After some 13 sunny and breezy miles down highway 90, I reached the Alabama border at a few minutes before 6 P.M. Just as I was crossing the road, approaching the WELCOME TO ALABAMA sign, some cyclists appeared from around the curve. Fred & Linda, a baby boomer couple from Seattle, are currently riding a tandem bike from San Diego to St. Augustine, FL. We stopped and chatted for a few merry minutes, took pics, and then returned to the road, as they had fifteen more miles to ride before dark, and I still had a handful of miles to walk– in addition to finding a safe place to rest my head for the night.
The closer I made it to today’s final destination of Grand Bay (a town whose name I keep saying wrong), the friendlier the passing motorists seem to become– many honking and waving. No invitations for hosting, however. So I proceeded into town, where I knew that a handful of churches were to be found. I had less than an hour before dark, and there was no time to rest. I was calm and my heart was in the right place, yet the survival-mode part of me kept me very focused on finding hosting as soon as possible. After passing a unfamiliarly-named church with a minivan out front, I saw at least half a dozen cars in the nearby First United Methodist Church parking lot, where a young man was shooting hoops in the parking lot. I headed right in. I actually wanted to stop and shoot hoops with him (I love basketball!), but my focus was unshaken, and I quickly explained to him what I was doing and what I was seeking.
“The pastor and a delegation just began a really important, closed-door meeting. They’ve locked the doors,” he told me, “they could easily be in there for an hour or more.”
Had I been hearing this at 2 PM, I would’ve simply waited around, but since the sun was setting, I persisted: “Do you think they’d mind if I knocked on the door and asked them for a safe place to camp or sleep on the floor?”
The young man seemed quite reluctant about the idea, but not willing to make any such decision on his own. “I don’t know– I suppose you could always try it.”
It would be dark before long, and this could be my best prospect, so I was willing to give it a shot. Worst case scenario, I’m told “no.”
The young man pointed me to a white door, on the other side of which everyone was meeting. I approached the door and put my ear up to it. I heard serious conversation, but then I heard some good laughter. Well trained by now, I acted immediately: Knock! Knock! Knock!
The polite gentleman who answered the door led me to Reverend John Baxter, seated with about ten others at an important church committee meeting. I explained the Walk and my overnight request to them. They listened sincerely, and asked me to please step outside so they could quickly discuss it.
Reverend Baxter emerged within about three minutes, told me they were all satisfied with me and my request, and showed me where I could camp. He also left open a section of the church for restroom and kitchen access. “Everything is very safe around here,” he assured me.
Thanking the reverend and breathing relief with the accomplishment, I moved on to the local grocery store, grabbed an affordable dinner, and met several more sweet locals before returning here to the FUMC for the night.
Another day of nearly 17 miles walked. I’m about 22 miles out from Mobile, and despite walking above-average mileage counts the last couple of days, I’m confident I’ll still have enough good energy to make it into Mobile by tomorrow evening. Then it’ll be time to spend a few days in Mobile, get to know the city and its people, and take care of more personal biz in the process.
So far, so good in Sweet Home Alabama– and I’m ready for more!

Across my remaining miles of Mississippi, I enjoy seeing nature carve its way up through the asphalt, showing its resplendent colors off to the world!

At the Alabama border, I met a baby boomer couple riding across America on a tandem bike. Like me, they're from Washington State. However, they started their bicycle trip in California. Nice people-- we exchanged pic favors before bidding one another farewell. Pictured here, I'm about to step into Alabama for the first time. How Exciting!! Of course, I still don't yet know where I'll be resting my head this night...

The First United Methodist Church in Grand Bay gave me permission to sleep anywhere outside. I chose the playground fort, just above the slide, where I just barely was able to squeeze in diagonally.