Fulton residents Carl and Nan Comer welcomed a crazy man into their home, even let him sleep there.

Of course, the term "crazy" is subjective; but, judging from his recent actions, Pat Crawford of Pensacola, Fla., just might qualify. He's currently biking across the country, from Florida to Canada, following the path of the Underground Railroad. This is the second such trip Crawford's taken in three years' time. The first one was on foot, from Florida to Washington, D.C.

And the Comers let this man stay in their home.

"It's an interesting connection," Crawford said. It was the morning of April 14 and Crawford was preparing to leave the Comers' house and travel northward, toward Tennessee. He was cordial and energetic, especially for someone who would be biking 50 miles that day, although he was a bit weary about traveling through the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee.

He talked as he finished his breakfast.

"[The Comers] are old friends with a friend of mine from Pensacola," he said.

Nan Comer elaborated, "Sandy Ford was the art teacher down here in the late 1970s ... which was also the last time we'd heard from her."

Ford had called the Comers when she learned Crawford would be cutting through the area on his trip, winning him a soft bed and warm breakfast.

It's the hospitality Crawford's come to find on his journey, which serves as a fundraiser for the public radio station for which he works. He gives on-air updates as he travels, and posts pictures online at the station's Web site, http://www .wuwf.org.

The entire trip is unplanned. With the exception of rare cases like the Comers, he has no reservations, no plans for where to camp or with whom to stay. It's a real adventure.

Although the trip has been a lot of fun so far, though at the time, he still had six weeks of traveling to go, Crawford said there are challenges out there on the road.

"Dogs can be a real problem," he said with a laugh. He nodded in agreement with himself and added, "Dogs chase me about a dozen times per day."

Which is why he now carries an air horn.

The journey is largely a spiritual one for Crawford -- more about pushing his limits and seeing things he otherwise wouldn't be able to see than raising money.

"There's a real freedom out there," he said. "We all live such ordered lives. It's nice to just get out there and not have a plan."

Most rewarding of all, however, is meeting the people along the way. Even without reservations, Crawford's never had any problems finding a place to lay his head.

"It's just been so great to meet these folks," he said with a an earnest smile, preparing to leave.

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141, by e-mailing adam.armour@itawamba360.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.