I’m 3 miles from Heflin, Alabama.
I don’t know how many snacks I’ve eaten today, but I enjoyed every one. The sun is setting, and I should probably make camp. If I make it into Heflin, however, I can stay in a motel and then it doesn’t matter how dark it is.
I’m going to do it. I’ve been running most of the day, and I can certainly keep going.
The app says that Heflin is super hiker friendly, and that City Hall will arrange to have you picked up from the trailhead.
They’re not answering, though.
I do contact someone on Facebook, and they arrange something.
Neat. I can’t stop now. My ankles are throbbing - the last two days everything has been pushed really hard. Nothing is injured, I don’t think, but when I take a break, my body essentially says,
ZOMG ARE WE DONE YET NO OK THEN
I get picked up from the road, and the person brought me a burger. Nice. We make the rounds to the local spots, and apparently this guy and his wife know everyone.
He’s a teacher and he loves this small town. It’s infectious. 4 people at the grocery store, as I resupply, and apparently his best friend owns the store.
Also his uncle is the mayor. His cousin is an assemblyman.
This is a legit storybook small town.
We stop by at a convenience store last, and he tells the clerk that he appreciates her. It seems an arbitrary platitude, but her face betrays that she felt flattered. His simple comment had reached her heart.
Tomorrow, he’s going to pick me up at the motel and take me back to the trail.
Heflin, Alabama is neat, but I suspect it’s not actually the town itself. I suspect it’s this guy and his circle of people.