Day 1

DATE: January 1

MILES: 20.7

Since I finished up 2010's walk early, I was able to apply what I walked post-goal to the new year. So, I'm off to a rousing start at 20.7 miles. Past the New Orleans airport, and heading west.

Forward in 2011

I have lined up a new destination for 2011's walk. To be revealed -- amid no fanfare -- on January 1.

Day 356

DATE: December 22

MILES: 1,077.1

I'm here, at Lafitte's in the French Quarter. Not only am I nine days ahead of schedule, but I counted 29 days I didn't walk at all. That means I only spent 329 days on the road.

Walking between now and Dec. 31 will count for next year's walk. Where to? Check back Jan. 1.

Day 348

DATE: December 14

MILES: 1,050.8

I'm in the home stretch, now entering the greater New Orleans area.

I've got 26 miles to go, though according to my map-tracking, I seem a lot closer than that to the French Quarter. Over the year, I've been following several pages of walking directions, and there's a good chance I flubbed a turn or two.

In any case, the goal is still 1,077 miles by Dec. 31, so if I have to virtually walk around the block a few times to hit that distance, I'll do so. The good news is, I'm ahead by 6 miles currently, and well on track to hit the bar before New Year's Eve.

Day 323

DATE: Nov. 19

MILES: 977

I'm finally in a town with some history: Purvis, Mississippi -- an important railway depot; the scene of some troublesome tornados and hurricanes; and, in the early 1960s, part of Project Dribble, where the feds set off a couple underground nuclear bombs nearby.

Also, I'm caught up and have just 100 miles to go.

Day 312

DATE: Nov. 8
MILES: 921
On U.S. 11, just south of Sandersville, Mississippi. Nothing to report.

Day 302

DATE: October 29

MILES: 885.1

Now in Mississppi, south of Meridian and just north of Enterprise. On US-11S which is pretty much where I'll be for the next month or so, a straight shot downstate to Louisiana.

Not much on record about Enterprise; seems they had a flood in 1902. (See above.)

I'm also about 20 miles behind, but hoping to close that gap by the end of November.

Day 271

DATE: Sept. 28
MILES: 810.9
Finally got caught up over the weekend. Still in Alabama, west of Tuscaloosa, but just a few miles from crossing into Mississippi, the seventh state on my eight-state journey.

Day 254

DATE: September 11

MILES: 749

I'm just outside Fayette, Alabama, or what the town's website calls "The Souths [sic] Best Kept Secret." There's this enticement: "Fayette enjoys a temperate Southern climate, plenty of fresh air and clean water, and folks who understand the value of hard work. It is an unbeatable combination, one of which we are justifiably proud." Air, water and workers. Also, the city website is for sale.

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.

Day 137

DATE: May 17

MILES: 395.4

Middle of nowhere Kentucky; cold rainy weather has put me behind by about 15 miles. Not much to see around here.

Day 124

DATE: May 4

MILES: 368.4

Just walked through Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, a former Shaker community, now restored as an historical site. Very pleasant, indeed.

Day 116

DATE: April 26
MILES: 344.9
Lexington, Kentucky! This is the biggest city I've walked through in months. I'm currently poised right between a country club and the University of KY campus. Still three miles behind schedule, but I'm chipping away at the deficit.
[Sharp eyes may notice that the mile marker on the map reads 150. It seems this map-hack only stores routes up to 200 miles, so I have to do my mile-marking in 200-mile sections. ]

Day 105

DATE: April 15
MILES: 309.3
I'm back in the hole, behind by about 6 miles. Walking through the hills of Kentucky, heading toward Lexington. Recently passed Blue Licks Battlefield State Park, which claims to have been the site of the last battle of the American Revolution, on Aug. 19, 1782, though some other places make this claim, too. In any case, the battle was right near the end, and featured one of the war's stars, Daniel Boone.