Friday, the 13th, Jean's knee is really sore! He decides to see a doctor. With what he is doing, all parts of his legs are of major importance. He has X-rays done on his knee and Dr. Harmody prescribes him some anti-inflammatory medicine. He keeps on walking just the same and puts up his tent South of Burlington to sleep, near a field with a fence. During the night, he feels something is brushing against his tent... He opens the flap to find 2 huge horses curious about this thing that sprouted all of a sudden.
On Saturday, around noon, I receive a phone call from Dr.Harmody who tells me the X-rays didn't show anything broken and suggests Jean takes a test called MRI. Now, I am worried!!! I hope Jean calls me soon... That night, he sleeps in his tent in Ramseur.
On the 15th, he gets his very first flat tire on his buggy. Thank God or rather thank Sam who had provided him, a week earlier, with all the parts to repair a flat tire. Jean figured he was very lucky to have met Sam... otherwise the situation would have been critical... In the evening, he puts up his tent in Farmer NC, near a baseball field.
On the 16th, he is filled with wonder when he sees his very first cotton field. He told me it is so beautiful to look at a field filled with flowers made out of snow!!! He then walks to Richfield NC where he ask William Taylor if he may pitch his tent on his land. William accepts and then offers him to wash his clothes, a warm shower and a conversation over a bottle of beer. Jean accepts the 3 offers with pleasure...
On the 17th, he is walking towards Charlotte NC when a man named Rodney pulls on the side of the road to ask Jean what he is doing walking with that funny buggy. He has seen him a bit earlier; always walking south, and his curiosity was aroused. Jean explains and Rodney invites him to his home for lunch. After lunch, Rodney goes back to work and Jean continues walking south. He must have walked near 15 miles when guess who pulls up besides him??? Yes!!! Rodney took him back to his home where he and his S.O., Lu, fed him a real good dinner and pampered him like a prince. Rodney and Lu live in Mount Pleasant and was it ever a pleasant evening. The next day, Rodney drove Jean and his buggy where he had left off and Jean walked to Charlotte.
There, it had to be serious. First, he had to go to the hospital to have his MRI test done. By the way, his knee was OK then. So he did go to the hospital where he was seen by an orthopedist who, after a good examination, told him his knee was in good shape. Jean showed the doctor the shoes he had repaired himself and asked him if it could be possible that these repairs did cause this lack of comfort. As soon as he saw the shoes, the doctor confirmed that the shoes were the culprits, so Jean bought himself a pair of new shoes and everything is alright since then... Wouldn't it be nice if a Company would sponsor him for his shoes??? Jean figured it would take him 60 pairs of shoes for his whole journey!!!
In Charlotte, Jean slept at Ramona's house for 2 days. Ramona is Rose Lowe's sister. Rose has given hospitality to Jean in Trenton NJ. He also met a nice man called Mitch who showed him a bit around town and introduced him to the biggest newspaper Jean has ever made. If somebody would send me the clipping, I would be delighted and grateful...
Well, till next week...
Luce