tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12221786099367022462024-03-13T11:53:46.392-04:00WorldGuy's Walk for Diabetes Awareness -Erik Bendl is walking to bring awareness to diabetes. Traveling along the nations roadways with Nice (the dog) while rolling an earth ball. In recent years he has traveled in over twenty states and walked thousands of miles to show that anyone can make a change in the world by being active.World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.comBlogger1196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-1473428857827713092020-11-30T09:57:00.001-05:002022-03-13T20:01:00.704-04:00Mary's New Hat<div>This old hat has seen the nation.</div><div>Dry and rain-soaked, it's seen it all.</div><div>To hear it's tale, study it's fashion.</div><div>It's feather, band, chinstraps ribbon , and faded brim. </div><div>The fingered hole, dirty crease, missing liner and all.</div><div>The greatest gift, is of the stuff I never thought I'd share with another; the love I've locked away.</div><div>Every old hat has once been a new hat.</div><div>Let us start anew, begin again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have begun walking from Main Street in Lubec Maine. For now I am walking to Acadia .<br>
Love yourself and walk is my message.<br>
Erik Bendl from Louisville, Ky on Facebook.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C-W1MZ4r0ws/WbK_Av_YDGI/AAAAAAAAHJU/IPwKPKYzjDk_tKZyx9n9tdTN2XvNqHliwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--455738635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C-W1MZ4r0ws/WbK_Av_YDGI/AAAAAAAAHJU/IPwKPKYzjDk_tKZyx9n9tdTN2XvNqHliwCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image--455738635.jpg"></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-60432139551072012282017-09-02T15:05:00.002-04:002017-09-05T04:37:47.586-04:00A Moment Worth the EffortFew destinations I have journeyed toward have felt so satisfying as the stroll from the mailbox at the end of the driveway in Louisville to Hopkinsville where, at the total eclipse of the sun four weeks later, beside my big sister, we watched the world turn to darkness beneath clear skies in the afternoon. We laughed and cried in awe under the amazing sight hand-in-hand, free of a lifetimes' ills, for two minutes and forty seconds. Afterwards, while the moon slowly relinquished its shadow, we enjoyed watching children frolic with the world in an open space perfect for play. Making the memories we will have all the sweeter in years to come, of the day when we stood before the world, together for a moment.<div>The children truly will inherit the Earth.<br>
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When I am older I'd like to remember getting there.<br>
I'm walking to the path where the moon covers the the sun... for two minutes.<br>
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The first people to stop and talk with me after I rolled past the mailbox at the end of the driveway were two sheriffs who seemed inordinarily happy that I was walking for diabetes awareness; spreading my little message to take care of yourself, walk to help control-prevent-manage it. One quickly got out asking to have our picture taken by his partner. He just as quickly stiffened and labored to the little ditch with running water, a foot or so across. As he sidestepped down the berm he told me he had just returned to duty from bypass surgery on both legs from his diabetes. Apparently I was a reminder he took to heart (perhaps only for two minutes) enough to move the parts he wanted to keep. He shook my hand and called me an angel...Leaning more comfortably with "idiot", I was encouraged that this journey will have more memories than two minutes of darkness and a new dawn in the middle of the afternoon.<br>
As my friends' Grandmother always said, "Self praise is half scandal."<br>
I'm heading to the path where the moon eclipses the sun around Hopkinsville, Kentucky.<br>
I hope to prevent the ravages of diabetes, and for me, walking has helped.<br>
I update pictures and comments on Facebook, Erik Bendl from Louisville, Kentucky.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o70kiMcCWk0/WX3jYMbIvOI/AAAAAAAADpY/oRjj93pGhBoNOwHCT7oKxk-tNJ3dUAp9wCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1693895430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o70kiMcCWk0/WX3jYMbIvOI/AAAAAAAADpY/oRjj93pGhBoNOwHCT7oKxk-tNJ3dUAp9wCHMYCw/s640/blogger-image-1693895430.jpg"></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-11221380893990845402017-06-25T12:50:00.001-04:002017-06-25T23:19:15.562-04:00No wordsNo words can fully express what I have felt since the third weekend of January, when Nice (the dog) passed away.<br />
We somehow had stepped in fourty eighth states, walked thousands of miles before he decided to get old and pass quietly. The decline was swift. Especially in the weeks from Election Day, when we had walked to the Petroglyphs in Albuquerque, New Mexico to the weekend of the Presidential Inauguration when it was time for Nice to leave the world.<br />
The time for mourning has passed.<br />
I must shed the collective weight of all that has occurred in these few months and continue as best I know how. Keep pushing.<br />
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World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-59164611221728245392016-12-08T12:48:00.000-05:002016-12-08T13:20:54.179-05:00From Home to EternityOn the strange chance this app will stay open long enough to let me post I will attempt an update<br>
I have not been able to use my phone to post here while I have traveled across the nation since the beginning of October. Either I lacked signal when I drove around many National Parks and historic sights or the "app" would simply not properly link with my device. During this extended jaunt from my home in Louisville I also completed a walk over the high plateau in New Mexico from The Pecos to The Rio Grande River in Albuquerque. Then I drove back across the South revisiting thousands of miles that I had walked through the years before returning briefly for Thanksgiving celebrations in Louisville. I then traveled to Northern Florida and began from the west side of Tallahassee heading east through the city. On the second evening I received a call telling me of the passing of my dear friend Dennis Allen.<br>
Dennis and I met in our teenage years and kept a close friendship over the years despite his living sometimes in Kentucky and much of his life in Florida. We traveled together hitchhiking to California in our twenties, worked with one another at times professionally. From his home in Florida I have begun two walks rolling the World ball to promote diabetes awareness. Few people in life have I known to be as good and true a friend, Dennis Wayne Allen.<br>
All that said I am now in South Florida with his family to see him off and celebrate his life.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JzgLmXfS7_w/WEmeeUjrxYI/AAAAAAAADn8/u5OcEFx6hcA/s640/blogger-image--248194245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JzgLmXfS7_w/WEmeeUjrxYI/AAAAAAAADn8/u5OcEFx6hcA/s640/blogger-image--248194245.jpg"></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-1504429598736988432016-12-01T20:59:00.001-05:002016-12-01T21:07:17.134-05:00Posting problemsThis app keeps kicking me out to my home screen. Posting on facebook.<div>In Tallahassee now after walking to Albuquerque then driving home for the holiday.</div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-69363358343672698862016-10-23T23:18:00.000-04:002016-11-30T18:23:10.835-05:00The Second AttemptThree years ago I attempted to walk from Lubbock to Albuquerque. I pinched a nerve and had to go back home.<br>
Now I am back, taking up where I left off.<br>
I was about twenty miles East of Fort Sumner on Friday when I started at about four in the afternoon. I walked about four miles, then walked back to bring the van forward. This is a new twist, walking back after a short distance, rather than walking all day with the faith that I will somehow get a ride. When it gets dark, I will start walking back if I haven't found help.. This worked out fine for Nice (the dog), he liked the change in routine.<br>
