Day 124 - Augusta, GA

Friday, December 31, 2010

Last evening was a good one.....it never was really cold, and the spot I picked to camp was in a good location. Even had a railroad track nearby, and a couple of trains came by throughout the evening. I kept waiting for Jack Bradshaw to call.......seems every time he calls, a train comes by. We get a good laugh out of that. I slept much better than the night before, guess tired from the long day. Was up, packed, and ready to be on the road by about 7. It was still a little dark, but almost no traffic......so I started out. My goal today is get to Augusta, where I will spend the night with Mark and Janet Weinberger. This was all arranged by Paul Bentley, whom I met several weeks along the road near Demopolis, AL. Paul travels throughout the southeast, and looks out for possible helpers for a walkingman.

Walking through Dearing, I stopped at a convenience store to ask about places to eat in town. Nothing here I was told, but there is a place in Harlem, about 4 miles east. So I headed there. As I came into Harlem, noticed a sign saying it was the home of Oliver Hardy, of Laurel and Hardy fame (most of you are too young to remember this). I found the restaurant, Huddle House, sat down at the counter, and ordered breakfast. While sitting there I started watching the woman doing the cooking. This woman was an artist on the grill. She worked so fast, and everything was orderly and turned out just right. When she reached for something, she rarely even looked because she knew where it was. I asked her name, Tammy, and told her I enjoyed watching a professional at work. I also asked if I could take a picture to put on the blog so you could see this artist of the grill.

I left the Huddle House, and headed toward Fort Gordon, about 10 miles away. My buddy from Roanoke, Tom Hawthorne, called and said he took basic training at Fort Gordon and about froze to death while there. Said to give it a salute when I passed by. It was a great day for walking, 54 degrees by 1030am. I passed a small community named Campania, and another named Berzelia. Didn't see anything in either. As I was nearing Fort Gordon, passed a prison with a sign out front: Augusta State Medical Prison. I soon came to Fort Gordon, and decided to take a picture for Tom. Just as I was taking it, an Army Police car drove up and said I couldn't do that. I was standing on Army land when taking it, but I could take it from off the property. The officer told me she could take my cell phone, but would give me a break this time.

I rested for a while, and set out for Augusta. A sign said it was 16 miles, further than I thought. I walked an hour, and a sign said it was 10 miles........one of them has to be wrong, because I don't do 6mph. But, whatever it was, I had to get there. Along the way I passed the National Science Center. After a couple more hours of walking, I was entering Augusta. I didn't know a shortcut through the city, so just stayed on Hwy 278 (called Gordon Hwy in this area). I passed a place named Grimes Gifts and Hub Caps, that has more cement bird baths and statues than any place I've ever seen. It would have been nice to browse a while, but I needed to keep going. A car stopped in front of me, and a lady got out and opened her trunk. Then walked toward me, and handed me some money, wished me Happy New Year, and went on her way.

I called Mark around 430, and told him I was ready to stop whenever he could get there. By 530 or so, we were loading the cart in his truck, and on the way to his house. He drove through the downtown area to let me see that. Mark and Janet had a few friends coming over at 10 for a New Year Eve "Pajama" party, and Janet even had pajamas for me to wear! Prior to the party, Janet fixed a nice dinner......steak, potato, salad, then the friends came over and we talked and ate more stuff. Then just before midnight I went upstairs just as they were getting ready to have breakfast at midnight. A really nice evening with a nice group of people. I worked a while on the blog, and then to bed. On to Aiken tomorrow, which should be a relatively easy day.

About the pictures:
Mark and Janet Weinberger, Good Samaritians and great hosts;
Tammy, the "artist of the grill" at Huddle House, Harlem, GA;
Laurel and Hardy on a wall in Harlem.

Day 123 - Dearing, GA

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Last evening was one of the few on this trip when I had trouble going to sleep.I camped right beside a cemetery, so maybe something to do with that. Anyhow, it must have been 11 or so before I finally dozed off.....several hours later than normal. It was a nice evening, cool, but not cold at all. When the wake up call came at 6, the cool had changed to cold......but still not the teens we had a while back. I hit the "snooze" button for another 30 minutes or so, and was packed and ready to go before 730. I want to be in Augusta by late Friday, so need to get some miles today.

Warrenton was only 3-4 miles from where I camped, so I was there around 830 looking for a place to eat breakfast. The locals recommended "Miss Jane's Restaurant", so that's where I headed. I asked if I could charge my computer while eating, and the woman found an outlet for me to use. A sign on the wall states: "This is not a fast food place, so give us time to cook it!" I was in no hurry because of the computer charging, and it did take a while to get served. I ate, packed up the computer, and walked across the street to City Hall to ask some questions about directions. I am really struggling with directions.....when out west, there were few choices, so it wasn't an issue. Now there can be as many as 5-6 different routes (including walking routes), and that gets confusing.

The people at City Hall were no help.......it's really hard to get a non-walker to think about a route different than the one they normally drive. So, I headed out down Hwy 278, the easy choice. Traffic was light, there was a nice shoulder to walk on, and the temp was warming. Not a lot of scenery between Warrenton and Thomson, just a nice walk in the country. As I was just entering Thomson, a car pulled alongside me, and a woman handed me a Sonic bag and a soda. The two people in the car introduced themselves as Jeff and Jade Brazzle. They were in the area visiting family, and had seen me walking down the road. I asked where they were from, and Jeff replied "NC". I asked where in NC, and Jeff replied "near Charlotte". So I asked where near Charlotte, and Jeff replied "Gastonia". Can you believe that......these two people from my original home town and I meet in Thomson, GA, under these circumstances?

We had lots of fun talking about Gastonia, and their trip to GA. They asked about my trip, and I gave them a card and told them about the blog. Sorry I didn't take a picture, just forgot. We talked a while, and then they headed west. I sat down beside the road and ate the sandwich and wrap, then headed into town......the computer still needed charging a while longer. I spotted a YMCA, and decided that would be a good place to charge it. I stopped in, and talked to the woman behind the desk. She said it would be ok, but they really didn't have a good place to do that. She suggested the hospital across the street, so I went there. The guy at the front desk, Ray, said sure and showed me where I could sit and do the charging. He and I talked a while....he's originally from Maine, lived in FL for 30 years, moved to GA, and now thinking about moving back to FL.

Ray loves the water and boats, so we had something in common there. While I was waiting, a woman from the local newspaper came in, introduced herself as Danielle Everson, and asked if she could interview me for a story in the local paper. So we talked for a while, and she took a few pictures, and said the story would be in next week's paper. I had stayed in Thomson longer than planned, so packed up the computer and headed east. I stopped at a gas station to ask once more about the directions, but ended up taking the safe choice and staying on Hwy 278. I wanted to reach Harlem today, but doubt I can get there now. As I'm moving further east, dark seems to come earlier.

As I entered the city limits of Dearing, decided I needed to find a camp site. Found a spot in a group of pines near the road, and put the tent up there. It is still not cold, but probably will be by morning. It's still about 25 miles to Augusta, so I'll need to get up and get moving tomorrow.

About the picture:
A marker about a historic Indian route.

