"Not All Who Wander Are Lost"

My daughter gave me a t-shirt for Father's day with this saying on the front. Think it's an appropriate title for a discussion about the route. Choosing a walking route across the continent involves several considerations: time of year, preference in starting / ending locations, availability of resources, objective of the walk (sightseeing, etc.), participant's available time, cost, walking roads or off-road, etc.

About this walk: it'll start in Sept, and continue thru the winter months, so a more southernly route to avoid extreme cold would seem the better choice. There are no places and/or things that are "must sees" along the way. The walk will be on roads, not trails, so they have to be available and "walkable." In the far western states, this is a major consideration. Not many roads out there, not lots of supplies on the ones that are there, and walkers are prohibited from interstate highways in some states. Although time isn't a major consideration, 7 months is the goal for completing the walk (gotta get back and do the taxes! Is this deductable?) And, cost isn't a major consideration....I think the walk will cost about the same as living a more "normal" existance for 7 months.

My brother once told me that when choosing a route (before GPS and such as that), truck drivers would draw a straight line between the starting and ending points, and work from that. So, that's what I did......although the starting point has changed several times. Most likely the route will be a work in progress but, given the above considerations, the following route appears a reasonable "version 1.0." Total distance is approx. 2800 miles. Some (but not all) cities/towns along the route are (town / miles from starting point):

California: Dana Point/0, San Juan Capistrano/6, Lake Elsinore/38, Perris/50, Beaumont/74, Banning/80, Twentynine Palms/138

Arizona: Parker/248, Salome/304, Tonopah/357, Phoenix/415, Globe/500, Safford/578, Duncan/617

New Mexico: Lordsburg/653, Demming/713, Las Cruces/773, Alamogordo/841, Artesia/951, Hobbs/1029

Texas: Seminole/1059, Lamesa/1100, Snyder/1163, Anson/1224, Breckenridge/1285, Mineral Wells/1335, Ft Worth/1383, Dallas/1415, Longview/1550

Louisiana: Shreveport/1613, Monroe/1717

Mississippi: Vicksburg/1794, Jackson/1838, Meridian/1930

Alabama: Selma/2034, Montgomery/2084

Georgia: Columbus/2168, Macon/2261, Augusta/2376

South Carolina: Aiken/2396, Charleston/2520, Georgetown/2581

North Carolina: Emerald Isle/2777

The goal of walking across the continent is reached around Charleston, SC, a couple of weeks before the final destination. Assuming 400 miles per months, the calendar months will look like this:

Sept: Dana Point, CA to Phoenix, AZ

Oct: Phoenix, AZ to Alamogordo, NM

Nov: Alamogordo, NM to Anson, TX

Dec: Anson, TX to Shreveport, LA

Jan: Shreveport, LA to Selma, AL

Feb: Selma, AL to Aiken, SC

Mar: Aiken, SC to Emerald isle, NC

"Misses Bartz, Misses Bartz, I have to go Walkabout"

If Peter Jenkins' book about his walk across America planted the seed for this adventure, the movie Australia provided the right conditions for that seed to germinate and grow. The movie didn't get great reviews, but I have watched it maybe 4-6 times. It has most of the elements that makes a movie good for me: adventure, big country, a "western flavor", action, interesting characters, and a dab of romance. And, the cutest little boy who plays an Aboriginal child who wants to go "walkabout"with his grandfather.


When thinking about a possible walking companion, my first thought was of a friend from work, Shawn Holden. Shawn would have been the perfect companion for a long trip....he loved an adventure, and could talk for hours on most any subject. Shawn loved a good debate, and if you ever started to agree with him, he would immediately change sides and debate the other side. It wasn't about who was right or wrong, it was the debate that he sought. It took a while to understand this and not get upset with him, and I wish he could go along this time. His energy would help with such an effort. Unfortunately Shawn left this world at a much too young age, but maybe he'll be watching from somewhere and urging me on.

I thought about my brother-in-law, Roger Davis. Roger has been a health nut all his life, and kept himself in great physical condition. He loved running, nice cars, his family, and the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately, Roger currently has another challenge in his life......he developed cancer a while back, and while his spirit is still willing, his body is a little weak right now for the rigors of a long walk.


I also thought of another friend from work, Tom Hawthorne. Tom and I competed in local foot races around the Roanoke Valley. He would almost always beat me, and I never understood why, because he didn't seem to run very fast. But he was usually waiting at the finish line. Tom can't walk this time, because many years back he was stricken with MS and is confined to a wheelchair. His legs are not what they once were, but his spirit remains as strong as ever.