Saturday morning we walked the remaining two and a half miles into Tiban. The only commerce going on there anymore is in the Post Office. The church, a hollow shell,on the edge of town where the road was widened and sidewalks laid down from the post recession stimulus. An attempt to uplift the town, but it was not enough to save Tiban. The woman at the Post Office watched the world while I returned for the van. After that I was able to get a few rides so at the end of the day I did not have to walk back for the van. Even at the end of the day, as I was about to start back, I sat down to change my socks and a nice family picked us up. Today, Sunday, I met Tom, in his ranger convertible, who gave me a ride once I made my way into Fort Sumner. I am staying at the RV Park next door to The Billy the Kid Museum so I could have some electricity and water. I took some time to repaint the world before the long miles ahead without a town for a great distance. I hope I will not have to walk the distance twice. It may have to be. The nights get cold and I'd rather keep the purple van, filled with blankets and dog food, within a couple of hours walking distance.<br>
I am having trouble getting the app to let me log onto this blog, for now updates will be mostly on my facebook.<br>
Erik Bendl, Louisville, Kentucky.<br>
When I need help I will ask on facebook.<br>
This is, if I have a signal.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tYwKGwkJDI/WD9XPx9KhVI/AAAAAAAADnI/BCQOfsr6mo8/s640/blogger-image--2052621527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tYwKGwkJDI/WD9XPx9KhVI/AAAAAAAADnI/BCQOfsr6mo8/s640/blogger-image--2052621527.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Zwy8_EFkYw/WD9XgDdsYNI/AAAAAAAADnY/oI4r3t4w1Uo/s640/blogger-image-1446997774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Zwy8_EFkYw/WD9XgDdsYNI/AAAAAAAADnY/oI4r3t4w1Uo/s640/blogger-image-1446997774.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-f-z0qFKwU/WD9XbOkP79I/AAAAAAAADnU/6HGKdtuIdzQ/s640/blogger-image-131220667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-f-z0qFKwU/WD9XbOkP79I/AAAAAAAADnU/6HGKdtuIdzQ/s640/blogger-image-131220667.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5o1cPTh94Wo/WD9XT_kG09I/AAAAAAAADnM/UK07-l6OV60/s640/blogger-image--570119266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5o1cPTh94Wo/WD9XT_kG09I/AAAAAAAADnM/UK07-l6OV60/s640/blogger-image--570119266.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNuK4qHN9R0/WD9XMKcYbgI/AAAAAAAADnE/XPQlVJx5UQs/s640/blogger-image--826827094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNuK4qHN9R0/WD9XMKcYbgI/AAAAAAAADnE/XPQlVJx5UQs/s640/blogger-image--826827094.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2xDJEUbObE/WD9XXoP8iKI/AAAAAAAADnQ/TQqCA0dfWOY/s640/blogger-image-353309161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o2xDJEUbObE/WD9XXoP8iKI/AAAAAAAADnQ/TQqCA0dfWOY/s640/blogger-image-353309161.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jM8DseX9VWY/WD9eMvrkSeI/AAAAAAAADnk/xRFKgOSpnGI/s640/blogger-image--1939971062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jM8DseX9VWY/WD9eMvrkSeI/AAAAAAAADnk/xRFKgOSpnGI/s640/blogger-image--1939971062.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s7bC1idDMFI/WD9eQUeqjWI/AAAAAAAADno/Zt1ujmO0qRU/s640/blogger-image-376366267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s7bC1idDMFI/WD9eQUeqjWI/AAAAAAAADno/Zt1ujmO0qRU/s640/blogger-image-376366267.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TfZtZnu8-Is/WD9fXCY-BPI/AAAAAAAADns/kr6PKdJJYVk/s640/blogger-image-2000168446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TfZtZnu8-Is/WD9fXCY-BPI/AAAAAAAADns/kr6PKdJJYVk/s640/blogger-image-2000168446.jpg"></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-48625148420466498402016-01-25T08:53:00.001-05:002016-01-25T09:01:24.576-05:00Following TracksI successfully walked from Tampa to Naples. I drove down a few days before Christmas picking up my 24 year old son in Pensacola. He is traveling and he wanted to see me. We drove along the coast around the Big Bend stopping to see Manatees and visiting Cedar Key. Igot my son whatever he wanted, a "hobo ice cream", a "po boy sandwich" and gave him a change of clothes (whether he wanted them or not). I also gave him my Carhart jacket. We walked together for a few days rolling from Tampa, south. Spending Christmas with my son in Bradenton, we had breakfast by the beach at Anna Marie, dinner was Chinese carry-out. We visited the beaches and saw a movie. Having had enough of the walking and the media (people were recognizing him even when we were not with the ball) I gave him what he wanted for Christmas, a ride to the highway. I took him a hundred miles north, out of range of the television viewing area that had caught up with us the day we left Tampa, and the local newspapers along the way...I guess it was time. The next day another TV station came to film the story and when I had rolled through Fort Myers the NBC affiliate had there coverage on Good Morning America (again). That would have really disappointed my boy's desire to go "low profile". I hope he finds happiness wherever he goes.<br />
When I had walked through Naples we, Nice (the dog) and me, we're a half of a mile from the end of the sidewalk, before the narrow roadside into the Everglades, when the dog, after rolling in the grass to scratch his own back, threw his shoulder out. He couldn't walk. I, thankfully, got a ride back to the van from a woman we had met the day prior. When I got Nice out of her car he stretched , (downward facing dog), and popped his shoulder back into place with a loud snap'. Along with the Fortune Cookie I got the night before which said, "Why take two steps when one will do?", I decided not to walk my old dog across the Everglades or through Miami. Another time perhaps.<br />
We the drove to Pompano to visit my good friends Dennis, Meribeth and Seamus (the dog) in Pompano Beach.<br />
Over a week later both of us were thoroughly recharged. Five mile walks to the beach each day were just not enough for my old hound. The weather above the Panhandle had turned cold and harsh, I have decided to continue my vacation with a short nostalgic walk up the coast, retracing our walk of five years ago... At least until the weather breaks.<br />
Maybe Nice (the dog) can see Patti in Jupiter who he fell in love with and then searched for her along every road for years.<br />
Wherever the road, I meet good people, some with miraculous stories of diabetes management, some with heartfelt loss from diabetes and many who stay healthier with a little daily walk.<br />
Love yourself a little, enjoy a stroll with a companion. <br />
Have a (Nice) day.<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R55p2thMJfE/VqYlrxGvoPI/AAAAAAAADlA/lfjFWh5ej74/s640/blogger-image--137616135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R55p2thMJfE/VqYlrxGvoPI/AAAAAAAADlA/lfjFWh5ej74/s640/blogger-image--137616135.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HN1KB8v9Dnw/VqYl1zgMLnI/AAAAAAAADlQ/jSdoo6-EC7I/s640/blogger-image--1954370915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HN1KB8v9Dnw/VqYl1zgMLnI/AAAAAAAADlQ/jSdoo6-EC7I/s640/blogger-image--1954370915.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dC4OlXDHMsA/VqYlSoHSzRI/AAAAAAAADkY/cULYEtqyRhY/s640/blogger-image-1691730866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dC4OlXDHMsA/VqYlSoHSzRI/AAAAAAAADkY/cULYEtqyRhY/s640/blogger-image-1691730866.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fAwKl-IuFl4/VqYlm88Hr1I/AAAAAAAADk4/z7wIZK-4Es8/s640/blogger-image--1658830223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fAwKl-IuFl4/VqYlm88Hr1I/AAAAAAAADk4/z7wIZK-4Es8/s640/blogger-image--1658830223.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zcNvgnwqd5g/VqYl6xK1B_I/AAAAAAAADlY/H3ZIgbgZPEA/s640/blogger-image--1068478171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zcNvgnwqd5g/VqYl6xK1B_I/AAAAAAAADlY/H3ZIgbgZPEA/s640/blogger-image--1068478171.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ma76JNl9j4M/VqYlcreAXiI/AAAAAAAADko/Vkv25gF9Osc/s640/blogger-image--178955566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ma76JNl9j4M/VqYlcreAXiI/AAAAAAAADko/Vkv25gF9Osc/s640/blogger-image--178955566.