Day 1069

My companion and I have started walking the path of the Natchez Indians towards Mississippi. We have set up camp at an old park called Meriwether Lewis named after the fame explorer. Lewis and Clark walked this land long ago as partners in discovery just as I and my young explorer walk it today. The difference, they walked it during the birth of a nation, we walk it after its death. We now have our tent set up near the grave site of Lewis, according to the old park signs he died not far from here at a inn that use to stand close by. He was on his way to St. Louis walking this old Indian trail that was used quite a bit by the French, Spaniards and British as a route to the east. He died during his over night stay and was buried here; Clark was not with him on this trip. Over two hundred years in the past, this all happened, over a thousand years ago the Indians used this as a trade route to other indian nations. Think about that, the Indians roam and traded on this land for thousands of years. The white man comes, explorers, builds a nation, and kills off the Indians like they were a plague. And with in less than three hundred years, leaves the land in ruin. I ask you; who were the civilized and who were the savages?

As we embarked on the Trace I had found an old shopping cart that I filled with as much food and fresh boiled water as I could. I push the cart, Hope's job (as she sees it) is to ride up front and point at new discoveries. The trace is a very desolate road, one I never like to travel in a car. The main reason is you can travel twenty miles on the trace and you have seen it all. It is a flat drive with trees on each side and that is all you will see the whole 444 miles from Nashville TN. to Natchez MS.; except for the occasional Indian mound or open field. I expect this walk to be just as boring, but so far my partner has made it a little less mundane because she looks at everything as if it is brand new.

I have not been feeling very well every since we left Dickson, I thought Hope was sick, but it seems I may have a bug. My last wish would be to get sick something happen and Hope be left alone. We may rest here another day if I am not feeling better in the morning. I pray I can make it to Pontotoc and find an Amish family, if there are any left in that area. I think once I get her settled, this may be my last walk. I think I will head home and wait. I do not look forward to saying good bye to this little one who has made me smile, she has brighten my last days and I owe her so much for the happiness she has brought me. She reminds me of someone, a soul I have known before. I know I keep thinking this, but why is she so familiar to me.

Go to Day 1075

Day 1066

There are many things I miss about the past world of modern conveniences but none more than portable music. When I was a boy the transistor radio came out and people were free to walk around with music in their ear. The old folks would look at the teenagers and shake their heads at this new fangled contraption; while the kids danced to the music with one ear plug (before stereo) stuck in the side of there head. After that music had to be portable, I have seen it evolve. From the compact radio to the boom box on the shoulder, the walk man to the I-Pod and last but not least the chipster (ear implanted micro chips that could download thousands of songs to your head). I myself have been calmed by music played into my head from earphones (not a chip kind of guy) as I tried to get pass another day of boring work. As much as we tried to make it more compact and digitized, music was at its best played on crackling vinyl as a needle run across the groves and it poured out of big speakers. But none of that compared to the thrill of live, un-produced, unedited music from a band with talent.

Walking through Dickson TN. looking for supplies I heard a sound that brought tears to my eyes. It was the sound of a lone banjo (an American born instrument) faintly echoing off the walls of the buildings in town. This even caused Hope’s ears to perk up. We followed the sounds as we heard a guitar added and also what could be a fiddle began to blend in as well. My feet became so light as my ears listened to the ringing of bluegrass played in the hills of Tennessee that for a moment I thought I heard angels singing. The sound got louder as we came to an abandon building on the edge of town. Hope was anxious to run on in, but even though I was enchanted by the music I had to take precautions. I pulled my rifle and kept it by my side. I looked a Hope as she rolled her eyes. Then I said; what?

We eased into the dark building and wandered around (what used to be a hardware store) until we came to a stair case that went down to a basement. The music stopped just as I was about to put my foot on the first step. I hollered; Hello! The response came back with several voices almost in harmony; Hello? Several grungy looking souls peeked out of the dim candle light and looked up the stairs; “look” one of them said; it’s people.

