Day 229

DATE: August 17

MILES: 666

I'm in my sixth state, Alabama, and leaving Florence for Muscle Shoals. I'm just about to go by the Phosphate Development Works, where the Army used to make nerve gas. The plant was demolished in 1993, but I'll still be holding my breath.

The hot weather this summer has made elective walking less than compelling, and my recent vacation involved a lot of time behind the wheel, instead of out on a hike. So, I'm ashamed to report that I'm about 20 miles behind.

Day 201

DATE: July 20
MILES: 590.2
Heading into Columbia, TN, the self-proclaimed "mule capital of the world." Also, home of NASCAR's Sterling Marlin, who generally goes considerbaly faster than a mule.

Day 186

DATE: July 5

MILES: 553.6

Like the old song says: "I'm on my way to New Orleans this morning / leaving out of Nashville, Tennesee." Of course, that lucky fella was on a bus. I'm still walking, and it's full-on Deep South HOT here and there.

Day 183

DATE: July 2
MILES: 547.2
In Nashville, and just walked past another cemetery, Spring Hill. Loads of C&W session musicians resting here, plus a good slate of stars: Roy Acuff, Floyd Cramer, George Morgan and Keith Whitley. And pictured above, the "still movin' on" site of one of my faves, Hank Snow.

Day 181

DATE: June 30

MILES: 540.4

Just SE of Hendersonville, and closing in on Nashville. Walked right past the Hendersonville Memory Gardens, final home of Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, lots of other singing Carters and a few other C&W folks.

Day 172

DATE: June 21

MILES: 514.6

Whoo hoo! Caught up, and in a new state.

Day 163

DATE: June 12
MILES: 476.4
In Kentucky, approaching Barren River State Park. It's a little SW of Mammoth Caves National Park, which I'm sad to miss, having never been there.