Day 122 - On Toward Augusta

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

I was up early in order to get things loaded in the car for the trip back toward Sparta. Ate breakfast in the motel dining area, and loaded up everything while the others had breakfast. The cart fit perfectly in the back of Julie's van, and by 8am we were pulling out of the motel drive, on the way to Sparta. Julie marked the spot I left off with the car's GPS system, and all too soon, we were back there. Took a few pictures, said our goodbyes, and around 845 we all headed east on Hwy 22, but me at a much slower speed. My goal today is to put some miles behind me on the way to Augusta. I printed 2 sets of directions at the motel......one for driving, the other for walking. I'll decide which to use by the time I get to Sparta......about 5-6 miles away.

As I neared Sparta, a local Sheriff's deputy pulled up and told me someone had reported a white male walking down the road. "So?", I thought, but didn't say anything. I told him what I was doing, we talked a while, and both went on our way. I soon was in Sparta, and stopped to ask about directions. Most people I talked to said just take Hwy 16, but the walking route was a few miles shorter and I really wanted to take it. As I was walking down the main street, a group of men were throwing something up into a pecan tree, trying to get the nuts to fall. One guy told me they'll sometimes back a truck into the tree to shake the nuts down. I stopped to get a few supplies at a convenience store, and headed out of town on hwy 16. I still had about 4 miles before having to decide which route to take.

I passed by a small community named Culverton, but didn't see anything there except more pecan trees. I soon came to Roy Smith Rd., the decision point. I turned onto Roy Smith, deciding to take the walking route. Saw a guy working in a grave yard, and stopped to ask him about the directions. He favored staying on 16, but told me what I needed to know to go the other way. I walked a little further, and the road became a dirt road for the next 5-6 miles. It was reasonably hard, and ok walking for a while. Two guys in a truck pulled up, and asked "was I lost"? I answered no, and they asked where I was going? I said Augusta, and they said, "you're lost". But actually I wasn't, they just thought I should be on hwy 16. They advised me to keep going until I came to a paved road, turn right, and it would take me to Warrenton.

There was some logging going on in the area, and the road was pretty soft at times. That, along with the recent rain and snow, made pushing the cart not so easy. After a couple of hours, I came to the paved road, turned right, and was on my way to Warrenton......about 12 or so miles away. I passed through a small community named Mayfield, and stopped at a store to rest and get something to eat. This country road was nice walking, reasonably level and little traffic. I passed a large hornet's nest near the road, and was glad it was not summertime. I also passed a sign for the Ogeechee River Mill, but the only road going to the mill was closed.

The weather today was great for walking......temp in the mid-50's, and clear. Even though I had a late start this morning, I still was able to get some miles covered, and am near Warrenton. I am going to try to get to Augusta by late Friday if possible, but will need to long days to do that. Around 530, I found a nice looking spot to camp, and decided to stop for the day. Actually, it was in a cemetery, but after I looked around, decided to camp beside the cemetery instead of in it. It was still not too cold, and before long I had the tent up, and the gear and me inside.

About the pictures:
Hay bale Santa;
Sign for Ogeechee River Mill;
The dirt road.

Day 121 - Rest Day

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Today was a nice and lazy day, starting with breakfast in the motel dining room. The morning was spent going through the gear, rearranging, and repairing some things, and packing others to send home with the family. I think the load will be a little lighter in January, at least after I eat all the Christmas cookies they brought. Around lunch time we drove to Gray for lunch at Old Clinton Bar-B-Que, and spent some time looking around the community of Old Clinton. Some of the houses were built before the Civil War. We also drove a few miles south of Gray to let them see one of the places I camped recently.

After lunch we stopped for an ice cream cone, then back to the motel to rest and finish getting things together. Julie needed to run to Wal-Mart for a few things, so we went there, and later in the day to Chili's for dinner. The day became warmer in the afternoon, and was pretty comfortable except for a constant wind blowing. Weather forecast for the rest of the week is mostly clear, with warmer temperatures. A possibility of showers later in the week.

Tomorrow, back on the road. I'll ride back to where they picked me up, and start from there......several miles south of Sparta. Then on to Augusta, about 70 miles away. After that, into SC through Aiken, and by that time I'll have decided the route to Emerald Isle.

About the pictures:
The family in front of Old Clinton Bar-B-Que;
Santa sometimes drives a Volvo in GA.

Day 120 - Walking To Meet The Family

Monday, December 27, 2010

The wake up call this morning was better.....roads are clear in Apex, and the family will be coming down today. They will be coming I-20 to Hwy 22 in GA, and Hwy 22 into Milledgeville. I am walking 22 as far as Sparta on the way to Augusta, so decided to not waste the day in the room, but walk toward Sparta and meet them. I had breakfast in the motel, and was on the road by 830 or so. Since I would be coming back here later today, was able to leave the cart and most of the gear in the room....still drying out.

I walked through part of the downtown area, missed a street sign and had to backtrack about 1/2 mile, but finally was heading out of town.....crossing over a beautiful river which I don't remember the name of. Hwy 22 is 2 lane, rolling, and winding, with a small shoulder. Without the cart, the shoulder was plenty wide. Traffic coming into town was relatively heavy, as it normally is this time of the day. The weather was clear and cold. My feet are a little sore from the long walk yesterday, so the going is a little slower than many days. Much of the area I walked through is either farm land, or horse or cattle ranches.

The only community along the way is named Devereux. It has a small store, called the Devereux Mall, and not much else I could see. There were lots of nice churches and houses along the road. Around 3pm, the family pulled up. I marked where the walk stopped with the SPOT, and enjoyed the ride back to Milledgeville in the car. Before long, we were in the room, talking, laughing, and opening presents. Mrs. Gunther, from Greenfield Elementary School in Daleville, sent a pack of Christmas cards her students had made.....plus a Dallas Cowboy stocking cap to keep the ears warm. I also got a Forrest Gump DVD (never saw that movie), and a DVD about Ivan Thompson, the Cowboy Cupid......whom I met along the road in NM. Christmas cookies, a new sweatshirt, and other things......a great Christmas.

After resting for a while, we went to Applebee's for dinner, and back to the room for the evening. It's cold outside, and I wondered why I haven't noticed this so much before now.....maybe because I'm out in it all day? Tomorrow is a day of rest, and I think we'll drive to Gray for bar-b-que at Old Clinton, then wash clothes, and get ready to get back on the road on Wednesday. It's been a nice day, worth the wait.

About the pictures:
Family members: daughter Julie, wife Rita, grandchildren Jack, Abby, Emma;
Christmas cards and Cowboy's hat from Greenfield Elementary 3rd graders;
The Devereux Mall.

Day 119 - Milledgeville, GA

Sunday, December 26, 2010

First a question......is that deputy from the Jones County Sheriff's department holding a bag of evidence he's gathered from my walking cart; or is that 2 bar-b-ques from Old Clinton Bar-B-Q, in Gray, GA.......reputed to be some of the best in GA? More about that later.