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aLfBdBzzatc/VqYo4c2m_tI/AAAAAAAADlk/P2-qCkLY1dc/s640/blogger-image--859968876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aLfBdBzzatc/VqYo4c2m_tI/AAAAAAAADlk/P2-qCkLY1dc/s640/blogger-image--859968876.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PsvtTDygCaw/VqYlh6QOPpI/AAAAAAAADkw/t7Ohu1g6R0w/s640/blogger-image-993207395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PsvtTDygCaw/VqYlh6QOPpI/AAAAAAAADkw/t7Ohu1g6R0w/s640/blogger-image-993207395.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SaSNP0cT768/VqYlXa6dXSI/AAAAAAAADkg/x-_2sbEekv4/s640/blogger-image-1303014416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SaSNP0cT768/VqYlXa6dXSI/AAAAAAAADkg/x-_2sbEekv4/s640/blogger-image-1303014416.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P4sF3ihme3M/VqYlw9nofmI/AAAAAAAADlI/1fImYGRdJPM/s640/blogger-image-312708785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P4sF3ihme3M/VqYlw9nofmI/AAAAAAAADlI/1fImYGRdJPM/s640/blogger-image-312708785.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-67425630442713315152015-12-21T13:04:00.001-05:002016-01-03T14:36:36.373-05:00A Worldguy HolidayFor my Christmas and New year celebration season I am setting out from Tampa heading to Naples, encouraging everyone to gift themselves with a daily push toward better health. A walk to the mailbox, the end of your block or beyond.<br />
You might meet with the highlight of your day along the highway.<br />
Happy holidays! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GdljBQ1gI4U/Vng-8nHwySI/AAAAAAAADiQ/LvAOYYFhobk/s640/blogger-image--416395320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GdljBQ1gI4U/Vng-8nHwySI/AAAAAAAADiQ/LvAOYYFhobk/s640/blogger-image--416395320.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8z7Tbbo29s/Vng_LwSkE8I/AAAAAAAADio/dLcG9f7P60Y/s640/blogger-image--975642461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8z7Tbbo29s/Vng_LwSkE8I/AAAAAAAADio/dLcG9f7P60Y/s640/blogger-image--975642461.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tLoBWbzPakI/Vng_G3mXXTI/AAAAAAAADig/XJr8guCI2IE/s640/blogger-image--567438225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tLoBWbzPakI/Vng_G3mXXTI/AAAAAAAADig/XJr8guCI2IE/s640/blogger-image--567438225.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--UyeS1jpBJE/Vng_BhxizqI/AAAAAAAADiY/0GBMpneHWI8/s640/blogger-image-252630974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--UyeS1jpBJE/Vng_BhxizqI/AAAAAAAADiY/0GBMpneHWI8/s640/blogger-image-252630974.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EI3vN-KseEw/VnhAD4_KVgI/AAAAAAAADi4/s5vhk86dOgY/s640/blogger-image-2098426449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EI3vN-KseEw/VnhAD4_KVgI/AAAAAAAADi4/s5vhk86dOgY/s640/blogger-image-2098426449.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cQwCvGqxGKg/Vng_-6R2Q0I/AAAAAAAADiw/qJaRkVZ1xBo/s640/blogger-image-1110746816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cQwCvGqxGKg/Vng_-6R2Q0I/AAAAAAAADiw/qJaRkVZ1xBo/s640/blogger-image-1110746816.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uy7RYpcf24I/VoTflvJYdGI/AAAAAAAADjQ/0fQeqjSeYT8/s640/blogger-image-251123114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uy7RYpcf24I/VoTflvJYdGI/AAAAAAAADjQ/0fQeqjSeYT8/s640/blogger-image-251123114.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0THJJ-wBveI/VoTfglchYMI/AAAAAAAADjI/ASJSTtdKeOc/s640/blogger-image-1565545291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0THJJ-wBveI/VoTfglchYMI/AAAAAAAADjI/ASJSTtdKeOc/s640/blogger-image-1565545291.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OC35Xd32WWg/VokJ8TvuJaI/AAAAAAAADjg/IRm6kSiKs5A/s640/blogger-image--2106359267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OC35Xd32WWg/VokJ8TvuJaI/AAAAAAAADjg/IRm6kSiKs5A/s640/blogger-image--2106359267.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KsQnlmuiNPE/VokKDeuLJnI/AAAAAAAADjo/J4O0cuV4WNU/s640/blogger-image-811594432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KsQnlmuiNPE/VokKDeuLJnI/AAAAAAAADjo/J4O0cuV4WNU/s640/blogger-image-811594432.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sG95vF7va9w/Vol4KvpZblI/AAAAAAAADkA/BxX6AP3GcM0/s640/blogger-image--994654581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sG95vF7va9w/Vol4KvpZblI/AAAAAAAADkA/BxX6AP3GcM0/s640/blogger-image--994654581.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7MM82c2y1kM/Vol4Fdzy9ZI/AAAAAAAADj4/Jb5KLEqv-og/s640/blogger-image--963711194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7MM82c2y1kM/Vol4Fdzy9ZI/AAAAAAAADj4/Jb5KLEqv-og/s640/blogger-image--963711194.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n3_FMOX0rp0/Vol4QeZIIVI/AAAAAAAADkI/hdaGYmJv4xE/s640/blogger-image--832170745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n3_FMOX0rp0/Vol4QeZIIVI/AAAAAAAADkI/hdaGYmJv4xE/s640/blogger-image--832170745.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-38398344258877057992015-10-08T21:55:00.001-04:002015-12-20T20:52:09.533-05:00Louisville Step out Walk, 2015After walking between Nashville to Memphis to promote the American Diabetes Association Walks I attended the walk in my home town. <br />
I held up the rear. I felt like the drummer at the end of the credits in the old Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. It was a good end to a long journey.<br />
The following week I received a call from Josh, a man I had met in Tennessee. He wanted to let me know he had met Rico from Stanton, a neighboring town. Rico was organizing a walk for diabetes in Stanton. I met Rico when I walked through Stanton. Josh said he wanted me to know I was doing something good for people. Inspiring others, even if I wasn't aware.<br />
It was nice to hear from Josh and to hear his news. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L3pQG82NHqw/Vhcd2HE0cLI/AAAAAAAADgo/HihvH-E9n5w/s640/blogger-image-417475898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L3pQG82NHqw/Vhcd2HE0cLI/AAAAAAAADgo/HihvH-E9n5w/s640/blogger-image-417475898.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oq0omkGnRX0/VhceGqlKsUI/AAAAAAAADhA/SV1KFgsieoo/s640/blogger-image-667409052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oq0omkGnRX0/VhceGqlKsUI/AAAAAAAADhA/SV1KFgsieoo/s640/blogger-image-667409052.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mmcfzy9qO4E/VhceBjORtqI/AAAAAAAADg4/lFIUciagTow/s640/blogger-image--1132890321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mmcfzy9qO4E/VhceBjORtqI/AAAAAAAADg4/lFIUciagTow/s640/blogger-image--1132890321.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B8JvtXlsiq0/Vhcd7mFI9EI/AAAAAAAADgw/34Y2SGO5Reo/s640/blogger-image--6933625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B8JvtXlsiq0/Vhcd7mFI9EI/AAAAAAAADgw/34Y2SGO5Reo/s640/blogger-image--6933625.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8XFSvXjEbZ4/VhceMHRHL1I/AAAAAAAADhI/uz5FpTxV-AQ/s640/blogger-image--117090895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8XFSvXjEbZ4/VhceMHRHL1I/AAAAAAAADhI/uz5FpTxV-AQ/s640/blogger-image--117090895.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fn1YdU8XcHw/VhceXEY5NJI/AAAAAAAADhY/mF_0i_MPkLQ/s640/blogger-image-2065653340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fn1YdU8XcHw/VhceXEY5NJI/AAAAAAAADhY/mF_0i_MPkLQ/s640/blogger-image-2065653340.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8klKhNANKfk/VhceRdXJxiI/AAAAAAAADhQ/ADfHSABc2o0/s640/blogger-image-733056999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8klKhNANKfk/VhceRdXJxiI/AAAAAAAADhQ/ADfHSABc2o0/s640/blogger-image-733056999.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--XBgUp8F7-Y/VhcecCv8FlI/AAAAAAAADhg/4oDot-QtDWE/s640/blogger-image-1153159879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--XBgUp8F7-Y/VhcecCv8FlI/AAAAAAAADhg/4oDot-QtDWE/s640/blogger-image-1153159879.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GxMXHQHAqoI/VhcehAvTGKI/AAAAAAAADho/umkF9oytDHY/s640/blogger-image--1066631544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GxMXHQHAqoI/VhcehAvTGKI/AAAAAAAADho/umkF9oytDHY/s640/blogger-image--1066631544.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-34uGNbwCYyg/VhcdvJyCGGI/AAAAAAAADgg/rpDiBXLv6j8/s640/blogger-image-1189501092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-34uGNbwCYyg/VhcdvJyCGGI/AAAAAAAADgg/rpDiBXLv6j8/s640/blogger-image-1189501092.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SbcvDiQnBYE/VndbRcrLYvI/AAAAAAAADiA/_YrZKAHY1MQ/s640/blogger-image-825122729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SbcvDiQnBYE/VndbRcrLYvI/AAAAAAAADiA/_YrZKAHY1MQ/s640/blogger-image-825122729.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-24493064341183324162015-09-08T19:33:00.001-04:002015-10-08T21:13:36.821-04:00Full-FilledThe last day of the walk to Schenectady I met Howard. At Ninety-four he is still peddling about on his bicycle. He rode up as ninety-one year old Dottie walked over with her daughter. One thing I should say about both mister Johnson and miss Cook they look happy and fulfilled. Both look at life from the bright side, not from the twilight. <br />
