Day 3 Leg 4 - Monday November 24, 2014

Finally we are starting a day without rain, it was cool and overcast but predicted to burn off soon.  As you will see from some of the pictures for the day, it did turn out to be a sunny and beautiful day.  The route for this day was through the rural area of Randolph and Clay Counties, therefore, not a lot of stories to print. 

However, the story opportunities changed as we got closer to Lineville Alabama.  At the intersection just south of Lineville that Hiways 49 to Lineville and 77 to Ashland split was a convenient/gas store.  It was an old establishment but had just been re-opened, and was a great place to take a good pack off break.  If I have my information correct, Mrs. Nell Miller is the owner of the property with Felton and Leigh Ann Mask were the operators of the store.  Leigh Ann was also attempting to get a small restaurant established across the road but it was not open yet.  When she discovered we were looking for something to eat, she offered to go over and cook us some bacon and eggs.  Although it sounded good, we thanked her and bought snacks in the store.  Mrs. Miller and some other folks were sitting and hanging around out front of the store and we started visiting and talking with everyone.  There was an older gentleman sitting there and Austin started chatting with him. The man’s name is Charles Young but most people never knew his first name because he always was known as Bunk Young.  Austin Wimberly is David’s friend that lives in Birmingham and has walked several days of a couple of legs with us.  How it came about I didn’t hear but Bunk Young had worked as a younger man with Austin’s maternal grandfather Hubert Claybrook.  Austin’s grandfather Claybrook had died before Austin was born so he never knew him.  So he and Bunk sat there with Bunk telling him all about his grandfather.  Claybrook and Young worked together at Avondale Mill. It was very interesting hearing all this and what an awesome event of a “small world” for Austin.

After having a good break and visiting with new found friends, we traveled on toward Lineville.  Today was the last day that Austin could be with us so we were enjoying the beautiful day and the fellowship together.  We were not sure of the mileage on into Lineville but that was where we wanted to end the day.  Walking along the way with farm houses intermingled in the scenery we had definitely hit civilization again.  A man and his grandson rode their golf cart out to the road with interest of what 3 guys hiking up the highway with backpacks was all about.  His name was Lynn Paterson and shared about the industry in the area, history of the local furniture plants and local schools, etc.  He invited us to meet several locals the next morning as there was generally a group that met at Jack’s for breakfast and round table discussions (sometimes called liar’s table).  Long story short, David and I went to Jack’s for breakfast the next morning and Lynn didn’t make it.

After the visit with Lynn, we walked on and Victor picked us up at the police jurisdiction of Lineville.  David and I had one more day to walk but this brought Austin’s trek for this leg to an end.  We walked 15 miles today for a total with Austin of 35 miles over the three days he was with us.  This had been our first pretty clear day so Shelton and Victor got in some good motorcycle riding in.  They found us on a ride by and it was a good time for us to all take a break and share stories of our experiences.

When we got back to camp, Austin loaded up and headed back home.  Shelton had cooked dinner for him and Victor.  David has said “Bobe, we will go into Lineville and I will buy you dinner!” I didn’t stutter saying “Great, we will for sure!”  That way he couldn’t change his mind.  We ended up going to a Mexican Restaurant and actually I think that might even be the name of it!

We meet some interesting people when eating the local restaurants and tonight was no different.  There was a couple near us with their granddaughter and we ask them a few questions about the local area and struck up a good conversation.  They were Ronnie and Patti Suddath the owner and manager of the local Piggly Wiggly.  I was about to ask them if they knew John and Phyllis Brock and they found out I was from Evergreen so they beat me to the question.  Mutual friends having dinner together during Walk Up Alabama.  While we were eating and talking another couple came and the lady was the teacher of the little granddaughter of the Suddath’s.  The teacher was Martha Davis Griffin and her husband Buddy.  The Suddath’s completed their meal and left.  We continued talking with the Griffin’s as we were winding down our meal.  The world got smaller again as we learned that Martha is a lifelong friend of Peggy Brown, wife of my good friend Bro. Herbert Brown.  We finished our meal and started telling the Griffin’s bye, David asked for our check and the hostess said you are good to go, it has been taken care of.  Big Thank you to the Suddath’s for such hospitality.  However, I told David he still owed me dinner, since that meal was taken care of by someone else.