Bridge running and Sprinkles

At this time yesterday I had been up for two hours, crossed over the busy bridge across the Mississippi in the dark to avoid traffic, walked up a hill to The Point (a restaurant) for a cup of coffee. With the socializing and the sunshine we made our way thru Newport after twelve hours. When we got the supply van to the Newport Center mall where I has permission to sleep for the night I found a shaded spot next to some trees. Nice (the dog) fell asleep in the weeds and didn't move for hours. I too drifted off despite the heat. When I woke up just before dark Nice was laying next to me in the van. I moved my things from his chair/bed so he could be comfortable and flipped my pillow, sprayed on some bug spray and lay my head on the dry side. I slept late getting up at three thirty. It just began to sprinkle. I'm sure I won't be rained out and have to stay here all day but it is enough excuse to wait until it gets light before getting closer to St.Paul. I know I'm close because when I walked over a pedestrian bridge over from Newport's Old Main Street I could see the tall buildings in the distance.
Thanks to my GPS,good people support,who gave me direction thru this maze of highways.
Keep walking and have a great day!

from dusk 'till Dawn

I am going to keep this post open on the phone until the sun rises. What follow might not make sense. Let's see where it goes,an experiment in gibberish. ... will mean a pause.





When the sun goes down and the world becomes quiet and soft. No Cricket go fling, no butterflies sail. Just a far off owl clearing its throat...

There's a catchy tune, under the moon in the sielnces of night . Night walkers study and avoid us for more sensible dreams...
3:22 , flagged up! And now over the Mississippi...
3:52 , looking back at the bridge and the approaches I see the green light at the other side. Only one hairy moment when Nice(the dog) decided it was time for a round of tug-of-war in a space two feet too narrow for the World to not be over the plane of the White line. Voice command ineffective to get him to heal at this critical moment. A car was bearing down on us. Had he gealed we would have cleared the narrows. My heal healed. Sole idarity...
Then came the little hill which led us to The Point. No, not that I am walking across a bridge over the Mississippi in the dark(again) for a point; a restaurant at the top of the hill out of Hastings.
Only twelve cars passed over the bridge when we went over. It brought back so many memories of other bridges and even mountains. When the whole world is in your hands -don't look down.
The point opens at five...

Meisville to the Mississippi Bridge, Hastings.

I rose at three A.M. to clear skies and had a treat of a shooting star. The winds of yesterday had passed so when I left before dawn I had no troubles. I took the advice of my GPS (good people support) who suggested I take the short cut that shaved two miles off of the distance to Hastings. The road was very straight and after a bit of walking in starlight and the glow of the city on my left the sun slowly began to color the sky to my right. For a few moments the bright city and nature shown equally on either side of the long road. It was the sun that won out and soon painted the sky with the full spectrum of shadings. Awe inspiring.
Turning onto the main road to hastings the shoulder allowed us to walk without diving into the tall grass, not that the two dozen cars that passed in the early morning hours caused much turmoil. We were quickly in Hastings where I met a man who offered his help and space to park for the night. This new "farmer" schedule is working well and getting settled early in the afternoon keeps us from walking from shade to shade; good for both me and the dog.
We are just blocks from the bridge and an early start will keep us safe when we cross.
If you are making the excuse that it is too hot to walk I suggest the early stroll for your health.
Love yourself and go for a walk.

Goodhue County to Dakota

When I got out of the van I saw it had rained. I didn't think much of it until we were on the road. I had a direct head wind and the canvas ball seemed more wobbly than usual. The patches I had put on and painted over yesterday had me thinking I had thrown the World off balance. I finally realized that the odd wobble was from the rain. I had the ball wedged against a fence for the patch work. When the rain had stopped the water drained to the bottom fabric while the up-side dried. The wind had me working hard, Nice (the dog) was having his ritual morning tug-of-war as we walked, the road rose to a long gradual hill, the wind forced me behind to push for my progress and the wobbling World added to the dance. Once at the top of the hill the wind bore down, I preferred the long hill but the cold front from Canada didn't care. The remainder of the day I would shoulder the World against the wind until I made it to Meisville and eventually to the church where I am staying in the parking lot. The man who offered to give me a ride to get the van was a character, his car was loaded with radiators and old tires. He made room by putting some things in his empty trunk while I asked the people at the gas station if they could watch over the World. On the ride back to Red Wing he told me all about his life as a mechanic and a carnival worker. I could go on in my discription but to say I asked the women at the gas station why they didn't warn me to be ready for a bent ear and giggled when I returned should suffice; he was a character. Home of the Muddhens and Kings famous hamburgers and many nice people who I talked with through the day. The last person I saw tonight was a woman who knocked on my window,her son is diabetic. A reminder of why I am walking. Diabetes should not be so prevalent in the world.
We are off to Hastings tomorrow.

