Goodbye, Travis & Chika! It’s been great!!
Travis was able to join me for the first mile of my way out of town.

I know my type. Sort of. A man seeking work is making his way south. He seemed clean cut, so I have confidence he’ll find what he seeks…

The final sidewalk steps of Spartanburg

I’m so happy they stopped to say hello!
How could I not fall in love with a car like this..??

Rarely does the wild creature allow me close enough for a shot like this with a 55mm lens. I saw dozens of these critters throughout today’s miles.

…

Vestiges of America’s Textile Belt

…a look around…

This was a new strategy for me. On fast, open highways, I almost always seek some sort of shoulder space on which to walk. These miles of earthy shoulders were taking their toll on me, however, and when I reached a large hill, the shoulders evaporated completed. So, I decided on a new strategy: walk right down the center lane! I did so for at least a mile or so before the road flattened out enough that I felt fine with again walking the rough roadside shoulders.

Scars of America’s Textile Belt remain spread out across the Southern states…

Though it began as simply a conversation over finding a bathroom, a long and wealthy conversation ensued, and we’re now friends online too!!

Cowpens, en route to Gaffney

Mother & Daughter art gallery owners in Cowpens greet me with a warm hello…

Strolling across central Cowpens

Thanks for stopping by Cowpens!

Welcome to Gaffney!

I love it when passersby stop to say hello!

Thanks for all your help, Sean! (Sean is in the white hoodie)

~ This evening’s happy accommodation ~

Just a couple of days ago, about to leave Spartanburg, I had no idea if I’d be receiving any invitation in Gaffney, the next town up the road, or if I’d simply end up arriving to town and walking into the city police station. I’ve enjoyed a steady stream of hosting across South Carolina, through Spartanburg. The nearly 80 miles between Spartanburg and Charlotte, NC, are very rural, and not a single invitation awaited me through the entire stretch. Thanks to Sean Presley, today’s 20k ends with a very warm welcome to Gaffney. Sean, a sincere, shy 7th grader who heard me speak this past Friday at Spartanburg Day School, approached me after class and told me he might be able to arrange for hosting for me in Gaffney. I gave him my contact info, and asked him to take it home to his parents. Hours later, he called me and told me he thought he’d worked it all out. Well, the Presley family ended up going way above and beyond, putting me up at the local Jameson Inn for the night. They called the mayor and other local friends, and we all met at Gaffney’s beloved local Firehouse sandwich shop. Pictured here are the Presley and Tsiknias families, Mayor & Mrs. Jolly. (Sean Presley is wearing the white fleece jacket.) What a great community–and I have yet to even see Gaffney in the daylight!

I enjoyed spending a final day with Travis and Chika Burnham before proceeding on toward Gaffney

We all love farmers’ markets!!!

I spent all day speaking to middle school students here– I loved it!

One of them, Sean, a seventh-grader who lives in Gaffney, told me he may be able to assist me with finding hosting for Gaffney. Hmmm…

I decided on Friday to have EnjoyTheWalk’s web service transitioned to a new server/station. Continue to login to the site the same way, and ideally some fun improvements will reach the site soon. Also, I dream of no more site difficulty issues, which will allow for more consistent and improved updates and storytelling here .
Within the next 24 hours, hopefully sooner than later, I’ll blogs here updated.
Thanks for keeping up!

George

“So, what brings you to Reidville?” Wofford asks, as he escorts his kids up and down the neighborhood street for Halloween treats.
“Is that where I am?” Though I knew I was ten miles from the center of the City of Greer, the Tanager Court address of Matt & Julieta, tonight’s hosts, is labeled as Greer. Most of today’s 20k have been rural miles,  and I know that small, unincorporated communities often label themselves in one way or another–and it’s not uncommon for me to actually arrive to community XYZ before learning it even exists.
Wofford, his wife Angie, and their two young sons live just a couple houses down from Matt & Julieta– and though neither is brand new to this street, tomorrow is the first time they’ll be teaming up for dinner. They’re all very positive people, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know them all better!

Before leaving Bob's today, I got to feed Alex, his sweet African Gray. She whistles Disney tunes, the theme to the Simpsons, and more!

Thanks for hosting me for a trio of nights in your cozy home, Bob!

I can only imagine what it must have been like for the thousands of years leading up to this (??)

Howell Road

. . .

. . .

