Days 292-293 – 3/11-12/12 – Time Change (Much Content)

Logan to Glouster; Distance = 28 Miles: People Met = 25

The first day of this stretch began at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Logan.  We slept on the basement floor of the church, mindful to get up in the dark in time for the 8:00 a.m. service, which started as the sun was just coming up on this day of springing forward time change.  The elevated stained glass window of the sanctuary was lit up dramatically during the service.  I was caught off guard by the first hymn.  The organist played just the melody line but I did not get the hint and broke into the bass line at the second verse.  After the hymn concluded I was informed directly that this church gave up harmony for Lent.

We attended their Sunday School next, called Progressive Christians in Action.  Dorothy graciously gave up a good bit of her planned instructional time to let me speak.  At the end of class people lined up to give us unsolicited donations.  Following Sunday School was a second service, which in turn would be followed by a lasagna dinner.  Knowing that we had to get on the road soon, the kitchen crew prepared us lasagna dinners during the second service.

Sunday School members Dorothy, Todd, Sue and Dave

The kitchen crew, including pastor's wife Joanna on the left

The day continued to go well, thanks in part to the more natural backpacking feel afforded by the time change, as this podcast relates.

Unfortunately, the second day featured a drenching rain again.  On the first, peaceful day of walking I was formulating in my mind what I might say at my next college talk.  I could not pick up where I left off during the rain; too much negativity enters the mind instead.

Our spirits were picked up by the welcome we received at the United Methodist Church in Glouster.  Pastor Rick Seiter and wife Vickie met us at the church to treat us to pizza.  Afterwards I joined the choir for their rehearsal.

Choir members Terry, Lucy, Bonnie and Mick

Both Rick and Vickie repair band instruments; Vickie repairs wind instruments and Rick repairs brass.  Vickie chided her husband that what he does is plumbing, since the first order for repairing a brass instrument was to flush it out.  That relates how much of our conversation went with this jovial couple.  Perhaps just as telling was Pastor Rick’s enthusiastic reaction to my “Road Kill Calendar” idea, adding some embellishments of his own.  He’s the second pastor to do this, which perhaps reveals something about pastors in general.

Then Pastor Rick shared some local news that could be worked into my college presentations.  The community of Glouster is hurting like so many others, but they can point to a singular cause in addition to the general economy.  The nearby Burr Oak State Park Lodge was closed down by the state for dubious cause, which had been bringing in a good, reliable source of tourist income.  The suspected cause by some locals is to use the reservoir in the park for fracking.  I was informed clean water is needed for the process and much of the water in the area has been polluted by previous coal mining operations.  I won’t say how I can use this in my college talks about the virtues of community; you’ll have to invite me to speak at your nearby college when the trip is over ;>).

Other Photos

Glouster Family Dollar crew Ann, Monica, Donna and Glenda

Brittany and James Craig helped us with directions

What in blue blazes is going on here?!

They should take the first offer

Anemic commercial district