Love is wild for reasons, and hope though short in sight might be theonly thing that wakes you by surprise

Milage: 1,780. Best rando: Group of church vans from just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania seen in Mississippi.

Special thanks to all those Nashville folks-musicians and otherwise-who showed me a great time last night in the city. While I got a little bit of the touristy honky-tonk feel, what I really enjoyed the most was going to see three sweet artists at and off-the-beaten-path kind of bar.

And speaking of local culture, my BLT from Athens really hit the spot and I still say we could've been best friends with that security guy outside the window.

I hit the pavement just after 6 AM expecting to get my coffee on the way. Little did I know there're very few rest stops on I 65 south heading towards Alabama. That must be the Yankee in me who thought there'd be a Starbucks every 5 miles.

So as the gas got cheaper ($2.85, suckers up north) and the sun rose into the sky, I trekked on down the rest of I 65 and onto I 59. The "bridge may ice in cold weather" signs scattered in Alabama make me laugh. Yeah, right.

Heading down to Louisiana is definitely like coming home.