Camping on Hallowed Ground

Shhhh. You’ve got to keep quiet. I am secretly camping at the Shiloh National Military Park in southern Tennessee. (Yes, I am now in Tennessee.) They don’t know I’m here because camping is not allowed. I am hidden in a little valley with a stream called Rhea Springs, about 100 yards from a Confederate burial trench. A ranger has driven by a few times but I don’t think they notice the light from my laptop. I’m typing this under a garbage bag because it just started to sprinkle, but it’s also keeping me under cover.

Who was it that wrote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Well, that kind of describes my day. Let me first get the worst of times off my chest. For the first time weather was a factor. There was a light rain most of the afternoon, not enough to keep me from riding but just enough to make it annoying. I also had to walk my bike up a couple of hills for the first time, not that I’m embarrassed. Cycling up hills is not so bad, even if the hills are high. The problem comes when they are steep, and a few were dang steep. That’s all for the worst of times – not so bad I guess.

Now for the best of times. I ate my first Chicago style Italian Steak Sandwich in Iuka, MS and it was gooooood. Eating I one of the most basic pleasures in life, and I am enjoying it immensely every chance I get. My brother Joe said that I am burning 5,000 to 6,000 calories a day, so next time I’ll have to eat two of them.

As I pulled into Shiloh the rain stopped and I took my time cycling around the grounds. If you are not aware, 24,000 Union and Confederate soldiers died or were wounded here, making it one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Until that point, Lincoln’s goal was just to try and preserve the Union. After the Battle of Shiloh, the Civil War became a struggle to end slavery. It almost feels like hallowed grounds, with all of the memorials and cemeteries. I feel blessed to have a few hours to just pedal around and experience it. This has been the highlight of my trip so far. And the Italian Steak sandwich, of course.

On a final note, many people made fun of a line I told Jeremy in the Herald Times about washing my clothes in a stream. Check out the picture for living proof! The only clean clothes I have are a couple of pairs of underwear (which, if you know me, is a couple more than I really need) and a pair of socks. I’ll do my laundry at a campground tomorrow, but in the meantime, I’m washing a couple of items the old fashioned way. So to all of you nay-sayers – HA! I laugh in your face!

PS: There was a huge thunderstorm last night but I was nice and dry, cuddled up in my little tent. I'm nicknaming it Christa 2, because she keeps me safe and warm at night.