that it was 16 miles more to get to the town of Quanah TX.
        I walked through the little town and went right through it. There were green fields on one side and dry brown fields on the other. And the blue sky was a really pretty shade of blue. I was really enjoying the scenery and also the cool breeze.
         I saw a little white car making a U turn ahead of me where there was nothing. The car pulled off and a little old lady came out and slowly walked up to me. She handed me $10 and had a little nervous smile and never really made eye contact. I told her thank you so much and she just nodded her head as she turned with a smile and headed back to her car. It gave me chills and I was smiling after that just thinking about how sweet it was. It was like a silent Angel came to deliver me a small package to propel me to keep me walking. Not just the money, but a message of how people have kindness in their hearts to look out for someone. Even if she was nervous it was still awesome.
          So I walked a ways and got about 7 miles from Quanah where I stopped at a rest stop along the 287. There were covered benches with outlets and the rest area was really nice! I stopped there and plugged in. I decided I would take a break there for the middle part of the day.
         As I sat there in the shade I still felt the heat of the day. I came to a point where I don't know why but suddenly my thoughts became tough. I was feeling very alone and like I needed someone to talk to. I hadn't talked to a person for more than a few minutes all day and most of the last entire week. I was starting to think crazy thoughts. I was thinking to myself, is this a dream? How do I know this is real? What if I wake up and am at a horrible place in some other consciousness? I got up to drink some water and thought maybe I was a little dehydrated. The water was very hot but I downed it anyways to have water in me. I sat on the bench and ran my hands through my hair and squeezed it in a frustrated manner. I was frustrated.
         I got up and grabbed my little bible someone gave me. I started to read through it and most of the things I read I was either confused about or didn't interpret in a way I thought was right or moral. It seemed like if I followed all these things I would feel so deprived and it would make me crazy. But I remembered being told we are forgiven for our sins even against the bible. But what if you know you are going to sin because you can't follow all these guidelines? And especially when you don't agree with a lot of them? And if I know I will sin it doesn't seem right that I can think its ok while I do it and ask for forgiveness afterwards. I can imagine all the times I will be sinning in the future and know its coming. So how are those thoughts justifiable? It doesn't fit to me. It seems like its a loop hole system and I don't know how people can sin and while they are doing it feel ok about it when they really believe they shouldn't do it, and will be asking for forgiveness later, knowing they will be granted it? But as I read I came across a verse that spoke to me. I left all those thoughts I had behind and just read that verse over and over and really liking it. I put the book down and I left the 90% that put negativity in me, and the small part that hit home I thought about for the next 2 hours. That put me to ease.
           I left there at about 6pm to head to Quanah. I walked about 3 miles when a dog came out from a house and came up to me. It was a cute little puppy. He was really friendly and I pet him a little. Then when I started walking on he followed me. I went far enough where I could tell he wasn't going home. So I yelled for him to go home but he wouldn't. So I turned around and walked back to the house. I knocked on the door and was a little nervous about a response to me being there knocking. Nobody answered. So I told the dog to stay and even threw some rocks near him to stay but he just picked them up in his mouth and brought them to me.
          So after some thought I just left walking. The dog followed me but I didn't know what else to do? So I figured I would get to Quanah 3 miles ahead and use a gas station phone to have the cops come take the dog back home. Just about a miles into walking from there a cop passed and I waved at him. He turned around and came back and then drove through the grassy dip between the lanes and aggressively made it through. He pulled off and I told him my situation. He was real nice and after asking what I was doing said it was awesome. He grabbed the dog and put him in the car and left.
          I got to Quanah at around sunset and had walked 18 miles that day. I went to a sonic to use my giftcard and get a drink. As I sat there two men walked up with no shoes on. One large black guy and a small bald white guy covered in tatoos. They were both dirty and loud and sloppy. But looked like maybe were just being goofballs.
        They sat at a bench near me and ate their food. The small guy yelled over to me and said "can I ask you something?" I said sure. "are you traveling?" i said yes. "where are you staying tonight?". I said I would figure it out. Then he said he had a bed for me and to stay there at his house. Then he said "and don't thank me, thank god". I was a little hesitant but he kept insisting he was a good guy. So finally I said ok. I figured if at any point it seemed sketchy I could leave.
         After they ate we started walking. His house was 2 blocks away. So right as we were walking through the parking lot I noticed the black guys feet were covered in blood. So I asked him if his feet are ok and what happened? He kind of stumbled his words and then suddenly the white guy butted in and said quickly "he hurt them earlier". Almost like he didn't want the black guy to give me the real answer. I had a weird vibe then. Then right after that the white guy asked if I had batteries. I said ya, for what? And he said "for the lanterns. My house has no power. I live small so I can live big". Just then I lifted my front tire, spun my cart 180 degrees and said to them, "I'm gonna try and get down the road a little more guys, god bless" and left. It just seemed sketchy and my instinct was not seeing a good nights rest coming.
        I walked about 1/4 of a mile and found a closed restaurant with grass behind it. So I went back there and was pretty out of sight. I made my bed and it was pretty soft for what my average is. I laid down and fell asleep around 11:30.

