Day 93 - W. Monroe, eastward

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Tomorrow is December.......wow! Can't believe it's already here, and Christmas just around the corner. Today started off rainy and cold. I wanted to stay inside again and rest, and let the cold get better, but the motel was booked solid tonight, so I couldn't stay there. I ate breakfast, packed up the cart, and headed out about 10am. If it kept raining I would try to find another room somewhere, otherwise would start walking. Wasn't long until the clouds started thinning, giving way to the sun. It is cold, but dry. Sometimes things just work out, and I'm glad now the motel was booked. Today I'll leave W. Monroe, pass through Monroe, and head out into the countryside toward the Mississippi River.

I walked a while on the I-20 frontage road, then stopped to ask directions. Was given a shorter way to get to Monroe, so headed out. Along the way I passed a Gracie Jiu Jitsu school. Gracie is a famous name in jiu jitsu, having invented his own style in Brazil. Anyone familiar with martial arts will probably recognize that name. After walking a couple of miles was almost to the river that separates the two towns. Walking down the street, a guy in a pickup truck pulled over to the side of the road, introduced himself as Jim Peters, and asked if I'd had lunch. I said "no", and Jim told me to walk about a block to Kayla's Kitchen and he'd meet me there....and I did.

Not only is Jim a nice guy, but he "gets" it! He understands why someone would want to walk across America, because he's done some of the same type of stuff.......except in Alaska. For his 60th birthday, his family gave him a trip to Alaska. The lunch was great........beef tips, salad, candied yams, and apple pie. We talked for a while about our adventures, then it was time to get back to walking. Jim gave me some directions, and I headed out. I crossed the Ouachita river into Monroe, and headed down DeSiard Street to find Hwy 80. Along the way I stopped and talked to Virgil Richardson. Jim told me about Virgil, and said he was an interesting guy to meet. And he is......83 yrs old, and still running a welding shop. I could have talked longer, but had to move on.

When I reached Hwy 80, I stopped at a convenience store for ice and a few supplies, and headed eastward. Traffic along the road was awful, with no sidewalks or shoulders. As I moved further away from town, the traffic thinned, making walking easier........and soon I was in the country. This is an agriculture area of LA, and pecan trees every where. The road is flat, and straight for miles. I'm not sure of the elevation in the area, but couldn't be much over 100-200'. This is down from the 8700' in Cloudcroft, NM! The land is so flat, sometimes it's hard to find a dry camping spot because there's no place for the water to drain.

It was getting late, so I started looking for a place to camp. Came upon the Russel Sage Wildlife Management Area, and found an area with camping sites. I found a good one, and soon had the tent up and stuff inside. I bought a new tarp today, and hopefully it'll keep moisture from coming through the bottom of the tent. Before long, I was inside, in the sleeping bag, and ready for a good night's sleep. It's been a good day, and I'm feeling much better.

About the pictures:
That's Jim Peters, adventurer......outside of Kayla's Kitchen
The other is looking across the Ouachita river from W. Monroe to Monroe.

For The Students

Dear students,

I hope you enjoyed your time off for Thanksgiving, and were eager to get back to school! It's not long until you will be out again for Christmas. I hope your studies are going well. As you may know, I'm now in Louisiana, so thought I would give you some questions to help you learn about this state. So, here goes:


What colors are on the Louisiana state flag?

What is the capitol of Louisana?

What is the state nickname?

What is the state flower? Wildflower?

What is the state bird?

What is the state insect?

What is a parish?

What large body of water borders Louisiana?

What river divides Louisiana and Mississippi?

There is an NFL team in Louisiana.......what is the name of the team?

Day 92 - Rest Day

Monday, November 29, 2010

Today was a day of resting. I'm fighting a cold, and just don't feel like much else. Seems I sleep better in the tent than in a room. Had a good breakfast this morning, and came back to the room to do some organizing and computer stuff. The day is warm, but cloudy with rain predicted later in the day.

Around noon I walked down the street for lunch at Chili's. Along the way there is a park called Restoration Park. Years ago it was a mining operation, and the city bought it and started making a park. It's still in progress, but a really nice place for walking and observing wildlife. Lunch was good.....sweet corn soup and salad. A little mist fell when walking back to the room, but it really opened up shortly after I got back to the motel. Forecast is for rain most of the day, with thunderstorms.......but clearing for the rest of the week. Glad I'm inside today. Had a call from Randolph Scott who I met in Lordsburg, NM. He checks in occasionally to see how I'm doing.

My package finally was delivered to a nearby State Farm Agency. Because it was raining so hard, I asked if they could bring by the motel....and they agreed. I really hated to ask, but with the rain, I hated to walk the 3 mile round trip. The package was delivered to the motel around 6pm, and contained: shoes (pair #4), Sundrops, cookies, gloves, crackers, scarf, trail mix, and a pair of socks. Just like Christmas, and made me forget the cold for a while. Rita's taking care of me from a distance.

I've used the time inside to look over the maps, and it appears I have about 80 more miles in LA. If all goes well, that's about 4-5 days, and then across the Mississippi River into Mississippi. Then about 8-10 days to cover the approx 160 miles across MS. It looks like I'll be somewhere in Alabama around Christmas. My original plan was to be around Dallas at Christmas, so guess it's gone better than planned. Hope the remainder goes as well as the first part.

About the pictures

That's Herby K's in Bossier City, LA. The 2nd picture is Linda Mahanay, her boyfriend Wesley Adams, and me inside Herby K's.

Day 91 - Calhoun To W. Monroe

Sunday, November 28, 2010

I had a good camping spot last night, but it was cold. Lots of frost around this morning, which surprises me this far south. I soon had everything packed and headed to the convenience store for breakfast. Today will be a short one....I think it's only about 10-12 miles to W. Monroe, where I'll stay inside for 2 nights. After breakfast, I headed out.

Calhoun is small, but nice. Has lots of nice homes, and is close to I-20, Monroe, and Ruston. It also has a large LSU Agriculture Research Center that would have made a nice camping spot. I had walked a couple of miles and a guy pulled up in a pickup truck to check if I was ok. Introduced himself as Wiley Spears, and as I told him about the walk, he understood. Wiley would be doing it him self is not for job and family, and has always wanted to spend some time in the swamps of LA. Not sure I would do that, but with Wiley as a guide, maybe so. We talked a while, and I headed out.

I stopped at a convenience store to rest for a while, and a young man and his wife, Chad & Jamie Prince, stopped by to ask if I needed anything. I told them about the walk, and they were interested and would follow the blog. They also gave me a little "trip" money for supplies and whatever. Very nice couple, and a kind gesture. They left and I headed out. It wasn't long until I was in W. Monroe. I walked past the State Farm agency where I will pick up a package on Monday. That will be about a 1.5 mile backtrack, but won't have the cart to deal with.

There are no sidewalks or shoulders along Hwy 80 in W. Monroe, so just had to deal with the traffic. Fortunately my walk on that road was brief, and I turned south to find the motel. Walked past my turnoff for about 1/2 mile (I didn't need that), but got squared away and soon found the Holiday Inn Express where I will stay. I have been fighting a cold for a couple of days (sleeping in a wet, cold, tent?), so need some inside time to recover. Tomorrow I'll go pick up the package, and hope there are lots of surprises inside!

For the remainder of today, just rest, watch football, and do computer stuff. (The picture is from the Monroe, LA, website......I didn't take it.)

Day 90 - Heading To Monroe

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I spent last night in the yard of Angela and Charlie Meeds of Simsboro. They told me the rock wall in front of their house was built by German prisoners located there during WWII. Before setting up the tent the previous evening, I asked Charlie about a nice looking area nestled in pines, that was next to his yard. He said there was a fence I would have to cross, plus he has a horse that likes that spot also. The mention of a horse was all I needed to discount the site in the pines. If you don't remember why, check days 53 & 54.