Tom, Roger, and Shawn are just some of the people from my past who loved the outdoors and a good adventure. And three of the many reasons I feel so very thankful I am physically able to undertake this journey.


Although the walk is still several months away, I am spending lots of time looking over the old faithful Rand McNally atlas, trying to find a good route. The toughest part of the trip will be the western states.....California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Not many roads (or towns) out there, and each state has restrictions about walking on interstate highways. If I take along a cart to carry supplies, I'll need a hard surface. Sometimes, other than an interstate, they are just not available. And if available, they might add many miles (and days) to the trip. Ed Bixler, a former co-worker, lived in California for a number of years, and is helping with the planning on this part of the trip. He knows lots about sleeping in the desert with snakes and scorpions crawling about.



In addition to advice from Ed, I've also talked a lot with Skip Potts. Skip successfully walked across the country in 2008-2009. His trip was east to west, and more southernly than I plan, but he has much good ideas and advice.....and willing to share. And, there's much info on-line about walking across the country.



I've also found someone very interested in going along on the trip. He's from East London, lots of education, currently not much prospect of a job. Instead of sitting around, decided to have an adventure instead. Not yet a 100% done deal, but looks promising. It would be nice to have company.



As the route stand now, it's approx 2800 miles. It would be nice to complete it in 7 months, but will go longer if that's what it takes. Walking fifteen miles per day with a day of rest every 10 days, is about 210 days. Maybe as the walk progresses, and I get stronger, and east of Dallas where there are more roads and towns, more than 15mpd will be possible.



Some days I get up in the morning so excited about this walk, I can hardly wait for September. Other times I wake up in the night, and it's so dark outside I get scared just thinking about sleeping in the middle of nowhere, alone.....and those scorpions. Why did Ed have to mention that? But, that's what adventures are about, to raise the level of all our emotions.



More soon..........

The Longest Journey Starts with a single step....

I'm not sure who gets credit for this saying, but the person must be Chinese. Only they seem to have a gift for putting complex things in the most basic terms. In 1973, a guy named Peter Jenkins set out to discover America by walking across the country. He documented his journey which later appeared in National Geographic magazine. From the time I first read of his adventures until now, the thought of doing this has occupied a small space in my mind.



Many "stars" have to align for an adventure like this to be successful: it take time (a minimum of 6-8 months); some amount of money depending on how much comfort one seeks; reasonably good health; willingness to leave one's comfort zone; a small amount of courage; a spirit of adventure; and lots of stubborness and determination. Most important, it takes the support of those who care about us to handle the things we leave behind while we pursue what some might consider a "senseless" activity.



Those stars seem to have aligned for me...... I have the time, my health seems to be good, my family's health is good, and other things in my life have settled down. If all goes as planned, the walk will start on Sept 1, 2010, from Dana Point, CA, and end some time in 2011 at Emerald Isle, NC......total distance approx. 2800 miles. I decided to travel during winter months because Spring, Summer, and Fall, are busy around the house, and that would place too much of a burden on others. Hopefully by taking a more southernly route, extreme weather can be avoided.



The plan is to walk 15-20 miles per day, with a day of rest every 10 days. I will walk roads, not trails, and use some type of cart to carry the gear. Some people who have made the trip use a jogging stroller or something similar. This keeps the weight off the legs and knees, and also allows for carrying extra water and food thru the southwestern states where supplies are few and far between. I have sought advice from people who have made the trip, and am searching for a traveling companion.



I'm not going to over analyze this trip, nor do "practice" walks. Just try to use common sense to get thru safely. Actually, I walk across America most every year, just do it 8-10 miles a day over the same route. So, I am reasonably confident the trip is doable, barring some unforeseen something.



Why do this? Maybe a better question is why doesn't everyone do it? Since this country was discovered, people have walked across it in search of something. I have no causes and won't wear any "ribbons." Just doing it because being outdoors and seeing new things and people energizes me and adds joy to my life; because to really appreciate all the things and people we have in our lives, we sometimes have to leave them behind; and most importantly, for my family and friends, especially the granddchildren: Ragan, Kevin, Lauren, David, Abby, Carly, Jack, and Emma. Even if they can't go along this time, they will always be part of it because they will share and experience it with me. And, it'll show them that most anything can be accomplished by hard work and determination.



Wish me luck and enjoy the adventure with me......Jeff.