Just because...

When I was pushing against the strong wind yesterday a mini van stopped and the man and woman inside motioned for me to come over to them. It was all I could do to get the World up to the edge of the road in the hard winds and talk to them. They both were very large and the man said he was going in for surgery to have his toenail removed to prevent possible infection due to diabetes. His wife gave Nice (the dog) a large piece of deep fried chicken tender. They told me they had read of my walk in the local paper and thanked me for it. I tried to encourage them to take it on themselves to walk citing a woman I recently met who was diabetic, had lost some weight and after just a few days of simply walking could feel her feet again. It seemed to me by the blank stares I got in response these two were not going to jump out and walk with me, or with one another. If I could impart on them how proud that woman was for beginning to turn her diabetes around with diet and exercise maybe they would take a few steps, just because.

Bittersweet advisory

For days before I pushed to the Bittersweet Lodge the winds had been picking up against me. There I had a shower and in the morning I had a nice conversation over a hearty breakfast. After preparing my things and checking the World for any needed maintenance I rolled out to the road where I was met by a stiff breeze. Then I pushed further and past the tree line to be crushed by the South wind. It only became stronger as the morning worn on. It blew so hard I was forced into the grass and the edge of the occasional newly harvested fields. In some stretches the tall grass would grab my feet and the wind blowing the World against me was the only reason I would not be face down with Nice (the dog) sniffing my ear. The backpack weighed heavy as the days against the wind had me using both arms to keep the World moving south. When I had to get back on the road to pass a creek or drain culvert I would attach the leash to the ball and struggle for every step forward. The high grass giving resistance and being able to use both arms I made my way many miles but as the sun sunk low I was miles from "Raw-ville" where a man stopped with an offer of a ride...I took it. Letting out some air so we could strap the World down in the bed of his truck he dropped us at the restaurant/bar. I spent the evening there and against the offers to take the day at a mans home close by I stripped down the weight I usually carry and decided to push on, still against the wind, into Watertown. Even stronger than the day before I only braved the blacktop to pass bridges and stayed in the grass. Toward town the roadside was cut short which made it harder to go forward. Often I would "zig-zag" tacking into the ever increasing gusts until I made it to the edge of the city. Four miles in five hours, the week of hard wind in my face and a wind advisory for the next day I am now sitting in the van with it rocking in the wind as it has all night doing battle with the flies that have sought refuge from the elements. At least after a night's sleep I can swing at them without a sting of pain running up to my shoulder.

ReThinking

I'm going about this wind all wrong. It is a beautiful sunny day in the low eighties in October with a wind too strong to walk up on the roadway. I found I can make some progress in the tall grasses by the fields. Slow going also but in the wide swails I can use both hands to push. Each arm is so tired it needs the help of the other. Heavy winds without a string attached sounds like play. Take as long as I need and enjoy the day. When get tired,I rest. Walk for awhile more, then rest. Like I am taking a day off. It's working for me. One step at a time.

Blue sky

I am laying in the shade of the World at 455AV and 156st and have ten miles to go to the nextplace where I might stop before Watertown. (Cover your ears children) The wind is kicking my butt. Not a cloud in the big blue sky.

Keep it up.

I have pushed into the wind for three and a half days, tomorrow will be more of the same. Diabetics sometimes have days "up against it", so can I.

Love yourself, go for a walk. Even if the winds are against you.

brother bee

Sitting aside the road atop the edge and the honey be walks across my hands and the screen of this blackberry pulling little bits from my finger tips to take back to the colony. I'm honored...

Windy day, done.

I made it to the Coffee Cup truck stop outside Summit after slowly plodding against heavy winds directly in my face all day. Sometimes the World was inclined to lift from the ground which usually means forty mph wind. Patience and being content with a few inch step kept me from hurting myself. At the Summit my friends were there to wisk us back to get the van. I am on Dakotah Souix Nation Lands and have been supported in many ways since I have been here. Several even walked with me from Sissiton to the "Agency". Where I stayed outside the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Health and Fitness Center. Getting the message to Walk and return to healthy lifestyles is very important to us all. That I have walked in twenty eight states and only Natives cared enough to walk as a group with me to get the word rolling is a point not lost to me. A beautiful people we could all learn from.

Southern stroll

I'm beginning the days walk very late. Wind strong from the South. Walking South. Yes, I walked against it yesterday and am worn, torn, tired. Twice as strong as yesterday here on the ridge of the continental divide. We walk slow in the South. A man stopped and when he heard how far I have walked in these winds he said that I must have a lot of patience. Yup',Southern, slow walkin' patience. Pack? High and tight. Boots? Stiff and new. Water? Logged. Dog? By my side. One step at a time.
Y'all have a good 'un. See you by the Summit.

Getting back to basics

It's not that hard to take a step,
Walking a few more won't kill you.
Give yourself some time to breath in the fresh air,
Find a friend, hold their hand, walk with them,
Show them you care.

Not all fun and games...

When I had one foot in North Dakota and the other in South Dakota I was feeling pretty good, a bit full of myself for stepping foot in twenty eight of these United States with the World and Nice (the dog). A woman in a car stopped to ask me what I was doing. She thanked me for the effort and told me her husband was diabetic, took our picture and drove away. I had only one foot in South Dakota and was reminded I'm not on a pleasure cruise, this is no vacation, I have work to do...

On dry land.

I was glad I walked to the Hammer Corner, was able to have my back and shoulder to the North West winds and hold on as the World was driven South with ever increasing force as the day worn on. If we had stopped at New Effington the day would have been spent watching the leaves blow from their limbs. In the last miles the only way I could keep forward progress was by using the tall grasses to slow the spin. Keeping the World on the blacktop it would spin in front uncontrollably. I was hardly touching canvas most of the day, working muscles I rarely use leaning into the gusts as the ball was pushed thru knee high grass. At forty five mph the ball would skirt atop the grass nearly pulling me, pack and all,into the ditch. At the end of the day I had averaged the times equal to my best. Even with the strong wind in my favor the World and I can spin only so fast without damage.
Paying attention to the sounds of the gusts rolling over the fields, watching the tall fields ripple and flow toward me filled me with appreciation for the beauty of the prairies. Looking all about at times as I was pulled along I crossed the continental divide of Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. I was sailing in an ocean no one I know has ever experienced. Sailing on dry land. Tree lines surrounding farm houses would chop the waves of air and intersecting roads would spin the World like a top. Far off grain elevators even changed the directions, getting to the top of small rises always dealt a stronger gust. Oh, if only I could describe what a great time I had.