It was cold last evening, and a good frost on the ground. I can stay warm inside the sleeping bag, but eventually have to get out.....that's the uncomfortable part. But, I soon was up, packed, and heading east. I walked a few miles and came to a convenience store where I stopped for breakfast. It's in Grambling, LA, home of Grambling State University Fighting Tigers. It's also the home of the Eddie G Robinson Museum.......Robinson being the winningest coach ever in college football

The next town along Hwy 80 is Ruston, about 7 miles east. Hwy 80 is still 2 lane, no shoulder, but also almost no traffic. The 7 miles passed reasonably quickly.....I have noticed several armadillos in LA, so they've crossed the border. All had met their maker unfortunately. As I came into west Ruston, the first thing I noticed is Louisiana Tech University. It's big and modern, and dominates the west end of town. I also noticed it has an Air Force ROTC program, which is something my grandson Kevin is interested in. Hwy 80 splits coming into town, and I stayed with traffic this time. And good I did because 80 takes a turn south in town. I stopped and rested a while once outside the town, before heading on toward Choudrant.

Hwy 80 in LA is rolling, as much as in TX. For some reason I expected LA to be flat, but not where I'm walking. I also noticed there are mileage markers, which is nice. Each one is a small accomplishment on a long walk. I passed a really friendly horse, and decided to try the mints on him. He liked them, and tried to eat them, but they kept falling out of his mouth. The horses back home just chew them up. After giving him a couple of tries, I moved on.

Soon I was in the village of Choudrant, and asked around about a place to have lunch. I was told to try Doody's Diner, about 1/4 mile north of 80. How can you not like a place with a name like that, so I headed there. It was small, but nice, and the featured dish was catfish. In TX, chicken fried steak is always featured, in LA, always catfish. So, I had catfish and all the fixings, and lemon pie for dessert. I asked the waitress several times how to pronounce the name of the village, but not sure i ever got it correct. After lunch, back on 80 toward Calhoun......about 10 miles east.

Hwy 80 between Choudrant and Calhoun has been newly repaved, and called the Korean War veterans Memorial Highway. I've seen that before, a couple days back. Maybe this is maintained by Parish, and not state. I came upon a man, woman, and child, cutting and loading firewood, I had to have a picture, because this was always one of our favorite "after Thankgiving" activities. And, our children were about the age of the little girl in the picture when they started. That's Jeff, Candace, and Harley in the picture. We talked a while, and I moved on, arms aching just watching them.

It was getting late when I came to Calhoun. I stopped at a convenience store to ask about possible camping spots, and after talking for a while, decided to camp behind the store in a large field. I headed there and had the tent up and stuff inside about the time it was dark. There was a row of pine trees between the store and the tent to shield it from view. A train passed several hundred yards south, and I could hear the traffic on I-20 to the north. Two familiar noises for some time now. I had Friday's USA Today paper to read, so all is well.

Day 89 - What A Difference A Day Makes

Friday, November 26, 2010

We all need a little rain in our lives to appreciate the sunshine.....and I had mine last night. It rained, the wind blew, trains rumbled by, and it turned cold. The only good thing I did is put the tent on high ground, otherwise I would have been floating. I dreaded the wake up call this morning, because I knew it would be a mess packing the wet stuff. And it was, but eventually everything was on the cart and I was moving out. A deputy from the local sheriff's department stopped alongside the road to make sure I was ok. The next town is Gibsland, about 4 miles away. It doesn't have much, but does have a store and a washateria (that's what some out here call a laundromat). So I headed out.

Fortunately, Gibsland was not 4 miles, seemed more like 2 or so. Gibsland is near the spot where Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed, and a sign advertised it as the jonquil capitol of Louisiana. I stopped in the store for breakfast, and then to the laundromat to dry some things. Most everything was wet to some degree, and soon it was all dry......even the rain suit. I used the time while waiting to charge some batteries, and do a little computer stuff. Then, packed the cart and headed east. The day was cloudy and cold, and before long I could hear something hitting my hat, but nothing wet on the backpack. Then I saw it bouncing off the backpack.....sleet. Not much, but some. It didn't last long, and that's about all it did.....no rain.

Hwy 80 east to Arcadia is about like it was yesterday......2 lane and no shoulder. But again, not much traffic. Around noon I was walking into Arcadia, and the sun was coming out. Arcadia has a small, but nice, downtown. One street in particular, Railroad Ave. is really nice. Arcadia has some Bonnie and Clyde history also. I asked the place to eat in town, and every one recommended Luigi's. I walked the couple of blocks there, and it was closed today.....a real bummer. Without walking a couple of miles toward I-20, there was nothing else in town. So I had a sandwich at the convenience store, got some ice, and headed east.

Hwy 80 east of Arcadia improves some, and has been repaved.....but no shoulders. The repaved stretch honors Korean War Veterans. I passed a large Weyerhauser plant along the way, but mostly just tree lined road. The next small town was Simsboro, and again not much there. It does have one of the prettiest water tanks with the town name, painted in the high school team colors. Not as much football "mania" in Louisiana it seems, but maybe the season is over. I had about another hour of walking, so headed out. Next town is Ruston, about 10 miles away. After a couple of miles I started looking for campsites. Found a private home with a big yard, and the owner agreed to let me camp there. It's getting cold, but dry. It was almost dark when I finally had the tent up, but much better than last evening.

I have a package being delivered in W. Monroe, LA, and need to get there by Sunday. Then think I will take a rest day on Monday, before heading east again.

Day 88 - They Never Promised Me A Rose Garden

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all from west of Gibsland, LA. I can assure you I didn't overeat this year! I slept so well last evening, and was awake around 550.....waiting for my wake up call. Still not sure where I am, but do know I'm headed in the right direction. Everything was packed and I was on the road around 645. Goal for today is just more miles toward Monroe.

I hadn't walked more than a mile or two and came to a small town called Dixie Inn. It's close to I-20, so has a truck stop, restaurant, store, casino, etc, I stopped in the Huddle House for breakfast.......the normal stuff. The place was packed, maybe people traveling. By the time I had finished eating, it was raining outside, so I walked over to the driver's lounge and did some computer stuff. While I was sitting there a guy came in with a Cowboy's shirt on. He was headed to the game, riding in a car load of Saint's fans. Tough game today, so it might be a long ride back home. I sat there about an hour, it had stopped raining, so I bought some ice and a few things and headed toward Minden.

Minden was only a couple of miles up the road. It has one of those divided streets downtown, and I stayed to the left, facing traffic. That turned out both good and bad. The good....Minden has a great downtown, and the street I took is the better of the two sides. The bad: Hwy 80 took a turn to the south, and there were no signs on the street I took....only the street going with traffic. So, this cost me about a mile or so of re tracking my steps. But, it's a great little downtown. even have a "Jelvis" Christmas concert coming up in early December.

Hwy 80 is at it's worse leaving Minden. Two lane, no shoulder (above). The good news, almost no traffic. It started raining again, so I ducked under the overhang of a church and rested there until it stopped. A nice woman named Cathy stopped, offered me a Thanksgiving meal, but I declined. I was wet, and just not up to doing that....but a nice gesture on her part. I walked on, and passed through Ada and Taylor, two very small communities. A man was sitting on his porch, wished me Happy Thanksgiving, and walked out to the road and handed me a little money for the trip. I large hen turkey crossed the road, saw me, and flew off over the trees.