After returning home I attended my Aunt and Uncle's Seventieth Wedding Anniversary Celebration. They are both Ninety-six.<br />
All of these folks are to be looked upon as examples. <br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U8S60nK_ns0/Ve9wPoAz-DI/AAAAAAAADWk/N9T_XHhSu_M/s640/blogger-image-279227734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U8S60nK_ns0/Ve9wPoAz-DI/AAAAAAAADWk/N9T_XHhSu_M/s640/blogger-image-279227734.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-70649437009639116092015-09-02T15:24:00.001-04:002015-09-20T12:06:53.953-04:00Step Out Walk, 2015 with updatesTo promote participation in the upcoming annual American Diabetes Association Step Out Walks in the Tennessee and Kentucky area I have set a goal to walk from Nashville to Memphis.<br />
The Memphis Walk, September 19, 2015 is being held at the Botanical Gardens, 610 Cherry Rd.<br />
Now is the time to join a team for the Step Out Walk, create a team of your friends and family, or go to mbeasy@diabetes.org , or donate virtually on-line.<br />
That's the goal, over two hundred miles.<br />
Wish me luck...<br />
<br />
Update: after four days I am tired, sore and behind schedule. A heat wave has forced me to transition to walking in the early darkness and switching has added to the fatigue. On the first day I met man who said that if I could walk more than ten miles per day with all I had to manage, he could manage to get involved and walk a 5K. I was able to walk from downtown Nashville, at Fanny Mae Park, thirteen miles where I stayed by a roadside produce vendor and the Jerky Shack overnight by a fork in the road.<br />
The second day, beginning at the same time as the previous day (8am), with high temperatures, tall grass, heavy dew and stifling humidity, I didn't get so far. I reasoned I had to walk at night to stay out of the heat. That evening I parked at an Auto repair shop. The owner had been waiting for me after seeing the TV news. Nashville's channel 4 found me as I was walking out of town the day before. Both the owner of the towing/ auto repair and the woman who gave me a ride to the Jerky Shack ( to get the van ) recommended I skip over "the Narrows" that were just ahead to be safe. I did, there were some spots that could have been tight. The time it took to deflate and transport two miles then blow it up was the same as walking it at 2am to avoid traffic. <br />
Through the narrows to Shacklett I began walking the third day at 4am. It was'nt long after I began walking, when I slipped backwards down a shallow bank while waiting for a truck to pass. The backward momentum when my feet hit the ditch launched me onto my backpack and buttocks.. Though bruised and sore since, the way I landed seemed to adjust my lower-back like never before and my spine feels great, despite the bruised buttocks. I am moving slower while the bruises heal but I can't fault the fall because my lower back has not felt this loose for decades.<br />
The early start helped and I was able to make it to Montgomery Bell State Park, where a nice couple were going back the same direction and gave me a lift. When I got back to the park I tried to sleep and rise early. I began that day at 2am and made good distance, but between two towns I ended up at a biker-bar with no shade or hope of sleep in the heat. I transported the World ahead after a sweaty nap in search of a motel. The nearest was Waverly. With no dogs allowed, the motel did let me use an outside electrical outlet for my fan. I was rested and walking again at 2am.<br />
<br />
Update after a week:<br />
From Waverly we made out way through New Johnsonville over the Tennessee River bridge leading to a long straightaway with guardrails on both sides. Just enough room to lean the world on the rail as autos passed. A patience exercise. The local police took a dislike to my distraction and I had to deflate the world and go to the next county.<br />
Starting again from the police/administration building of Hollow Rock after an afternoon of patching and paint we left early to pass Huntingdon, ending that day at a country store in Leach. Rain soaked the world overnight to make the roadside wet going. The water rolling off the canvas and onto my arms when a rain came ,mixed with the ivy oils I unavoidably plow over in the ditches. My forearms are covered with ivy rash. Eventually we made our way to Spring Creek where I was interviewed by the Jackson TV News. I found a shaded spot to park and got to sleep comfortably without sweating too much. Leaving at 3:13 am for Jackson I was able to get to the west side of Jackson, 17.5 miles. Only because a woman offered to keep Nice (the dog) for the day while she worked at the storm shelter store. <br />
I wish I had more time to go into detail but I have schedule to keep. Walking a half marathon each day to get to a 5k takes some concentration.<br />
While walking through Jackson I talked with a woman who showed me her tiny counter she keeps which tells her how far she has walked each day. Since beginning to use it she makes sure she has gotten those steps in each day. Each day she walks 5k, mostly on the job. With determination she has lost fifteen pounds.<br />
We all could benefit by walking a 5k each day. <br />
Late start from Jackson, 5am.<br />
Update: by the end of the morning out if Jackson it was obvious that Nice (the dog), who had a slight cut between two toes was beginning to limp. He had the cut for two days but the long marches I was leading him through were not giving him the few days he needed to heal.<br />
We got to Bond's Crossing, at Bond Cemetery Road. I was thinking about how I was going to get Nice back to the van from the middle of nowhere. Then a box van came up the cemetery road, the man inside was the Gravedigger on his way to the store during a break. He stopped to talk. Soon, when I had told him of the injured dog, he and I loaded the World in the Gravedigger's truck and back to the edge of Jackson.<br />
Then I had to decide to stop altogether or call the only friends I could leave him with while I somehow get to Memphis to the 5/K at the Botanical Gardens. <br />
Saturday I drove back to Kentucky to drop Nice off with friends then drive back. I was on the road Sunday around eleven.<br />
<br />
Feeling drunk from exhaustion after driving to Louisville and back I was happy to get a place to park only a few miles up the road at a banquet hall, Big Brother's. watched the World while I retrieved the van from a Couple and their infant who were going that way and dropped me at the lumber yard. <br />
Mister King, the proprietor offered up some barbecue at five o'clock, if I decided to stay. The cool day allowed me to have a short nap in the van despite the cloudless sunny skies. The hall, which looked unused, was then surrounded with people and vendors who were there for a car and bike show. There weren't t many entrants but the the turnout was great. The clash of Classic R&B and Hip-Hop<br />
Made for fun sleep. I put on my earbuds and fell asleep to rock'n roll oldies and awoke to an empty lot. <br />
I made my way through Brownsville on Monday. Shook hands with the Mayor, got a shuttle to bring up the van , then headed out of town toward Stanton.<br />
At dark a man who lived at the edge of "the bottoms" offered to take me through a stretch with many long and narrow bridges. The man knew his swamp, I took the ride to Kristies Shack only a few miles from Stanton so when I got going early I had only a few more bridges to get out of the lowland road.<br />