It was true we had run up on your typical inbreed rednecks in the south playing bluegrass. Sounds like something you would see in an old Burt Reynolds movie. But here they are big as life. They seemed friendly enough so we (or I) casually began to talk with them. Four men and two women, two brothers and their sister and a husband and wife who claimed they wondered into town one day, and one smart alick little dude that was a friend of the brothers.

“What ya gonna do with that gun”? The little guy asked. “Nothing no one makes me do”; I replied. “We are no threat; we just heard the music and thought we would check it out. Did not mean to disturb you, we will be on our way”. “Naw, it’s alright”; the husband said. “We are just surprised to see someone else; it’s been what, maybe five years since we have seen anyone”. “I guess”; the others spoke up. “Feel free to listen in, we was just passing time, it’s all we got ya know, time”. “I know” I said, I know…..

We sat on the stair case and listen as they picked out another number; I looked down and saw Hope was patting her foot. It was a joyful sound indeed. This could have been great, but like a lot of crap in this world there is always a dark side. As I looked around the dimly lit room I pick up on why these people were hold up down here instead of up in the town. Seems people like to hide their secrets in the dark even though there are no people left to judge. I saw what I recognized as a crude meth lab, these good ole boys and girls are strung out on the crystal demon. Of coarse there are plenty of supplies left to make this up-to-date version of moonshine. I guess we all have our ways of dealing with the world. Some just chose to live in a fog.

As soon as the song was over, I told them how great it was to hear music again, especially grass, but we had to go. They tried to get us to stay, but I made as hasty a retreat as I could with out being to rude or raising many red flags. They were in no shape to put up much of a fight any way, I think they just wanted to get back to drowning out life. When we got outside Hope looked at me like she was disgusted we left so soon. I said, “Do you trust me”? Her eyes soften and she nodded her head. We walked on as the music faded from our ears, it caused me to wipe one last tear from my eye. I could have sat on that stair case and listen to that music forever. There is nothing like music to help you ride memories an escape. Why would you need any thing else….

Play on my wayward son, play on…………..


Go to Day 1069

Day 1064

We have made it to Dickson TN. The weather is decidable cooler. The sky is overcast making it some what gloomy. We can cross over I-40 and head on down 46 until it turns into 7 then it should dead end at the trace. This maybe a foolish idea if we do not find enough food to last us on the long walk to Tupelo. I will look through the stores in this small town tomorrow and see what I can find. I also need to find a way to carry more food than I can on my back. Hope can not carry anything and I would not ask it of her, I still don’t think she feels well. If only she could talk and tell me what’s wrong. The weather this last week and a half may just have her down. She does not look sick or have a fever. I just don’t know.

We are now in my land, ground that was kissed by God. There is no more diverse part of this world than the Great American South. You can walk from mountains to delta to ocean to swamp and will never see another place like it. The foot hills of the Smokey’s are covered in mist of mysteries. While the swamps hide secrets, the stoic cyprus will never tell. The pine tress whisper in your ears when the wind blows and the sweet smell of honey suckle makes the humid summer days thick of stories told by old men. The delta made people so poor they were rich with song; songs heard around the world. Kudzu covers the ground and Spanish moss hangs from the trees, it all says welcome home.

Home; if I can do one last thing I want to find a home for this little girl. I can not give her what she needs, what I once knew. A home is many things to many people. But to me long ago it was a place, so full of love it was as if you could touch it. It was not easy, and there were times, but it was the best of times, to quote a famous line. That is my hope fore this little one. To know what a home is. Can I give this one last thing, time will tell……….

One more can to bury tonight; full of words written to the ghost of myself in the past.

Go to Day 1066

Day 1060

We have walked down I-24 towards Nashville Tennessee; I am going to attempt to find the Natchez trace parkway. We will cut across to I-40 on a back road known as 48 then to 46 which will cross I-40, this should put us near the trace. The Natchez Trace use to be a very desolate road, preserved by the park service there are no stores or gas stations any where along it’s long twisting trek through two states. So we will have to stock up on supplies before we embark on it. I feel it is the quickest way to Pontotoc.

