As I drift across a series of great homestay invitations within Athens, last night I reached the beyond-the-perimeter home of Antoine, who's completing his PhD in Adult Education at the University of Georgia. Antoine just adopted a stray kitten this week, and Lara, his neighbor and close friend, is in love with kitty!

To my surprise, though none of his degrees are in music, I quickly found Antoine to be very well known within the University of Georgia's music dept. Degree or not, he's very talented and very involved with the dept.

As I followed along to Antoine's music school errands, I asked him if he would allow me to listen to the Steinway concert grand being played. Wow! Loved it!!

U-kitty-lele! (at Antoine's house)

I'm inspired, and I'm ready!! I've wanted to learn to play an instrument for most of my life, yet have never really followed up. I've been told great things about the ukelele, including that it's an easy instrument to learn to play, and easy to travel with!! Antoine showed me a couple of how-to starters for the Ukelele (including this one). I played around for quite a while to learn the keys-- and I still have a LONG way to go-- but I'm inspired, and ready to find my first ukelele!!

Athens, Georgia -- Downtown

Athens, Georgia -- Downtown

UGA, with a student body of nearly 40,000, defines Athens. I've enjoyed spending hours wandering within their massive campus...

If I'm to stop anywhere to complete hours of work on the laptop, could I ever find a place with a more fitting name?!? =D !

"Your iced drink is on us today!" --THANKS, ERIC & CREW!!!

Despite being featuring a most marvelous atmosphere within, I chose Walker's Pub & Coffee's outdoor perimeter seating for today's digital work!

The only one of its kind known of, Athens created the double-barrel cannon during the Civil War. It was designed to have twin cannon balls with an attached chain fire simultaneously, to cut across and mow down any advance Union troops "like a scythe to wheat". The idea was a complete failure; they could never perfect the simultaneous firing of the cannon balls...

Photographer Richard Hamm, of the onlineathens.com, sets up for today's Prince Avenue photo shoot.

"I take thousands of pictures of everything and everyone else," photographer Richard Hamm explains to me, as I ask if I can snap a pic of him "...and my picture is (almost) never taken."

Despite having literally abandoned both brands years ago, metaphorically, I LOVE the philosophy!

~ Allie Jackson, Athens Banner-Herald ~

Exhibit A: the "MegaCouch." Before even seeing it/them, I was told that this was where I'd be sleeping-- within the rotated union of two sizy sofas-- neither of which would fit me from head-to-toe, but whose combined ability not only gave me space to sleep, but totally sucked me into its vortex of comfort!

Among my many hosts at Mark LaMountain's Athens Fun House, Sean & Britney are present to see me off this afternoon, as I prepare to make it a couple of miles deeper into the

Kate & Jake, my end-of-the-day hosts, who both attend the massive local University of Georgia. Both have blossomed into the healthy food movement, and work to deliver healthier meals to campuses throughout the SE USA. Very inspiring! (I'll be spending two nights on their living room sofa

Larry, our awesome weekend host in Oconee County, draws us a map of the safest route between his home and our next destination, in Athens, just a wink shy of a ten-mile day.

I must have gotten the "safer route" advice wrong, for Rocio & I ended up on a dead end road. The family in the house at the end of the road spotted us and asked how they may be able to help us. A friendly conversation ensued, and lasted for probably a half hour. John (pictured), an Air Force retiree and current Athens bicycle cop, loved the Walk project, and had great advice for us regarding our trip into Athens. David, his son, supplied us with some refreshing vitamin drinks for the road. This was by no means a "wrong turn" --it made going a mile out of our way quite worth it!

Rocio volunteered many times to push the Chariot-- what an awesome travel companion!!

Rocio & I arrive to the outer edge of Athens

Shortly after arriving, host Mark LaMountain & Rocio quickly strike up a conversation ~

Happily & safely at "home" in the fun & active brick house of CS host Mark LaMountain!

"OK, no more cam in my face today!" LOL! As I had no more than a low-tech cell phone cam for the first 2,250 miles, I took very few pics along the way. This was totally by design. That said, especially through recent miles, I've been snapping dozens of pics per walking day, carving out my favorite few for any blog

LANDMARK: THE TREE THAT OWNS ITSELF! "FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE GREAT LOVE I BEAR THIS TREE, AND THE GREAT DESIRE I HAVE FOR ITS PROTECTION FOR ALL TIME, I CONVEY ENTIRE POSSESSION OF ITSELF AND ALL LAND WITHIN EIGHT FEET OF THE TREE ON ALL SIDES" --WILLIAM H. JACKON, 1832 Wikipedia Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_That_Owns_Itself

Host Larry drops Rocio & me off at the exact driveway where we left off the evening before, on Snows Mill Road. We had just over 10k to walk for the day.

Not far from Athens, home of the University of Georgia (and many awesome musicians), Rocio & I began walking through their ag work within our first hour on the road.

Our first break of the day takes place atop a large, granite bench, under some shade trees, in a rural roadside cemetery.