Stanton wakes up early. I arrived just before sunrise and both the stores were open for business. The coffee was right on time and the people were great.<br />
I walked out of Stanton through Keeling to Tipton county then into Mason. It was there I met a man who offered some very good advice to skip over to US-64 that runs parallel to US-70 on the opposite side of Interstate-40. He offered to help get me and the World back to my van then lead me to Somerville and 64 which has wide four lanes with an emergency lane. US-70, he said would only become more narrow further down the road. The distance to Memphis from either Mason or Somerville was nearly the same, I wouldn't have to play dodge-the-semi on the shoulder-less road and tall grass where no one can safely get of the road to talk.<br />
The deciding factor while I waited for the man to come fetch me after a meeting he had with a customer was when the county truck with a huge tank and spray cannon came by in the opposite direction shooting a thirty foot arc, high pressure stream of insecticide and weedkiller. A slight breeze sent a hardly discernible cloud expanding over the fields and embankments. As the glistening cloud passed around me all of the bugs went silent...<br />
A few minutes later the man arrived to take me back to the van. We loaded the World onto the bed of his truck. As we drove away from the mist I became lightheaded from the fresh air. My ride, the area fertilizer salesman assured me the concoction of insecticide and weedkiller was safe for humans. I could feel my brain pulsing in my scull and was not convinced. He led me to the wide open highway from Mason to Somerville. I was able to get supplies at the grocery and wash some clothes at the "coin-op" before I went to the gas station my adviser had recommended would allow me to begin from the next morning.<br />
I inflated the World, patched a few tears , touched up some bare canvas before darkness fell.<br />
In the morning I had breakfast with the Somerville Liars Table before starting out on the wide highway with a pull off lane that made my progress worlds easier.<br />
People could stop safely, I didn't have to stop and wait for all traffic to pass or weave back and forth to dodge big tricks.<br />
I walked to Oakland and was passing a gas/food mart when the manager came out to the road to ask me questions. He was finishing his shift in ten minutes Nd offered to shuttle me back to Somerville and the van while I left the World tied at the store. From there I continued along the wide thoroughfare in the heat of the day. When I made my way to the outer loop240 of The Memphis area I met Patti who got me back to leap-frog the support van the. Later she brought dinner and offered to bring me home for a shower the next day when I was near her home.<br />
She brought enough food to keep me all day Thursday as I walked into the Memphis city limits. She and her husband, Saint Van, came at the end of the day to take me for a meal and a shower.<br />
Friday morning, seven miles from the goal of the Botanical Gardens in Memphis I pondered the starts, skips, the drive back to Louisville to leave Nice (the dog) with friends so his foot could heal, the countless moments with people I met. Amazingly I may make it on time.<br />
Note: I heard on NPR that the organization that counts these things reported that the annual toll of deaths Worldwide is up 1.5 million.<br />
Maybe if we all walk a 5k each day we could lessen that number.<br />
Final Update: I had a good day rolling the last miles to the Botanical Gardens on Friday. A concert was being held at the venue that evening so I couldn't park in the area. Fortunately my new friend Patti was close-by, came to pick me up, took me to lunch and then insisted on getting me a room at a motel so I could be clean and rested for the event. <br />
On Saturday I was back to the Botanical Gardens was the first vehicle to park in the field outside the garden's gate. A worker directed parking in rows, and staged the van fifty yards from the spot I had ended the previous day.<br />
The first person to speak to me when I had inflated the ball and rolled it through the gates was Rico, a man I had met a few days earlier while walking outside Stanton. He had said he would come to the 5k, as he was a daily runner. I gave him the email address of Meagan at the Memphis office.. He had come early and was helping set up the tables. <br />
Rico wasn't the only person who said he would come to the event while I approached Memphis. But he was the only one to follow through.<br />
Seeing Rico warmed my heart, brought goose bumps to my arms and validated my unconventional advertising.<br />
I met Meagan, the event directer, parked the world by the gate and helped finish putting out the chairs as the crowd of participants arrived.<br />
The walk was a success. <br />
Love yourself, go for a walk!<br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WZ0GlyArDmg/Vf7Y3U-q6xI/AAAAAAAADfE/usiYhPxcwfY/s640/blogger-image-2077191490.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q3Ji_E6pEHg/Vf7Yhw5cQcI/AAAAAAAADek/jDRPB5XTpek/s640/blogger-image--1625326283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q3Ji_E6pEHg/Vf7Yhw5cQcI/AAAAAAAADek/jDRPB5XTpek/s640/blogger-image--1625326283.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OYpZs47e0A8/Vf7YHbWWLXI/AAAAAAAADd8/d1ObmC2SS3s/s640/blogger-image-1157979612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OYpZs47e0A8/Vf7YHbWWLXI/AAAAAAAADd8/d1ObmC2SS3s/s640/blogger-image-1157979612.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bQP0fzHS5eo/Vf7YnRGS9FI/AAAAAAAADes/UJ0odoXRr4I/s640/blogger-image-1421396336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bQP0fzHS5eo/Vf7YnRGS9FI/AAAAAAAADes/UJ0odoXRr4I/s640/blogger-image-1421396336.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-41530707251759978052015-08-29T08:10:00.001-04:002015-08-31T15:39:45.125-04:00Planting SeedsOn my second day out of Poughkeepsie I passed through Red Hook into beautiful farmlands and orchards. The hustle and bustle of New York faded to the patient routine of rural agriculture.<br />
At a small crossroad store I spoke to a local mother who was enthused and appreciative of the cause and message. She asked if she could help me in any way, gave me her phone number, described where she lived about two miles further up the road and offered to help with a ride at the end of the day. Later I passed her home, it was just as she had described. Her husband, the goat farmer, just as she had described, watched me balance the World like a plow along the furrow between the white line at the roads' edge and the ditch until I was well beyond the nearby crossroad.<br />
<br />
Many days later, as I was driving back from completing the trek to Schenectady, along the same road, I saw the goat farm and recalled the woman and her husband. <br />
Then I noticed the woman walking along the road, just beyond their property. She was walking with one of her teenage sons and carrying a bag of groceries from the store two miles down the country road. She looked red faced and winded, but also had a smile on her face, beaming with satisfaction.<br />
I would like to think seeds strewn along the highway sometimes take root.<br />
<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dD8dcVQK7HY/VeSK4lj5eLI/AAAAAAAADTU/3ZgQESVzJhA/s640/blogger-image-415954269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dD8dcVQK7HY/VeSK4lj5eLI/AAAAAAAADTU/3ZgQESVzJhA/s640/blogger-image-415954269.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G4fLc4VWQGo/VeSLCD3-4JI/AAAAAAAADTk/eOp2DkMPfOU/s640/blogger-image-1988727327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G4fLc4VWQGo/VeSLCD3-4JI/AAAAAAAADTk/eOp2DkMPfOU/s640/blogger-image-1988727327.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zdov3ArXeeI/VeSK9IECUnI/AAAAAAAADTc/5nEFFV0-w4g/s640/blogger-image--1270181846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zdov3ArXeeI/VeSK9IECUnI/AAAAAAAADTc/5nEFFV0-w4g/s640/blogger-image--1270181846.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_ozP-DEl9c/VeSOHASAHCI/AAAAAAAADTw/_XG1ON6RmGM/s640/blogger-image-769041218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D_ozP-DEl9c/VeSOHASAHCI/AAAAAAAADTw/_XG1ON6RmGM/s640/blogger-image-769041218.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-58017784743029241892015-07-21T21:05:00.001-04:002015-07-25T00:58:58.557-04:00"Cleanup on Isle 9."One day, as I walked along Route-9, close to the Hudson River, near Hudson and The Rip Van Winkle Bridge, a man stopped in a large parking area in the frontage of an industry. I was away from the road but still fifty yards from him. The man asked if I was the same person he had seen in Nebraska a few winters ago. <br />
