Sunday

We did well today and made some good friends. I did not get as good a sleep last night as I had hoped. I will post in the morning some thoughts of today's journey. For now I must rest...

8 Mile

At the end of today's walk we found ourselves at a newly opened bar where Nice (the dog) was pampered, petted, watered, and fed while one of the owners took me back to the Two Ton Grape. We had traveled eight miles, which surprised me since it was so hot and we had to make so many stops in the shade as well as taking time to meet with people along the road. I am going to try to get to bed early and wash up in the morning before we walk on Sunday.

I also got to watch the Kentucky Derby race on the big screen--a reminder of my home town. Derby time is the best time for Louisville, Kentucky.

Many people have come to talk to us saying they couldn't walk a mile, much less eight or ten. You'd be surprised at yourself if you just push yourself a little. If you start hurting, slow down and think of something other than the ache. Soon you may be surprised to find you have walked eight miles.

Sunday is a good day for a stroll.

Hot Morning

We have made our way into Hampstead (I misspelled it before) where the welcoming committee and everyone since has been a joy to talk with. We have been stopping from shade to shade as it is almost ninety degrees and still early in the day. I'm having a bit to eat then we will be going again.

A Strand of Faith and the World Lands on Safe Ground.

This morning as I ate breakfast my head had that ache from lack of sleep. I pressed on thinking I would make it an easy day and walk fewer miles. It turned out at days end we walked another ten miles. We had been walking along route27 and were a short hill away from the turn we had planned eastward to Hamstead, when a trooper and his supervisor pulled up to find out what in the world I was doing. As I told him my quest I pulled out the news article from the Carroll County Tribune front page with full color photos of yours truly.

Still he asked if I had identification. As I produced it from my wallet a small plastic wrapper from some soft dog kibbles someone had given Nice (the dog) fluttered to the ground. The officer pounced and snatched it from the pavement with lightening fast speed for inspection. Disappointed he handed me the wrapper coated with residue of kibbles. His supervisor and I exchanged veiled smiles.

Upon further questioning he decided he didn't want me walking the direct route to Hamstead, but to Manchester and then down to Hamstead, about 13 extra miles as I figured it to be. All because of a short stretch of narrow road on a hill. I confess I did not walk his way.

When I came to the narrow spot in the road I was standing at the head of a driveway when the owner of the property pulled in, then backed up to see if we needed water. I asked if this section of road was truly as narrow as I had been warned. He confirmed that it was, then offered to get his truck and take us to the bottom of the hill. (This is the part where I preach to those who poo poo that having a strand of faith can change the course of the world.) A minute or two later we were on safe ground and all was good with the world. We worked our way to the top of the next hill where Nice (the dog) lay down in the shade of a young couples' yard. After some friendly conversation, they got on the phone and called down the road to a business where we could camp for the night. Our hosts from last night then picked us up, took us to a cook-out where we ate like kings, and brought us back just as it got dark. Back to a world on safe ground.

I am meeting more good people than I can count. Thank you all.


Now for some sleep!

Catch up Post...

Good morning! I have rested a bit and feel pretty good even though I have been waking up since 4am. It's now 6:30am, the sky is clear and I am pumped to get going this morning and roll into Manchester. Yesterdays wind was just enough to help keep the world moving forward and had only a few moments when I had to stand and wait for the gusts to change direction. The world is like an on land sail which I need to tack to-and-frow. the rolling hills here in Maryland are beautiful and I love slowly walking along, taking in the scenery. The spring flowers and the stubble fields ready to bear the new seasons plantings leave me speechless. Glorious and all that mush. It's good to be able to enjoy it.

I spoke to a newspaper team who followed me a short way. Showing that, "If you roll it, they will come." I was able to tell them my goal of influencing people to walk and eat well to stay healthy thereby keeping diabetes in check and have a happy long life with your family. Nice (the dog) was able to search for any frogs that may be under foot while we talked. At the end of the a nice family took us in for dinner and a shower. This morning we will walk slow. I'll try to keep it under ten miles today. Maine will still be there when we arrive this summer.
Enjoy the day!!!.

Rolling

Yesterday we were buffeted by high gusty winds stronger than those we wrestled last year across the mid-west. Patiently we plodded ahead. When I looked at the map it seemed best to walk down Main street in Mt. Aire but the line on the map showed nothing of the hills or tiny sidewalks. The yard signs for next week's election and the buildings of downtown built inches from the road added to the windy challenge. All the obstacles were worth the extra effort for the people we met and the crab soup I had at the best place to eat in town, Concettas. It gave us much needed energy for the roll out of town and back on 27 -like my prior post suggested- set us on a collision course with the family who helped us and let me clean up.

I suddenly need to sleep after today's ten miles of walking. I'll say more after I sleep.

Wind and where it leads.

