Martin's Ride: Day 3
Day / Date: Thursday, July 1st
Miles Ridden: 50 Miles
From: Statesville to Morganton, North Carolina
Riders: Martin rode this leg mostly alone though Jeremy rode a few miles with him as we dodged an escaped convict, lions, tigers and bears
Day 3 Morganton: Towers, Bullets and Hornets
Morganton seemed like just another ride until a prison van pulled up next to the RV. The officer gave Jeremy a big howdy before telling us there was an escaped killer on the loose. He escaped from the local penitentiary yesterday and has been hunted since. There were a dozen undercover cop cars patrolling the roads. The officer described him as a forty-year old 5’ 7’’ black male. He had been booked on a kidnapping charge but had gotten out of his murder sentence a few years back. Luckily, we did not find him. One officier told Martin, "If you see him call 911."
We figured if he stole Marty’s bike we could have used the
gps spot unit on the bike to track him down, bicycle lojack. Back at Daniel Boone RV Park we had a problem. Jeremy came around the side of the RV wearing his serious face flapping his pee-covered hands. I knew what was wrong. I had unwittingly opened one of the RV’s septic valves an inch or so. Despite pushing the pin back a second later, the damage was done. Jeremy had been wearing protective gloves, but urine still got on his forearm which was reason to be angry. After apologizing, I knew he was still angry. I gave him time to cool down. As we chatted later about body language, he brought up the unpleasant experience and we both agreed that he let me know that what I did was not cool. Then he said that it was totally fine. That it was nothing personal. That’s what’s good about people like that. They are vocal when something happens so you know the consequences. No brooding or grudge-holding necessary, the slate is wiped clean. I sure wasn’t going to open the valve next time without thinking first! There is a lot of technology on Martin's Ride and some of it can be complex and spray pee on your shirt.
The RV Park was close enough to some woods that I decided to take a hike. There were no trails, but the view from the top of the hill provided a nice vista of the distant mountains. I spotted a lookout tower, covered in mesh camouflage netting and checked it out. I imagined how great some video would look from the top so I climbed steel bars to the top. I carefully opened the door and crawled inside with floorboards creaking under my weight. The faded neon orange floor was scattered with spent bullet cartridges. I found a couple pieces of live ammunition under an office chair. I sat down hearing a feint buzzing from the corner of the lookout tower. Hornets take it personally when you come near their nest. I hastily jumped down from the chair and descended the ladder before five restless hornets chased me further. I realized I had left the camera in the tower. I weighed my choices. I had to go back ASAP. When I finally grabbed the camera, the hornets couldn’t bear such disrespect and chased me all the way down the ladder. The buzzing near my head never stopped. Hornets are relentless. They pursued me all the way down the hill finally retreating at the edge of the campers. Their nest well defended I escaped to tell the tale of towers, bullets and hornets.
Day 3 was over.