I was.<br />
He travels to middle America twice each year and recalled the road, the town, the conversation he had with his wife that day and how impressed he was that I was pushing the World in the middle of nowhere. He was excited that he now encountered me in Upstate New York, in his home town. This time he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get a picture and hear my story. <br />
We had a lively exchange, from a distance, until we had to get to where we were going. I continued across the frontage of the industrial property toward Schenectady and he went back to his work.<br />
The roadside was steep through there and it was safer to walk in the newly resurfaced field of the industrial property. As I came to the edge of the property, next to a bridge over a tributary to the Hudson, I noticed vent pipes protruding from the freshly graded, newly seeded ground. <br />
My thought was that this property was undergoing a major cleanup and I recalled how I had, long ago misunderstood the term Superfund Sites to be Super-Fun sites. I clambered up the bank of the roadside, amid stumps of recently felled trees and brush, to then run the bridge over the "kill" that bordered the industry.<br />
I thought no more of it.<br />
<br />
That evening I stayed in Hudson. Where I parked my van that night happened to be where the local youths spend their evenings next to their cars, flexing their prowess at one another and otherwise throwing their garbage around the parking lot there at the strip mall complex. <br />
That's another story...<br />
<br />
The next day I encountered a man. Rather, I was cut off by a man while crossing a gravel driveway. He came in fast, at an awkward angle. When he applied his brakes his truck slid a little farther than he seemed to have intended. Looking slightly over his shoulder he asked if I was the man he saw the day before. He said the name of the property and grimly asked if I were with the Nature Conservancy (I couldn't even spell it without spell-check).<br />
I said no, that I was fulfilling my lifelong dream of walking from Poughkeepsie to Schenectady... <br />
His face twisted up as he said he had seen me and a man in a pickup truck yelling at one another, that he thought I was with the Nature Conservancy.<br />
"No, we were talking about the time he saw me in Nebraska on my way from Sheboygan to Muskogee..."<br />
His head cocked to the side, perplexed. " So your not with the Nature Conservancy?<br />
"... I don't know a thing about the Nature Conservancy, I'm walking for diabetes awareness to get people to walk everyday while fulfilling my lifelong dream of walking from Poughkeepsie to Schenectady..."<br />
He really wanted to give me an "earful" about the Nature Conservancy.<br />
Now that he has put that idea in my head about the Nature Conservancy I may have to look them up on one of those search engine thingies. <br />
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Walking from Poughkeepsie to Schenectady would not be the furthest distance I had attempted, in fact, it was the shortest of the long-distance walks. No less important than any other.<br />
I was excited about the unique people and experiences the journey would bring. The good and the challenging roads, the historic sites, the beautiful views, overlooked while speeding along the highway in an automobile. <br />
I knew it was going to end, all goals do.<br />
Like the Myth of Sisyphus, I knew this lofty height would return me to another beginning. <br />
Some interpret that Sisyphus, by being condemned to roll a boulder up a mountain (only to have it roll back each time he reached the summit) for eternity had tricked the gods into what he wanted all along, to live forever. He, it has been written, happily embraced the futility.<br />
I had just walked from Nashville, Tennessee over the Smokey Mountains through Asheville, North Carolina. The southern heat and humidity forced me to do much of the trek under the darkness of the early pre-dawn hours. The warm Poughkeepsie sun was no comparison to the muggy climate of the southern<br />
springtime. This much more mild climate, in Upstate New York, was already feeling like a vacation getaway.<br />
As I entered Hyde Park a patrolmen stopped me. Already the "Hens" of the area were calling about a man "in" the road. I had been enjoying a wide shoulder on the four-lane and at no time had I needed to cross over the white "fog line". The Chief pulled in just as I had finished talking with the patrolman. After I practiced saying "Poughkeepsie to Schenectady" one more time (I have a hard stutter and had trouble with Schenectady), I told the rotund chief I was walking to encourage people to walk to prevent and control diabetes. He stopped looking me in the eye, he then quickly sent me on my way. <br />
In Hyde Park, with the historic home of the Roosevelt's and Vanderbilt's, I passed a congregation of local law enforcement officers, apparently training their service-dogs in a large field within the rock-walled perimeter of the Roosevelt Home property. They called to me from across the road, asking what I was doing. <br />
I replied. "I'm fulfilling my lifelong dream (truthfully..it had been my dream since the previous Saturday) of walking from Poughkeepsie to Schenectady for diabetes awareness (the names were flowing by then, not a stammer saying Schenectady). Trying to get people, like your Chief, to walk to control diabetes!"<br />
I hadn't noticed that among the K-9 SUVs with barking dogs (jealous of the dog and his giant ball rolling by), was parked the Chief. The half dozen men standing outside their vehicles all laughed and did the equivalent of whistling and pretending that I had not just "called him out". They all looked up to the sky and walked in different directions...<br />
I walked on.<br />
After walking through the heart of Hyde Park and just before the Vanderbilt Estate I was called onto the porch by the woman who owns The Surviving Sisters, a boutique. We talked for over an hour. Her mother came with sandwiches. We laughed and talked as if we were old friends. When I got up to leave she noticed my old, stretched out belt hanging out of the belt loop. She owned a boutique, as I said, and as I tucked it in the pant-loop, making excuses for the souvenir of my day in New York City years ago, she "lit up" with excitement. She ran into her store and came out with an abstract belt-buckle of a man rolling a giant stone...Sisyphus,. She said she had just put it out on display and now knew why. She gave me the belt...<br />
It just fit...<br />
The belt was just long enough for me to catch the last hole in the leather strap.<br />
I was touched...<br />
(I hope you are catching these double-entendres)<br />
The remainder of the day was not lined with sidewalks and wide shoulders. The roadway narrowed with more hills. The shallow ditch became my walkway, while I rolled the world tight against rock embankments around turns. By the end of the day I was tired and hungry to the point of delirium. <br />
Luckily I had met a man who guided me to the fire station at the edge of the next town. He gave me a ride and took me to the Indian restaurant where we talked for a long while about family and other things until closing time. It was the best food, beautiful presentation and friendly staff.<br />
I am always surprised at the close connections I have to/with so many of the people I meet. <br />
This day was filled with them.<br />