The rain that started late yesterday afternoon continued into the night. The good thing about it, the temperature remained reasonabe. I had a tarp inside the tent and overall stayed pretty dry.....although I did find a few problems with the way the rain fly was staked out. I didn't pull it tight enough, and that allowed it to sag down on the tent and allowed some rain to get inside. I'll do better on that next time. As I settled in for the night, the phone rang and it was Jay Andrews, from Roberta, calling to check if I was ok. We talked a while, and he told me if i needed anything to give him a call. Shortly after that I had another call from an old friend, Elizabeth Noffsinger, from Aiken, SC. She and her husband Dave are going to FL for a holiday vacation, and will passing through the area where I'm walking. They are going to find me tomorrow on their way south. After that, I just listened to the rain on the tent until I fell asleep.

My wake up call came at 630, and not good news......the family is snowed in in Apex, NC, and won't be able to get down today. That's a bummer, but they will come down as soon as the weather clears, so not a total loss. I opened the tent, and it's snowing outside. Not a lot, but a nice snow for this area. Packed the gear, and ready to hit the road by 715 or so. My goal today is still to get to Milledgeville, where a room at the Hampton Inn is waiting. I need to get everything dried out, so that will be nice to be inside. The first destination is Gray, GA, a small town a few miles east. It's cold with some snow flurries, but still nice walking weather. Any temp above 30 or so feels pretty good when walking....if dressed properly. Seems to keep the energy level up.

I hadn't walked a mile when a car pulled alongside, the woman passenger rolled down the window, and handed me some money. She said, "it's not much, but all we have on us." She introduced herself as Lynn Reynolds, and her husband David. I thanked them, and they drove away. After walking a mile or so more, a Jones County Sheriff's Deputy pulled alongside, and asked if i was ok. Someone had reported me walking along the road, and wanted to check on me. The deputy introduced himself as Brian Evans, and I gave him a card and we talked about the walk. He really seemed interested, and said he would check the blog. I headed toward Gray.

Robert Dennard, who I met yesterday, told me there was a good bar-b-q place just west of Gray, and soon I came to Old Clinton Bar-B-Q, an institution in this area. I walked across the street to take a picture, and while there, Deputy Evans drove up, and told me a little about the place. He also asked if I minded if he called the local newspaper and see if they wanted to do an article about my walk. That was fine with me. We talked a while longer, and I was back to walking. Many businesses in this area have "Old Clinton" in their name. It's a historic place, just west of Gray, with homes dating back before the Civil War. I continued on toward Gray.

Just as I was coming into Gray, the Noffsingers pulled up. They had just passed a McDonald's about 1/2 mile back, and we agreed to meet back there. They had already bought breakfast, so we just sat, ate, and talked for a couple of hours. It was good to see them, and catch up on all the happenings over the past several years. They invited me to stay with them when I pass through Aiken if that works out. While we were talking, Debbie Lurie-Smith, Managing Editor of the Jones County News, called and asked if she could come talk about my walk. That was good with me, and after Dave and Elizabeth left, I called her back and in a few minutes she walked into McDonald's......Gray isn't a big place. She and I talked a while, she took a few pictures, and told me the article would be in this week's paper.

By now if was 1215 or so, and I still had about 20 miles to Milledgeville. To get there before dark would be almost impossible, but I would get to that Hampton somehow. So I set at at a quick pace, energized by the cool temperatures. BTW: Gray, GA, is a nice, small town, and I'm glad I took this route instead of Hwy 49. About a mile or so out of town, my phone rang and it was Deputy Evans. "Mr. Jeff, where are you now?" I told him a couple miles east of town. "I know you wanted to try Old Country Bar-B-Q, and they were closed when you came by. Well, they're open now, and I'm bringing you a couple of sandwiches, and will be there in a few minutes, he said." It wasn't long until here he comes, with the sandwiches. How kind is that? He also said, "I told them to put the sauce on the side so the bread wouldn't get soggy on your walk." These Jones County Deputies pay attention to details! I asked him a little about himself......he's 33, married, not children (yet), and been a deputy for 6 years, all in this area. What a great representative for law enforcement.

I thanked him, and he told me if I had any problems to call him. I headed out at full speed, putting miles behind me. I passed a small community named Haddock, but didn't pay much attention to it. I did notice a beautiful house there......it was white with a red, tin, roof, and with Christmas decorations, many of them red also. A beautiful place. I also passed a sign for the Antebellum Trail. This is really historic, and I hope you'll read the info at the link. After more miles, I came to Milledgeville, and Hwy 441 where the Hampton is located. It was dark by now, and as I walked down the road dodging traffic, a truck pulled up and the driver offered me a ride to the motel. I said sure, since I will walk this same route going out of town tomorrow. Soon I was at the motel, checking in, and heading to the room. I didn't get the driver's name for some reason.......just forgot. But many thanks for the ride.

Soon I was watching the football game, drying the tent, sleeping bag, and other gear, enjoying the famous Old Clinton Bar-B-Qs, and sipping on a Sundrop. The day started out not so good, but people like the Reynolds, Deputy Evans, and the Noffsingers, turned it into a great day. And the family will be down soon, so still have that to look forward to.

About the pictures:
Brian Evans, Jones County, GA, Deputy, and a good Samaritan;
Old Clinton Bar-B-Q;
Antebellum Trail sign.

A Christmas song for you.......

Day 118 - To Macon and Beyond

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Last night was cold! And no presents outside the tent, although the cookies were gone by morning. I slept well, but woke up a couple of times during the night and noticed it was cold outside. When I finally crawled out of the sleeping bag around 630 this morning, there was a heavy coating of frost on the tent and cart. I'm not sure if that makes it colder or not, but when I camp under trees that seems to protect me from the frost. I was ready to hit the road a little after 7. The convenience store that I camped behind wasn't open yet, maybe they're closed because of Christmas. My goal today is walk through Macon, and get somewhere on the other side so I can be in Milledgeville by Sunday afternoon.

The walk into Macon was pretty much uneventful. Not much traffic out this early, and a nice country road to walk on. However, I do wake some dogs up these early mornings. Today, seems they were all along the walk to Macon, barking at me until I was out of their sight. Some people have asked if dogs bother me........not much. They will come toward me, I usually stop and face them and say something in a stern voice, and it almost always stops them in their tracks. Sometimes when I move on they will follow, but haven't been a real problem. I have seen a couple that I was glad they were behind fences.

As I neared Macon, I came to a large group of buildings, and found out it was Macon State College.......a large and modern looking campus. A man came out to the road to get his morning paper, and I stopped to say hello. He introduced himself as Robert Dennard, and told me he has lived in this area all his life (a long one). His family owned a farm where the college is now located. Robert retired from government work some years back, and now does handyman stuff around the house. He has 4 children, and "lots" of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.....most of them living in the area. They were celebrating Christmas later today at a son-in-law's cabin on a lake in Lizella.

Soon I was coming into the outskirts of Macon. Nothing much was open except a few convenience stores. I still hadn't had breakfast, but figured I would find something open along the way. The Google directions took me right into the middle of downtown. My oldest daughter and her family lived in Macon some years back, and I didn't remember it being such a nice place (the downtown area). Really clean, and lots of nice buildings.....some obviously restored. I was looking for a place to charge the computer, and decided maybe the police department might be the only option in town. I walked past Mercer University, a beautiful place and area of town. From what I could tell, even the police department was closed today......at least I couldn't find anyone around.