This last week has been a wet one, it rained for two solid days. In my eagerness to get further south we walked on and Hope got very wet and tired. So we are hold up in the town of Clarksville in an abandon house. We have seen a few people in this town but none have spoken to us, they see us from a distance, turn and walk away, very odd. The stores have been picked clean but we have managed to find enough to eat. The clouds look as if they are breaking up so we may head out tomorrow. Hope is not acting herself, so I want to make sure she is well rested.

I have seen my share of people on my journeys and it always seems strange how they nearly always come together in to a group or live in towns after all that has happened. Me; I like being on my own, but for the most part people tend to run in packs. Void of government you wonder how order is maintained and sometimes it maybe kayos but even it that there is order. Maybe this world would have been better off long ago if we had done away with government and relied on spontaneous order. People feel the need to be led I guess but I have always enjoyed walking a different path. As I look around at the world today I wonder what it would be like if we had not had a governmental system ruling us all? Would things be different now? Could they be any worst?

Men have always strived to conquer, to control, to lead, to build a bigger better kingdom only to see it fall. History has recorded they all fall no matter how big, rich or great there is always a great fall. Our arrogance in this nation caused most of our troubles. We set up a system of selfish greed. No one could have enough we all had to have more. We lived in our comfort blinded to the pain and suffering of the world around us. We set back and let the government solve the big problem and shook our fist in anger when it did not turn out the way we thought it should. Life’s of comfort became a right in our eyes instead of the privilege it was. So we let people we “supposedly elected” make all the choices for our welfare and we blindly let them until it was too late. Maybe it would have been different if spontaneous order took control as it does in nature. Birds migrate, wolfs run in packs, fish swim in schools, it was all set up to succeed if only man was not led by sin he could have lived with the world and not on it.

Enough of my two cents, night is falling and Hope is hungry. I found some oatmeal that said it was minute oatmeal; that would be great if I had a Microwave and an outlet that worked. Minute oatmeal, we could not even wait to boil water, had to have everything quick. Something’s are worth the wait, it fact rushing through life causes you to forget the journey; I found that out walking a once Great Nation. Long cooked oatmeal will warm up a little girls belly tonight; it will be worth the wait.



Go to Day 1064

Day 1053

Metropolis, IL; on the banks of the Ohio River, we cross it, and we are in the south (you might say). At least a southern State; Kentucky. From Mt. Vernon we have walked I-57, I-24 and wound up here, I am in the process of setting up camp, or taking a break from it. My plan as of now is to walk to Mississippi, a place were I spent 30 plus years of my life. I worked, lived, played and raise a family there. Although we never called it that, it was our second home. I know the area, but I walk by it every time I pass through the state. I stay clear of the north east area, maybe I want to remember it the way it was. I am trying for Pontotoc County to look for the Amish, to find Hope a home. If I have no luck then we will winter in the South and I will go north next spring and find them there. I must get her somewhere she will be safe if I fall ill or time catches up to me.


Our hopes of staying in Mt Vernon were dashed as the little community was slowly taken ill by the spread of an unknown virus. I had to get away from there, for I could not risk getting sick and I sure did not want Hope catching anything. I pray they will recover, but it seemed to spread fast. The teenager died a day after I got back with the meds, and the mother was not long for this world. Several others had taken ill along with Banker who told me he was paying for the sin of killing Janice. I told him God does not work that way, but I could not see any hope in his eyes. Regrets haunt even the forgiven and steal peace and joy from them. I hated to say good bye but I have got someone besides myself to look after and I don’t want to let her down. What they had, had all the signs of an intestinal virus cause from bad water, but it was also contagious. Living in the bigger cities may have brought this on, because the sanitation of water is non existent. The mother and son my have been infected in St. Louis in fact the whole town may be infected. This might be the start of another killer, another reason to stay away from the cities.


