I awoke this morning to the aroma of campfire at the lakeside cabin of Bob & Barbara-- the couple who treated me to great dental work at their clinic in Athens.

No lakeside cabin visit is complete without a visit to the lake itself, right..? Arriving after dark last night kept me from making the most of the opportunity till this morning

Less than an hour into today's walk, in which I was joined by Beverly Barnett and her son Brad, we arrived to downtown Hartwell, a setting of the novel "The Color Purple."

Cris, a local shopowner, warmly greeted me upon arriving to Hartwell's town square. Cris spent days fashioning the scarecrows in her storefront. Scores of well-decorated scarecrows of all types are to be found all over Hartwell this month. I've never in my life seen anything like it, and absolutely love it! This pair was host Barbara's favorite!

Look closely-- can you read this scarecrow's "words of wisdom"..?? =P

Host Bob Fogg displays what came straight to him in the street, in the wind, as he was awaiting our delegation of walkers to arrive. KARMA!!

Renee (center) not only treated ALL walkers to a free buffet lunch at her New York Pizza restaurant, she also arranged a place for me to stay for the night. Thanks so much, Renee!! Autumn (right), has ensured that my stuff will be carried several miles forward for me tomorrow. (WOW!!)

Brad Barnett joined me for the remainder of my Georgia miles today. Morgan, his girlfriend, joined us for nearly a mile as well, despite recently having come off foot surgery. Cool peeps!!

At the lake and dam which separates Georgia and South Carolina, five of us walked the final 1.5 miles together. Daniel (white shirt) just met us all there and joined us for the final stretch-- great guy!!

Could there be a more beautiful way to conclude Georgia on foot??

After a mile of walking atop the earthen dam, we had to take a side path down to the main Hwy 29, our only way across the river to South Carolina.

Back on Hwy 29. South Carolina, here we come!

Making it past the "Welcome to Georgia" sign, we approach the fast, narrow bridge across the Savannah River.

From above the drought-stricken Savannah River, our late afternoon view of the dam ~

Almost there!!

Ms. Beverly, Road Angel #1 (BY FAR) of this past week of Georgia, joins me for the welcome-to-South-Carolina pic. Beverly has in fact been one of the very brightest of all road angels across the 4,000 miles!!

In front of the local United Methodist Church

Her sign reads: "We believe if you wear enough pretty lipstick, sparkly jewelry, and great shoes, no one will notice the size of your butt!"

Behind the window of the local pharmacy, the scarecrow counts out a prescription for candy corn!

Local merchant Cris shows off her lovely Lucy display. Thanks for your help, Cris!!

"Y-M-C-A!!!!"

Fun Stuff!!

Tim & Mike bid me farewell from their home in Royston. Mike joined me for the first five miles of the day. "I haven't walked a mile in twenty years," Mike told me, "tomorrow's my birthday, and this is a good first step into taking a nice walk every day."

A handful of miles into the day, and we reach Goldmine, home to the first pumpkin patch I've seen outside of my native Pacific Northwest!

Five miles into it, and Mike's completed the first of many more walks he'll be taking this year. Mike hasn't gone on a mile-long walk in 20 years-- and today he walked five. I sense something very awesome beginning here...!!

Forward to Hartwell

Ah-Yeh-Li A-Lo-Hee, the Cherokee "Center of the World." I had no idea this existed, and though I was on a tight schedule, I immediately had to put all else on hold to stop at this VERY special place, meditate, pay my respect and gratitude before returning to the road...

Buck & Beverly Barnett were awaiting me in Hartwell, where their great friends, Bob & Barbara (who hosted me to the excellent, comprehensive dental treatment this past Wednesday) own a lakeside cabin. All are at the cabin this weekend, and have invited me to join them! (Yay!) Beverly has a warm friendship with Tim & Mike; it was Beverly who called them and asked them if they'd like to host me. She hasn't seen either in a while, so I enjoyed witnessing a warm reunion among them all upon arriving to Hartwell tonight!

Saying goodbye to Tim & Mike. Awesome Guys!!

Arriving to the lakeside cabin, in Hartwell, Georgia

Buck helps to prepare a late evening cabin meal

Bob Fogg talks college football with me. Bob & Buck are fans, and I have plenty to learn from them both!

Barbara & Beverly, Road Angels

Early in the day, I spoke to "fundreds"--a very fun group of hundreds of kids at Fowler Elementary School in Athens. Athens was already some 20 miles behind me, so I readily accepted a ride to return me to Athens, and ultimately back to Shiloh, where I'd left off yesterday. I remembered the good camera for today's meeting with the kids, but didn't find out till the last second that I'd forgotten it's memory card. Oh well, the cell phone snapped this pic (fifth in a series of pics) of a single class which had attended the assembly. Fun people! Fun Stuff!

Returning to the exact spot in which I'd left off yesterday, in the driveway of Tony & Audrey, I'm greeted again today by Audrey, and her daughter Amber as well. I say goodbye to Buck, a wonderful man whom I'd only begun to get to know. He and his wife have been SO helpful to me!! They're slated to meet me this weekend in Hartwell and at the nearby lake and dam, which I very much look forward to!

Walking up and down the hills to Royston today, I'm SO thankful that Buck transported my belongings forward for me! It's challenging enough just walking for miles along an unpredictable dirt and grass roadside shoulders-- doing so with the Chariot makes things much slower and more difficult. Thank You Again, Road Angel Buck!