Meditating atop shaded granite slabs, I emerge first to snap this premiere, introspective pic of Rocio

Walking Oconee County's Old Rocky Branch Road. I'm thrilled to be accumulating such beautiful miles on this fourth birthday since the beginning of the Walk ~

Toward the end of the day, we stop to check the map and ensure we're on track, when Rocio suddenly feels her foot catching fire. Poor thing-- she stepped on a medium-size fire ant mound, and they immediately attacked her. I've done the same thing over a dozen times, since first feeling them in central Texas. Whenever I feel a fire ant attack, I immediately find "safe" ground, take me sandal(s) off, and brush them off-- all within about half a second. As this was Rocio's first fury-of-fire-ants experience, I immediately ordered her shoes off, neutral grass, and we went sweeping them away as fast as possible. Fire ants are far smaller than a typical mosquito, but their sting is about as strong as a typical bumble-bee!

By the time we arrived to Larry's on foot, he already had the fire started. Friends and family members of his would soon show up for a fun backyard barbecue

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, George-- from Larry, family and friends!!!

After I blew out the birthday candle (36 candles short of my reality, lol), it was time to re-light the candle so that 2-year-old Liam could blow it out as well. We all laughed as he tried and tried, but laughingly produced at least as much spittle as wind. Larry finally helped him, and it was birthday cake time!!

Rocio, who hosted me in Atlanta, showed up this morning to join me for this weekend's miles from Monroe to Athens. What a wonderful gift!

After treating me to a delicious Italian dinner the night before, Rick & Crista, who had provided me with 2 free nights at their outstandingly unique Wayfarer Hotel, invited me to tour their local biodiesel plant before leaving town. Cool Place!

Rocio is tough, and even amid a still-burning sun on the last day of summer, she hadn't the slightest peep of complaint amid sweaty miles atop the tars of the pavement. I, however, was on "blister patrol," --for all newbies, no matter how tough, WILL develop blisters.

A native of Peru who has lived in four countries, Rocio loves rural America, and we had to make a special stop for a picture aside a field full of hay rolls

Ms. Cheryl B, owner of a large organic farm ten miles down Snows Mill Road (today's) route, invited us in to freshen up, refill water, and take a small bounty of fresh-picked veggies and fruits with us. Before we departed, she gave us a grand tour of the former "village" of the property, which has remained in the family for over 150 years...

Delicious, fresh-picked fruit for our final miles into Oconee County. Thank You, Ms. Cheryl B!

After Danny, Manager at the Publix grocery store, agreed to hold my stuff overnight, I disappeared for the evening with Zeke (right), who had invited me to spend the night with his family last night. They live several miles off my route, so I simply came back and forth to my cart. This morning, Zeke dropped me off, Danny was working the morning shift, and I thoroughly thanked them both before returning to GA Hwy 78, just outside Publix' front door.

Halfway through the day, Walton Tribune reporter Rachael Ward found me for the story. I began the day in Gwinnett County, and I didn't even noticed that I'd crossed a county line, but apparently someone noticed. The Walton Tribune was given a call by a motorist who reported seeing "a guy walking on Hwy 78, with 'WALKING ACROSS AMERICA'" signs. Rachael and I enjoyed nearly an hour's worth of conversation before snapping some pics and exchange happy goodbyes. Rachael is also a musician, and I look forward to finding some of her music, online.

Between Loganville and Monroe, we find the small town by the name of.... BETWEEN! (I looked around for a large rock and a hard place near the sign, but found none...)

Rowe Road

Rural Rowe Road Patriotism

As I neared the end of Rowe Road, three more miles awaited me till Monroe. Ellen (middle) spotted me as she was driving by, inquired about the story, invited me to stay at her family's guest house, and insisted that she at least carry my belongings forward for me, to the Wayfarer Hotel, in downtown Monroe, where I'd been invited by the owners to spend the evening. Judy (left) and Mary (right), her sister, invited me to dinner as well, at the end of the day's miles. Nice people!!

Thank You for dinner, Mary & Judy!!

At the end of the evening, it was time to retire to my room, in the Wayfarer Hotel, up the stairs... To be continued...

"You're from Vancouver?!? I'm from Longview!" Steve tells me, after he simply pulled off to the side of the road after seeing the signs-- spontaneously ready to record the story for CBS Atlanta.

After finishing the day's walk into Loganville, I was picking out dinner at Publix as I waited for Zeke, who was going to host me for the night. Zeke lives a few miles off my route, and had agreed to drive me back & forth to my stopping point (this grocery store). He was simply driving a sedan, which meant that it would take a while to disassemble everything to get it into his car, and then reassemble everything once again in the morning. Luckily, Daniel, the friendly manager of the Publix grocery store, volunteered to keep the Chariot overnight at the store, so I can easily return and resume the Walk from Publix in the morning . Thanks Daniel! Thanks Zeke!

As I hadn't yet eaten dinner, Zeke told me of a favorite local Taco restaurant he likes going to, which was sounding very good to me too. Taco Depot ended up being one of the most delicious Mexican food places I've ever eaten at in the United States of America!!