Follow That Dream.

Monday, February 13th, was my one month anniversary on the road.

I was driving from St. Petersburg to Tallahassee, FL. on Sunday, enjoying the breeze and taking my time, when I saw a sign for "Follow That Dream Pkwy". It seemed fitting. Even though it's not dream to travel across the country, it is my goal at the moment. Seeing it made me smile so I detoured left for a twenty minute break. Come to find out the road is named that because several locations in the area were used filming Elvis Presley's 1962 musical, Follow That Dream. The "major highway" took me through Yankeetown, FL. and, after a slow cruise down a windy road lined with palm trees and small family homes, let out into a fishing area where boats were coming and going. I'm mentioning this quick side trip because it made me reflect on a lot of things. Traveling alone will make you do that, think about stuff. So, if you're considering this at some point, be prepared to learn a lot about yourself.

In the last two weeks I've really started to get the hang of figuring out where I'll be staying nightly and I've gotten a good handle on spending and saving, finally. To tell you a little secret, for the first month I actually didn't feel like drawing. Which is new for me. It does happen though, it's a normal thing to have a slump every once in a while. I would say it's comparable to a writer having writer's block. Even though I've seen some really beautiful and interesting things and met great people, up until Florida City I hadn't expressed myself artistically. I'm out of that funk, thank goodness. I was getting a little worried. I never go longer than a month without drawing something.

Starting to feel more like my old self again, I spent my 13th feeling very optimistic about the rest of my trip. I decided I was going to hike to break up the drive to Atlanta, even if it was a short one. I've grown to really enjoy hiking and I wanted to spend my day doing what I loved and not just driving from point A to point B. First, I had to get out of Florida. Florida is massive, I felt like I was in Groundhog Day and I'd wake up the morning of the 14th still in Florida, trying to exit.

If you're in Georgia and you like to hike or even just want a break and to see something amazing, stop at Providence Canyon State Park. Affectionally called "Little Grand Canyon", although I'm sure it's only one of many across the U.S.A. with the nickname, it is certainly spectacular. I've yet to go to the grand canyon so I'm sure it only fractionally compares but it still makes a statement. Beautiful orange, red and white mountains create cool tunnels and paths to wind through. The damp ground on the canyon floor reminded me of red clay, and felt that way too.

After an hour and a half of adventuring, it was time to hit the road again. More driving, more thinking.

I've realized that I miss hugs. I mean real friend hugs. Not half, 'so nice to hang out with you' hugs from people you meet along the way. Those are still great, don't get me wrong, but seeing friends from home from time to time and getting those hugs helps keep me going. It may seem like a small, insignificant detail and before I left I would have agreed with you, but not anymore. Which is why spending the last two nights in Atlanta with my friend Ray, his lovely wife Danielle, and their adorable daughter Jolie, meant way more to me than they could know. Hanging out for two nights with a four year old, coloring and making valentines, was the perfect way to spend my one month anniversary.

I did get to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site while I was in Atlanta which was both educational and a little bit emotional. I could get into it in greater detail, but you all know the story. Something that Ray pointed out was how great it was to see Freedom Park, down the street from MLK's home, being used the way he would have wanted it; as a place for every child to come and play together. With everything that's going on right now, there was one quote in particular that stuck with me; "Somewhere I read that the greatness is America is the right to protest for right." -MLK Jr. Just something to think about before you go.

I'm well rested, well hugged, and ready for my next adventure. Time to explore Alabama. Talk to you soon!

- G.

The Photo:
"Little Grand Canyon".
Providence Canyon State Park. Lumpkin, GA.
2/13/17.