Again I say that a wind that seems to keep you from where you think you are going leads you just where you need to be.

i Forgot

After tossing and turning all night from the soreness I forgot how hard it is to juggle an eighty pound dog and an eighty pound canvas world while carrying a backpack. Good thing I was not trying to chew gum at the same time. May I have some cheese to go with this whine?

Over the Brink and Beyond

We began the day with a steady pace and kept it up most of the day. We seemed to slow the fevered pace a bit while the commuters took in the sights. We were given a safer route early in the morning; to a road named Brinks,it had its' share of trenches and obstacles but led us soon to the wide side lane of the road to Damascus where we met many good people who were more helpful than I deserve. All thru the day we had good encounters and Nice (the dog) had many feet to stir up those allusive frogs he imagines are under every foot. (He has been obsessed since last year when he caught one in Illinois). We walled over twelve miles and I am a bit sore for the effort. Tomorrow promises to be a good day.


To the many parents I met today who are helping their children cope with diabetes I want to say you are shining stars and I was honored to have spent time with you...


I received a message from J. G. of Fairfield Illinois today who told me of his parents passing this year. One of cancer and the other of a broken heart. Their whole family (and the town) showed me such warmth and hospitality when I came thru and I want give special mention to them. If only all families could have so sweet a pair of elders, the world would be a better place. I have , and will, hold you close in my thoughts.

Over the brink, says I!

Rain

Though there have been periods of fair weather we have stayed where we are and the thunder storms have come as predicted. They are forecast for another day or more. Nice (the dog) has recovered "nicely" and the rain is steady. No need to begin soaked to the bone. We will wait, thanks to my family.

Plans, Family, Weather and the Whip.

The way we planned the final routes on the walking tours is to get advice from local people who know the area. This way we are able to keep safe and walk on roads with some sidewalk or some access for the world. The support vehicle is also a factor. Where to park it and the ability to keep close to any supplies with shelter when I can end the day close by it. I was lucky to get lost in Arlington and happen upon a great spot. While talking to locals of D.C. and the surrounding areas it will be implausible to walk out of the District and park the van for more than two hours. Residents have permits for their own area and are towed without quarter. As much as I want to walk out of Washington I am forced to change the plan.

I plan to walk in all the states in the Union at some point. Some states I have walked across, others I have walked a short distance in. That is the way of things. I am now at my sisters home in Maryland spending some time with family. I found out yesterday after I returned to the van that she worked just up the road from where I had to park the van in Arlington. When she gave me a street name to meet for dinner I had no problem finding it because the world had rolled on it. Things worked out for the best. I drove her home last evening to her car at the subway terminal and am visiting today with my brother-in-law who I have known since I was seven. This was not on my agenda. A welcome change to the traffic and obstacles of this week.

Today is a beautiful, breezy day. Tomorrow and Sunday there is rain predicted. Also, I am so glad I took Nice(the dog) early for his shots because the veterinarian called from home and my pup has a case of whip worms. Apparently he picked them up a few weeks ago in our walks around my neighborhood. This morning I went to a vet close to my sisters and got him the worming treatment: three daily doses and then again for three days in two weeks, plus a preventative in three months. The past two days he had not been eating and I was worried. Now just three hours after the first dose he is eating normally. I won't stress him and will wait for Monday before we begin walking again, even though he was happy to be back on the road the past two days. It is not worth any risk to him. I can also take this time to plan, or be led by blind luck, serendipity, and faith, to a path. I have landed miles from the inner city and I will take that to be serendipity. Slowing the roll at the start is a good thing, I am in no hurry.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Earth Day at the National Mall and the Oldest House

Earth Day morning I thought I would give parking in D.C. another try. I made my way from my quaint parking spot in a small neighborhood just outside of downtown Arlington next to it's little park on the site of Arlington's oldest known structure.

Funny that I came to park there. When I got to D.C. I was able to find a great spot at the mall, but the hitch was I couldn't stay there until 10 a.m. and was sitting in the van to wait for the time that I could. The parking police were soon making the morning rounds and moved me along. The next two hours I shuffled around looking for the next spot and hoping I could be at the mall for the ten minute window when I could get a two hour metered spot. Traffic, being what it is in D.C. had me stuck far away when that time came.

Having learned my lesson, I drove back to the little neighborhood and walked the hour and one-half to where the world was at the mall in the tent of the Dept. of Energy. I arrived, and the earth ball was a good attraction to the crowd,drawing them into the semi-circle of tables the DOE had to offer. As the world was free from harm, I was able to leave it there and visit the other booths which are there for the Earth Day Celebration. Though the event has been going on all week, and there is also a concert event set for Sunday, many booths were unmanned yesterday when it was raining, and others, as with the DOE, did not set up until the festivities of today.
To end this post I will say that I soon retrieved the world and left the event to walk the mall as I had planned. Earth Day and the District of Columbia, done.