It was only a little after 4, but getting dark quickly. Then it started raining again. Gently at first, so I decided to find a camp site. Found a place between the road and railroad track, among some pines. It was about 6-8 feet above the road, so I had to unload the cart and carry the stuff up the hill. About the time I had the tent up, it started raining harder, which made a mess getting things inside. But finally everything was in, including me. It's hard to keep water from coming in the bottom of a tent.....at least for me. So I had to deal with that and try to keep things reasonably dry. It poured for several hours, the wind blew, and it became colder. Sometimes it's hard to tell if something is wet or cold.....or both.

Several trains passed through the evening, and the track is so close the ground shook. When I heard one coming, would put my hands over my ears to shut out part of the noise. But, I was glad to be reasonably dry and warm, and was soon asleep.

Day 87 - Bossier City To Minden

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Being inside is always nice, but I rarely get much sleep. Always stay up too late doing stuff, and then get up early. I hardly ever watch TV unless it's a ballgame or something like that. Anyhow, I was up around 530am, took my clothes to the guest laundry, and came back for breakfast. Hampton Inn always has a nice, complimentary breakfast, and I indulge. Back to the room, finish packing, and ready to head out around 8. I have to re walk about 2 miles to get back where I ended yesterday evening, because of where the Hampton is located. Goal for today is just do some miles east, no specific destination. I have a package coming to E. Monroe, LA, and it will not be there until Monday, so I have a little time.

I stopped by a convenience store for ice and a few things, and then on the road. There are still a few miles before I leave the city, and no sidewalks or shoulder. So, just have to tolerate the glares from the motorist. But, soon I was out in the country, and back in my element. I passed a place called "Villaggio", I really nice mixed use complex. I also passed Harrah's Louisiana Downs, a horse race track, casino, hotel, etc.......really nice looking place. I also walked over a bridge with 1936 carved into a cornerstone. That's the same year "Herby K's" was opened. Another old friend (from NC) has returned......fire ants. Haven't seen them yet in VA, but they're everywhere in NC. At best they're a real pest, at worst probably dangerous.

Mmost of the morning there have been military transport planes coming in low over my head as if in a landing pattern. I later found out there's a large Air Force base nearby, Barksdale. It's been a little windy today, and I passed a park where a father was flying kites with his children. I also had a call from a neighbor in VA, Eddie Prilliman. Eddie is a walked himself, and we talk a lot when I walk down Etzler Road in Daleville. It was good to hear from him and catch up on things back home.

It was about lunch time (which can be most any time I get hungry, no rules on the road). I stopped in a small place named Bear's Den Cafe, near Haughton, LA. Advertised on the sign outside as Best Southern Cooking in the Area. I had hamburger steak, field peas, mashed potatoes, and lemonade. It was good and filling. As I left the cafe, three B52 bombers (picture above) flew overhead. Very impressive to say the least. I also passed a large LA National Guard Base. Hwy 80 was giving its best today......4 lanes, wide shoulder, little traffic, and scenic. Occasionally 80 and I-20 intersect and one passes over the other. I-20 is never far away, and the sound of the traffic keeps me company.

Between Haughton and Dixie Inn there a large ammunition plant. Lots of security at the main gate, but I'm told it is not as active as it once was. As I walked along, just enjoying the day, I found a woman's purse......full of stuff. Using info from the purse, was able to contact her credit union, which in turn was able to contact her. I left the purse with a woman who lives in the area, so the happy owner could pick it up. Must have been stolen and then "ditched" in the ditch.

It was getting late afternoon, so I started looking for a campsite. Found a really good spot near a cell tower......flat, soft ground, private, and not far off the road. Decided to stop for the day. I've been a little lost most of the day.......I was on 80 east, but never saw any signs announcing towns or anything like that. I must be near Minden, but not sure how far away. But, will worry about that tomorrow. It is still very warm in the evening, and there was the hum of traffic on nearby I-20. I read the USA Today paper for a while, and soon after that was asleep.

Day 86 - Waskom To Bossier City, LA

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

I slept well last night. It was so warm there was no need for the sleeping bag, just the blanket. I was up at 6, and by 645, on the road. The goal today is to get to Shreveport and beyond if possible. By 7am, I was in Louisiana. It was already warm, and the humidity just hung in the air. My shirt, which never dried from yesterday, was already wet. The road was two lane, lined with trees....and it had a good shoulder for walking.

Today feels a little "funky". It's warm and humid, not much scenery, and maybe I'm still a little sad about leaving Texas. I've about decided I'm not going to like LA, even though I just got here. I passed through a small town named Greenwood. Other than 4 or 5 truck stops and some houses, not sure there was anything else.....at least not on Hwy 80. I stopped at one of the truck stops, inquired about showers, and was told it is $10. When I reached for my money, the person behind the counter told me to, "put the money away, and go use the shower". Hmmmm.....maybe I can learn to like LA after all? The shower did a world of good, and things were looking up.

On the way to Shreveport I passed the American Rose Center. I didn't stop, but it looks like a nice place to tour. It wasn't long until I was coming into the west side of Shreveport. There wasn't much to see for several miles, but then I passed the fairgrounds and the Independence Bowl football field. There are lots of historical cemeteries in Shreveport, one named the Star Cemetery. After that it was just walking, and most of the area was not very nice. I couldn't even find downtown, and was a little bummed about that. But I kept following the Hwy 80 signs. All of a sudden, downtown appeared ahead. Hwy 80 becomes Texas Ave, and goes down the main drag of town. And it's a very nice downtown, with what appears to be lots of restoration and lots of history.

On the north (or east) end of town, there is a new area called the Red River district. very modern and attractive, with lots of restaurants, shops, and casinos. Having a river flow through a town seems to be an asset. I crossed the bridge over the river, and suddenly I'm in Bossier City, sister town to Shreveport. Along the way I passed the Mardi Gras Museum. It was getting late, and I figured I would still be in the city when it was time to camp. So, decided to stay inside tonight because I don't know where in town I could camp. I asked about motels, and was told there are several, plus there's a mall along Hwy 80. I needed to pick up something there, so headed out.

Before long I was at the mall, getting ready to go into Dillard's, but wondering what to do about the cart. That's when I met Linda Mahanay, and her boyfriend Wesley Adams. Linda was sitting on a bench outside the store, so I asked her if she would watch it for a few minutes. She agreed, but had a ride coming to pick her up, but I wasn't going to be long. She saw the sign on the cart, asked about the walk, and then called Wesley to see when he would be there.....she had someone for him to meet (me). He had been at a business meeting, so didn't want to meet anyone new, but became interested as we talked. It wasn't long until he invited me out to dinner with them. They were staying at the Hampton Inn, so that's where I would stay, But I still didn't have what I came for, so told them I would meet them there.

When I came out of the store, it was almost dark. The road to the Hampton Inn had no sidewalks or shoulder. I tried to walk a while but it was too dangerous. I spotted a guy (Chris Davis) sitting in a church parking lot in a pickup. Walked over, told him where I wanted to go, and he agreed to take me there (it was roads I had already walked). So he did. I checked in, and before long was on the way to dinner with Wesley and Linda. Wesley is from Arlington, Linda from Houston......a really nice couple (those Texans still helping me.) We went to a place called "Herby K's".......open since 1936, and located in a place where you'd never expect a restaurant, it has enough atmosphere for a dozen restaurants......plus great food at a reasonable price. The type of place we should seek out when we travel.

After a great dinner and good conversation, back to the motel where I thanked Wesley and Linda for including me in their evening. Back to the room to do some computer stuff, and maybe wash a few clothes. Tomorrow I'll continue east on Hwy 80 toward Monroe, but for now, going to enjoy an evening inside.

The Pictures: I'm not sure Elvises' connection to Shreveport, but he has a street named after him. The other is from the bridge as I walked over the Red River.