I decided to leave Macon and take my chances on the outskirts of town. As I started to leave town, spotted a Ramada Inn in downtown, and decided to try that. Good choice.....the woman behind the front desk, Angela, said I could sit in the lobby and charge the computer. I stayed there for a couple of hours.....it was nice, with Christmas music playing throughout the building. It was time to get back on the road, so I thanked Angela and started toward Milledgeville. The Google directions once again threw me a curve......I was supposed to stay on Clinton road for .8 miles, and when I got there, a sign said Clinton road was closed .5 miles ahead. There was a convenience store nearby, and I told a guy my delimna, and he suggested I just take Gray Road all the way to Milledgeville......and forget the back roads Google was suggesting.

So, that's what I did. I didn't make many miles after that when it started raining. Lightly at first, then more steadily. I decided to quit for the day, and found a camping site near the road. Soon had the tent up in a little grove of pine trees, and the gear inside. I hope the ground covers are tucked in correctly because it appears it's going to rain a while. But for now it's dry inside, and not as cold as last night. Tomorrow, it's on to Milledgeville and a day of rest...if the weather doesn't prevent the family from coming down.

Thanks to everyone for the emails, calls, comments on the blog, and text msgs, wishing me a Merry Christmas. Made my day. BTW: There's a new link to the most recent WBT radio interview in case you didn't get to hear it.

About the pictures:
Robert Dennard, Macon, GA handyman;
Somebody in Macon got a new bike for Christmas;
Nu-Way Wiener Stand, a Macon tradition.

A Christmas song for you........

Merry Christmas From Macon, GA

Saturday, December 25, 2010

I thought a special post was in order for Christmas Day. I'm sitting in the Ramada Inn lobby as I write this........the nice woman at the front desk, Angela, allowed me to sit and charge the computer. It's cloudy here today, and some are predicting maybe a little snow. I hope Santa was good to everyone, and you have a great day with your families and friends. My family is coming down tomorrow to meet me in Milledgeville, GA, so that'll be my Christmas this year. There are too many stories to post on this blog, but one I remember from several weeks back comes to mind, and maybe it fits, this being the Christmas season......

I can't remember exactly where this happened, but must have been when I was near I-20, since it involves a truck stop. I came to the truck stop late in the day, and was going to use some of their facilities. Saw a USA Today newspaper rack, and wanted to get one to read while eating dinner. I didn't have 4 quarters for the machine, and the change I did have was pretty battered and bruised because most of it was picked up along the road. Also, I had one gold (colored) dollar coin, which I wanted to keep. So, counted out a dollars worth of change, and took to the cashier to get quarters. She gave me 3 quarters, but refused to give me the fourth because she said my change was so beat up. So, now I had 3 quarters and the dollar coin.

I told the woman I really wanted a paper, but she refused to budge and take the old money. She asked if I had any other money, and I told her about the dollar coin.....that I wanted to keep. She said they weren't rare, and I could get another one. So, reluctently, I gave her the coin and she gave me 4 quarters. I bought the paper, ate dinner, did some computer stuff, and packed up to leave. As I walked past the woman, she said, "mister, I know you really wanted to keep that dollar coin, so if you'll give me back those 3 quarters, you can have your coin back!" Well, I did, and walked out smiling with the gold dollar coin......and a nice feeling inside about what she did.

So, there must be a message in there somewhere about the woman caring enough about a stranger to bend her own rules to make him happy. And maybe, somehow, that ties into this season. I've been meaning to tell you about that for a while, but it seemed to fit best today.

About the picture:
Two followers of the blog since almost day 1 of the trip......Maggie and Caroline, Daughters of Kevin and Amy Cooley of Fort Mill, SC.

A Christmas song for you.......

Day 117 - On Toward Macon

Friday, December 24, 2010
Last night was a strange one, to say the least. I hung around Subway for a while after publishing the latest post, and letting the computer and cell phone batteries charge. As I packed up and was leaving, a group of people stopped me and started asking questions about what I was doing. They introduced themselves as: Jay and Pam Andrews, and their son Colby; and Cary and Lisa Hays. They had seen my cart outside and curious about it. One of them, maybe Cary, commented it was probably a homeless man, so they looked around to see who might own the cart. They spotted me working on the computer and Lisa told the group: "that man's not homeless, he's wearing a North Face jacket and New Balance shoes!" Finally, after 2200 miles, somebody is paying attention! Lisa and Cary's daughter likes North face, so she was familiar with the brand.

We talked a while, and they asked lots of questions about the trip. Jay gave me a little money to help out along the way, and then asked about where I was staying for the night. I had planned to stay in an industrial park just outside town, and getting ready to walk there. Jay knew someone who owned a business near by, and suggested I stay there.....it was only a block away. Before we went our separate ways, Lisa showed me a picture of their children......they have 5 year old twins, a boy and a girl, and an older girl.......just like my daughter Julie. It was fun talking about them. Finally I headed out to find the camp site. Once I got there, wasn't especially fond of it because it was too light in the area, and too many people close by. But I went ahead and set up the tent and put the gear inside. Jay and his family stopped by to check on me, and then left. I got in the tent to read a while before going to sleep. It was a nice evening.....cool and clear, but not real cold.

As I was reading I could hear people come and go, and lights from cars were shining on the tent. I knew I could never go to sleep in this spot. So around 11 or so, got up, packed up everything (quickly), and started heading out of town toward the industrial park. A policeman spotted me, asked if I was moving, and suggested I put the tent behind the police station in a grassy area. That was great...close by and safe. So, he showed me how to get there, and within 20 minutes or so I was back in the tent, and not long after that, asleep. What a long and interesting day.

I slept really well after the long day, and it never was really cold. I was up and ready to go by 730, stopped and thanked the policeman for his help, and headed to Subway for breakfast. After that I stopped by the laundromat to wash a few things. I doubt I'll reach Macon today, but that's ok. I'll stay south of town tonight, and walk through town tomorrow. It was almost 11 before I was ready to leave Roberta, and since that's when the bar-b-que place opens, decided to stop there for a sandwich. Of course it was closed today for Christmas, so I'll just have to come back this way some time and try Duncan's. I stopped by the drugstore to ask directions, and headed toward Macon.

I've left Hwy 80 for now, and mostly on country roads...which is nicer walking. Traffic is light, and the road is winding and rolling. No shoulder, but none needed. I saw a UPS man and thought to myself that's one person who won't get off early today. I walked a little further and spotted a mail car. It pulled alongside me, and before I could hand the driver a card, I saw it was Cary Hays, from Subway last evening. He mentioned I was a little late leaving Roberta this morning, and surprised to see me on the road. We talked a while and Cary had to get on with delivering the mail. I have passed several "William Bartram Trail" markers over the past few days, so did a little research to see who he was. Very interesting, you should check out the link.