     

Day 101, July 13, 2012

 I woke up hearing whistling. I opened my heavy eyes and looked up. There was an old short Mexican man walking towards me in the grass. He said in very broken English "hello my friend, good morning". He walked up right next to me and kneeled down beside me. He set a coffee down next to my shoes, then handed me a pastry in a napkin, a bag of saltine crackers, and $4.
           I was so tired and still wrapped up in my sleeping bag. And in the morning without my hat, I look pretty scary. He stayed kneeled and said "you okay?". I said yes and thanked him. He then stood up and before walking away said "god bless you" in broken English again. That's was an awesome start to the day!
         I ate the pastry and then closed my eyes again. The sun had just come up as the man walked up. I was still tired so I relaxed a little longer. Then about 20 minutes later I got up and packed up.
         I headed back to the taco bell I was at the night before. It didn't open til 10 so I still had some time to kill. So I sat against the outside. My electronics were about dead so I used my solar charger in the sun and sat in the shade next to it. It charged my stuff right up. Man that thing is awesome.
         So at 10 I went in and sat down. I ordered a $2 meal and ate that while relaxing. I sat there and rested most of the day. My plan for the next two days were to walk 15 mile each day as it worked out better with the town layouts. So I just figured I would do an evening 15 miles stretch that night. The next town was small so even if I got there in the afternoon there was nowhere I could rest and use air conditioning. So I just figured I would stay here while I have it then walk to get to the next town at night, sleep, then leave right away the next morning for the next decent size town.
           So I just sat there all day and kind of goofed off. I was on the Internet and then people watching too. Man there are some characters who go into taco bell.
         After a long day of relaxing I packed up and got my things ready. I filled my waters jugs there using their machine with water. And the bag of ice I had bought the day before had a string top. So I even refilled the ice bag with ice out of the vending machine too. That worked out great and I had ice cold water for the entire walk.
         So I started walking and got back on the 287 shoulder headed north west. I was walking a good pace and right as the sun started to set it was really pretty. I noticed a truck making a u turn ahead of me where there really wasn't anything there. The truck had motorcycles in it and was hauling a big camping trailer. They pulled over and put their flashers on. It was a group of 3 guys and a mom. They got out and as they walked towards me they yelled "hobo nick!". I was exited and totally shocked!
        They had heard about me through a friend and they were on their way back from Colorado from a race. They didn't have twitter or anything and didn't even know where I was. But they spotted my and turned around! That was awesome! They hungout for a few minutes and took pictures, then they gave me a gallon of gatoraid and a platter of cookies! That was cool. They were just passing through and didn't know they would see me. That was wild!
          So after they left it was getting dark. I was getting tired too but kept walking. I got up another 4 miles or so when I noticed something that looked like a plane coming and flying very low. I stopped and looked at it. It starting weirding me out because it was moving so slow. I didn't know what kind of plane would fly so low and move slow like that. I got it on camera and after it passed it sped up and was gone really fast. It was bizarre.
        I walked another mile or so and I was getting real tired. So I found a spot down a slope off the highway where I rolled my cart off and went down about 50 feet off the road. I used my flashlight to scope the area. I couldn't see much but it looked like an ok spot. So I rolled out my sleeping bag and made a bed next to my cart. I was still a little weirded out about the air craft. So I laid there a while and the wind making the weeds sworm and make noises didn't help. I finally started thinking about something else and ended up passing out at around 12.