Dear Students, thank you for all the advice from my previous questions. I will listen to your advice and try the things you have suggested. Every day we are learning what it takes, how much food and water, to walk all day in this hot temperature.
Some of you have asked me what I am going to eat along the way, some days are different than others but this is what I had today: for breakfast I had two pieces of cold pizza and a coca cola, for lunch I had a breakfast pita, two packages of hash browns, strawberry-banana smoothie, and a large soda. For dinner I had a subway sub, potato chips, and a lemon aide. I am not suggesting that everyone eat this way but it was what I was craving today and we were near stores. I also drink alot of water and gator aid.
As you know, Alan, the man walking with me is from London. Sometimes he uses words that I do not understand. Maybe you can help me understand what he is saying.
Here are three words that Alan uses; lorry, plasters, tarmac. Can you help me understand what he is talking about?
Here are three more questions that you can help me with:
1. Why do you think the hot temperature bothers Alan more than it bothers me?
2. When we cross the desert, we are thinking of walking at night. Why do you think we are considering walking at night?
3. Although we both get tired after a long walk, it takes me longer to get rested than it does Alan, why do you think that is?
4. Alan started out on the trip to Perris with a black shirt. Was this a wise choice and what do you suggest that he be wearing?
Finally, I hope each of you will please, please, please learn how to give proper directions and how far it is between two places. Maybe sometimes during your studies you can pick two places and determine how far they are apart and how long it would take to get there. It is real important because we ask many people for directions and rely on them to give us accurate information. And someday you may encounter a walking man.
Thank you for all your help and support. Everyday I think about you and it gives me lots of determination to successfully complete this walk.
Your friend Jeff, the WalkingMan...........
Dear Jeff,
ReplyDeleteAs best friend of Alan I feel I maybe best suited to translate. Lorry is also known as a "truck" in America. Tarmac, well its the name for the black material used to make the roads (tar?). Plasters are adhesive plastic bandages that we put over small wounds, blisters etc.
As for the heat, well it is likely that you have spent most of your life living in a much more hotter climate than Alan and therefore, your body is much more conditioned (efficient)in the heat.
Walking at night, is a good idea as the cooler temperatures will help you and Alan keep cooler. more focused and better conditioned (less likely to experience cramp etc). HOWEVER, the lack of visibility and the change of sleep cycle can prove to be AS hazardous as walking through the day. Changes in sleeping patterns to walk at night can result in your body being slower to recover and the lack of visibility can mean on-coming cars and trucks may not see you on the roads and it could all lead to a big accident! What I would recommend is avoid walking during the mid-afternoon heat! Try to wake up early (at dawn!) and walk till 10 or 11 am and have a break IN THE SHADE till around 3 or 4pm where you can continue to walk till quite late in the evening (9 or 10pm).
As for getting rested and recovering, it is most probably just a case of age. As our bodies get older, we take longer to recover! You also have to watch your diet very carefully! Try not to drink "fizzy drinks" like coca-cola or lemonade, simply because fizzy drinks contain sodium and reduce the amount of WATER that your body absorbs into the muscles and therefore your muscles take longer to repair. You also should look to get some multivitamin tablets to keep your body's vitamin stores at optimum levels! Above all have lots of protein in your diet (especially at dinner time)! Lean meats, milk and cheese will help your body keep and rebuild the muscle that has gone through a tough workout throughout the day!
I hope this helps you both! Keep us posted!
Pass on my regards to Alan and tell him I was sober on Saturday after the cricket, to pay tribute to his hard work out there!
Kind regards,
"Special K" (Kumaran Raven)
Another comment comment about your feet!
ReplyDeleteYou are, no doubt, probably suffering from very sore feet!
I have good news! Your feet will eventually get used to it and you will develop harder skin to cope with the friction and therefore, you will be immune to sore feet!
You will have to be patient as it can take a few weeks!
Kind regards,
Special K (Kumaran RAVEN)
Sounds like you both are holding up pretty well. The desert at night does sound more appealing and you wouldn't have to worry about those night critters getting in your sleeping bags. Please get some of those sport drink packets that you add to water for some quick electrolytes that you lose through heavy sweating. Take care!
ReplyDeleteSTILL drinking sodas?? :)
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll be the token Debbie Downer and say what everyone else is thinking. Jeff's questions are for the students to answer, please give them a chance to answer before chiming in :) Sorry to sound grumpy, it's the Rudisill in me, haha.
ReplyDeleteMr. Rudisill,
ReplyDeleteMy students found Va and England on the globe and discovered that England is far from the equator, so Alan must be used to cooler temperatures. We know that you live in Va so you should be used to hot, humid temperatures! We don't think his black t-shirt was a good choice because many of us figured out that black attracts the sun!
We did think that tarmac meant the roads that you were walking on and possibly plasters referred to buildings or homes. We see from the comment above that that one wasn't right but it got us thinking!!
Many of my students said they feel like we now know a celebrity!! Keep up the great work! :)
Alisa Gunter's Third Graders
Greenfield Elementary School
Hi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteWe need more time to research the words Alan's speaks to you that you don't understand. We will get back to you. The hot temperatures may bother Alan more because he wears dark colors also We think the weather is different in England than in the United States. We think you are choosing to walk the desert at night becuase the desert has cooler temperature at night. Are we right? It may take you longer to get rested after walking then Alan because Alan is younger than you and doesn't require as much rest. Alan needs to start wearing light colors so the sun is not so attracted to him.
We enjoy reading your blog and wish you and Alan good luck. Talk to you soon.
Mrs. Glover's 5th Grade Class at Tryon
Hello Mr. Rudisill,
ReplyDeleteThis is Mr. Matthews' Class from Tryon Elem. Sch. We hope you are enjoying your walk and that it is not too hot for you.
Joshua wants to know if you have seen any joshua
trees. My class is intrested to know what kind of animals you have seen. They are especially interested in snakes and scorpions. Have you gotten to climb any mountains yet?
Mr. Matthews and the kids would like to know: What characteristics you have that will enable you to complete this difficult task? How do you think you will have changed by the end of this trip? Good Luck - Be Safe
Thanks for the wonderful questions! Yes, we have seen many Joshua trees when we walked through Joshua National Park. We have not seen any scorpions yet, but we have seen two small snakes. We have not intentionally climbed any mountains, sometimes we have had to but are trying to avoid them.
ReplyDeleteI think I have great deal of determination, I have done lots of planning,I'm in good health and having all these great people pulling for me really helps. I also have a "wide comfort zone", I adapt to conditions easily where other people may not.
Since I am up in age, I'm not sure how I will be changed by this trip. I think it will just make me appreciate what I have at home so much more.