Speaking of signs, the road signs in GA seem to be taller than most states.....at least where I'm traveling. I passed a sign for a creek, and it must have been 8-9 feet in the air. Anybody ever noticed this or know why they are so high? Today was another great day weather wise......cool, but not cold, and clear. Every day that's nice is one less that can be not nice! I am still following the Google walking directions, and found at least one error today. A road changed names, and Google had another name. I stood on the corner maybe 15 or so minutes waiting for someone to come by so I could ask directions. Finally a woman with 2 small children stopped, and gave me the info I needed to proceed. While there weren't a lot of stores along the route today, there were enough to keep some food in the belly.

Later in the afternoon I passed a small community named Lizella. There were a couple of nice modern churches here, but that's about all I saw. I walked a while longer and a truck pulled along side me. A young man got out, introduced himself as Lance Stokes, and asked if I could use a dollar. Of course there's always something to buy on the road, so I said sure. Well Lance searched all his pockets, and discovered he didn't have a dollar.....maybe I should have given him one! Anyhow, it didn't matter....he was such a nice young man, a senior in high school. He asked if I knew about a country singer who walked across America. I did....Jimmy Wayne, who grew up in the Gaston County area. Not sure he walked the whole country, but did walk at least half or more.

Lance and I talked a good while.......he lives on a farm in the area, and plans to go to technical school upon graduation from high school. I thought Lance looks a lot like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Talking to Lance was a nice part of the day. It was getting late in the day, so I started looking for a camp site. Found a convenience store several miles outside of Macon, with an empty lot behind it. I asked the manager if I could put the tent there, and he was fine with that. So, it was soon up and gear inside. The lot doesn't have lots of grass, so I hope it doesn't rain tonight.....it'll be a mess! The store manager also said I could use an outside outlet to charge my computer. But, not sure if I want to be out of the sleeping bag that long.

Google calculates I covered around 16 miles today.....not bad considering the late start. Tomorrow into and beyond Macon, toward Milledgeville. If all goes well, and the weather cooperates, I'll have visitors either Sunday or Monday......that'll be nice. I put a few cookies and a soda outside the tent just in case Santa comes through here tonight. If not, am sure one of the local critters will clean the plate. Gotta get to sleep now, because he won't come as long as I'm awake.

About the pictures:
Lance Stokes, student and Dale jr look-a-like;
William Bartram Marker;
In the laundromat in Roberta.

A Christmas song for you.........by one of my all time favorite singers.

Day 116 - To Roberta or Bust!

Thursday, December 23, 2010
When I went to bed last evening, it was warm and comfortable. Then the wind started blowing, and the air started cooling, and by morning it was cold.....a big change from the past few day. And I'm told, the weekend will be even colder. But, I'll worry about that later. I had everything packed and on the road by 730. I decided yesterday to follow Google walking directions from Phenix City to Macon, so that's what I'll continue to do today. The route winds through the countryside to Roberta, then on to Macon. I doubt there will be many, if any, stores along the 28 or so miles to Roberta.

I camped right beside Buckner Road, and that was my first road on the route....for 4.6 miles. It was winding, and rolling, and not much scenery. But not much traffic either, so a pleasant walk. I then came to Hwy 208, and turned east for a walk of 13.6 miles. I am so glad I chose this route because hwy 208 is a very historic road. It is also called the Old Federal Road, an important route from Richmond to New Orleans in the early 1800's. The people who live along the road seem to be proud of its history, and many of the old structures have been preserved. It was a beautiful, but very cool walk.

A sheriff's car pulled alongside me and the deputy asked if I was ok. I gave him a card, and we talked for a while. He told me there was a small country store a few miles up the road. I was happy to hear that because I hadn't expected to find anything. I walked a while longer and a truck with a trailer full of wood pulled along side me. The drive introduced himself as Gerald Parker, and his passenger as his grandson, Ander Parker. They had been up the road gathering some firewood that a neighbor gave him. The small community where we met is called Jarrell, and named after a family who has lived here hundreds of years. We talked a while, and Gerald told me the store was just up the road.

After another mile or so, I spotted the store. Walked up on the porch, and there was a sign stating the store hours, and the days it was open. The store is closed two days a week......Sunday, and guess which other day? Yep, Thursday...what a bummer. So, I'm down to a pack or two of Lance crackers and a bag of deer jerky until I find a store. And both the officer and Gerald told me there was nothing else between here and Roberta. Nothing to do except keep on walking. I stopped to rest for about 1/2 hour, and then moved on. The day was warming, and the wind calming down. There are many beautiful country churches along the way, and all appear to be well maintained. I also noticed that the horses are growing their winter coats. I came to the intersection of Hwy 19 and 208, continued through it, and am sure (almost) that I saw a sign saying Roberta was only 11 miles. You know, I think I can do that.

I finally came to the end of Hwy 208, and turned left on Hwy 137 for 4.6 miles. I also saw another sign for Roberta.....11 miles! Did I read the first sign wrong? Just as I turned onto 137, I spotted the old Fickling Mill, a historic location for hundreds of years. I also saw a marker that told Hwy 137 was once called the Wire Road. It also was a nice walk, with many older homes and barns, I also spotted several more armadillos alongside the road! At the end of 137, I turned onto Hwy 128 for the final 6+ miles to Roberta. there was still plenty of light, my legs were cooperating, and the cool temp seemed to give me a little more energy. Plus, when there's a possible burger at the end of the walk, I seem to get inspired.

After 4 miles of the 6, I saw a sign for Hudson's Bar-B-Que.....that sounds good, only 2 miles to go. I saw a couple of guinea hens in a yard.....can't remember when I last saw some of those. At 1 mile to go, think I could smell the bar-b-que. Finally I walked into the city limits of Roberta......28.9 miles from last night's camp site......according to Google.

Sometimes different things determine how the day will turn out......if the store in Jarrell had been open, I would have probably sat around there for a while, eating breakfast and charging the computer. Then would have taken more rest stops during the day, and maybe walked 20 or so miles. But it wasn't, so I decided to try for Roberta. As I came into town, spotted several potential camping spots along the way. But first things first......and I still smell that bar-b-que. I reached the center of town, asked where to find Hudson's, and was told it was closed for the day. But there is a Subway near by, so that'll have to do for tonight. And, they usually have a place where there are electrical outlets to charge things.

So that's where I am now, working on email and the blog....and dreading going back out in the cold. But I'll walk back to one of those places I spotted on the way in, and set up camp. My route quandary from yesterday has turned out ok for now. Tomorrow, on toward Macon.

About the pictures:
Gerald and Ander Parker, woodcutters from Jarrell, GA
Fickling Mill
After a long walk, finally!

A Christmas song for you........

Day 115 - Junction City

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

I slept so well last evening.....it was not cold at all, but when the wake up call came, I could hear rain on the tent. Not hard, but it was raining. I stayed in the sleeping bag a while longer, and about decided if it keeps raining I'll just stay here and read until it stops.....all day if necessary. I'm ahead of schedule, so what difference does it make? About then the rain stopped, so I drug myself out of the comfort of the sleeping bag, and started packing everything on the cart. By 730 or so, I was on the road. I have some decisions to make today concerning the route.....Google "walking" directions have me leaving 80 for a while, and I've about decided to follow those. It appears to be a shorter route to Macon.

