Nodding

Friday, June 3rd.
Corning, CA

8 pm leave Red Bluffs to Rollings Hills casino in Corning, CA.

Dark farm roads. Tall grasses both sides. Felt safe hearing dogs bark at me when I got to town.

Two cans of pork and beans at Safeway. Sleepy. Wet back, heavy backpack.

Midnight. Everything closed. Only can go to casino then. 24 hr play.

Check bags. Put pepper spray in a security bin. Amateur security staff. Nice people. Their constant presence around the gambling area unpleasant though. Feel like jailers watching over us than guards looking out for us.

Free sodas, coffees, teas. Penny slots. 1 cent per roll. $20 free play credits. Stretch out the budget to five hours. Stay until dawn approaching. Left with $13 in winnings. Sit in lounge at TA truck stop and charge devices. Nodded to sleep. Too long awake. 2 hrs nodding sleep. 7 am. Met easygoing trucker. Set out 8 am.

Saturday, June 4th
Corning, CA to Chico, CA

Flat tire. Someone is intentionally letting out air from my tire? I pump up tube and it doesn't leak. How is tire flat without tube leaking? Ah well. It's still inflated. Riding on eggshells for the first hour though, checking if rims are touching the ground.

Into town asked if Hometown Buffet actually permanently closed as Google says. Punk rocker musician says business open. Walked and talked. Walked and kept talking. Waited at bus stop with him. California vibe much different from New York, Boston. Buses run late is same here as anywhere else though. Noon got into town. 2 pm still hanging with this dude. Gotta go, buses suck. Sorry for you.

So tired. Buffet out of business. Helped old lady lift groceries down a hill to bus stop. Insisted 'a good deed deserves to be rewarded. I wouldn't feel right otherwise." Not necessary. Okay if not gonna argue if it'll make you feel better, need to look for food, took her $2 thank you ma'am.

Tubbb of "Death by Chocolate" ice cream. Pitcher of Odwalla smoothie. Swimming in my stomach. How am I going to eat this rotisserie chicken? Stomach is already bloated and swimming. Head is soft wax. Nodding, nodding, can't keep attention in heat. Locked bike, loaded shopping cart, into air conditioning world.

Costco food court. Electrical outlets. Scooped at rotisserie chicken breast for a few hours.

Sky and scent of rain in muggy afternoon.

Remote controlled cars racing on dirt ramp track. Race course assistants running to upright crashed vehicles. Like tennis boys.

Need sleep. McDonald's WiFi. Need sleep. No power outlets. Need sleep. Not dark enough outside yet. Need sleep. Still too boggy. Need sleep. Time flies. Need sleep. Too tired. Need sleep. Nodding. Nodding. Nodding.