We have seen no one else the past four days. I had almost gotten soft sleeping in a bed, but it did not take long to get use to seeing the stars again. At night Hope and I lay on our backs and stare up at the clear night sky. The autumn nights are best for camping, I tell her stories, just like I use to tell my….. I tell her things I have not spoken of in years, she listens, she understands as her head rests on my shoulder. If the world had not changed this little one could have been my great granddaughter, If only I could have seen another generation born to my fam…… I have got to stop thinking of this; these old feelings need to stay buried. I can not change the past, I never will. What is the point of writing if the paper is wet with tears……. I miss you all………but thank God for Hope.

Go to Day 1060

Day 1046

I hate going to the store, but it’s an errand I must make, she needs something for her headache and we are out of pain relievers at the house. People have no manners once they get behind the wheel of a car. I am sick and tired of being run over, all these people need to learn to be a little more courteous. Look at those two talking on their cell phones as the walk together instead of just enjoying talking to each other. I can’t help noticing driving by the houses no kids play outside any more. I remember when I was a boy all you had to do was step out side and there were kids all over the neighborhood to play with. In fact if you did not come out side they were at your door beckoning for you to come out and play. Now all youth are in their houses attached to a computer or involved in latest sim system. Finding a place to park at these big stores is impossible. This store is too crowded for me; I have to hurry and get what I came for so I can get out of here. To many people all walking around like train apes, going with the flow, wearing what ever is popular or in at the moment. Conformity , no one is an individual, all go to jobs, pay money for comforts and live in their self absorbed life’s. Who set this system of insanity up? Your born, go to school learn to conform, be alike don’t be different, learn to work, no time for play. Play does not pay; you’re a loser if you don’t make money, pay your way. All these people walking, talking, doing the same thing there fathers and mothers did before them. When will it STOP, I want to scream out, WHEN WILL IT STOP!!!!

The scene melts before me; I am standing in an empty store. Racks of cloths are turned over, boxes are strewn about, and it’s completely dark in here except for the light from the broken front windows. Animal droppings on the floor indicate that wildlife has been in here as well to pick clean the food left over. Like an acid flash back, for a moment I was back in time and all those old feelings about an over crowded rude world, came rushing in on me. I have often been plague with flash backs of embarrassing moments or bad memoirs, things I wish I could forget. But they haunt me like a specter keeping me accountable all the time, the ghost of past sins. But this time was not about my past sins, more about the sins of past generations. It was a weird trip, almost real. I look around me and wish I could be bumped rudely by another person or had a long check out line to fuss about. I sigh and get back to the business at hand.

I have been sent on a mission to find drugs. Any kind of pain medication that may still be left behind in this store. The settlement has ran out and I and a few other were sent off in different directions to the first stores we could find that had not been picked clean. I walked most of yesterday and found this store this morning. One of those big chain combo stores with food, drugstore and everything else under one roof. There is still some meds left and I will fill up my bag and be on my way. I wanted to stop and rest and write for a moment in the new spiral notebook I found.

There is sickness in paradise and it is spreading. The boy and woman that came in last week are getting worst and I will be surprise if he is still alive when I get back. It is some kind of intestinal thing I have never seen before. He has a high fever and is passing blood so he must be bleeding on the inside of his intestines. The woman said it was why they left the city, to many sick people. What she described has to be the same thing they have, but she did not know what it was called or what causes it. Just that when people died they were in horrible pain. I know one thing it is contagious. I left Hope behind even though she protested, but I had to travel light and quick. Since I am use to walking long distances I figured I could cover more ground and get back soon. I fear for Hope and I think as much as I wanted to stay the winter there, when I get back we will pack up and leave. The weather has gotten cooler and I know it is the fall of the year because I see a hint of brown on the leaves. My thoughts are to head south. We will winter in the first house I feel is far enough south and I will take her to the Amish next spring. After this last chore, I don’t know what else I could do for these people, they helped me, so I’m returning the favor. But now I feel we must be on our way. I fear paradise will be lost, to this disease.


Go to Day 1053