My weekend "under the wing".

Saturday morning I slept until the sun was almost up. I knew I was worn a little thin and Nice (the dog) didn't mind the extra sleep. We were on the upper level of a parking area behind Red Wing Corp. offices. The manager at the museum had given me a pass to stay overnight. I was glad of that because the walk into town and the work it then took to get the World to fit through the doors of the museum for a picture next to Red Wing's World's Largest Boot had spent any reserves I had. But how often can you get a once in a lifetime picture?... Once? I put on the new style of boot with new support pad, and stood up. My body creaked, both knees popped, one ankle protested the change and my balance was off. The good thing was that when I walked I stepped more squarely on my heal with less impact on them as the sales clerk had said the inserts would. I intended to walk a few miles to the Wal-mart and call it a day. New shoes or not, after a month of walking with only one full day of rest and the almost eighteen miles we had just walked, I (we) needed an easy day. I readied my gear for a full days walk just in case and, half hearted, we started off. A woman stopped me after a few blocks and gave me a gift for Nice(the dog), I asked her where a good place to sit and have breakfast would be and she directed me back and over one block. I decided to go over one block and back through an alley. I stopped for a moment to take a picture when a man stopped to ask what the World was up to, or what I was doing with the World, or why was the World there, or words to that effect. This chance turn of a corner changed the coarse of the weekend, for the better. After I explained the World's coarse, the events of the previous days and my desire to have an easy day the man invites me to take the day off. He suggested I walk to his home where I could have breakfast, relax and possibly stay until Sunday for the Red Wing River City Days Parade; an annual celebration. It took very little convincing, plus he said his house was along the same route as the short cut to Wally-world. With an hand written map and his phone number I continued up the road I had meant only to walk half of one block. I walked past the town green and amphitheater surrounded by beautiful churches, then a half mile later after walking uphill I came to the steepest grade I had walked since I began this journey from Sheboygan Wisconsin over a month ago...I told myself I was taking the day off. As we were in a city Nice (the dog) was stopping at every tree, bush and clump of grass to read the news of the dogs in Red Wing so I was pushing the World and pulling my eighty pound companion as I became wet with sweat and my new boots were covered with wet morning dew and grass clippings. When I finally got to the top of the hill I still could not see the first of the two stop signs my directions had me pass thru before I needed to start looking for the street I had to turn onto. I was taking the day off and told myself that even off days require some sweat. The demon on my shoulder was whining like a baby... The few people I talked with while I walked had me forget my childishness and the short workout was over. I arrived at the man's home and had some coffee while I told him my life story over a donut. He later took me to get the van and led me to a paint store where the good man working on the beautiful Saturday had time to try and add some color to my purple hued paint I had purchased in Lake City and had repainted a two foot wide stripe around the World (the area that gets all the wear from the road). I had seen the picture in the newspaper which was taken on Friday on my way from Lake City to Red Wing and the World looked purple. Something had to be done. I had a piece of fabric that was painted the correct hue from an old repair so we had a palate to test with. The first try went gray, the second black, the third looked like it was headed toward green so we found a color from a sample and made up a can that I used later in the day to repaint the repaint. It was still my day off...the new color was a good hue and I really didn't mind maintaining the World while it's watchdog slept in the grass. Then a man and hiis wife pulled up an invited me to stay until Sunday and they would see to it that I walked in the parade if I liked. Funny how things worked out. I enjoyed rest of the day with the man and his family as well as some friends who came for dinner off the grill. They set up the table buffet style in the house and we all talked as we ate on the outside patio as their old dog remained inside and scarfed down all but one of the extra steaks. The next morning the old girl wasno worse for wear after being banished to the basement for her deed. She probably didn't move from the spot she was laying all night as visions of t-bones and rib eye staeks danced in her head. Our day off was much needed and well appreciated.
The parade was fun, as we'll as the Pie and ice cream social at the amphitheater. I had my first Sunday afternoon nap in quite a while when m hosts went and napped. At the movie theater. We had a relaxed evening of conversation and went to sleep early after dinner. To complete this restful time under the "wing" of Red Wing we walked this morning to the Anderson center, a beautiful artist's retreat, at the outer edge of Red Wing so quickly I arrived as the man and his family delivered the van to it's parking lot and the Center manager was pulling in for work. As I explained what was going on and asked for use of a parking spot for the day as he was nodding yes and holding the Eagle newspaper with my picture on the front page. I spent hours on more World maintenance and had another nap in the moderate temperature of the day. The weather has become beautiful so I may eben sleep a little longer and head out at sunrise instead of four in the morning to beat the heat.
My thumbs are tired...
Go wall with the ones you Love. Love yourself and walk.

