From the above stated blog:
You know, living in America, we, I guess have preconceived notions about the world. For Americans, for the most part are kind and compassionate. We normally help people, with little regard for price, or payback. And, we don't make the people feel like crap that we're helping.
Having said this, I guess I had preconceived notions about the residents of Rocky Gap, Virginia; mainly, I thought they'd be as Christian as I am about helping people. So, let me regale you of my tale of what happened as I walked through Rocky Gap Virginia.
First, let me tell you of the town of Rocky Gap. There is not much there. A gas station; an old dilapidated bank; a Volunteer Fire Dept; and an Elementary School. It's obvious Freemasons run the town; and their pride and joy is the Masonic Lodge that resides there. And, they have a Church; a United Methodist, presumeably also ran by Freemasons, as it is their custom of taking over good denominations.
If by chance you find yourself walking through that town, be SURE you bring you a carton of cigarettes. It seems to be anathema for you to ask people for a cigarette there.
Whatever you do, do not go to this store there named Woody's. Let me also regale you of what happened to me there.
I stopped in to ask the ladies to fill up my water jug; which is nothing spectacular; just an empty two liter bottle of some soft drink that I had. I was on one of my day hiking trips; but I guess they assumed I was a homeless man, with no money; so they loaded me up with “Free” food. To give the devil his due, the sausage and egg biscuit was excellent; but the gravy, forget it. It sucks to high heaven. Unfortunately for me, on my day hike, I wore the wrong shoes and had injured my right foot; with a stress fracture and plenty of blisters. I had already walked over East River Mountain, down Rt. 52, and made it to Bastian, Virginia, but due to the foot injury, was on my way back home, to recouperate, due to my injury. This was fertile ground for me to prove the local residents concerning their compassion; and I thanked God for the injury, so I could do my work.
Like I say, they, at Woody's loaded me up with food and coffee. For which I was truly thankful. They then proceeded to run me out of their place, after the lady there; presumeably the manager told me I could sit on their picnic table, to drink my coffee and rest my feet.
Ironically, I was setting there thinking it was cool that there were still nice people in the world; and then they proceeded to run me off, accusing me of a crime I didn't commit; soliciting.
Now most of the people that shops at Woody's are “Billy Bobs, ” all driving their pickup trucks; of which from what I gathered, they are really proud of that. The only real industry in Rocky Gap is a granite quarry; so I assume most of them worked there.
Back to Woody's: I was sitting there, thinking it was cool that there were still charitable people in the world; and I'm sitting there, with my boot off, trying to rest my foot from the blisters, when the manager comes out of the store and unloads on me; and runs me off. She accused me, like I said of "Soliciting." From the extent of my conversations with the local Billy Bobs; they asked me, “How are you doing?” And I replied, “How are you today Sir? I've injured my foot and am trying to find a way up top of East River Mountain. You aren't going that way, by chance, are you?” This was a test, on my part, and of course, they failed. And in this Manager's definition, I guess asking for a ride up to the top of an 8 mile mountain is also taboo; especially if you're sporting a foot injury; and considered “Soliciting.”
Soliciting in my definition is asking people for money or goods. I never considered a ride to the top of a mountain as being “Soliciting.”
Needless to say, I left that store, and prayed on my way out of town, fervently. Also, I've determined to send this store a financial renumeration for the food they “gave” me; because I don't want to be beholding to anyone who treats people so shamefully. Because, though the Christian Day Hiker looks poor, that's not to say he is poor.
The moral of the story: If you're leaving out of Wytheville, going north on I-77, I would stop in Bastian Virginia for a fill up. The girls at the BP there are really great and nice. (I want to laud them in my next blog post.) The reason I say this is so you can bypass Rocky Gap Virginia. For, the good that they do, turns into evil. I was really fearful the woman would call the State Police on me for asking for a ride. Also, if you're hiking through, bypass this Woody's Store, and make sure you wear very good hiking boots. Also, take you a good supply of water with you; because the local water there is filled with Iron and Sulphur; (fitting for a town sold out to satan.). Also, a carton of cigarettes for your day hike. For they will give you food; and then run you off after doing so, and that very maliciously.
I could tell you more. How a man at Affordable Dentures tried to put the evil eye on me, as I walked by. Or, how you could be hobbling along on a hurt foot, and the Billy Bobs run by you in their trucks, at 100 miles per hour. Or how the entire town stinks of sewer, presumeably from the creek running through it. Or, how at every wide shoulder spot, on those back roads are nothing but beer cans and used condoms, showing that the Billy Bobs are <CENSORED>, but I will not.
Let it suffice to say, that if a person from Virginia tells you they are going to do a "random act of kindness" for you,
RUN FOR THE HILLS!
Sincerely,
The Christian Day Hiker