If the first day was any indication, my "lifelong dream" would be a memorable one.<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0n4kSIKjXKM/VaHTO9JQ4rI/AAAAAAAADPo/Wixfy5lKmoY/s640/blogger-image--1194222054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0n4kSIKjXKM/VaHTO9JQ4rI/AAAAAAAADPo/Wixfy5lKmoY/s640/blogger-image--1194222054.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k79yiLjvgbw/VaHTi2V3PPI/AAAAAAAADQM/7lo_r9f6GrY/s640/blogger-image-833365938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k79yiLjvgbw/VaHTi2V3PPI/AAAAAAAADQM/7lo_r9f6GrY/s640/blogger-image-833365938.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HvT-pn_3upk/VaHTZM_4t8I/AAAAAAAADP4/gDaBi--2d1E/s640/blogger-image--541749396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HvT-pn_3upk/VaHTZM_4t8I/AAAAAAAADP4/gDaBi--2d1E/s640/blogger-image--541749396.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nkHLtutoliM/VaHTs85fEoI/AAAAAAAADQc/-cmcuyMZEvw/s640/blogger-image--1679264726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nkHLtutoliM/VaHTs85fEoI/AAAAAAAADQc/-cmcuyMZEvw/s640/blogger-image--1679264726.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e9a7y3Ba4AE/VaHToCgGT-I/AAAAAAAADQU/lB8lfpwLzx8/s640/blogger-image--548933750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e9a7y3Ba4AE/VaHToCgGT-I/AAAAAAAADQU/lB8lfpwLzx8/s640/blogger-image--548933750.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KHKWsUp5eU0/VaHTT8Z_Q7I/AAAAAAAADPw/ON_EU5ltutc/s640/blogger-image--1083222883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KHKWsUp5eU0/VaHTT8Z_Q7I/AAAAAAAADPw/ON_EU5ltutc/s640/blogger-image--1083222883.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-czeLhKiGl1c/VaHTxzKV_KI/AAAAAAAADQk/Uv8-abi9oa8/s640/blogger-image-1136705856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-czeLhKiGl1c/VaHTxzKV_KI/AAAAAAAADQk/Uv8-abi9oa8/s640/blogger-image-1136705856.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NU2RQD2Bl4M/VaHT73YGL0I/AAAAAAAADQ0/wxLmbnSzCXY/s640/blogger-image--1988919962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NU2RQD2Bl4M/VaHT73YGL0I/AAAAAAAADQ0/wxLmbnSzCXY/s640/blogger-image--1988919962.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pVReGgLsaJ4/VaHTdyrFc0I/AAAAAAAADQA/UgbMD942HyI/s640/blogger-image--959386086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pVReGgLsaJ4/VaHTdyrFc0I/AAAAAAAADQA/UgbMD942HyI/s640/blogger-image--959386086.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IgZPDKO3txs/VaHT3bvtqjI/AAAAAAAADQs/QtS0UisxcUc/s640/blogger-image--371074026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IgZPDKO3txs/VaHT3bvtqjI/AAAAAAAADQs/QtS0UisxcUc/s640/blogger-image--371074026.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-63276228603587722132015-07-05T09:42:00.001-04:002015-09-02T09:28:18.761-04:00Joseph, Mary and Father DanA few miles out of Kinderhook we were caught in the rain. We were walking by an old church, Nice (the dog) pulled toward the front entrance with its shelter from the downpour. Sometimes I let him have his way, the dog has a good sense of things.<br />
Once out of the rain I noticed the door was ajar so I entered and called "Hello!", a voice from an office replies in kind.<br />
It was Father Dan, newly assigned to the church whose name had recently been changed from St. Mary to St.Joseph, a young man with the good nature of the priesthood. His warm heart was just right to pump new blood to the newly named old congregation.<br />
He allowed me to stay in the parking area through the rainy night ( in the van ) and even gave me access to the rectory, a shower and the washer and dryer if I needed. After I had arranged a ride I returned, bathed and washed a small load of clothes from the two days since I had last cleaned clothes. <br />
After washing my clothes in Woodstock and making all my clothes smell of old Hippies, I was not surprised when the load I washed at the rectory later smelled of "a man of the cloth".<br />
I appreciated it for what it was, a gift from God. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0IRYC122k58/Veb5cLJuJkI/AAAAAAAADUc/2cQQSntjL_I/s640/blogger-image-361660655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0IRYC122k58/Veb5cLJuJkI/AAAAAAAADUc/2cQQSntjL_I/s640/blogger-image-361660655.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PqgaDwflU1M/Veb5Ro8a2AI/AAAAAAAADUM/0vpGcfadUso/s640/blogger-image-919022155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PqgaDwflU1M/Veb5Ro8a2AI/AAAAAAAADUM/0vpGcfadUso/s640/blogger-image-919022155.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOO_VMLp9RY/Veb5W2OHlQI/AAAAAAAADUU/s3lGIJQOk-w/s640/blogger-image-1155329904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oOO_VMLp9RY/Veb5W2OHlQI/AAAAAAAADUU/s3lGIJQOk-w/s640/blogger-image-1155329904.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RrlBEavuSUQ/Veb5MhvztHI/AAAAAAAADUE/a4dHmnZzV-Q/s640/blogger-image-1081401088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RrlBEavuSUQ/Veb5MhvztHI/AAAAAAAADUE/a4dHmnZzV-Q/s640/blogger-image-1081401088.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-86106626398321003422015-07-05T08:59:00.001-04:002015-07-05T08:59:36.887-04:00Helping HandsFrom Poughkeepsie to the outskirts of Schenectady my interactions with the men and women who keep us safe were as friendly as any. I am grateful for their vigilant service. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lRwRkzxwJ-M/VZkqB5gBAuI/AAAAAAAADOk/Q-EXX0BMlFA/s640/blogger-image--1222821479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lRwRkzxwJ-M/VZkqB5gBAuI/AAAAAAAADOk/Q-EXX0BMlFA/s640/blogger-image--1222821479.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1wwBo4rGxr8/VZkp3JPFqVI/AAAAAAAADOU/loPOtC3IUck/s640/blogger-image-1604774368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1wwBo4rGxr8/VZkp3JPFqVI/AAAAAAAADOU/loPOtC3IUck/s640/blogger-image-1604774368.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X9SjKQvYTKY/VZkp8plpxfI/AAAAAAAADOc/sxQIRhZCPv4/s640/blogger-image--81676827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X9SjKQvYTKY/VZkp8plpxfI/AAAAAAAADOc/sxQIRhZCPv4/s640/blogger-image--81676827.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YH1A84bEie4/VZkqGnmteJI/AAAAAAAADOs/yES_xVIhXL0/s640/blogger-image-950966044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YH1A84bEie4/VZkqGnmteJI/AAAAAAAADOs/yES_xVIhXL0/s640/blogger-image-950966044.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x3AZYXRVa8I/VZkqNu88FGI/AAAAAAAADO0/gaTXsyMV3Q8/s640/blogger-image--944851886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x3AZYXRVa8I/VZkqNu88FGI/AAAAAAAADO0/gaTXsyMV3Q8/s640/blogger-image--944851886.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-35611508125920063132015-07-04T23:13:00.001-04:002015-07-04T23:25:12.962-04:00PoughkeepsieI arrived in the city late in the afternoon and drove the van along it's perimeter roads before loosing myself on an inner-city cruise. Before settling-in by the riverfront, I stopped in at a fire station to ask for a business card as a souvenir of the beginning point in "upstate". Surprisingly, the Captain gave me a patch.<br />
The riverfront in Poughkeepsie is a perfect area to relax by the river, picnic or walk the pedestrian walkways. An elevator can take you to the deck of the recently completed walkway over the Hudson River, or you could walk a little further to the base of the repurposed train trestle and walk the longest pedestrian bridge path in the country. I walked the dog. From plaques along the pathways I learned some history of the families who made Poughkeepsie great. Back at the park area I sat at the van, with an awesome view of the river between two tall bridges, and did some work on the phone while Nice (the dog) lay on his blanket beside the van sleeping. The people in the park, families with children, joggers and tourists gave way to the local men with polished rims and modern sound systems. Several of them synced together their devises, filling the parking area with hip-hop and rap with base so deep it rattled my windows. Nice was born in the West end of Louisville in a similarly loud area, the waves of sound acted like a lullaby to him and he refused to even lift his head from the blanket when I asked him to get up and get into the van. It would not have mattered, the van was blocked in by the young men's cars. As more congregated under the shelter beside the parking lot some looked suspiciously at the stranger in the purple van, wearing a feathered cowboy hat. The music was turned up, Nice (the dog) was immovable and unconcerned. Overhearing some of their conversation it was decided that the dog was "chill", therefore I must also be. (Or something along those lines...I'm old, and white.). The wind picked up and the sky darkened with clouds. It wasn't until large rain drops began to fall that Nice arose from his blanket. Rather than going to the van he walked toward the shelter where the men were standing. I coaxed him into the van as the front blew through with a fierceness that made the tall trees overhead creak and sway. Half of the men ran to their cars and drove away while the others stayed in the small corner under the shelter that remained dry though the lightening and thunder claps that had been six seconds apart. The lightening and thunder were now on top of each other. Soon Nice and I, closed in the van, had the parking lot to ourselves.<br />
