Now: the Southlands
Current journey · August–September 2026
Southlands Wander
From Minnesota through Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi—and eventually toward Florida. Music, civil rights, roadside history, generous strangers, and the occasional wasp nest.
Dispatches so far
August 13Night OneNorthwood, IowaAugust 15Nerd SoupMarceline, MissouriAugust 16HannibalHannibal, MissouriAugust 17St. LouisSt. Louis, MissouriAugust 18WillieMaryland Heights, MissouriAugust 20Quick ChangeClarksdale · StovallAugust 21Music That Changed the WorldMemphis · Tupelo · ClarksdaleAugust 22Beautiful HumansMississippi and points northAugust 24Natchez History NerdsNatchez, Mississippi · Read story →
Morning—and southward
Next stop: Twain country
South along the river
One more night in town
And then the plan went sideways
Now turn up the music
Keep driving south
The latest dispatch now has its own page