My plan for today was to leave Athens in the early afternoon, since yesterday’s storms were accurately predicted to last through this morning.
Danielsville is 16 miles from Athens, and from Antoine’s home, just a hair north of the perimeter loop highway, I was a bit closer than 16.
By the time I made my afternoon start, I already knew that despite walking most of my miles in the daylight, I would not arrive before dark.

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!!

I’m excited to see what surprises tomorrow has in store! 

How quickly I find myself settled into stability again.

And here I am, as the rains subside, about to give it up later this morning for the uncertainty of the open road.

I’m nearly 4,000 miles into this, and I have to admit that I still encounter nervous pangs when it comes to trading off in-town stability for the unknowns of the open-road.

I’m going to bed late and will be up in a few hours.

Once I start packing my stuff again, any nervous jitters will quickly begin to fade. The most debilitating part is almost always the thought of the hardships I may face. The thoughts of walking hundreds of miles through thick forests, open deserts, plains and wetlands was far more intimidating than actually moving 100% forward into each of the challenges. Once I start moving forward, despite any and many difficulties, no matter how intense, I always find my way through. This attitude brought me all the way here today, and I’ll step right back into this “thought suit” as I return to the road.

Walking across America is about 99% mental. While it’s true that one needs working limbs to embark on a transcontinental pilgrimage, it’s the focus and devotion of the mind that carries one forward.

Nervous jitters basically just signpost to me that I’m slightly out of rhythm. Simply writing about this helps to pull me back to the more strongly centered state of mind necessary to carry me forward.  I feel strength and optimism now returning as I prepare to get back out there on the open road, for a challenging week’s miles through the rest of the state of Georgia. I’m excited. Can’t wait. Here we come!!

“20 miles per day, rain or shine.”
This was my intention before I began the Walk. While the intention itself is doable,  practical, on-the-road experience has led me to modify so many of those original, pre-walk intentions. Not only did my Golden Gate decision to peel away the 20-mile per day ideal end up being by far the best decision I made since beginning the Walk itself, allowing me to truly experience and enjoy the pilgrimage, I’ve also fine-tuned the Walk in a variety of other ways across the miles.

One of these “fine-tunings” involves walking in the rain.

Born and raised in America’s Pacific Northwest, where it rains for over half the year, I’m certainly no stranger to showers from the sky. I’m definitely not a rain hater either. When it comes to walking long miles in the rain, however, on-the-road experience has taught me that rainy days can present multiple complications, including:

1) Walking in the rain can be dangerous.

Drivers don’t see as well on rainy days as they do in dry weather. Most especially on rural roads where pedestrians or bicyclists are rarely (if ever) to be found– often amid hills, curves, and narrow roads– unexpected pedestrians on high-speed rural roads can be hazardous for both the walker and the driver. The pavement of course becomes slippery when wet, and after several days without rain, roads become more slippery after that first shower. Unfortunately, even in bright, sunny weather, so many of America’s connecting highways are often dangerous to walk. Therefore, wet, hazy, slippery weather make the roadside risk far less attractive.

2) Maneuvering in the rain is more difficult.

Especially given that I’m traveling with a lot of stuff now, in addition to the heavy showers that often typify precipitation in America’s Deep South, getting through countless puddles, mud, and other obstacles that rain presents makes such days less desirable. Also, I have to tie sheets of plastic down over my belongings, to waterproof them. This generally means that I don’t get to take much of (if any) photos or videos; I don’t have quick & easy access to my food, etc. None of these are “show stoppers”; however, they all are “show slowers.”

3) After a few miles in the cool rain, my glasses fog over!

I didn’t notice this till I began the pilgrimage, and given how near-sighted I am, I don’t like the idea of trying to walk without glasses.

Beyond what I’ve stated above, I should add that since I check the weather forecast daily, it makes no sense to walk on the one or two days of rain when the longer-term forecast looks much more shiny and promising. If it’s going to be raining for the next ten days, and I’d planned to walk 100 miles within those ten days (just as I’d like to reach Greenville by Oct. 10th), then the rain may slow me, but barring major storms, it won’t stop me. However, this week’s forecast for the hundred miles between Athens and Greenville calls for mostly moderate, rain-free weather. So, as the week begins with rain, I’ll remain in Athens till the rains subside (another 24-48 hours), and be ready to hit the road to Danielsville once the skies start drying up.

Especially amid warm invitations– my current scenario in Athens– extra “down time” can always be used to spend more time with hosts and their community, to catch up on communications and web-related work, and so much more.

Despite having hoped to progress east of Athens today, I may not accumulate many (or any) miles for the day– but as there are so many options for other useful ways to spend the day, I’ll definitely still make it to bed tonight with a smile of satisfaction on my face.