Day 85 - West of Marshall To Waskom, Last Town In Texas

Monday, November 22, 2010

Last night was as good as it gets.....if outdoors. Cool, but not cold, the moon was full and bright, the new tent stakes hold the tent firm against the wind, and I slept like a baby. But, the wake up call came at 6am, and time to get packed and on toward Waskom. I'm about 5 miles west of Marshall, and Marshall is 19 miles west of Waskom.....probably too much for one day. For sure there will be one more night in Texas. By 645 I was on the road.

Traffic was light, and in an hour or so I was nearing Marshall. I passed a historical marker about a factory that produced hats for the Confederate soldiers during the Civil war.....that was interesting. I came to a restaurant named the Creamery, noticed they advertised wi-fi, so decided that would be my stop for breakfast. Had my usual, plus orange juice, and worked on the computer a while. Then headed out. A couple of days back I lost my knife and wanted to get another one, so stopped by the hardware store. Found one I liked, bought it, and talked to the owner a while. He asked lots of personal questions, but few about the trip: are you a rich man? (in many ways) What about personal hygiene? (I do the best I can.) How much does this trip cost? (about as much as if i was home.) I thought it was a strange conversation. Marshall is a nice looking town.....I didn't actually pass through the town square, but could see it from Hwy 80, and it appeared very attractive.

I headed out, spotted a State Farm place, and stopped in to ask them to send Michelle an email. They took a picture, and sent the email. As I was leaving town, two bikers on a tandem bike caught up with me and stopped to talk. They are on a 10,000 mile trip, and started in Vancouver, Canada. They will go to Tampa, FL, then leave the USA and fly to another country to continue the trip. They were husband and wife, and from Cornwall, England. I didn't get the names, but they are going to email me their blog and I will post it here.

The road east of Marshall is mostly 2 lane, tree lined, and gently rolling. There are some beautiful homes along here, and a couple in the historical society of Texas. I saw a real, live armadillo. Picture? Well no, but I tried. I have read they are almost blind, so I approached him casually, but he scooted away. I followed, snapped a picture, but somehow it didn't get saved. I guess it's fitting I saw one my last full day in Texas. It is very warm and humid today......my shirt has been wet most of the day. There are some of the biggest pine trees I've seen along the road, both tall and around. They tower over the hardwood trees.

About 5 miles from Waskom, Hwy 80 merges into I-20, but business 80 runs alongside the interstate on the north side. very little traffic on 80, and it was nice having the company of the interstate traffic. I was soon in Waskom, last town in Texas. I passed David Beard's Catfish Village, an interesting looking restaurant and gift place, but I continued on to town. I asked around about places to camp, and decided to head toward I-20 to see what was out that way. Stopped at Jim's Pit Cooked Bar-B-Que and Catfish, and had a great meal of Cajun cooked catfish (washed), slaw, fries, green tomato pickles, and lemon pie. ( "Washed" means they wash off the Cajun spices....I wasn't up for that.) First time I've ever eaten green tomato pickles, and they were good.

As I was coming into the place, I noticed there was a large grassy area behind the restaurant. I asked one of the owners whose land it was, and she said it belonged to the restaurant. I asked if I could camp there, and she said fine. So that's where I ended up the day.....a good safe, comfortable place. The evening was so warm I didn't even need the sleeping bag.

Day 84 - Longview To Marshall, Almost

Sunday, November 21, 2010


I had a great night inside at Guy Gauthier's business, and appreciate what he, Sherry, Lynn, and Joe did to make it a good evening. I caught up on email and the blog, charged all the battery stuff, and watched a little TV. I actually came to Longview a little too early...... Michael Martin Murphy is going to be in town on Dec 9, and he's one of my favorites. Guy showed up this morning with breakfast, and we ate and talked for a while. Soon it was time for me to get back on the road, and he had a golf match scheduled. The goal today is just putting some miles behind me, heading toward Marshall. It's about 27 miles from here, so I can't get there today.


I hadn't walked too far when I met a young man heading west. I asked where he was going, and he replied Shreveport. That's where I'm heading also, but I'm going East. I invited him to walk with me, but he doesn't like walking......he's heading to the train station to hitch a train. Trent (his name) 17, and his small dog, Mr. Burns, have traveled all across the USA, "hoboing" as we used to call it. He's traveling with 2 other people, but they went ahead of him for some reason. I wished him well, and we went in our opposite directions.


I passed a Kroger Grocery store, and that reminded me of home. Hwy 80 between Longview and Hallsville is 4 lane divided, with an adequate shoulder. The traffic was crazy heavy, and almost no trucks. I figured everyone from Hallsville was coming into Longview to have Sunday lunch. By 11am it was 70 degrees, and by 1pm it was 80. An old friend, humidity, has returned to my life for the first time in several months. There's lots of color in the trees out here....orange and yellow maples, deep red Bradford pear, multi-colored gums, etc. There are camellias blooming, much like they do in the Carolina's this time of year. A freight train moving slowly, and carrying military vehicles passed on my right. I guess Trent is not on that one......but wait, was that someone sitting in the front seat of the Red Cross truck? Surely he wouldn't, or would he?


I was soon in Hallsville. Stopped at a convenience store, and then moved on into town. At the one stop light, there was a sign showing Hwy 80. But, according to it, I was walking west, not east. Did I get turned around in the convenience store, and headed the wrong direction? If in doubt, get out the trusty compass.......it never lies. Sure enough, the one sign in the middle of Hallsville is pointing east and west in the wrong direction. If anyone out there knows anyone in Hallsville, might want to let them know.

Hwy 80 changes to 2 lane east of Hallsville, and less traffic. The road is tree lined with few houses along the way. It is so warm and nice today, but colder weather is just around the corner, I'm sure. After several hours I spotted a really good camp site, and pondered a while whether to stop now or go a little further. I still had at least another hour of light, but decided to stop here. It's a big field with maybe a hundred or more of those big, round, hay bales, spaced far enough apart so i could put the tent in between. It blocks the wind, plus gives me privacy. The moon was full and the night was warm.......what more could a walking man want? Plus, the Cowboy's won again.....a good day.

Leaving Texas

Sometime late tomorrow or early Tuesday morning, I’ll walk out of Texas and walk into Louisiana. It’ll be a little sad, because Texas has always been special to me. Our family has vacationed here, my daughter and her family lived for a while in Flower Mound, and granddaughter Abby was born there. When our oldest children were in high school, we packed up a 1966 Ford Fairlane (no a/c), and headed to Texas in July to see a Dallas Cowboy’s exhibition game. The weather was so hot, it burned the hands to touch the motel room door. We’ve been to Dallas, Ft Worth, Grapevine, San Antonio, Houston, Galveston, Luckenbach, Fredricksburg, and all through the hill country……and other places I can’t remember. Now I’ve been able to walk across the Panhandle Plains, into and through the DFW area, and out the other side through the small towns of east Texas.

Before leaving New Mexico, I was told several things to expect on the walk through Texas: it’ll seem to take forever, there’s nothing in west Texas, and the people are really friendly…..only one of them proved to be accurate. It didn’t take forever, in fact it seems to be ending too soon. And there’s lots in west Texas, we just need to slow down to see it. To hear the coyotes howling under a clear night sky in west Texas is an experience that can only be appreciated by someone who’s been there. To stand on a little rise in the road, and be able to see 25 miles in any direction makes you feel that you could be the only person on earth.. And to walk through the small towns in west Texas….Seminole, Lamesa, Roby, Anson, Albany, Breckenridge, Palo Pinto, Mineral Wells, Cool, and Weatherford, takes you back to a time, many years ago, when everyone knew everyone else, children said “yes mam”, and the pace of life was slower and less stressful.

