Taking A Walk

by Dwayne Phillips

While walking, we generally know where the “towns” are along the way. We do have maps and Google maps and those things. Still, while on the road I wonder how far or close or whatever the next town might be.

Another question in my mind is, “what is in the next town?” The maps show the relative size of towns, but they don’t tell you what is in the town.

One indication of approaching civilization is the trash along the side of the road.

Side note: Yes, there is a lot of trash on the side of the road. At times I have thought about carrying a trash bag and collecting the trash, but I would have to carry dozens of bags and I don’t know what to do with them once filled.

The beer can is still one of America’s most seen roadside detractions. Nothing has replaced it in this high tech 21st century. The plastic Coke bottle is a near second to the beer can. These things travel far. Towns are on average ten miles apart. Beer cans and Coke bottles travel at least that far, so seeing them on the side of the road doesn’t indicate anything more than you are neither in the middle of Nevada nor on Mars.

The one indication of approaching civilization is the McDonald’s cup or bag (substitute any other national fast food chain for McDonald’s as it works for all of them). Fast food trash only seems to travel three miles on average. I suppose this is a measure of how fast you can eat the food and how quickly you tire of the trash in your vehicle.

Therefore, when I see McDonald’s trash on the side of the road, I know that I am within an hour’s walk of a town that has a restaurant. That is if you consider McDonald’s and the like to be restaurants.

It is strange how seeing trash can raise your spirits. Most of the spirit raising comes from the knowledge that McDonald’s have bathrooms.