In our Wedding Diaries, we’ve introduced you to our Three Musketeers who rode in from all points to save Cinco de Wedding: Jaybo by plane, Ramz by SUV, Matth (with an h, we don’t know why) by Yamaha motorcikkle. He reported in at 6 pm Tuesday that he is safely home.

Ruston to Monteagle, Tennessee, to Liberty, North Carolina.

Matth is the most fascinating person any of us knows. Even if we did not love him, we’d have to admit that he’s Grade A. He is the third head (look for the largest melon) from the left in this not-good photo, which is the only kind we can take. It was at the wedding reception. From left, Ramz, Jaybo, Matt, and the top part of my nappy head.

Matt left Ruston and my driveway at 8 Sunday morning, went up Highway 167, crossed the river at Helena, Ark., and rode until he decided to stop 13 hours later in Monteagle, when he called. “Stopped here just because it’s the lyric in a Vern Gosdin song,” he said. Can’t blame him for that.

Plus his butt was tired from being on that Yamaha. Instead of camping as he most often does, he ate at the Waffle House, walked 50 feet to the Super 8, took a hot shower, and left early Tuesday morning.

He didn’t realize Monteagle marked more than halfway home; he’d planned for two nights on the road — it’s a drive you can make it 13 hours but  he enjoyed backroads and 23 hours (no interstate for our ‘Thew) — and the day was so gorgeous and the ride so fair he kept spinning. Caught a great gravel road. Rode by the Buford Pusser Museum (Sheriff Buford Pusser or “Walking Tall” fame) and didn’t go in so we can go in later together after we visit the Shiloh Battlefield; it’s in our plans. Then he cruised in to Liberty with sore cheeks and a garden that needed watering. He said his mustard greens held up well.

Just another day in the life of Matth. Ruston to Monteagle to Liberty. Let freedom ring.

-30-