Dust & Echoes: A Week in Oakhaven
okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. oakhaven. seriously? it sounds like a forgotten dial-up modem. but honestly? it’s… something. i landed yesterday, and the air just smacks you. it’s like a damp wool blanket, you know? 5604045 and 1840013376 - don’t ask. just… don’t. the temp was 10.23 feels like 8.17, min 8.99, max 10.7, pressure 1008, humidity 33. sea level 1008, ground level 838. yeah, that’s a number dump. it’s a vibe, okay?
I checked the weather - i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. perpetually overcast, with a chance of drizzle that tastes vaguely of pine needles. it’s… atmospheric, i guess? the locals call it ‘grey-gold.’ which is, like, the most pretentious thing i’ve ever heard.
I’m staying in this place called ‘The Crooked Kettle.’ it’s basically a converted stable, all mismatched furniture and the faint scent of beeswax. the owner, Silas, is a retired clockmaker who mostly communicates through grunts and the occasional cryptic comment about the alignment of the planets. he gave me a key and a warning: "Don’t touch the grandfather clock. It remembers.” creepy, right?
I spent today wandering around the old part of town. it’s all cobblestone streets and buildings that look like they’ve been slowly sinking into the ground. there’s a market square with a fountain that’s perpetually covered in moss. i grabbed some pickled beets and a hunk of rye bread - surprisingly good.
Someone told me that the best place to get a decent cup of coffee is ‘Brew & Bones,’ but I heard that’s just a drunk advice from a guy who claims to have seen a ghost in the basement. i’m skeptical, but i’m also desperately in need of caffeine. check it out: Brew & Bones Yelp.
I stumbled across this amazing little record store, ‘Vinyl Echoes.’ it’s crammed floor to ceiling with vintage LPs. the guy behind the counter, a skinny dude named Finn, was obsessed with obscure krautrock bands. he kept saying, “You gotta hear Can, man. Really hear Can.” i bought a copy of ‘Epsilon’ - it’s… intense. Vinyl Echoes Website.
I overheard some gossip at the pub - ‘The Rusty Mug’ - about a series of strange disappearances in the surrounding woods. apparently, people have been vanishing without a trace. someone told me that the old mill is the key, but honestly, it sounded like someone had been hitting the cider a little too hard. i’m not saying it’s true, but… oakhaven. it’s got a certain feel, you know?
I’m thinking of heading out to Blackwood Forest tomorrow. it’s about a two-hour drive, and if you get bored, [Blackwood Forest] are just a short drive away. i’m packing my camera - i need to capture this weirdness. i’m hoping to find some interesting light, maybe some decaying trees, something to photograph.
Seriously, the pressure is 1008. it’s making my ears pop. and the humidity is 33. i need a nap. and maybe a stronger coffee. and definitely a new pair of socks.
Oh, and TripAdvisor says ‘The Crooked Kettle’ has a 3.5-star rating. which, honestly, is probably generous. The Crooked Kettle TripAdvisor.
Okay, that’s it for now. i’m going to go stare at the grandfather clock and try not to think about ghosts. wish me luck.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/midland-texas-the-oil-town-that-surprised-me
- https://votoris.com/post/the-cost-of-living-in-mosul-monthly-budget-breakdown
- https://votoris.com/post/kayseris-hidden-job-gems-for-broke-students-broke-dreams
- https://votoris.com/post/al-amrah-commute-how-long-before-the-road-becomes-your-canvas
- https://votoris.com/post/langkawi-on-a-shoestring-surviving-the-humid-monster