And yes, the people are friendly. They’ve escorted me across the state, making sure I had everything I needed…..be it a warm place to stay overnight, a meal, or just someone to talk to for a while. I've never seen people who are so proud of their state. If there's only room in the yard to fly one flag, it most likely will be red, white, and blue, with only one star. When I walked into Texas, I knew I was back in the South.

But, I can’t stay in Texas forever, because there’s more walking to be done. So tomorrow it’s into Louisiana…..gators, crayfish (crawfish?),swamps, parishes, and moccasins. Or maybe I’ll find the same thing I’ve found in all the states before…..friendly people and interesting places. We’ll soon find out………

I'll close this post with a musical tribute to Texas.....Waltz Across Texas

People I've Met Along The Way

It would take a large book to list all the people I've met on this walk, and all have played a part in making it such a positive experience in my life. Here's a couple:

David and Susie Casstevens
David is a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. We first met over the phone, and then he invited me to breakfast at the Weatherford Cafe. In addition to the story in the paper, David and Susie invited me to spend a night at their home. We talked, went out to dinner, after that ice cream at Braums, and had a great evening. The next morning I met lots of their neighbors, Susie fixed me a "goody" bag to take with me, and I headed out of Ft Worth. Based on the comments and emails I've received, and people who stop me on the streets just to talk, David must have a good following at the paper.

George, Susan, and Bernele McDonald
George is an attorney in the Ft Worth area. I first met him on the road in New Mexico. He stopped to talk and learn a little about this old guy pushing a cart down the road. One day after I had moved from NM into Texas, I noticed a car stopped ahead of me. There was George again, checking to see how I was doing. He was on his way to pick up his Mother, and went a little out of the way to say hello. On his way back from picking up his Mother in Lubbock, George again went out of his way to find me and say hello. I was a little afraid of what his Mother would think of the walk, but she was very accepting. But she said if it was George doing it, she would say he was crazy!

Just a few of many who have made this walk unforgettable.

Day 83 - Big Sandy To Longview

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Last night was one of the better ones.....as the evening wore on, the traffic settled down and things were quiet in Big Sandy. Occasionally a train would pull up to the station behind me, sit there for maybe 20-30 minutes, and then move out. I figured it was waiting for another train to pass, but wasn't sure. It never got cold last night, just a comfortable coolness in the air. I slept almost to 6 when the wake-up call came. I packed quickly and walked a few blocks to the convenience store for ice.

As I walked back to where I had camped, noticed a train stopped and walked over to see why. The reason......it changes crews in Big Sandy. Much like airlines do with its crew, trains must do the same way. A van brings in a new crew, they switch, and then the van takes the other crew to wherever. Makes sense, but I just never thought about it. They didn't have much time for talking, so I headed out. It was foggy again this morning, more than yesterday.....maybe that's why it's been so warm at night. I passed a large campus named the International Alert Academy. I concluded it had something to do with terrorism or something, but the purpose is quite different.

The soil out here is mostly black, kinda like the red clay back home except softer. Most of the creeks have good level of water in them, unlike the dry beds from west Texas and the other states. It's still cool in the mornings, and occasionally I'll smell wood burning in a nearby home. Someone should bottle that smell.......Firewood #5. Use some of that girls, and you'd have a man in no time! A pickup truck passed me towing 2 fishing boats, one behind the other......think about that. Don't think I've ever seen anything like that. I saw a couple more armadillos alongside the road, but none alive yet.

After several hours of walking I came to Gladewater. Gladewater is connected with some famous people, so check out that link. Inquired about a place for breakfast, and the woman suggested the Pea Patch, so I headed there. I walked a while, never found it, so asked another person. They suggested the Silver Spur, so I headed there. Along the way I found the Pea Patch, it advertised wi-fi, so I stopped there. Ordered my usual breakfast, and started up the computer while waiting. The food arrived, I wolfed it down since I hadn't had anything today, and worked a while on the computer. I'd seen some pie in the display case, so figured since it was near lunch time, I'd top off breakfast with a piece of coconut pie........very good.

Some of the folks coming into the Pea Patch noticed the cart, so we talked about the walk for a while, and then I had to move on. A ways out of town I passed 4 ponies, none of them tall enough to even reach my waist. We used to call these Shetland ponies, I tried to get them to try the peppermints, but no luck with that. A state trooper pulled a car over ahead of me, I noticed they wear cowboy hats.....what's not to like about that? I passed through a small town named Clarksville City, and another named White Oak. I crossed over a lake named Lake Devernia, and noticed a couple of good camping spots around the lake.

About 6 miles from Longview I called Lynn Paddie and told her I was on the way. Lynn and her husband Joe are meeting me at Guy Gauthier's business, where I will stay tonight. Guy owns Texas Awning & Canvas, Inc. Lynn and Joe met me at the building, showed me around, we talked a while, and then Guy and his wife Sherry arrived from a trip to Dallas. In addition to awnings and canvas, Guy builds and repairs hot air balloons, and his balloons have set many records. He was chief engineer on one of the balloons that attempted to set an around the world record. Very interesting talking with both he and Sherry.

They took me up the road to get dinner, and brought me back for the night. The building is comfortable and warm, with a shower, TV, etc. So, a good hangout for the evening.

About the picture: never allow your Paint horse and a donkey to graze in the same field!

Day 82 - Mineola To Big Sandy

Friday, November 19, 2010

I was up early this morning. For some reason, my first night inside I find it hard to sleep. I go to bed late, wake up early. If I stay inside two consecutive nights, usually do better the second. I packed up everything, checked over the house, and headed down the street to look for breakfast. I stopped at a convenience store for ice, and they suggested Kitchen’s for breakfast. So I headed there. I was a little early, so walked around town for a few minutes waiting for Kitchen’s to open. Mineola is a nice town, maybe the nicest I’ve seen east of the DFW area. Lots of history and one of the longest running movie theatres in the state.

At 7, Kitchen’s Hardware and Deli opened for business. I ordered my usual…..2 eggs scrambled, bacon, grits, toast, and coca cola. It’s Friday, football day out here, so many of the patrons were wearing orange and white shirts……I assumed the team colors. While waiting for my order I walked around the hardware part of the store. A big wood stove was in the center, and there was a large soft drink cooler loaded with soda cooled by ice. And much more stuff like that. Breakfast was on the table and I dug in……very good. As I was leaving, a gentleman at the next table asked if it was my cart outside. I said yes, so we had a discussion about the trip. He asked why, I replied, “why not?. That seemed good enough for him. I forget his name, but he moved to the area from Chicago many years back. Seemed like a really nice guy.

I headed out, leaving Mineola behind. Hwy 80, for as far as I could see, was shrouded in fog……the first I’ve seen the entire trip. Soon I received a call from Allene, asking did she wake me! We talked a while, I thanked her for the use of the house, and continued heading east. Hwy 80 out of Mineola is divided with good shoulders. The area here looks almost like back east, trees lining the road. People from the Piedmont areas of NC, VA, would think they were home. I saw an occasional house or farm, and three blue herons at various times, but not much else. Just a good walking day.

I stopped and rested a while, and then continued on. I noticed a car pull off the road a couple hundred yards ahead of me, and a guy got out and started taking pictures of me walking up the road. As I got closer him, he introduced himself as Gary Edwards, a reporter and photographer for the Mineola paper. They are going to do an article about the walk soon, and I will put it on the blog when it’s ready. Gary and I talked a while, then he headed back to Mineola, I headed east. (Gary is another transplant from NY.)

