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!
You'd mentioned in your blog that Kevin Ellis had called you about an article he was preparing. Well, this morning on the front page of The Gaston Gazette, there it was. It was a terrific article and had four pictures of you on the front page. He mentioned that you may alter your route to pass through Gastonia. I hope that you DO make that change! Have good walking today! Here it wouldn't be the best conditions for walking....rain is forecast for this afternoon and all day tomorrow. We need it badly, though. Jon Childs-Gastonia
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine walking from one end of America to the other! Just saw the Star Telegram article Saturday and wanted to wish you luck on the rest of your journey. Once you get near Tyler, the lay of the land should remind you that your getting that much closer to home!
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