For you movie buffs'...

I was walking in Ohio back in '07. I had walked out of a small town and came upon a small motel that been converted to efficiency apartments. There were no other structures in sight, two miles from the town I had just passed thru and miles from any store in the direction I was heading. Ahead of me appeared a woman pulling a two wheeled basket cart with a few bags in it. She stopped me to talk in front of the tiny strip of apartments, she lived there, and after talking for a few minutes she invited me in for a soda. Once in the small apartment she served me a drink. Every time I had the glass almost empty the woman filled it again. She asked if I would stay for dinner but I had just eaten in town and politely declined her repeated offers. As I looked around the apartment I saw piles of clothes, books and video tapes cluttering the room. That didn't bother me, I have a lot of clutter myself. What had me get up and head for the door was when I noticed her television with a VCR on top and on of it was just one movie as if it were a shrine ornament, a precious possession in a dust free place of honor. As I said I hurried for the door (the locked, bolted and latched door) with a quickness after I read the title of the movie, "Misery". When I finally got the door unlocked and was outside I walked with added 'pep", like a turkey in tall corn. All the lonely woman could she was tail feathers...

Red Wing

When I began walking in Minnesota I didn't know I'd be passing thru the city of Red Wing, the home of Red Wing Shoes and the Worlds largest work boot. The shoe company has supplied me with shoes for my recent walks, but when I showed up at the Museum and store I had every intention of buying a pair, or two, of my favorite walking gear, Vasque. I tried on a new style at the recommendation of the sales clerk who was very attentive to my needs and she knew her product well. I then reserved two pairs and was getting ready to finish my days walk. Before I left, the helpful staff contacted JoAnn Winger, she is the Red Wing executive who had arranged to send boots to me from New England to Florida. JoAnn had been out of the office for the weekend for hours but took the time to allow the staff at the museum/store to give me the boots at no cost. Once again the helpful folks at Red Wing went above and beyond to help. Words can not express my thanks. Without Red Wing Shoes I would not be where I am today.

WHO?

Friday afternoon I came into the city of Red Wing a little tired after walking more than I should. I have walked more in a day and I knew that I would be fatigued on Saturday. I was getting close to downtown and stopped under the shade of some trees by Highway 61 to change my socks. Keeping my feet in good shape is a high priority. A man appeared from his home with a bottle of cold water and after talking to him of the best route into town he let me cross to the street in front of his house lined with sidewalks and homes that led into the downtown area. I soon met a woman and two of her friends. I was headed for the Red Wing Boots store and museum. I wear Vasque hiking boots, a division of Red Wing, on these walks and thanks to a woman I met while walking in Maryland who contacted Red Wing, have supplied me several pairs of my favorite style. Since I was walking in Red Wing I wanted to see the worlds largest boot and buy an extra pair. The woman and her two friends told me about her recently deceased husband. He had worked for decades for the company. Red wing, in appreciation of his dedicated service, honored him at his funeral and paid his wife's medical insurance premium for five years. She was the recipient of the caring gift and still she said to me, " Who does that?, really, these days who does that?" Who?

Kellogg to Lake City

I got a nap when I got settled by the city park at Kellogg. The towns manager let me plug in my fan from the socket at the pavilion and the slight breeze was all it took for me to fall asleep. I was still getting used to my new early schedule and my brain hadn't caught up. The people at "Stubs" were more than helpful giving Nice (the dog) a dinner of leftover meat scraps and a take home bag of cooked hot dogs. (Most of them he carried back to the van in his belly. It was Two days walk to Lake City so I quickly made it to the camping "resort" and relaxed for awhile awaiting my helpful ride from "T" at Stubs. Between her and the town manager they knew everyone and most everything worth knowing. "Small town America" run by the women as it should be whether the men like it or know it. After enduring the heat of the day in some shade I repainted some worn areas of the World late in the day and got to sleep as soon as it was cool enough to tolerate. The next morning I made my way to Lake City just in time to meet the man who arranged for us to stay behind the VFW post, he took me to get the van and I was able to spend the aftErnoon getting a large necessary patch to the World and get a can of paint to keep the canvas world from wearing away. Though the hue of the paint match is several shades off color (and purple) it will do for now.
Fully acclimated to my early walking schedule I was off and rolling at four A.M.. I have been keeping the distance below fifteen mile per day so I don't distress the dog. My achilles tendon and old bones don't hold up well shouldering the weight of my backpack, dog, and World much farther so I keep it at ten to twelve miles per day. The problem is that on my new schedule to beat the heat and sun of summer I feel fresh when I get to the next good place to rest for the day. After I left Lake City it was either a very short day to the next whisper of a town or a very long walk into Red Wing. I chose to go on to Red Wing, which leads us up to the next post...