Over the occasional bridge, it becomes necessary to stop, gaze and breathe ~

Walking through rural America typically means that one needs to always be sure to bring enough water. It also means that one must become flexible and creative when seeking spontaneous bathroom opportunities. Golden Arches ahead amid long, rural miles often spell relief. (Though I haven't kept up on them lately,) Unless I'm convinced that at least one of their menu offerings might actually be more healthy than not, I'll continue to neither buy nor eat anything from them. I will, however, always help myself to their McBathrooms and McWater. (I've paid my dues!)

Reaching today's final miles, the sidewalks emerged!

There seem to be never-ending surprises wherever one may roam ~

Despite appearing to be a restaurant of the lowest grade of food, I LOVE their sign!

By the end of the day, I reached Mike & Tim's, in central Royston.

Mike insists I take his bed while he sleeps on the sofa. He would not allow me to swap with him. Wow-- I feel like I'm in a classy Bed & Breakfast!!

Tim and Mike. Mike prepared a FANTASTIC vegetarian bean stew, with delicious home-made cornbread. We all enjoyed hours of good conversations! Awesome Guys!

Today's miles quickly ushered me out of little Ila and into the beautiful rural countryside surrounding Georgia Hwy 174.

Nearly halfway into today's miles, a door opens and a voice calls out to me: "Would you like some water?"

"Welcome to Shiloh! S-H-I-L-O-H: Shiloh!"

After first barking at me, this shy-for-five-seconds youngster gave me a very warm, wet, energetic welcome outside the local evangelical church-- running laps around me! I stopped, petted, and played with him for a few minutes before moving on. Though keeping his eyes on me, his new playmate, as I walked away, Thank God he didn't try to follow me!

Peaceful, rural Georgia Highway 174

Rusty Roadside Relics

By the end of the day, I'd reached Georgia Hwy 29, a much busier highway. Though the quietest roads are make for my favorite walks, a common benefit of busier highways is more roadside shoulder space to walk on. Case in point: freshly-mowed green grass. Ahead on the right, the sweet couple Tony & Audrey are about to walk out their front driveway to introduce themselves to me. (!!)

Tony had driven by me a few minutes earlier, read my sign, and informed Audrey, his wife, upon arriving home, just up the road from me. By the time I reached their Shiloh home, they'd both come out to the front of their driveway to greet me and offer me water. As it turned out, the Brilliant Barnett Boomerang caught up to me here, while speaking with Tony & Audrey. I therefore will be continuing from their driveway tomorrow. Thanks, Everyone!!

I awoke this morning to a tasty, home-cooked Georgia vegetarian biscuits-n-gravy breakfast, courtesy of hosts Buck & Beverly Barnett

Host Beverly Barnett, long-term volunteer work veteran, and participant in many charitable walks, joins me for five miles today into Ila.

On our way into Ila, walking up Hwy 106, Beverly points out to me what was formerly a slave church-- the first time I've knowingly seen such a site.

Nearby Nicholson Elementary School invites me in this afternoon to speak to a cafeteria full of kids about healthy living-- Fun! Fun! Fun!

Great Gratitude to Today's Tooth Fairies!!

An absolutely delicious Thai food dinner!! ...and for the cherry on top, Beverly handed me her gift card to the local organic frozen yogurt shop--convincing me that it would go unused otherwise. I'm almost feeling TOO blessed!!

After a productive A.M. indoors, and a rainy morning outdoors, I returned to the road in the early afternoon, bidding farewell to Antoine, a wonderfully blossoming leadership figure who hosted me for five nights... I love this guy!

On the northern edge of Athens, I unexpectedly walked past a fire station. I figured it would be worth taking the time to stop in and meet the crew, and solicit their good advice. They first told me to reroute my path through Ila instead of Danielsville, which would only make a mile's worth of difference by the time I reached the South Carolina border. They guaranteed me that Hwy 106, to Ila, is MUCH safer than Hwy 29, to Danielsville. They then gave a phone call to the volunteer fire station in Ila, and I was told that I'd probably have at least floor space in the volunteer fire station for the night. (!!)

At the split, I followed the firemen's great advice to Ila.

Thank You, Ms. Beverly Barnett, for spontaneously stopping alongside Ila highway 106 to say hello late this afternoon. Beverly asked me if there was anything she could do for me. GEORGE: "Do you know of any safe place in Ila where I can spend tonight?" BEVERLY: "You can stay with my husband & me, we live in Ila..." Road Angels!!

Walking the narrow roadside grew much easier once Beverly carried my stuff forward for me! Though I'm definitely devoted to walking 100% of the miles, I'm absolutely NOT devoted to always having to carry and/or push all my stuff!

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of Beverly and (her husband) Buck's friends. After they treated me to delicious Mexican Food, we stopped off to meet more of their friends: Barbara, Ben & Bob. What nice people!!

After embarking on the day's miles, being ready and willing for tonight to be my first night outdoors, on a cement slab (if need be), this is the very comfortable bedroom I'm treated to tonight at Buck & Beverly's beautiful home. ROAD ANGELS!!

After parking on the south end of the miles long University of Georgia campus, four hours before the game was set to begin, we walked up through miles of campus to the stadium. Tailgaters were already spread out all over the place. We continued to see their patriotic vehicles and tents all over campus. I've never seen anything like it!

Even the leashes and balls of tailgating pooches are team colors!!

Rocio & host Antoine giving the thumbs-up from just outside the stadium!

There are but a few dots of light orange, team color of rival Tennessee, in a sea of UGA Bulldog red! Interestingly, the entire population of Athens would almost fit into the 92,000-seat Sanford Stadium. Add thousands of tailgaters and bar-hoppers around campus. The city swells tremendously on game days, from current students, Georgia locals, alums, and other fans.