Georgia

Alright, I was finally able to get Wi-Fi again, from where you ask? McDonalds of course. Always a great place to sit and plenty of outlets as well as Wi-Fi. I was thinking why don’t I just go to a Starbucks or something. I guess with my current personal hygiene situation, I think I belong more at McDonald’s. At least I bought something this time

So I crossed into Georgia on day 11. It was a little tricky getting in. I had to cross a bridge over the Savannah River. There were 2 lanes and nothing else for about 0.3 of a mile. I crossed at about 11am and got lucky there weren’t many cars. I sprinted the whole way only having to evade 2 cars. I can always tell the area I am in by the number of novelty front license plates. From Myrtle Beach until West Columbia it was always a South Carolina Gamecock logo. West Columbia to McCormick, SC Clemson Tigers and from then on it has been Georgia Bulldogs logos. I’m currently in Sugar Hill, GA, I figure about 3 or 4 days from crossing into Alabama at which point I’m sure the novelty license plates will change to the Crimson Tide.

It’s pretty interesting, I’m traveling but it is so much different than any other time I have traveled. Seeing states in their entirety and at a much slower pace makes me feel like a part of each town I cross. One trend that has seemed to continue from SC to GA is most houses have covered front patios in front of their houses. Every single one of those patios seem to have 4 rocking chairs on it. Always 4. I have yet to see anybody sitting in one of these rocking chairs. Everyone who I have crossed paths with so far in Georgia have been great to me. So many examples. Meeting Sparky and Mary in Washington, GA and talking to them for a while. They took my picture and it turns out they worked for the local newspaper. After I left them about a mile down the road Mary was walking towards me and gave me a coke because she had just read my blog about my soda addiction. Two days ago I walked through Athens, GA and walked through the University of Georgia campus. It was a little bit of a shock going from all of these empty country roads to a college campus surrounded by thousands of people. I sat down at a local bar by campus waiting for Eli a guy I contacted through Couchsurfing to get home. I sat there for a few hours just talking to everyone at the bar and drinking some Terrapin, which is a local beer. I met a guy named Drake who was a student there at UGA as well as a man known as “maps” who repeatedly bought me drinks as we discussed anything and everything. I began walking to Eli’s house from the bar and I got lost. Google maps was telling me I was at the house, but I couldn’t find it. Probably still feeling all of the Terrapin’s and other various drinks (and I was, looking back at the un-readable handwriting in my journal from that night), I asked a young couple for help. I asked him to remember a phone number for me so I could call Eli. He proceeded to tell me I was acting very “sketchy” haha… and maybe I was. Anyways, I finally reached Eli’s and he told me about his upcoming trip he is planning to Vietnam. Very cool guy and I slept in his sweet hammock. As you can see there has been a lot of people willing to help me out and make my walk more special. A few days ago a man named Aaron stopped me. I told him I was walking to California, and he said I am the guy he has been hearing about on the radio and news. That's the second person who has told me that so maybe they really are talking about me, but I have no idea.

Heading out of Athens, I was feeling a little dehydrated. I saw there was a Taco Bell as well, and I’ve always thought that Taco Bell cures a hangover. I got in there so excited and ordered. I was told they were only serving breakfast. I think this was the moment so far on my walk where I felt most devastated. All I wanted was a bean burrito. The walking was a little tougher that day, I was definitely boosted by the man that gave me a Powerade as I laid beside the road. Today, walking through Auburn, GA I met a man named Paul and we just stood and talked for probably a half hour. He told me stories about being in the Marines and he held my hand and said a prayer for me. Also a nice woman named Laura who was so nice to me outside of a grocery store where I was charging my phone. I had told her why I wanted to do this walk and what went into it. She said to me “you look so alive now.” This was something that meant a lot to me for somebody to say because that is how I feel since I have started this walk. It’s nice to feel this way. I’m proud of what I have done so far, although I have a lot more ground to cover, but it is nice to feel proud of something. That is something I haven’t felt in a while.

My legs feel better than I thought they would. No more blisters and minimal soreness. I just got on the 20 west and I was greeted with a lovely paved shoulder. I have had no problem this past week finding spots to camp in the woods. I’m getting more used to it, although I may look in to getting a motel soon as it is supposed to rain the next two days. My shower count still sits at 1, and it was technically a bath. I think it is only a matter of time before my skin gets darker from the sun and my beard gets a little longer that I will pass the homeless eye test. I have gone about 345 miles so far in 15 days. Should be in Alabama at some point this weekend. Georgia has been great, but also looking forward to a new state, another milestone, and a new challenge. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, it has been great meeting you all and getting to know you a little bit.

Also I have been posting pictures on my facebook from the walk. If you want to see them, they are here : https://www.facebook.com/mitchell.sodersten