no rain

Highway walkin’

Crossed into Tennessee today, making it all the way to Fayetteville. We made our goal before sundown. In the morning we stopped at a Citgo gas station to ask directions. I was mainly looking for an alternative route to Shelbyville to avoid the highway. There were five people scratching lottery tickets at a table with a plastic tablecloth. They all told me there was no other way. I told them I was researching my family and trying to stick to side roads. They told me there weren’t any.

So we walk along the highway. It is not as quiet as last year when I wove through and around the country on side roads. This year I am very happy that my brother is with me. There didn’t seem to be another way on the map, either. Only one road into Tennessee, and it’s the original path. So we must have seen some similar views, shared them with Henry:


(photos to come)


Closer to Fayetteville and only three cars have honked. Walking this way and with someone else is much different. People driving on the highway seem to be preoccupied or going too fast to care that we are walking. No one tried to help or even slow down – much better than my experience last year when it seemed like everyone wanted to help me. The walk, though, is not peaceful. It is noisy and feels more dangerous.

We stopped at Sonic fast food restaurant and ate our sandwiches at their picnic table. It’s strange to think there is nowhere to really rest or eat, but that is strip-mall America. What was here when Henry was here?