Life is Stranger than Fiction

Once again, what can I say that fact is often stranger than fiction, and today is no exception in my travels. Most of the day was uneventful, and I was trying to think how I could make this blog entry interesting. As I mentioned yesterday, my plan was to travel into Indiana from Henderson, KY. Specifically I thought that I could make it to a campground on Patoka Lake, in the Hoosier National Forest. The ride would be a challenge, but according to the map I have, it should have been easy to find a campground once I got there. Remember the phase “should have.”

I was on the Lincoln Heritage Trail a good part of the way, which takes you past the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, where he lived from age 7 to 21. I also passed through Santa Claus, IN and would have went down a waterslide at the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari if it was open. Most of the day it was 90 degrees. Hot. Real Hot.

As I closed in on Patoka Lake, I stopped in at the Possum Junction Store to grab a sandwich and get my bearings. I met the Plassmeyer girls and Lee Sturgeon (see photo), who pretty much verified that I was headed in the right way, even though there was a closer campground in a different direction. I, of course, was focused on heading north. Go north, young man! By the way, you were right about Birdseye hill. I had to walk my bike up most of the way.

So, it’s starting to get late and I am looking for campground signs. And I am looking. And looking. And it’s getting later. And later. And I’m getting tired. Real tired. Where are those dag nabit campgrounds? Finally I gave up all hope of finding a campground and pulled into the Painter Creek Boat Launch. This is where I was going to spend the night. I got off my bike and took a dip in Patoka Lake. Man, did that feel great. I was refreshed and ready to set up camp. But after exploring for a few minutes I realized that there were only “old fashioned” outhouses there – meaning a hole in the ground – and no plumbing. I was out of water and it looked like I was out of luck. But good things happen to good people, don’t they?

I asked a couple who were just getting done fishing if they had any water to spare. They were vacationing from Kokomo, IN and didn’t have anything to drink with them. That’s the reason they were leaving. Time for a little more exploring, if I do say so myself. What did I find hidden on a little road behind the boat launch but the Patoka Memorial Cemetery. Surely there must be water there. Once I walked onto the grounds I saw there was no water, but it was nice, well kept up and isolated. Then I remembered the advice someone gave me before my adventure. I even told it to many of you ahead of time. “If you can’t find a place to spend the night, pitch your tent in a cemetery. Nobody will bother you there.” BINGO.

Now you won’t believe what happened next. As I was walking back to my bike, talking on the phone with my brother John Boy Walton, who drives up but the couple I talked to from Kokomo. They left me a bag of ice, 2 sprites, a bottle of water, and a box of Pop Tarts, which I just devoured for dinner, along with some trail mix and a big bag of teriyaki beef jerky. I wish I would have gotten their names. Now I was all set. Oh, yeah!

I packed my gear up and pulled my load into the cemetery. Perfect. But what happens next? I almost got scared to death as a car pulled into the cemetery while I was setting up my tent. Who visits a cemetery at 9:00pm on a Tuesday night? I walked up to the car and it was the trustee, Carl Allen and his wife (other picture). I explained my dilemma, and he graciously gave me permission to spend the night. I think it was probably the first time he ever had that request.He assured me none of the residents would give me a problem. He was right.

Quite a story, I’d say.

Just thinking: Remember that movie, “Breaking Away”, about the hometown kids in Bloomington, IN who were swimming in a quarry and decided to get into the big bike race? Remember they called themselves the “cutters? Remember the one who kept dreaming about being on the Italian Bicycling team and played the opera? Remember how the skinny little dude with long greasy hair had to put it in high gear? Remember how they beat all of the college kids and won the race. That was awesome. (Thanks to Walton for reminding me of some of the details.)