Thursday, September 29

What a difference a day makes. This morning the weather was perfect and the traffic was light. John and I started at the MS/ALstate line about 7 am. No gas stations, no towns and just a few houses.

But we did discover something that has been missing since Texas, mile markers. You wouldn't think something as simple as a mile marker would be so important, but they are. Odometer reading are subject to human error. If you forget to set the trip odometer, then you are just guessing as to the mileage. But mile marker are infallible. At least we are going to pretend they are infallible.

After several miles, a car pulled over to our side of the road. We thought, "Not another interview". It was not a reporter, but Kathy Arinder, executive director of the Columbus Habitat affiliate. She drove out to find us and to thank us for all the publicity that we created for the Columbus affiliate. Our interview was interspersed with clips of the blitz build that they are dong right now.

We thanked her for going to the trouble of finding us and she was on her way. Then we kicked ourselves for not getting a photo of the encounter.

We walked until the 12 mile marker where Ruth and Carol were waiting. We found a fork in the road and .58 cents. Stay tuned...

Wednesday, September 28

I can describe this morning in two words, fog and traffic. Ruth deposited us on Highway 82 this morning and the traffic was very heavy and the fog thick. After a bit we came to the bridge over the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. No photos as all we could see was fog. On we walked to the Highway 182 overpass that would take us through downtown Columbus and might save a step or two in reaching the MS/AL state line.

Downtown Columbus was very nice. Lots of renovated old buildings and some old churches. Still no pics, fog.

But we were looking for a special building, a donut shop. On we tramped and what should appear, a Shipley's Donut Shop. When we entered, one of two old ladies sitting there said, "Are you the Walkers?" "No", John said, "My name is Goodman". Ignoring John's humor, she went on to tell us that we had been on the local TV news.

That was news to us as no one had contacted us. Our guess is that Peggy Branch in Starkville called Channel 4 in Columbus and told them about our walk.

Fortified by our glazed donut served by Kay, the donut lady, we proceeded on. It didn't take long before we realized that we were indeed being filmed by the Channel 4 News. We could see them up ahead. We were greeted by reporter R H Brown and his cameraman, Ralph of WCBI TV, a CBS station.

Mr. Brown requested an interview and we said of course. He interviewed us separately as Ralph did the camera work. It took about 15 minutes and Mr. Brown said it would appear this evening on local Columbus TV. We said our thanks and good byes and walked away as they continued to film us. They drove ahead of us and filmed us some more and again and again. I guess it was a slow news day.

John, his sweet tooth awakened by the donut, decided it wanted some ice cream. The first attempt at McDonald's failed as the ice cream machine was not on. But, Bullets Burgers, serving Eskimo Pie Ice Cream saved the day. John was happy as we continued walking.

But I was worried as this was our last day walking in Mississippi and we had not found a Mississippi license plate. Note: we have found at least one license plate in every state that we have crossed. But thanks to eagle eye John, not only did we find one, but two. What joy!

On we walked until we turned back to Highway 82, took the shortcut by scampering up the overpass ramp and we were back to our old familiar highway. At another mile we saw Ruth and Carol at the Mississippi/Alabama state line. "Sweet Home Alabama"

In the 13 miles that we walked, we found a pair of tin snips, two bungee cords, a spoon, two Mississippi license plates and .13 cents. Total money found in Mississippi - $ 1.81. Stay tuned ...

Tuesday, September 27

Ruth took us out this morning and we didn't need to go far. We went to the Frye Road/Highway 182/Highway 82 junction and pulled off to the side of the road. John and I scampered up the concrete ramp and we were off on Highway 82 traveling east.

John had his umbrella and I had my rain jacket on. It was cloudy with a threat of rain. On we walked towards Columbus, MS. We passed Catalpa Creek and several catfish ponds. One pond had numerous egrets just waiting for a tender morsel to swim by.

It started raining in earnest by now, so we ducked under a handy overpass and called Ruth to pick us up. We had walked 8 miles and planned to do more if the weather cleared.

Also, this was moving day. We moved from Indian Mound RV Park to Country Living RV Park just west of Columbia. After lunch, Carol us out again and we did an additional 6 miles. This time it was sunny and hot. Rain gear in the morning and sun screen in the afternoon.

We will walk through Columbus tomorrow and there is a chance that we may make Alabama also. Today we found a bungee cord and a hard hat. Stay tuned ...

Monday, September 26

If I said that the walk today was routine or even boring, I wouldn't be too far off. We walked on Highway 82, from the outskirts on the west to the outskirts on the east. There was a 30 percent chance of rain, but we managed to walk in the 70 percent no rain area.

 

When we came to the Frye Road overpass, we just slid down the concrete embankment and there was Carol waiting for us. Another .6 of a mile and we were home.

 

We did see an unusual site today. A young man was walking in the tall grass just to the left of us as we passed by. John said he had a "swing blade", but I didn't see it.

He said,"how y'all". We waved and walked on. Later, John told Ruth and Carol that a wild-eyed crazy man tried to attacked us with a swing blade. Yes, and they believed every word he said. Right girls?

 

I think we was harvesting his cash crop. The kind you smoke.

 

We did have another first today. Our first arrow, which is fitting as we are camped at the Indian Mound RV Park. We also found a wrench, a roll of tape and a large spoon. Stay tuned .....