Chicken, up against it.

When you find yourself "on the line", don't be scared. If you bear the weight of your world and all the sprains and bumps of a lifetime conspire to keep you on the couch and rage against motion. Be calm and breath, step or peddle forward. The monster will give way, will yield to your advance. Keep moving and win the game of chicken with your clod of excuses.


After a morning of pushing through my aches and pains to the other side where my ailments were forgotten a cyclist rode toward me. I won the game of chicken. We talked of how exercise is a great elixir to health. He said of exercise, "It's the Fountain of Youth!". Wisdom from a grey bearded man on the road.

Tuckered'

Today was the second day we rose early and walked in the predawn to keep from the summer sun. It worked out well. We made the twelve miles to Kellogg but I am not used to the farmers' schedule of getting much of the the days work in before noon. I hear after tomorrow we will come to miles of narrow two lane highway with rails to one side and steep hills to the other. A stark contrast to the divided highway with a wide emergency lane all to myself. Progress will slow and walking in the dark may be much harder. But I "will endeavor to persevere".
Have a great night, and see you in the morning.

It takes just one...

There are days when I speak to hundreds, sometimes I am asked to share with school children or visit with a nursing home. This morning I began at four o'clock in order to beat the heat of the day. Yesterday we began after eight when the sun was already high. We walked the length of the city of Winona, then to the edge of Goodview. It was only about seven miles, because of the sun and heat we had to stop for shade often for temporary relief. Nice (the dog) is constantly scouting for shade and puddles or streams, he has his way most of the time. I share the shade, not the rain puddles. This morning just after the sun rose over the Wisconsin shore across the wide Mississippi River we had traveled more miles than the day before. It was hot and muggy' but with the morning mists and light cloud cover we made our daily walk with little need for water. Gallons yesterday, one bottle today. We stopped just a few times and never were we baked by the sun.
It was twelve miles to Minneiska (min-e-s-ca) and I almost felt guilty for not pressing on another dozen to the next town. (I'd pay dearly in pain if I had). All morning only one person stopped to talk, though many honked or waved as they passed. When I told him my quest message for diabetes prevention and control he shared with me he had been diagnosed one year ago with diabetes, had lost eighty pounds and was now healthy and free of diabetes. He said, in a way it was the best thing that had ever happened, it was a wake up call to change. This man looked great, was living the dream. He was fit and had his bike he rode "all the time" in the back seat of his convertible, was no longer miserable. My one stop, my inspiration.
In town I rolled toward Buck's where the morning locals stop for coffee. There I hoped to get a ride back to the Quik-Trip and my van but a woman next door came out and before I knew it I was inside for coffee and a shower. We later had breakfast at Buck's, but the morning folk had left and as the woman's car was being serviced I was without a ride until I remembered the one man who gave me his number yesterday. When I called him he and his friend where there in minutes. When I returned with the van I was able to get a power cord to the van and get a nap with a fan blowing the sweat away. The night before I was wet from the heat and humidity all night and the mosquitoes were my alarm clock even coated with bug repellent. After my nap I spent some time getting to know some of the people at the grill before now settling in for the evening. A cloudy and sometimes raining day has made for a cool van, fan included.
While I sat and talked I received my first and only message via email on my "smart" phone. It was a message from a woman. She had seen a picture of the World on her friends' profile, looked up my story and sent me a message. Her mother had been type1 diabetic since ten and outlived her doctors guesses and fights the disease still, after amputations and transplants. One kidney was from the daughter who sent me the message. She was writing to than me but what I am doing is nothing compared to what she, and other who give one of their kidneys for a life of another. She said I spurred her to action, yet she and her mother are my inspiration.
At the end of the day it may be some researcher,or group of dedicated doctors will re animate failed organs and help cure type 1 diabetics as well as those with adult onset diabetes. If you do some research you may find, and give to the one that can make this happen. Your steps may be the one. The one that changes our world.
Love yourself. Take a step.