Our friend, Marian, and Sargie on Tuesday afternoon

June 23, 2021 - Wednesday morning

46 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

How fun it was to see Marian and her husband, Butch, yesterday at the mechanic's shop in Iron Mountain while having our vehicles worked on.

Tuesday was a Jack of all trades type of day. I began with my early morning walk where I met Tom and his friend, Mark. 

Mark and Tom

Living in Colorado, Tom owns one of the remaining houses in Pentoga Village and is back for just a short time before he heads west again.

The UPS man stopped by our home Tuesday morning. He's delivered two items in the past two days from unknown sources. 

It seems I have a mystery trail angel. 

The first is a survival bracelet made of paracord that contains a whistle, fire starter, knife, and a compass. It's very light weight and I've already decided it will be strapped to the outside of my pack and accompany me on the AT.

The second package really floored me, a t shirt with the map of the entire Appalachian Trail! I was so proud of my gift that I wore it to town yesterday just to show it off.

I absolutely love both and to whomever is sending these gifts, I thank you. As I told Sargie, these presents really bring my fifty five year dream of hiking the AT closer to home. 

Darn straight, it's gonna happen!

Back from my hike and having enjoyed breakfast with Sargie, I began working on the Kia, grinding rust and applying resin and fiberglass to cover the holes made while removing the brown cancer from the metal.

The fixes, temporary at best, should get us through the next year, possibly two. Eventually, rust will take over the entire back quarter panels. As long as the power train and frame remain good, I'll keep fixing.

Getting between thirty five and forty miles to the gallon, the old Kia is the perfect car to take for our daily drives and saves wear and tear on the Hyundai.

While the resin/fiberglass was curing, I worked in the shop cleaning and putting tools away.

My shop is a busy place, the hub of much of Maple Valley's activity. Everything has a place and there's a place for everything as long as I don't leave tools and half finished projects lying around. 

I even found a place to hang the poster of one of my heroes, Brett Favre. Both of us, graduates of Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brett seems to navigate much as I do, in what I call the pseudo redneck lane of life. 

Only one small, teeny, tiny, difference. Brett is a multi millionaire several times over while we're not quite so wealthy.

Sargie and I made our way to Iron Mountain early Tuesday afternoon for a brake job on the Hyundai. We'll have the tires replaced this fall before snow flies.

We enjoyed a quick visit with Marian and Butch while sitting in the waiting room and are hoping both will join us for the Mighty Milligan Labor Day Celebration on Pentoga Road at summer's end.

Sargie and I made a quick stop while in town to shop for more flowers to fill some of the emptier places in the planters. I also found a light for the garden house.

The timing was perfect for us to stop in Florence on our way home to watch Hambone's soccer game. 

Last evening was spent watching two episodes of American's Got Talent before turning in for the day. Since my doctor's visit on Monday, I've had a difficult time shifting this body into overdrive. It's time.

Okay, speaking of time, I need to strap on my hikers and get some miles put under these feet of mine. On today's agenda is to finish cleaning the shop, continue work on the Kia, clean the barn, and make our semi annual sojourn to the dump.

I wonder what the poor people will be doing?

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Grandma Sargie's getting in a little Cheek's time while watching Hambone's soccer game.