We attended the early traditional service at First Presbyterian Church of Starkville, Mississippi this morning. Peggy Branch met us at the door and introduced us to her husband, Larry. Larry was a retired professor at Mississippi State in the engineering department and Ruth asked Larry if he knew her brother, Wayne Parker, who also was a professor of engineering at MSU. Larry indeed knew Wayne and knew him well. Carol and I met Wayne on Phase II of the walk when we traveled to Chula Vista, AZ. 'Tis a small world.

 

John was invited by the pastor, Dr.Olin McBride to briefly address the congregation about our walk and about Habitat in general. He commented about how a wonderful job the local affiliate did in recruiting the local college students to help with building Habitat houses.

 

After the service, we drove back to the RV park, changed clothes and headed out to walk another 6 miles. We now have 4 miles "in the bank" or you can say we are 4 miles ahead of schedule.

 

We had walked only a short distance, when we had a first. Something that had never happened on the walk before. We found a $1.00 bill. Our first paper money. We also found pair of needle nose pliers. Stay tuned ...

Saturday, September 24

Yesterday, after the walk, we visited the office of the local Habitat affiliate. We met Freddy Rasberry, the executive director and Peggy Branch, assistant executive director. 

This affiliate has built 47 houses and have been helped tremendously by the students of Mississippi State University. We posed for a photo holding our Coast to Coast banner, said our good-byes and were off to Wal-Mart to buy a new camera. Our old one just doesn't take good pictures anymore.

 

Today, Ruth took us out and deposited us somewhere along the highway. We're off for another 12 mile adventure. Before long we came to the small town of Mathison.

We stopped at the Shell station there and after using the facilities, we asked the guy behind the counter if he had any ice cream and to our dismay he said he did not. We were both very disappointed. I just walked out, but it didn't stop John from buying a bag of pork skins. People handle bad news different ways.

 

Up ahead we spotted a very large and beautiful black and yellow spider. That's kinda like calling a snake beautiful. Can anyone tell us the name of this spider?

 

Every since we started walking from Winona, about 6 to 8 tractor trailer rigs pass us each day with half a house, the other half not far behind. Our theory is that there is a manufactured house factory near by.

 

On we walked until we came to a sign that said, "Sansing, meat service, salvage groc. and sod farm. How handy." I'll take a pound of hamburger and Oh yes, a pallet of Zoysia sod."

 

Today we found a 3/8 socket and .31 cents. Stay tuned ...

Friday, September 23

It was a bit chilly this morning when we headed out to the starting point. Also, there was a 30 percent chance of showers. It sprinkled a bit on us as we drove out, but by the time we arrived at the starting point,  John and I decided to take a chance, no umbrellas and no rain gear. It was a good choice as we didn't get a drop of rain.

 

After our walk yesterday, we decided to find the Starkville Habitat ReStore. We found it with no problem, even though it is somewhat out of the mainstream business area. There we met Jim Wilson and Ross Collins. Both were retired and both were volunteers.

 

The ReStore was a metal warehouse building. It was full of the usual ReStore merchandise. Jim and Ross seemed to be enjoying themselves, so after a quick look around, we said our good-byes.

 

We soon passed by an old cabin or maybe it was a shed. Made of hued logs with mud chinked between the logs to keep the weather and critters out. Neat old building.

 

On we walked passed Old Greensboro, haunted by ne'er-do-wells and generally bad men.

 

At about the 10 mile mark, we came to the town of Eupora and as we walked over the overpass,  I could see a McDonald's in the distance. Oh, wouldn't a ice cold sweet tea taste good right now. So close but yet so far away.

 

The last thing of interest we saw was an abandoned railroad track with grass and trees growing right in the middle of the track.

 

Today we found bungee cord, a penny, and a fork in the road. And, yes, we took it. Stay tuned .....

Thursday, September 22

Carol and Ruth dropped us off today and headed for the McDonald's in Winona, while John and I slogged 12 more miles.

 

We are in semi-farm country. There are no huge agri-business farms like we saw in the delta. These are smaller farms growing mostly cotton and soybeans. And the cotton is ready for harvesting or soon will be.

 

I had to put a bandage on the second toe of my left foot today. A bit of a tender spot that might turn into a blister. Nurse Carol helped, she told me where the bandages were. Also, John has a blister under his toe on his left foot. Or, it might be his right food, probably one or the other.

 

We passed by the post office at Steward, MS and kept on going for another 3 or 4 miles. There was Ruth and Carol waiting for us. Yea!

 

Shortly we will be heading for the Cold Stone Creamery, a well earned treat.

 

Today we found a mourning dove decoy, a large screwdriver and .26 cents. Stay tuned .....

Wednesday, September 21

"Goin' Back to Mississippi" by Otis Spann. That song  explains it best. Yes, we are back in Mississippi, in Starkville, where Mississippi State plays Louisiana Tech on this coming Saturday.

Carol and I drove from Hot Springs to Starkville yesterday and met up with John and Ruth at the Indian Mounds RV Campground. We caught up on the latest gossip and had chicken and dumplin' for supper prepared by John and Ruth's neighbor, Betty. Thanks, Betty !

This morning we drove back to Winona and pulled into the McDonald's there. This was the stopping point for Phase III and is also the starting point for Phase IV. We went inside and sure enough, the two men that we talked to at the end of our walk in June, were there. We had a short visit and they remembered us and told us to have a safe walk this time.

So, off we walked in the fog. It was foggy for about 2 hours and then it started burning off. Only one photo today as it was too foggy to take pictures.

We are walking in rolling hills with some farming and some pastures. Not really anything interesting to take a picture of. Carol and Ruth meet us at the 10 mile mark. We found a 5/8 Snap-on wrench, a 6'' adjustable wrench and a dime. Stay tuned ......