I hadn't walked a mile when a car stopped along side, and the window rolled down. A young girl handed me some money, wished me Merry Christmas, and then she and her mother (I assumed) drove off. I walked a few miles further, and came to the BBQ Shack, in Box Springs, GA. The place also serves breakfast, so I ordered something, and asked the woman running the place if I could charge the computer for a while. Her name is Monica, and she agreed to let me do that. The place is all "take out", so I sat on the porch and ate breakfast and did a little computer stuff while it was charging.

Monica is originally from Germany, and has lived several places in the States before coming to this area. The weather was cool and misty.....not raining, but enough moisture in the air to get the clothes wet. Just as I was getting out the rain gear, the sun came out. I unplugged the computer, thanked Monica, and back to walking. Next town is Geneva, several miles up the road. I can verify that there are armadillos in GA.....or there was at least 1. I found the remains beside the road. So, that's TX, LA, MS, and GA, where I have spotted armadillo remains, or the real thing in TX (1). After a couple hours of walking I came to Geneva. Spotted a restaurant with several trucks outside, so decided to stop in for lunch.....and advice.

The name of the restaurant is O'Hanlon's, and the woman behind the counter is named Pat. There were several guys sitting at one table, along with one woman. I said hello, and asked if I could bother them for some directions. Told them what I was doing, where I was heading, and the directions Google had given me. Asking a group of men about directions is always a risk, and usually ends with lots of different opinions. That's what happened this time. After telling me to throw away the Google directions, they advised me to leave hwy 80, take Hwy 96 all the way to Jeffersonville, and skip going through Macon all together. Well, I have no real need to go to Macon, could go around and go to Milledgeville instead, so decided to take their advice. Although, it did appear to be miles longer.

So, I ordered soup, slaw, and cornbread, and sat with them and ate lunch. Soon it was time to get back on the road, so I headed east. Before leaving Geneva, I stopped at a convenience store for a few supplies and ice. Geneva, although a small place as best I could tell, has sidewalks along the main road. That's unusual based on what I've seen so far, but nice walking. I left 80, and started down hwy 96. It was a warm afternoon, and the road had a good shoulder and little traffic. I still was in a quandary about which way to go, but had several more miles to decide. I rested a while, and before long was at the decision point.....Junction City.

I stood at that intersection for maybe 20 minutes or so, trying to decide whether to follow the Google directions, or stay on 96. Tried to hail down several cars to ask advice, but no one would stop. Finally, an old truck with 2 guys stopped and I told them my quandary. They agreed going hwy 96 was a good bit longer, and gave me directions to get back on the Google route. So, that's what I did. I'm not sure there was a right or wrong way to go, but will know when I reach Milledgeville. Sometimes decisions are hard, especially when there is no clear cut, obvious answer. I walked several more miles on the new road, and started looking for a camp site. Found one, but there were several dogs nearby, and they wouldn't stop barking. So, I moved across the road to another spot.

Soon had the tent up, gear and myself inside. It's a clear evening, but getting a little cooler....but not cold yet. The weather has been good to me so far. So I will go through Macon after all, and then on to Milledgeville. For now, back to my James Patterson thriller.

About the pictures:
That's Monica, BBQ Shack;
The BBQ Shack;
A nice field where I rested on the way to Junction City.

A Christmas song for you......

Day 114 - Upatoi, GA....who would have thought?

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Last evening in the Ramada Inn was nice, but I never get to bed on time, and always wake up still tired. Seems I sleep better in the tent, guess because there's nothing else to do. I was up at 6, took advantage of the motel complimentary breakfast, and started packing the gear to get back on the road. I had stuff spread all over the room, trying to get everything dried out......which it did. I wasn't quite sure how to get to the other side of Columbus, GA, so went to the front desk and asked the guy working there if he would print some Google directions. His name was Tim, and he was glad to do it. So, back to the room, get everything together, and head out. Destination today is just start N/E toward Macon, after getting out of Columbus.

As I started walking, I noticed Tim ahead of me, and he and I walked a while together.....a nice young man. He's working at the motel 3rd shift, and wants to start college soon. Eventually our paths parted, and I headed toward Columbus. My primary route for a while was 13th ST, and that how I crossed over the river. From what I saw of Columbus, it's a nice city.....looks clean and modern. Interestingly, because Phenix City and Columbus are so close, and people from each work in the other, Phenix City is on EST....maybe the only AL town to be like that. I worked my way through the city, and a guy came running by me wearing only shorts and his running shoes! And me in coat, sweatshirt, gloves, etc.....one of us is not dressed for the weather. (40 degrees at the time.)

The radio interview was a little late, and I tried to find a quiet place. Finally found a school that was empty for the holidays, so sat there and talked to Wayne Powers for a few minutes. Then headed out toward the countryside. AFLAC, the insurance company, is based in Columbus, and I passed a many story building with their name on it. Pretty soon I was out of town on Macon Road, which eventually merges with Hwy 80. Today was great weather, must have been highs in the 60's at least. I sat down and rested for a while, and the warm sun felt so good, I probably could have slept a while.

I walked a little further, and a woman across the road hollered at me and asked if I needed a coat (I need to work on my image!). I stopped and talked a while, and told her about the walk. Her name was Diane, and she works from home for AFLAC. She was cleaning out some stuff to throw away, and I found a James Patterson book to carry along if I have reading time. Soon Macon Road merged with Hwy 80, and it became 4 lane with a reasonable shoulder to walk on. Traffic was moderate, but not bad. I spotted a survey crew doing some work, and stopped to talk to one of the guys. His name is Phil Ammons, and he was interested in the walk. Said he would like to walk the Appalachian Trail some time. But he just became a father, so that will have to wait a while. He went back to his work, and me back to walking.

I walked a while longer and came to a small place named Upatoi. There is a store there, Rose's Mini Mart, so I stopped in for something to eat. Met Rose, the owner, and Brittani, who works there. The google directions Tim printed for me indicated I should turn right on Upatoi Lane for a couple of miles, and it would merge back with 80. I asked them about it, and they showed me how to get on that road. We talked a while, and Rose even gave me a deal on 2 hot dogs.....buy 1, get 1 free. I took their picture, and headed out. The walk on Upatoi Lane was so nice and relaxing.....quite a change from the traffic on 80. It meandered through the countryside, with maybe 1 or 2 cars passing the whole 2.5 miles. But all too quickly it ended, and I was back on 80.

I walked several more miles, it was getting late, so I started looking for a campsite. Found a place just off the road, near a nice creek, so decided to stay there. Soon had everything inside, including me, and worked a while on email and the blog. It's been a good day, and I am no more than 70 or so miles from Macon.....so will probably be there around Christmas Day. One interesting thing.....I am on the extreme western side of EST, so it gets light later in the morning, and stays light later in the afternoon.....than places farther east. Makes sense, I just never thought about that.

About the pictures:
Phil Ammons, surveyor and new father;
Rose and Brittani, Upatoi Mini Market;
Columbus, GA, from across the river

A Christmas song for you.......