Only the human-powered traffic stops to chat. Speeding through the area, stops to say hello. Through answering his questions about the Walk, I noticed the "Paralympics" inscription on his bicycle jersey. I confess my ignorance to him, to which he very politely understands and explains to me that he has cerebral palsy. The Special Olympics are of course for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The Paralympics include those with with physical disabilities as well. As fit and strong as he is, I never would have guessed he'd be anything short of a normal Olympic competitor . That said, I did notice the effects of the cerebral palsy when he went to mount his bike again. Aaron's a sharp, strong-hearted man, and I'm VERY inspired by him!

. . .

. . .

Reidville Road. Many of the roads I must travel have absolutely no shoulder space-- and roadside grass definitely is not always cut. If it were just my two feet, that would be one thing. The fact that I must push well over a hundred pounds of gear from A to B creates an entirely new challenge of such stretches...

Nice to meet you, Matt & Julieta!!

Trick or Treat!

Wofford, Angie & Family come over for a warm Halloween Hello!

I was originally set to walk this 20k route today, but in light of current weather, at my current host Bob’s suggestion, I’ve held off for an additional day. We’re still affected here by Hurricane Sandy’s enormous outer bands–serious winds with the chance for showers and snow were predicted. The winds are definitely here, and should remain tomorrow–ready to blow me and my gear from one side of the road to the other.

In light of the delay, a shining opportunity arose: Eleacia invited me to a local meditation group she attends, at Greenville’s Universalist Unitarian Church. I really enjoyed meditating with the group, as meditation is the most divine food for the soul.
Bob & Eleacia also met this evening, and as both have little experience with Couchsurfing, I’m hoping to hear of greater involvement within the CS community from both of them.
I spent other daylight hours catching up on communications, filling in nearly a dozen Alabama blogs from time spent there, keeping track of the hurricane, and talking jazz with Bob, as he played a variety of his favorites throughout the afternoon and evening.
I’m ready to travel into tomorrow’s fierce winds!

Tonight's group meditation was sweet food for the soul!

Greenville CSers Eleacia & Bob meet in person!

Bob is relatively new to Couchsurfing. He’s hosted two surfers before me, and has for years been of the mindset that he’d like to meet locals on his travels, as opposed to Motel 6. As I was scheduled to spend a second night with him, he wanted to open up some free time to show me some of his local favorites, including the nearby mountain town of Saluda, and South Carolina’s only remaining covered bridge. What a fun day!

The last covered bridge in South Carolina

Interesting, energetic locals strike up a conversation with us.

Upon arriving to the charming mountain town of Saluda, the first thing Bob wants to show me is their hydrants. Love it!

"It's like stepping into Mayberry," Bob says. Welcome to Saluda.

Purple Onion Cafe-- Bob's favorite part of Saluda

On our way back, we're treated to a brilliant sky show!

!

Preparing for the day's departure, filmmaker Daniel McCord and assistant Shea team up for some final transcontinental walk-related questions before I return to the road.

Victor, Hy, Cris, Brett, Brian, Shea, Daniel & Eleacia begin today's walk out of Greenville with me.

See! Everyone has fun walking!

A mile into the day, it's Eleacia's turn to try on Daniel's "shoes"!

Brian, Daniel & Eleacia stayed with me for miles today-- walking me to the edge of Greenville. They're all such GREAT people-- it's been a tremendous privilege to get to know them all!!

Steve, Eleacia's fiance, checks my tires and fills them before taking everyone (except me) back home. Steve gave me his handy bicycle pump. Such nice people... Interestingly, I learned that Steve & I share the same birthday.

Though today's 14k walk out of Greenville began sunny and warm--tank top & shorts weather--eventually the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy caught up, bringing cold wind and rain, just before I reached the halfway point. Though winds are predicted to reach 25mph here, and we may receive rain and/or snow through Tuesday, South Carolina will largely be spared by Sandy, and my prayers are with those states north of me who are about to feel the full force of the superstorm...

.

Arriving to Deverence Place, today's "host neighborhood."

After a week on the floor, a brief bed stay will feel nice. I know better than to get too used to such comforts though, as the road is always unpredictable, and I always have to be ready at anytime to be relegated to some outdoor concrete slab. I always appreciate whatever I'm kindly offered, which is the healthiest attitude someone in my position can have. That said, occasional added comforts are to be enjoyed while they last...

Upon welcoming me in, I hear the bossa nova jazz of Bob, my host, playing beautifully in the background. I fell in love with Bossa Nova in 1994, upon landing in Brazil as a foreign exchange student. Paulo, my Brazilian host father, also used to always play his bossa nova from tape reels-. Tonight is the first time since living with Paulo that I've seen music played on reels--and I'm thrilled that it's bossa nova! Already, Bob & I are hitting it off well and have plenty to talk about .