Morning comes around the girls bless me with prayer as I am leaving in the morning. I leave the park and head on towards Waynesboro, TN. Maybe three miles into my morning and two people pick me up, we'll just call them J & D. J & D used to be affiliated with an old motorcycle club, they said they were actually a retired from the "X club". Our conversation got into the depths of their lives quickly as the smell of "homegrown" filled the air. J had spent half of his life in prison for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, when found innocent 20 years later he had serious medical problems and was unable to attain insurance to help cover some of the costs. They told me how the younger members of the club were falling into some of the same rebellious follies they had and expressed their concerns before they dropped me off. This weighed on me as I continued walking. A trio of dogs aroused by my passing began to follow me with excitement, just before Bobby and Mike offered a ride into the town of Waynesboro, with a, "Howdy neighbor, need a ride into Waynesboro?" I jumped into the back of the truck and we flew down the highway. They stopped at a gas station and I hopped out with thank you. Before I decided to hike on towards the next town, the town of Savannah, TN, I stop for a nice cold Coca-Cola, because it may not be the healthiest thing I could drink, but that doesn't stop it from tasting really good. Onward I press in what feels like a blistering heat; parted by brief comedic rain clouds that seem to follow me, sprinkling light drizzles that feel nice and seemingly almost worthless at the same time. I walk through a long area of road construction switching from one side of the road to the other, jumping over barriers with the skill of a turtle. When it's hot like this and I'm on the pavement my mind can't help but to dream of a ride with a breeze faster than my 2mph my feet will give. Then I noticed I am gaining on a vehicle, I think I better slow down before I pass it, I am passing this construction vehicle, surely the comedic effects of life are on overload today. I awe of the fact that I am actually passing a vehicle with my turtle like athletic prowess, I am oblivious to the fact that a guy is yelling to be, "Need a lift?" Chris yells a little louder and I am startled with a smile I graciously through my gear in the back of his truck and we're off flying down the road, pushing through the comedic rain fall past the beautiful countryside. He's a carpenter that has been doing carpentry work for the folks of Waynesboro for almost all of his life. He's said to be the best builder in Waynesboro and though I haven't seen his work, I believe this may be true off the sight of his character. He kind of reminds me of me in a different life or maybe a brother, uncle or even a cousin I never met. Chris tells me theirs no way he'll let me get out of him buying me some food, so we stop at a McDonalds for a quick bite before he drops me off at the Tennessee River Museum. I walk in the doors and I'm greeted by Jennifer a super nice, sweet and caring individual, I can tell instantly I would be lucky to call her friend. I probe her for information on the Trail of Tears as well as camping, restock, guitar stores and the area. She tells me that I should walk through museum because they have an exhibit on the Trail of Tears. I begin through the museum and find the exhibit, an old Vietnam veteran, who reminded me of my father, was there telling what he knew about the Sacred Fire or the "Eternal Flame". It is believed by the Cherokee as long as the Scared Fire is burning the people will survive. The Sacred Fire was originally brought with Cherokee on the Trail of Tears, then was returned to Cherokee, NC in the 80's. This old veteran who's name I never received, pushed twenty dollars in my hands, with thanks that I would be doing something like this out of respect for the Cherokee. I felt overwhelmed by his passion. I hung out with Jennifer talking a bit more while the comedic rain showers caught me again, then left to go find a place to make camp in a park that sits along the Tennessee river. It would turn out this would be the park that all the young kids would go make out at, come night fall. Once I made my stealth camp and had figured this out I thought it would be better to take a walk to do my restock, than to hangout along and be the creepy guy. As I walked to the store the young kids with cars raced up and down the strip, looking for all the hot spots where their friends my be hanging out. On my walk back all I could see was the crescent moon dropping in the nights sky, the closer I got to the river the lower it got till it was sitting atop the bridge that crossed the Tennessee River. Camp was tucked away in tall wet grass that grabbed at my shoes and pants binding my progress towards slumber. I fought the onslaught of mosquitos that snuck into my tent, feeling like the Spartans at Thermopolis. I realized in the morning the number of mosquitos I missed the night prior, they were slow and fat with my blood, I made sure they paid for the blood of mine they took. I had a nice chat with a fellow named Jim just before breakfast, he expressed the kindness of the people in the town of Savannah to which I was inclined to agree. I walked back into the town stopping at the Tennessee River Museum and dropping my backpack off before I ran some errands in town. I walked over to Maxine's House of Music where Maxine and I had a lovely conversation on music, God, life and enduring hardships through fear. She had some great guitars I wished I could have taken some of them with me, but alas one is enough. Jeff the fellow that worked for her, was able to fix my tuning key, thankfully! They charged me nothing for doing me such a great service, then Maxine wanted to put some icing on my day, she blessed me with an extra set of strings and dropped me off at the library to finish my errands.
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