It wasn’t long until I reached Hawkins, Pancake Capitol of Texas……that’s what the sign said. It seems the original Aunt Jemima originated from Hawkins. I found a local cafe, think it is called Petty’s, and went in for lunch. I ordered catfish, slaw, okra, and rolls. The waitress, a nice matronly sort, brought out a basket of rolls. I was fooling around with my cell phone, not paying much attention, and she said: “you need to go ahead and put butter on that bread while it’s warm!” “Yes mam” was my reply, and I put down the phone and started buttering. Wasn’t an option to not butter it seems. Sounds like something my mother would tell me. Anyhow, a good meal, and a nice waitress.

I headed out toward Big Sandy, which will be about as far as I can make today. Not much to see along the way, except same as the morning walk. I did notice a U-Haul place sitting out here in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes they put them in strange locations. It appeared to have a good selection of trucks and trailers.I called Gary Gauthier, a guy I met in Globe, AZ. Gary has a brother in Longview, TX, and told me to call him before I got there. I'll be in Longview late Saturday. Gary's brother Guy is arranging a place for me to stay while there. After about 2 hours of walking I reached Big Sandy. Stopped at a convenience store to inquire about possible camping spots, and a young guy told me there was one of those rest/picnic areas about a mile or two down the road.......so I headed there. It was getting dark quickly, and I spotted a nice place near City Hall and a railroad station, and decided to stop there for the night.

It was a good choice......still near town so I could get ice tomorrow morning, about 6-8' above Hwy 80 so as to not be so visible, soft ground for the tent stakes, and sitting in a little grove of trees. One of my best places so far. It was close to the train tracks, but I've become accustomed to that sound. It wasn't long until the tent was up, and I was inside in the sleeping bag, warm and cozy. It's Friday evening and a good bit of traffic going by, but it'll settle down soon. Not much goes on in Big Sandy after dark.

Day 81 - To Mineola

Thursday, November 18, 2010

My camping spot last night was really good......and I love the new tent stakes. The ground is now soft, and the tent more secure when the wind blows. I was pretty close to a train track, and they run all night. When they come by, the ground would shake, but it was still a good place. I woke up around 445, and glad I had a little time before getting up. The sleeping bag was warm, and the next time I looked at the time it was 615. No cell service here, so no morning wake-up call from home. I quickly packed up, and headed out toward Fruitvale. The goal for today.......just walking east, no specific destination.

Fruitvale, TX, is larger than Elmo, but not by much. It has a gas station/store, and a few other businesses. I stopped in the store for breakfast, and sat down in one of the booths. You don't come into these small places without being noticed, so soon I was explaining my trip to the locals, then they would explain to others who came into the store. In the picture, L-R, is Karen, John, Louise, and Gerald. John's son owns the store, Louise is John's wife, Karen's is John's daughter-in-law, and Gerald is a customer and story teller. Gerald tells a story about John, that goes something like this: John lives in Grand Saline, and always bought his coffee there. But he figured out one day that it was cheaper to drive the 4 miles to Fruitvale and get free coffee, than it was to buy a cup. So, now he drinks his coffee in Fruitvale at his son and daughter-in-law's store. John is retired from the oil business, and most likely can afford a cup of coffee, but this is what they tell.

Karen told another story about a local woman who killed a deer with a stick. I didn't get all the details, but seems the woman's dog started chasing the deer, the woman grabbed a stick and joined the chase, and before long the woman had meat in her freezer. Karen said the woman had a few "battle scars", but got her deer. So, I guess now we have the following deer seasons: bow, black powder, rifle, and stick. Karen, if you're out there and read this, please add more details. I could have stayed here much longer, but had to get back to walking. Next town is Grand Saline, 6-7 miles east on 80.

Highway 80 giveth, and 80 taketh away........one minute I have a 12' shoulder to walk on, the next it's less than 3'. The good news is there is not much traffic, and most people try to move over for me. If an oncoming car gets within about 50yds and hasn't started moving over, I get off the road. Today was a beautiful day........clear sky and mild temperatures. As I headed east I passed the Bailiteal Farm Retreat. It's an interesting place for "crafters" and others just wanting a weekend getaway. Before long I was entering Grand Saline. Unknown to me, they were waiting. One of the people from the store in Fruitvale had called and told them I was on the way. The local paper, the Grand Saline Sun, had called the merchants along main street and told them to be on the lookout for a stranger coming into town, walking and pushing a cart. Before long, the publisher, Veta Weaver, received a call from the flower shop that I had just passed by there. So she jumped in her car, and before long we were talking about the walk. Veta took notes in shorthand.....how many of you even know what that is, much less can do it? An almost lost art, except maybe in small towns like Grand Saline, TX.

On my way out of town a guy came out of the Mallory's Propane Gas building and gave me a can of Blu-Frog energy drink. Said his wife worked for the paper and told him I was coming, and the drink would help me when I got tired later in the day. I thanked him, put it in the cooler, and headed east. After a couple of hours I stopped to rest alongside the German Bed and Breakfast. They also have horse stables and were out working the horses, so I walked over to chat a while. I met Stephanie Schall, who was working a beautiful Appaloosa. We talked a while about her work, my walk, and her horses. (I think that's my next thing, buying a horse.) Stephanie is very serious about riding across America someday. She had to get back to work, I had to get back walking.

The road to Mineola was rolling, more so than the past couple of days. When I got to town, it was time for lunch so I stopped and ate a sandwich. Inquired about somewhere I could get wireless Internet, and was directed to the local library. So I went there and read my email and worked on the blog. One email was from a woman, Allene Deuson. She owns a house in Mineola, and if I'm coming through there, would like for me to stay there. Well, here I am in the Mineola Library, 2 blocks from the house, so it was a no brainer. I called Allene, and she contacted her brother to bring a key to the library. Her brother Patrick Bogan soon showed up at the library with the key, we talked a while, took a few pictures, and he had to leave. Patrick told me he just turned 80, and played a little guitar. His father, Henry Bogan, was a member of the East Texas Serandnaders, a local band.

Before long I was taking the short walk to the house, and soon after that was enjoying a bath, and heat, and a soft bed. I'll tell you, Texas is really being good to me.

Day 80 - Terrill to Fruitvale

Wednesday,November 17, 2010

I was up early, packed, and headed out at first light. Never saw Eric again, I hope he is recovering from his girlfriend leaving. I slept well last evening, and it never got too cold. The past few evenings have been mild, but I am expecting colder weather this weekend. The goal today is just put in as many miles as possible down Hwy 80.

The first stop was in Elmo, TX.....or at least that's what the store front said. I never saw anything announcing I was entering Elmo, or leaving Elmo, but they said I was in Elmo. I stopped at the only store for breakfast and some ice for the coolers, and then headed out. I see lots of trains along the road here, and wonder if they are the same as i saw going through the desert of Southern CA. I also saw an Amtrak train with about 7 cars.....I stood by the road and waved at the cars, like a little boy. Am I getting that lonesome? I want to take a train ride across America in the near future. I also passed some longhorn steers along the way. We see them on TV, but they are really impressive in person.

Soon I was in Wills Point, TX, and stopped to ask about wi-fi service. A local said they thought Dairy Queen had it, so I headed there. Just as I was tying up the cart to a hitching post, an SUV pulls up, and a woman hands a package out the window. "I saw you back in Terrill, and wanted to do something for you." That was my introduction to Aerial Roark, who works at a local diner. In the package was about the best chicken salad sandwich I have ever eaten. Aerial and I talked a while, she went back to work, then I headed across the street to eat.

