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Reflections
While Walking to D.C.
People ask me if it is difficult to walk 25-32 miles a day.
The first four to five days are extremely rough. It's the break in period.
Every muscle in your body hurts at the end of these first few days.
You have to keep walking. Your body feels as if it rebels if you stop
much less sit down. It gets better as you progress and you "walk through
the wall" as they say after a period and the pain of walking is non
existent or it's non related to what you are doing. It makes walking
a lot easier although sitting down on the ground is still very difficult.
When walking a long way by yourself you actually invite the oncoming
traffic.
The people you meet are very grateful for what the walk stands for.
People come up to you and thank you and wish you luck. They tell you
about their family and friends who are in the military and or veterans.
This is very rewarding. I had one woman; Robin Brennan from Trenton,
IL: Gave me $5.00 for lunch. She could not have been nicer. We ran into
Robin the next day with her friend Susan Jones who had me talk to her
sister on her cell phone who was a veteran. This is this kind of events
that makes you feel like you have America behind you.
Self reflection fills time. You think about your family, your friends
and the things people have done to make this walk everything it can
be. The one phrase that really drives me is what Richard Engle said
when asked by Lester Holt on a weekend news report: What the general
feeling of the troops seemed to be after Engle had spent some time with
some troops. He said, "They have the feeling that America has moved
on". I keep thinking, tell them that this is one guy who is not moving
on without them. Tell them that "THIS WALK IS FOR THEM". I become very
sentimental when I am alone and think about those kids in foreign countries,
facing the challenges they face. I wish I could just wave a magical
wand over them and assure them the Americans I know feel the same as
I do. Some you just have to nudge a little bit to get them to act. Then
a car or truck appears in the distance riding the white line
that denotes my walking lane and then my thoughts become of self
survival.
Day 2: Ofallon, IL
I decided to get a sandwich from a Hardee's. Hardee's was nice
enough to provide coupons. I purchased a burger with everything on
it and decided to keep walking while I ate. Across the street from
the Hardee's is George Stallings. Another sign, I couldn't pass it
up. I told George what I was doing and that I thought it appropriate
I have a picture of him in his uniform. The whole time I am talking
to George he is really looking me over. I felt as if he thought I
had just escaped from a home somewhere. We spoke more, he told me a
little about himself while the whole time staring at my chest.
Thinking that his vision was bad I told him the shirt read
"850MILES.com". He agreed by shaking his head and I moved on because
I had stood in one place long enough.
After walking about 100 feet away from George I realized what he was
starring at the entire time. It was the "everything on it" I had
order on my burger. It had apparently fallen out of my burger and
landed on my sunglasses hanging down from my neck. I was talking to
Uncle Sam with lettuce, pickles, mayo and tomatoes hanging from my
neck. I can't say that I blame George for being a little timid in
conversation.
Day 14: People I would like to thank for helping me get back to
my car from
Lawrenceburg to
Versailles.
- Joe Lunsford of
Moores Hill, IN, and his cousin Tim who is a
Marine stationed in
Iraq.
- Dave West heard me on an interview yesterday and picked me up
after Joe's help. He and his wife Margie, pronounced Marqee (a veteran
of the Navy), live in
Milan.
- Mr. Dixon from
Milan also helped as well. Hope you get a Turkey
Mr. Dixon in the weeks to come.
- Ed Fraley of Fraley Motors in Elrod gave me the final leg of
my trip back to my car. If this guys was in charge of the War in
Iraq we would be out in a matter of weeks and I don't mean withdrawal.
- I thank all the above it was great talking to you all
and I appreciate your help after a long day of walking.
- The
Quality Inn and
Econo Lodge have been very good at giving
me discounted rates. Thank you guys.
Day 15:
A police Lieutenant: David Pahner from
Addyston, OH
offered to give a ride to the state line about 7 miles away and we were talking
to him and his daughter Emily. The population of
Addyston is
1,200.
While on duty 2 years ago he was shot in the line of duty and he is fully recovered now. I
know that being from Kirkwood,
MO, You realize that it can happen anywhere.
I want to thank Lieutenant Pahner
and Emily that delivered me almost to the doorstep of the motel.
Thanks again to for your kind gesture Lieutenant and Emily.