Day 113 - Phenix City, last city in AL

Monday, December 20, 2010

Last night was cold, but not in the teens or anything like that......maybe high 20's, low 30's. I slept well, and was up and ready to hit the road by 645am. My goal today is to reach Phenix City, the last city in AL. It's about a 25 mile walk from Society Hill, but if I can keep from "socializing" too much, might be able to make it. Jim Peters, W. Monroe, LS, sent a "care" package to the Ramada Inn in Phenix City, and I want to pick it up, as well might stay in the motel tonight. Society Hill is really a nice place, and as I was heading down the road, passed one of the most beautiful houses I've seen. It has the "antebellum" look, plus situated on a high point on a beautiful farm. I took a picture, but couldn't do it justice.

I passed one of those circular irrigation rigs, and noticed it is used for watering turf at the Frog Pond Turf Farm. All the grass was brown, so guess it's some sort of Bermuda or something of that type. I had a call from Mrs. Gunther at Greenfield Elementary School in Daleville, VA. Her students are following the walk, and wanted to talk for a while. It's always fun to talk with them.....they have good questions. I passed through a small community named Marvyn, and another named Dixie. I stopped in Dixie at the B.W. Capps General Store for breakfast, and a few supplies. Then back to walking.

Today was beautiful,and I was soon out of the coat and gloves. Hwy 80 was treating me well, with a nice shoulder to walk on, and not much traffic. After several hours, I stopped at Crawford's Deli for lunch. Had the special.....country steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet tea, and a piece of cake. (Southerners always have something sweet at the end of a meal!) After lunch, I headed out to get some more of those miles behind me. I passed through Crawford, which was once named Crockettville, after Davy Crockett. I passed Haden Deer Processing, one of the busiest places in AL this time of the year. I walked over to take a picture, and met two of the three brothers who own the place......Davy and Cody Haden. they said they have already processed over 500 deer this year, and the busiest part of the season is still ahead. They gave me a bag of deer jerky to snack on along the way.

I passed a field of horses, and decided to try the mints on them. One was more aggressive than the others, and ate 3 or 4.......he knew how to chew them. I need to buy more, am out for now. I also passed a beautiful hawk, sitting on a power line. As I got closer, he flew away. I passed the Eastern Alabama Motor Speedway, a nice looking dirt track. Lots of good NASCAR racers are from Alabama. Hwy 80 soon changed to 4 lane......with no shoulder. The walk through Ladonia and into Phenix City was scary. Lots of traffic in both directions, and they didn't want me taking up space. I finally moved to the turn lane right in the center of the road......it was the only safe place I could find. After several miles of that, I noticed a road called Old Crawford Road, and stopped at a car place to inquire about taking that road. The young man inside, Danny Redding, showed me a different route to take to the motel, so I headed that way.

After several more miles, I finally pulled into the parking lot of the Ramada Inn, Phenix City.......a long day. I was soon in the room, had a bath, ate a little something, and did some computer stuff while watching the football game. The package from Jim Peters was waiting for me......socks, sock liners, head band to keep the ears warm, seam sealer for the tent, and a little "walking around money" as he said his Grandfather called it. Jim's trying to keep me warm and dry. Another surprise.......I am now in the Eastern Time Zone. Didn't think that was until tomorrow, but Phenix City is EST. Early tomorrow I will cross the Chattahoochee River into Columbus, GA., and then turn NE, heading to Macon. The people in Alabama have really been good Samaritans as I traveled through their state.

About the pictures:
Cody (l) and Davy Haden....deer processors;
Historic marker for Crockettsville;
Beautiful antebellum house east of Society Hill.

A Christmas song for you........

Day 112 - Tuskegee and Beyond

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Last night was a little chilly to say the least. Not extreme cold, but I tried to stay in the sleeping bag. It was hard crawling out when the wake up call came at 6. I packed, and was on the road before 7. Destination today is just east toward Columbus, GA, with the first stop in town for breakfast at McDonald's. It was about a 2 mile walk to McDonald's, and as I pulled up, a guy got out of his truck, introduced himself as Lawrence McRae, and asked if he could buy my breakfast. I had absolutely no problem with that, and soon was enjoying breakfast and conversation with Lawrence and others.

Lawrence is the founder of the McRae Prostate Cancer Awareness Foundation, with offices in Selma and Tuskegee. It's interesting there are more occurrences of prostate cancer than any other type of cancer, but it gets little, if any publicity. I also met Louis Maxwell, Chairman of the Macon County Commission. Finally, I met Alan Gray, Jr. Alan is a former professional baseball player, having played from 1959-1975. He spent some time in the major leagues, much of his career was in the minors. He was also a scout for the Houston Astros for a couple of years. Alan also had some involvement with the DC Sniper case. He was a witness to a liquor store robbery in AL in which the DC Snipers were involved. Interesting guy to talk to.

We took pictures, I told them about the walk, and also told Lawrence about Queen Tate in Selma.....as a possible way to spread the word about his foundation. They also showed me a "shortcut" through Tuskegee. I charged the computer for a while, and then back on the road. (I must have mispronounced Tuskegee at least 20 times. There is a road in Charlotte, NC named Tuckaseegee Road, and every time I tried to say Tuskegee, it usually came out as something between the two names.) Downtown Tuskegee was a little disappointing from what I saw.....there is lots of history here, and lots of pride in the area, but the downtown looks a little run down. There is a beautiful courthouse, but not much else. I headed out of town on Hwy 29 south, then changed to County Road 26 for most of the day.

CR 26 was a nice change from Hwy 80. It is 2 lane, rolling, and almost no traffic. It winds through the countryside, and that's about all I saw. CR 26 is also called Red Road,and it was once the stagecoach route from this area to Columbus, GA. Lots of land clearing along the way, and I was told the area would be replanted with pine seedlings. It was a nice walk, beautiful weather, and little traffic. I hadn't planned to spend most of the day on this road, but it was almost 4pm before I finally spotted Hwy 80. The two roads came together at Society Hill, AL, a small community along the way. There were no stores on Red Road, and I was out of anything to eat. Luckily, there was a small general store in Society Hill, and it was open......unusual for a Sunday in the country.

I bought a few things, and decided to start looking for a place to camp. Down the road a ways from the store I spotted a house with a large field surrounding it. As I was walking up to ask about camping there, a car drove up, and a young woman got out and said she was the daughter of the owner, and would go get him. Her dad came out, introduced himself as Steve Torbert, and said it was ok to camp in the field beside the house. Steve owns a saw mill nearby, but suffered a stroke about a year ago, so hasn't been doing too much lately except rehabilitation. Steve also told me some history of the area.....there's a house nearby that was built in the 1830's, and survived being burned in the Civil War because it was used as headquarters for the Union army.

We talked a while longer and I headed to the field to put up the tent. Just as I was loading everything into the tent, a truck came across the field. It was Steve and his wife Sharon......"would you like something hot for dinner?", Sharon asked. Would I? A hot meal after a long day on the road, and a cold night? Chicken, turnips, corn fritter, and corn bread.....and a diet Dr Pepper. Well, I made quick work of that meal, and then got in the sleeping bag to get warm before working on the computer. The next time I looked at the time it was 230am.......the computer work will have to wait until tomorrow.

