Birmingham's skyline drifted out of view in my rear view window today, as I left my friends and the city behind this afternoon.

On their suggestion, I passed through Montgomery and headed straight onto Monroeville. Unfortunately, I'm still two days ahead of schedule (which will fix itself come Monday), so I've got a full day and a half of nothing to do.

My reason for visiting the small town of Monroeville is obvious once you know its history. It's best known as the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee and her childhood friend, Truman Capote. Each year in May, a production of "To Kill A Mockingbird" is presented at the Old Courthouse by the Monroe County Heritage Museum in two parts. The courthouse is partially what inspired Lee to write the story, and its architecture was so important that the film version of the courtroom is identical to the real one. Gregory Peck even visited Monroeville to get a feel for his role, the area and its history.

The museum itself houses a rotating collection of artifacts and relics from important periods in Monroe County and Alabama history.

My ticket is reserved for a 5pm showing on Sunday, so after a good night's rest, I'll leave Monday to head down even further south for some good ol' creole cajun cookin' in Naw'lins!

See y'all on the road...

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