It appears that this walk is a test of my my
patience. When I get antsy to get back to continue the walk; I am
constantly wondering what is working against me to make this drag
out. It gets very discouraging then something happens! I received a
letter today and [I assume it was from a young girl] that sent me a
$2.00 donation for the walk that told me her mother is a Soldier's
Angel and wished me luck and said that she follows my progress and
hopes that I finish soon. I would like to reply to the letter but
she did not sign it or give me a return address. It's little things
like this that reinforce my thinking and makes it easier to remain
calm and realize that things will work out and a break in the
weather will open will allow the walk to continue. I do hope that
the person that sent me the letter with the $2.00 donation will
contact me with a name and and address. Thank You and Keep the Faith
for our troops.
Day 16:
On Tuesday when I was going back to Cincinnati, from Mt. Orab, A
nice guy named Joe Osborne from Winchester Ohio picked me up. He is
an auto body guy with three daughters. We solved the world problems
during our 30min.ride.Thank god he dropped me off at my car because
I had three blisters the size of silver dollars. I was hurting. Joe
you are a good man.
~
I would like to express a
couple of thoughts prior to leaving on the last leg of the 850 mile
walk. ~
Day 17:
Wednesday, I walked until I could walk no more with my feet in
sad condition. I was surprised how well they healed though and I
still think I got about 24 miles in. Some kids picked me up.
Josh Stone and Michelle Perryjohn. Again I was dropped off right
at me car in Fayetteville. They were from the lake area east of
Hillsboro and were playing bingo at a church within a block of
where I left my car. What a break. Very nice kids. Tell me you
guys won the big jackpot.
~
~
Day 20:
A BMW motorcycle enthusiasts named Kevin Driver picked me up in
his van in McArthur and gave me a ride to my car. He is from
Potsdam Ohio and was picking up a part for his bike in Athens.
My good fortune. Thanks Kevin...
Day 21:
A nice guy named Dave Crabill picked me up w hen I was walking
back to my car in McArthur. He is a retired teacher that lives
in the McArthur area. Dave, hope your health allows you to get
back to Alaska in the future. Thank You...
Day 24:
Weather is exceptionally good for walking. Nice four lane
highway. WV has hellacious hills-mountains what ever. I had
something very neat happen to me yesterday and will convey it
later today or tomorrow. I'm in an area where there is no cell
phone access after the first hour. Area is very pretty.
Day 25:
Got used to the hills. Not mountains but hills. I kind of feel
like Jeremiah Jonhson getting ready to take on the mountains.
Weather has been good. road is great to walk on, wide shoulders
and four lanes.
Day 26:
Today the road got bad. Back to 2 lane with little or no
shoulder. Told that this is the way it is for the next 70 miles
through the mountains. Weather is still great. Holiday Inn in
Bridgeport was very gracious in cooperating with this project.
Very Nice and very helpful people. Thanks you Susan Lefler.
Day 27:
Will aim for Redhouse, MD tomorrow (about 24miles). Small
mountains today were not bad today. Waiting to see what is ahead.
Weather was excellent with a high about 80. It gets cool in
the evening as the sun sets. Made the local TV
station tonight: Leslie Ruben of channel 5 came out on the road
to film and talk. It will be on the 7 & 11 P.M. news. Weather
should be good for next 4-5 days. Same as today. I hope to be in
Winchester, VA on Wednesday. Hwy 50 is two lanes with little or
no shoulder. Traffic has a lot to do with progress.
Day 32:
This was the toughest day so far as there was no shoulder to
walk on for 70% of the distance. It was walk on the roadway or
walk in the loose gravel and or 12" grass. The drivers on this
highway were not very easy to deal with. The highlight of the
day was that I contacted the American Legion Post 21 in
Winchester, VA. Spoke with the Service officer Owen Johnston.
Without hesitating Owen offered to come and pick me up and take
me back to my car in Winchester. Had I had participation like
that from the American Legion Posts along the way my trip would
have been completed several days ago. Owen thank you.
Day 34:
Today I think I walked almost 10 hours. The traffic here is more
intense than I would imagine. It was a good day, overcast with a
little sun. Kevin Ries, son of Jack and Jan Ries, gave me a ride
back to my car in Aldie. Kevin and his wife live in the D.C.
Area As soon as I got in Kevin's car the skies opened again.
Somebody up there likes me. I hope to get into Washington this
A.M early. Will let all know the results. Kevin, thank you
again.
Day 35:
Washington D.C.
Final day of walk.
    
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