OCCUPY WALMART

Checking in from Pelham, AL …

We’ve parked the RV at WalMart for a couple of nights lately. Just us and ten or twelve big rigs in the outer reaches of the lot. We were surprised to learn that many a rig is driven by husband and wife teams. One such couple told us they sold all their real estate, vehicles and personal property to buy their rig and travel. Not sure if we could do this but envy their travels to different places. So we parked our little Honda and RV right beside the big rigs just like we belonged.

On Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 and 19, I traveled back roads (mostly Wolf Creek Rd and Bear Creek Rd) south of Birmingham from Lincoln through Pell City, Vandiver and Chelsea to Pelham. This part of the walk covered over 50 miles of truly beautiful countryside. I-Phone photos just don’t capture what I was privileged to experience. Every shade of green was evident, and the fields and woods were abloom with white, yellow, pink and red blossoms. The air was perfumed from honeysuckle, jasmine, flowering boxwood and wild roses. Mountains and hills, pastures with horses and cattle, farmhouses, barns, new gardens were all part of the vista. Spring is a special time of the year. Take some time to enjoy the season. Take some country roads.

The only thing that detracted from my walk over the last couple of days was the unfettered dogs that came after me on four or five occasions. I carry a trekking pole that I had to wave at the dogs and even made contact once to deter these aggressive animals. One mean looking pit bull mix harassed me for over a mile. After the walk, Brenda went to several stores to add to my arsenal with some pepper spray.
I love dogs (like Zuzu) but don’t understand these uncontrolled mutts that are allowed to run loose in the country.

I did a brief telephone interview on Thursday with NBC 36 TV’s “Charlotte Today” show that focused on heart health. On Friday, I have an interview scheduled with the ABC affiliate in Birmingham. All media exposure of Heart Trek USA and its purpose are greatly appreciated.

We also were hosted by Cadence Bank in Chelsea on Wednesday night. Thanks to the Alabama Bankers Association for their help and to Jamie Echols at Cadence for her hospitality.

Heading toward Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama in the next couple of days. Here is the proposed schedule:

Friday, April 20 … country roads towards Woodstock, AL
Saturday, April 21 … Hwy 11 to Cottondale, AL
Sunday, April 22 … to Tuscaloosa

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