After the sandwich, I headed back to DQ to use their wi-fi. Of course i needed to buy something, so decided on a Hawaiian Blizzard. Set up the computer and spent about an hour there eating and blogging. Wills Point is a nice small town. It has a new high school, and an attractive downtown area. But I had to move on, so headed down Hwy 80 east. I soon passed a large commercial nursery called Hawkins Tree Farm. Talked to a guy named Esque, who was out in the field laying out rows for new plantings. Esque was a nice guy to talk to......said he did lots of walking on the more than 500 acre farm. "Nursery work is hard, and not much pay. But it's steady."

I walked through a small town called Edgewood. The old caboose in the picture is sitting in the town square. It was getting late, so I stopped at DQ for something to eat. Decided to try some of those Jalitos (fried jalapenos) because the server said they are not too hot. And they weren't, but I drank several large cups of pink lemonade along the way. But, if you ever need a good laxative........need I say more. I also passed the Blue Rooster Winery in Edgewood, which was open for tastings, but I kept on going.

It was getting late, so I started looking for a place to camp. Still searching for one of those Texas Picnic/Rest areas, so can't find one when I need it. I found a nice spot near Fruitvale, TX. It was close to the railroad track, but level, and near the woods so it would be less noticed. No cell service in the area, and the trains did run all night, but otherwise a good place. I love smelling the fallen leaves in the area. It never got really cold, so a good evening.

Day 79 - Seagoville to Terrill

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I had a great place to camp last night. A couple hundred yds to my right was the police station, and to my left was a shopping center with lots of restaurants, a Wal-Mart, etc. I was snuggled back near a barrier of trees, so had privacy, but didn't feel alone. I used the new tent stakes, and they are really nice.....but the ground is getting softer, so everything is easier. It rained during the night, and thundered a little, but the tent fly kept me dry. By morning it had stopped, and looked like a nice day ahead. My goal today is to get to Hwy 80 around Forney, and then head east toward Longview. I stopped by McDonald's for breakfast and to use the computer, and headed out on Malloy Bridge Rd toward Forney.

"You pickin' up cans too?", was the question from the guy I encountered on the way. I saw him ahead of me, picking up cans, and I guess by my looks he figured I was doing the same. I told him no, just walking. If I had said yes, he probably would have told me this was his area. It was getting near time to do the radio interview, so I started looking for more "bars" on the cell phone. It was also windy, but finally found a place where I could block the wind and get pretty good reception. The interview went well, at least from my perspective. Keith Larson does a good job with questions, so it's pretty easy to talk with him. I appreciate his interest and coverage.

I reached an intersection where a decision was needed......my directions said go one way, logic said go the other. So, I stopped at a business and asked Landa Whitney. She drew me a map, and I asked if she was from the area. "Nope, just lots of people stop here and ask directions", was her reply. So I set out with her directions as my guide. Forney is one of a few towns where I never walked through the downtown area. I prefer to see downtown, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. Mesquite, Seagoville, and Hobbs, are a few more. What I could see of Forney was nice.....I walked past some very nice housing, a brand new "Justice Center", and four new ball fields enclosing a central concessions area (much like Greenfield Park in Daleville.)

I stopped at a convenience store to rest and get something to eat, and while sitting outside, a nice young man approached and handed me a handful of change. He introduced himself as Heath, and his girlfriend (?) as Kayla. I'm sure he thought I needed the money......I need to work on my appearance! Whatever he thought, it was a kind and generous gesture. I also found Sundrop at the store, so stocked up on that. After resting a while, moved on to Hwy 80 and headed east. Hwy 80 is real busy for several miles outside of Forney, until it merges with I-20. I noticed a service road and asked how far it went. "All the way to Terrill", so I got on that and almost no traffic for about 10 miles.

Two guys, Paul and Steve, were traveling west toward Forney on Hwy 80. One spotted me and said to the other, "isn't that the guy who was in the paper recently? Let's go see." So they found an exit, got on the service road, and stopped alongside. We had a nice conversation, took a few pictures, and they had to get back to work. It was nice of them to take the time to stop and chat, that means a lot and breaks up the long periods of walking. I was soon in Terrill, and stopped at a Whataburger food place to get a bite to eat and use their wi-fi. The wi-fi didn't work, and the salad was so/so. Lesson learned. Up the road a ways was a Braum's ice cream place, so I stopped in there for a cone. When I stayed with the Casstevens, we went to Braum's after dinner, and I loved the "Cherry Pecan Cream" flavor.....so had a cone of that to go.

"Are you the man who was in the paper recently", was the question asked by Mike Durrett, of Mesquite, TX. He was in Terrill to do some work, spotted me, and stopped to talk. We talked about most everything, from his town of Mesquite, to how to fry okra. When Mike picks his okra, he leaves some of the stem. He leaves the pod whole, then rolls in corn meal, and fries the whole thing. Then you can eat it like a corn dog on a stick. You know, it makes sense to me. It was getting late, so I had to leave.

I noticed one of those Texas Rest/Picnic areas on the map, so headed for that to camp. I walked and walked, but never got there, It was almost dark, and I spotted a large mowed field with a couple of houses around. I walked over there, asked a guy if I could put up the tent and he agreed. He suggested I move closer to the house to get away from the train tracks. (the trains ran all night.) I set up the tent, and the guy's brother, Eric, came and invited me in the house to get warm. I went it for a while, and took the computer to charge the battery. Eric told me his wife just left him right before I got there (I found out later it was actually his girlfriend, but he was well into a case of beer at the time!) But it was ok because he didn't really love her, but would miss rolling over at night and reaching out to see she was there. We talked a while longer, me drinking tea, Eric and his beer. He was a nice guy, just a little mixed up at the moment. I told him she would probably come back after she thought it over.

We talked a while longer and I went back to the tent. Today was a really nice day......great weather, good roads, met lots of nice people, and tried to help console Eric. I'll really sleep good tonight.

Happy Birthday Lauren

Tomorrow (11/17) is my oldest granddaughter's 16th birthday. Lauren lives in Forest, VA, and is the daughter of my son Jeff Jr, and his wife Michelle.....and the sister to her brother Ragan. She is a sophomore in high school, and loves the Cowboys, Sundrop, volleyball, her cell phone, and her friends. She's a good daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend. And, she'll soon be behind the wheel of a car......look out Forest!

Have a great birthday Lauren, this is a special one. Love, Papaw.

New Friends From Seagoville

I was sitting in McDonald's eating a burger and noticed a little girl watching me. She came over and asked if that was my cart sitting outside. She recognized my picture on the cart, and stopped by to say hello. That was my introduction to Emily Reynolds, Seagoville, TX. She soon brought over her older sister and brother, Brittany and Gordon, Jr. Gordon is in the 10th grade, Brittany in the 7th, and Emily in the 4th. They were very interested in my trip, and couldn't believe how far I was walking.

Emily and Brittany are both in line speed skaters, and Brittany went to the Olympic Training Center in CO and qualified for Nationals. Gordon is a math whiz......tell him your age and birth date and he'll tell you on what day of the week you were born. Brittany asked if I'd seen the new water tower in Seagoville (which I had). It was fun talking to them and their father, Gordon, Sr.

No strangers in a small town like Seagoville, TX.

Day 78 - To Seagoville, TX

Monday, November 15, 2010

My last night in a bed for a while I guess, and it was really nice. Carol Frye has opened up her home for Wayne and me, and really made me feel welcome. But, time is a wasting, and gotta get back on the road. I was up early......the KRDL radio interview was scheduled for 630am, so I wanted to sound awake. It will be played on air later, but I'm not sure when. I made a couple of pieces of toast for breakfast, and was ready when they called. The interview was very short, but seemed to go fine. By now, Wayne and Carol were up and ready to go. Carol is taking us back to where we stopped on Saturday, and will come pick up Wayne later today.

