Day 45: "I Plan To Walk Only"

The Fool finally left Athens. He walked on the nice 4-lane divided route 32/50 for 13 miles, until the road split. The fool had planned on continuing along on route 50, but discovered that after it split off, it became a narrow, 2-lane highway. But route 32 (aka, the Appalachian Hwy) continued south/west as a glorious and sublime 4-laner. The fool decided to flex his decision-making muscles and switched his route to 32. Just then, a local college student (of the cute, blond, nose-pierced, female persuasion) stopped her car to ask him what he was up to. The Fool simply said "I'm walking," which was met with a quirky smile from the young, pert pupil. She told him he should spend some time in the college town back in Athens and told him about this cool, mellow bar she was on her way to. Expecting the weary traveler to jump in her car with gung ho exuberance, all the young college student got from the Fool was the cryptic response, "I'm only walking."

Not really understanding him, she simply shrugged, waved and drove off. The Fool then spent five minutes pounding his head on the pavement.