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!!