About the pictures:
Lawrence McRae, founder of Mcrae Prostate Awareness Foundation
Coming into Tuskegee

A Christmas song for you......

Day 111 - Almost To Tuskegee

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for a while last evening, and then back to the tent. Things had dried out some, so that was good. I had a good location....right at intersection of I-85, Hwy 80, and Chantilly Parkway. Restaurants, convenience stores, and motels all around. I slept well, but woke up around 5am to the sound of rain on the tent. Not too hard, but steady. It stopped around 6, so I packed up the tent and other gear quickly, and headed to BK for breakfast. Weather report in the local newspaper is predicting rain this morning, clearing in afternoon, and nice weather for the next 4-5 days (Montgomery forecast) with temps in 50-60's for highs, high 30's for lows. I'll take that, especially with what's going on farther north. Around 715 I put on the rain gear and headed down hwy 80.

It started raining again, and cool. Hwy 80 runs right beside I-85 for several miles, almost like a frontage road. Traffic was light, so walking was good even with the rain. A Montgomery Sheriff's deputy pulled alongside and asked if I was ok. I gave him my card, we talked a while, and he went on his way. Soon 80 and I-85 separated, but still close enough to hear the traffic. Most of the morning was cool and raining. I stopped for a rest after several hours, and sat down on the front porch of a church. The choir was inside rehearsing their Christmas program, so that was nice to hear. I changed into a dry pair of socks, and headed out again. I passed a marker for Lucas Tavern, a very historical place. The original location was in Montgomery County, but the building was later moved to the city.

Around noon or so, the weather started clearing, and the sun peeked through the clouds. It was getting warmer, a nice day. I came to a small community named Shorter, and a guy came out to the road to talk. He introduced himself as Kevin Blake Hyde, drummer (but currently out of work). Kevin has a small, empty house, and said I could stay there tonight if I wanted. It was still early, and the weather had improved, so I decided to keep walking. We talked a while longer, and then I headed on. Where I walked today is mostly countryside.....open fields, woods, and farms. I soon came upon a group of people who appeared to be having a "tailgate" party in their yard. So I walked over to introduce myself, and see what was going on.

The people were members of a riding (horses) club called "Ruff Rydaz" from Shorter. They ride in parades, do trail rides, and various events. The cookout today was a gathering for their club and another, local club. I enjoyed talking to them about their club and my walk. I walked on for a while and a car pulled off the road near me. A woman got out, and introduced herself as Evangelist Eveyln Weaver. She was on her way home from a Christmas function, had some extra food, and offered me some. I accepted her offer, and came away with some great chicken and rolls. Evelyn is a minister in a church in Opelika, AL.

Hwy 80 changes from 2 lane to 4 about 12 miles from Tuskegee, so the walking is better. It was getting late and I started looking for a camp site. Finally found one near the highway, in a field close to a business. The tent is still a little wet from last night's rain, but maybe will dry some tonight. I put a tarp inside to protect from the dampness, and soon had the gear and myself inside also. It's supposed to be colder tonight, but so far, not too bad.

About the pictures:

Evangelist Evelyn Weaver

Members of Ruff Rydaz from Shorter, AL

Kevin Blake Hyde

A Christmas song for you.......

Day 110 - East of Montgomery

Friday, December 17, 2010



Today was somewhat of a dysfunctional day, but first to finish last evening. I hung out in the airport terminal for a while charging some stuff, and then headed back to the camp site. Stopped and talked to some guys at the terminal, and they gave me directions to get through Montgomery, plus suggested I change the camp site to another place because it would be safer. As I headed to the new site, it started raining for a few minutes and then stopped. I had time to get the tent set up, gear and myself inside, before it started again......harder, and lasted a while. I had set the tent up in a hurry, so was a little careless and some of the floor soon was wet. But, some wasn't, so everything went in that part! I was near a 24hr Chevron that caters to trucks, so there was some noise throughout the night, but I still slept well. In additional to being a regional commercial airport, the Alabama Air National Guard is also stationed here, and there were F16s lined up along one side. My grandson Kevin would have enjoyed seeing that.

I was awake before 6 and trying to figure out what was cold and what was wet. Sometimes the two are hard to tell apart. Anyhow, got things packed, and headed out around 645. I hate packing the tent wet, but no choice. I stopped at the Chevron for a paper, and a guy approached me, and handed me some money for my trip. He introduced himself as Troy Patterson, a salesman for Little Debbie snacks. How about having the Little Debbie guy for your Dad? I told him about the trip, and he said he would check out the blog with his 2 daughters. I asked about a place to get breakfast, and was told there's a Subway up the road a mile or so, so I headed there.

It's still raining and cool, but not too cold, and traffic pretty heavy. I covered the gear, put on the rain suit, and headed out. I soon found Subway, and stopped there for breakfast. The rest of the morning was about the same, cool and raining off and on. I had a call from Don Lawing, owner of Lawing's Garage in Gastonia. They call occasionally and check on me.....but they are usually a state or two behind. Also had a call from Jim Peters, W. Monroe, LA. He is sending me a "care package", and finally found a place in Phenix City to send it. We talked a while, and then back to walking. I spotted a Wendy's, and thought "what's better on a cold, rainy, day, than a cup of Wendy's chili?" So I stopped there for some of that, and also an order of their new fries with sea salt. I didn't think they were salty enough, but try them yourself.

Maneuvering around a big city is not fun, especially with the cart. I seemed to walk forever, but still didn't cover much ground. Not like in the countryside, walking in a straight line. Traffic was heavy, and not a good place to be walking pushing a cart. I never saw the city, instead think I was south of it. I passed the Ida Mae Young park, and the Blount Cultural Center.......both beautiful places. I'm walking on Vaughn Rd , and so many beautiful homes along here. I'm also seeing lots of Spanish moss, and can't remember seeing any before AL. The day is starting to improve.......a little bit of sun showing through the clouds, and not so cold.

Around 3pm, I reached the intersection of hwy 80 and Chantilly Parkway. It's been a long day, my stuff is wet, so I decided to stop for the day and camp here. I put up the tent, loaded gear inside, and then walked across the street to a Holiday Inn Express to use their wi-fi. They said ok, and that's what I did for a couple of hours. Jerome called to see if I'd made it through Montgomery......yes, finally! Troy, the Little Debbie guy, called to check on me and asked if I wanted him to bring a meal (why not a box of Little Debbie's?) I've been eating all day, so decided to not accept his kind offer.

I'll get back going early tomorrow morning, and will be back out in the country on the way toward Tuskegee. Doubt I'll get there tomorrow, but should get close. Hope my tent is still there when I leave here.

About the pictures:
Troy Patterson, Little Debbie salesman and good Samaritan;
I can't figure out when I would need these services......when I have a simulated illness?;
First Greensboro, and now Gaston/Charlotte......I must be getting close.

Radio Interview

I will be doing another interview with Keith Larson on Tuesday, December 21, @ 10am EST. Keith broadcasts on WBT AM, 1110, in Charlotte, NC. We'll try to put the interview on the blog in case you can't listen on Tuesday.

Another Christmas song for you.....