As darkness fell over Poughkeepsie I drove to the nearest large parking area along the road out of town, where we would begin the next morning. I parked at my home away from home, Home Depot.<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SPg2EscIY18/VZig5nG-y1I/AAAAAAAADOA/kZZynSyMXKs/s640/blogger-image-1830814738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SPg2EscIY18/VZig5nG-y1I/AAAAAAAADOA/kZZynSyMXKs/s640/blogger-image-1830814738.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a-YPm8bwk2I/VZig0S2Lh7I/AAAAAAAADN4/m5R8axi7AGg/s640/blogger-image--1795415960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a-YPm8bwk2I/VZig0S2Lh7I/AAAAAAAADN4/m5R8axi7AGg/s640/blogger-image--1795415960.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-88444189106850152362015-07-04T06:22:00.001-04:002015-07-04T08:05:47.985-04:00Poughkeepsie to SchenectadyI walk everyday. No day goes by where I don't meet someone who is diabetic. Often it will be the first person that stops to talk. Many have taken charge of their lives. They stay active, eat wholesome foods and enjoy good health. Others are not so fortunate. <br />
<br />
Two hours later...<br />
<br />
<br />
I had bloggers-block, didn't know how to finish with the line of thought. <br />
Getting my things together, after feeding Nice (the dog), I began to walk.<br />
The first person I met was a prime example!<br />
Take charge! Go out and walk.<br />
Even though I am only a few miles from Schenectady people are still amazed that someone would walk all that way.<br />
You can walk around the World, by taking those first steps. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bVX6c_DpTv8/VZfLxIfPWZI/AAAAAAAADMU/6j5rSOJo5OE/s640/blogger-image-1945789647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bVX6c_DpTv8/VZfLxIfPWZI/AAAAAAAADMU/6j5rSOJo5OE/s640/blogger-image-1945789647.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222178609936702246.post-81965970653995527982015-07-04T06:05:00.001-04:002015-07-04T11:26:50.258-04:00The Woodstock EstablishmentI spent the night, two mornings and a day in Woodstock.<br />
I washed my clothes there. Days later as I wore the clothes I had washed they became sour smelling. Perhaps it was the town water, it couldn't have been that I washed into my clothes the residue of all the aging Flower Children who come down to town to wash the same clothes they have been wearing for decades, using the smallest amount of soap to save the environment and certainly no bleach.<br />
Let me call it my souvenir I took with me from Woodstock. A gift that lingers through several washings. It was pleasant, though, to talk with the elders of the town around the "wash tub". An experience I would not change, despite the olfactory surprise. It was there I met a woman who introduced me to some of her friends there at the laundry. She invited me to a poetry reading that evening and shared with me some of the rich history of Woodstock. History which reaches centuries past a concert in a field in 1969.<br />
Then I parked in the large public parking area located just steps from the town center, with all its trendy' and nostalgic shops, mixed in with the essential business's that make up any other cozy small town in America.<br />
I inflated the World, a walk through Woodstock was an opportunity I couldn't pass by. There I Met some of the characters on the fringe. The Rainbow Children who have made Woodstock their home and mainstay with the help of The Family who run the local half-way house. It's back entrance empties to the pubic parking area, so often the tourist's first blush is being panhandled in a nostalgic fashion in the dialect of "Peace and Love". <br />
I walked though Woodstock to the edge of the town limits, then turned around and walked back. I met many fascinating people along the way, the old guard and the new. Many of the original flowers have given way to the next generations but they are not giving up. I met many elder-hipsters involved with the daily routine of their small community. A restaurant owner with a pony-tail and vintage sixties attire chasing his defiant son off the store property because he was smoking a cigarette, yelling to his boy from across the road that the coarse he's on will lead only to hardship or death. <br />
We become our fathers. <br />
We made it back to the van just in time to let the air out before a rain. Had the world become soaked I would have needed to stay there until the canvas dried. I didn't want to invade the Space for too long in The Families' back yard. I would leave Woodstock to its established "norms"...<br />
Before I left Woodstock the next morning I picked up a newspaper. During my afternoon stroll to the edge and back. I was able to spread the message to Woodstock, a symbol of Peace and Love. The Airy-fairy message of Love yourself, go for a walk.<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JV7ZPQ5wtHo/VZf5ufZMxbI/AAAAAAAADNU/cj4gKr8A-uQ/s640/blogger-image--1517128254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JV7ZPQ5wtHo/VZf5ufZMxbI/AAAAAAAADNU/cj4gKr8A-uQ/s640/blogger-image--1517128254.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Cl8c5y_AqA/VZf5gVe6_7I/AAAAAAAADM8/V3EKdf5oXxk/s640/blogger-image--1414785377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Cl8c5y_AqA/VZf5gVe6_7I/AAAAAAAADM8/V3EKdf5oXxk/s640/blogger-image--1414785377.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ExGkSg7UdaQ/VZf5y9EzGSI/AAAAAAAADNc/iSiKkDkK1-s/s640/blogger-image-1388890015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ExGkSg7UdaQ/VZf5y9EzGSI/AAAAAAAADNc/iSiKkDkK1-s/s640/blogger-image-1388890015.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VVnxPTqq4Uo/VZf5bUNDVJI/AAAAAAAADM0/XbPHjY3F4tA/s640/blogger-image--1770506119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VVnxPTqq4Uo/VZf5bUNDVJI/AAAAAAAADM0/XbPHjY3F4tA/s640/blogger-image--1770506119.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iA9f0r0oCwg/VZf5WqPRALI/AAAAAAAADMs/9_PFJ5lT5ng/s640/blogger-image--165281816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iA9f0r0oCwg/VZf5WqPRALI/AAAAAAAADMs/9_PFJ5lT5ng/s640/blogger-image--165281816.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ShX9Xi1Wcnk/VZf5R1ZHKwI/AAAAAAAADMk/XSlObXUzU_U/s640/blogger-image--1020348196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ShX9Xi1Wcnk/VZf5R1ZHKwI/AAAAAAAADMk/XSlObXUzU_U/s640/blogger-image--1020348196.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PfVdadnXNq4/VZf5k5gPGmI/AAAAAAAADNE/5SQg1-Xbg30/s640/blogger-image--578543238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PfVdadnXNq4/VZf5k5gPGmI/AAAAAAAADNE/5SQg1-Xbg30/s640/blogger-image--578543238.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fz1tDuG-_2g/VZf5pujqRmI/AAAAAAAADNM/AyuIh2bXQyQ/s640/blogger-image-1169600910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fz1tDuG-_2g/VZf5pujqRmI/AAAAAAAADNM/AyuIh2bXQyQ/s640/blogger-image-1169600910.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cOicfEkJ3lI/VZf53d0WKYI/AAAAAAAADNk/8yhWqI1ErbI/s640/blogger-image--427555914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cOicfEkJ3lI/VZf53d0WKYI/AAAAAAAADNk/8yhWqI1ErbI/s640/blogger-image--427555914.jpg" /></a></div>World Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005640698647402805noreply@blogger.com0