I’m so glad I was kicked off Interstate 65 two days ago. Had I been able to continue walking I-65, I would have saved over three miles for the day. Walking across America, as soon as I figure out which points on the map I wish to walk through, despite how circuitous some of these points may make the overall transAmerica route, once I do plan the points, I typically always seek the shortest/fastest way to walk from Point A to Point B, to C, etc. The efficiency-conscious part of me speaks loudly when planning any given day’s miles, and I typically make serious efforts to not have to go any further outside my planned miles than I have to. (Like the restaurant cook who works the 12-hour shift, then arrives home with little or no motivation to start cooking again at home.)
The shortest way possible on Wednesday would have made for 16.9 miles, with over 80% of them being on the shoulder of the roaring I-65. Once booted off I-65 by Alabama State Patrol, suddenly the 16.9-mile day turned into a 20+ mile day. The daily status of my body was OK, and I knew I could make it, but at the time, I still would have rather opted for the shorter route. Only later did the beauty of the banished-from-the-freeway reality take hold. Walking ultra-rural Hank Williams Memorial Drive, passing through historic railroad communities such as Garland; feeling the carefree, car-free stillness and birdsongs; breathing the sweet sweat of surrounding flora; enjoying the sun-shading “hug” of large, shoulder-close trees, I found those final fourteen fabulous forest miles to thoroughly cleanse and refresh my soul & spirit. And I was better off sleeping outdoors that Wednesday night as well.
Though I still seek to avoid too many steps out of the way between Point A and Point B, I now find myself seeking out the more rural roads. (Though I’m sure to experience plenty more of it,) I’ve had my fill of the busy highway car-cophony for now. And I’m ready to at least add some extra steps to achieve a greater nature experience. Today, I’ve been invited to spend the night at the local Sherling Lake Campground. Not only does this shorten my miles and provide me with some rest for today, I’m also betting that tonight’s delightful dose of nature will further energize my spirit once again!

http://www.sherlinglake.com

Just a few miles shy of Greenville this afternoon, telling me that someone who’d seen me walking Highway 31 gave him a call, Andy Brown, of the Greenville Advocate, stopped to take the Walk story. We chatted for a good 20-30 minutes, and asI had no host lined up in Greenville, he called the local police chief for me to explain my story + “plight” of the night. The chief instructed me to go to the police station upon arriving to Greenville, and they’d be able to direct me from there. As I’m deliberately easy to spot, they recognized me on my way into town, and told me that via a local ministerial alliance, they’d organized a room for me at the local Jameson Inn. Wow– truly above and beyond the call of duty there! GPD Sgt. Miller arrived shortly after I did to fill out the necessary paperwork. After what ended up being a 19-mile day, and about 40 miles since yesterday, that first shower was too refreshing to attempt words. My body is likely to be calling for some rest tomorrow. But, I’m only granted one night here at the Jameson. So, we’ll see what happens…

Mood: Abundant Gratitude

I spent the night outdoors, on Georgiana’s center concert stage. Though I stayed up till midnight, resting on a rocking chair while charging my phone on the porch of the adjacent Hank Williams Museum, I’d still hoped to awaken & depart around 6 AM. My body, however, was telling me otherwise: more rest!
Yesterday’s miles have taken a toll on me, and I’d really prefer to simply rest & recharge today–even if I’m still somewhat sticky after sweating through sunscreen all day yesterday. I didn’t finally arise till 9 AM, when the lawnmowing contractor showed up to service the grounds, parking in front of me. I said hello to him, and received a “who’s-this-weirdo-bum” look in response. (It probably would have helped to have had my signs out and aimed at him.)
After some restorative yoga & meditation for the next hour, I repacked my belongings and prepared a green superfood+protein+chia shake, materially ready to return to the road. Making my way outta town, a locally-owned, “Unhealthy Foods R Us” style restaurant with a blown out front sign invited me in for a free meal. (Yay!) While it’s typically true that a plethora of additional pounds are to be found on nearly all patrons and staff of such joints, a much louder-to-me and happier truth appeared with their extremely sweet, love-thy-neighbor attitudes. I explained my advocacy simply to them: “more walking; more water.”
It’s almost 11 AM here, and 17 WARM miles await me to reach Greenville, where I’ll once again arrive unexpectedly to townspeople, and seek to make the best of possible scenarios…

To save a 20-mile day from escalating into a 30+ mile day, I decided to risk walking the interstate once again, for the first time since a tiny trio of miles in Louisiana. Well, Alabama State Patrol stopped me as soon as I reached the bottom of the ramp. The trooper told me I couldn’t walk I-65, but as I pled my case to him, asking only to “rush” up to the next exit, Grace Garland, six miles up, he told me he couldn’t “see” me doing so (sly smile), so I couldn’t walk that way as he was driving off. He was giving me “unofficial” permission. So, after charging across those next six miles, I got off at the GG exit and zigzagged my way to Georgiana. So as to arrive before dark, I didn’t sit down for a single break the entire 20 miles. I arrived and went straight to the Georgiana police station. The captain on duty pointed me to the Hank Williams park/museum complex, which is where I’m spending tonight. I’ve parked myself on the covered grandstand concert stage, the very place where musicians perform to thousands during festivals. I’ve been here a couple of hours now– it’s very safe and solitary (I could even change my underwear on center stage). It’s a nice night out. I’m confident I’ll score some quality rest before continuing 17 more miles to Greenville in the morning.