We headed out, fought through the Dallas traffic, and were ready to walk by 745. Our route (for those in the area) is Ledbetter Dr to US-175, US-175 to Seagoville. Distance is about 16-18 miles. The walk itself was pretty uneventful. We'd walk a couple of hours and rest a while, and then repeat the process. Almost the whole way there was adequate shoulders or sidewalks, and US-175 has frontage roads the entire way. The scenery was almost non-existent.......just businesses, housing, and empty fields. One time we were confused and had to backtrack about a mile. Other than that, just walking. It was nice having Wayne along for a couple of days.......we talked almost the whole way, and the miles went by effortlessly.

As the day wore one, it became cloudy and cooler, and rain threatened. But never more than a few drops fell on us. Wayne did fine, especially since he has not done much distance walking. I think he earned his "walkingman" badge today. By the time we reached Seagoville, Carol was sitting there in a McDonald's parking lot, with the cart and other stuff. We unloaded the car, took a few pictures, and they headed off to the comfort of Carol's house. I stayed behind in McDonald's using their wi-fi and eating a burger. Just across the road is a huge field with lots of camping potential. Think I'll try out those new stakes there. Tomorrow I head north to Forney, TX, and then east toward Longview.

About the photo above......sometimes we disagreed on direction! Thanks Wayne for coming out and helping me get through the DFW area. Thanks Carol for your help and kindness. It would have been difficult to maneuver that cart through the area, so it was nice not to have to do that.

Radio Interview

I will be doing an interview tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 1005am EST on the Keith Larson show........WBTam, Charlotte, NC. If you can't listen live, I'll try to post on the blog. My blogmaster is on vacation (!), and she usually handles that stuff.

Day 77 - Resting In Plano

Sunday, November 14, 2010

It's a rest day, and the walk will resume tomorrow. We're staying with Wayne's sister, Carol Frye, who lives in Plano. Tomorrow Carol will take us back to where we stopped on Saturday, Wayne will walk with me, then Carol will come pick him up, and I'll stay on the road, heading toward Longview on Tuesday. Wayne will fly back to Charlotte on Tuesday. It's been nice visiting with him, and nice to have someone to walk with for a couple of days. I was able to catch up on lots of things from back home. After breakfast this morning, washed clothes, caught up on the blog and email, and just rested. Wayne printed out directions for our walk tomorrow.......we'll continue down Ledbetter to 175, stay there until Mallory Bridge Road, then wind our way to Hwy 80 in Forney. From where we stopped yesterday to Longview is approx 174 miles, and I expect that to take 8-9 days if all goes well.

We ate lunch out at Poor Richard's in Plano. Pork chops, okra, slaw, applesauce, iced tea, and great peach cobbler. I would recommend this place if you live close enough. After lunch, on to REI for tent stakes. Mike, the guy who waited on us was, from all places, Dana Point, CA. Even has a boat still in the marina there. He also has walked the Appalachian Trail. Interesting guy to talk to, and he also was interested in my walk. After REI, on to Home Depot for a lamp socket for Carol.

The remainder of the day was packing and organizing, resting, watching the Cowboys win their second game of the season. I had a nice call from Gary Gauthier.....he's the motorcycle guy who bought my lunch some time back in Globe, AZ. His brother lives in Longview, TX, and operates a business right along hwy 80. Gary is going to connect us when I reach the area. Still taking care of me, even after he's back home in Michigan.

Carol's son Bill and daughter-in-law Mary Ann came by after returning from Arkansas, and Carol fixed dinner for us. It was nice meeting them and we had lots of laughs over the adventures along the walk. The soft bed inside is nice for another night, but walkingmen need to be on the road. Before leaving out tomorrow morning, I am doing a radio interview with Mitch Carr and Scott Braddock from KRDL radio mid-day news in Dallas. It will be prerecorded, and played some time. When I find out the details will put on the blog. Also, I've added a new link to the Gaston Gazette's follow-up article about the walk.

About the pictures......one is Wayne and Carol, the other is examples of the mailboxes in Grand Prairie that I described in a recent post. The one in the foreground is the classic "cement in an old auto wheel", and the one in the background is the classic " cement in a plastic bucket". There must be a hundred or more of these on the sidewalk down 14th street.

Hello To All in The DFW Area
Thanks for your interest in the walk and comments on the blog. David Casstevens captured it pretty well. I hope you'll continue following and enjoying the walk along with me.

How 'Bout Them Cowboys!

Day 76 - Grand Prairie To Longview, day 1

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The wind howled most of the night, and at times would move the tent so much it pulled some of the pegs out of the rain softened ground. I finally got it secured enough to stay reasonably upright. I woke up around 5, and just laid there enjoying being warm until my wake up call came at 6. I was packed and moving around 645, heading for the McDonald's just down the road. On the way I first passed a movie theatre called the "Uptown Theatre". (All towns should have a theater uptown.) I then came to a really cool looking restaurant called Don Juan's. You have to see this place in person......makes you want to get something to eat. Hwy 180 through Grand Prairie is really scenic and nice. Before long I was in McDonald's enjoying breakfast and using their wi-fi.

Hwy 180 goes into Dallas and ends. I had no clue where to go after that, so did a mapquest starting at the McDonald's and ending in Longview. The directions sent me on a more southerly route, going through Batch Springs, Seagoville, and picking up Hwy 80 in Forney. It looked like a reasonable route, so I decided to take it. I also checked the on-line Star-Telegram, and saw the article by David Casstevens was there.......thanks David. About that time I received a call from Cleudis Robbins. Cleudis lives in FT Worth and is the uncle of my daughter-in-law, Michelle. We didn't connect when I came through FT Worth, so he wanted to come to Grand Prairie to talk a while.

About 30 mins of so after the call, Cleutis and his wife Mary (in photo) arrived. We had a great time discussing the trip, family, and lots of things. Mary is from Albany, TX, and knows Joe Dillingham (from an earlier posts). We had lots of laughs about that incident. Soon they had to leave, and me get back to my journey. I hate they had to drive so far, but really glad we had the time together.......two nice people. As I started out walking, received a call from Tom Hawthorne, a friend from Roanoke. Tom calls often, and is a regular follower of the walk. And, a friend from the Charlotte area, Wayne Mowery, is flying out today to spend a few days and walk some of the route around Dallas.......so lots happening out here.

I turned off of 180 onto 14th Street heading south. After walking a while noticed twp really strange things about the sidewalks in that area: 1) most mailboxes are right in the middle of the sidewalk, and are set in cement in a plastic bucket, or tire rim, or something similar (do they sink them in the river or something when no longer needed? 2) The sidewalks are slanted toward the road, at about the degree of the banking at Daytona Speedway. So to keep the cart on the sidewalk I had to maintain a minimum speed or fall off into the road. I guess the slant is to allow water to drain, but it's a little extreme. I haven't seen either of these before.

About the time I reached my turn off 14th, received a call from Wayne......they were coming to find me. His sister Carol picked him up at DFW, and was bringing him to walk the remainder of the day. They soon arrived, we loaded the cart and my possessions in Carol's car (don't have to push it today), and headed out across the Pioneer Parkway Toll Bridge. Toward the end of the bridge, sitting on a hill, is Potter's House........a predominately black, mega church in south Dallas. We walked a while longer and saw an elaborate Buddhist Monastery under construction. After about 2 hours, we stopped for a sandwich, rested about an hour, and headed out again.

Carol called around 430 to say she was on the way to pick us up. By the time she arrived, it was getting dark and much cooler. Before long we were back at her house, eating bar-b-que, and talking about the day. Wayne has had knee problems, and wasn't sure how it would hold up under so many miles, but he did fine. Wanting to go out again, and help me get around Dallas. I'll be in a bed tonight, just like you........