Appalachian Trail (Short) Walk

Saturday, May 7, 2011
A week or so ago I was talking to a neighbor, Eddie Prillaman, and he mentioned wanting to walk a section of the AT near our homes in Daleville. To date he'd been unsuccessful finding someone to walk with him, so I told him I'd be happy to go along. The section we were going to walk is called Rt 220 to Tinker Cliffs, a hike of approximately 10 miles......plus 3 miles down off the mountain to Rt 779, Catawba Road. So, this past Wednesday, Eddie left his car at our house, and Rita took us to the starting spot. Eddie had estimated about 6 hours for the walk. The day was sunny and a little cool, a perfect day for walking

The place we started is a "low" point on the trail, so we had an immediate climb of 1,500-2,000' over the first mile of so. Once that mile was behind us, the trail leveled off, as much as it does, and tracks along the ridge of the mountain. We soon started seeing through hikers, most of them walking the entire trail from Georgia to Maine......2,100 miles. We saw about 20 total, most of them were with someone else, but there were a few singles. Most were young guys, but there were about 6 young women. The packs they carried ranged from something about as small as a school book bag, to a full backpack.

It had rained hard the night before, and many of them had stayed in shelters at Lambert Camp, a campsite near Tinker Cliffs. Most of them were planning to stay over at least one night in Daleville......a popular stop along the trail. there are groceries, motels, and a post office near the trail. One of the guys said he covered about 20 miles a day, but I would think that is an exception, rather than the rule. With all the ups and downs, I think 20 miles would be a long day.

I had expected to possibly see mountain laurel and rhododendron blooming along the trial, as well as some wild flowers. There were a few, but maybe it was a little early at that altitude. We stopped for lunch in a sunny spot, rested for a while, then headed out for the remainder of the walk. Although the trail is well marked, one has to pay attention because there are side trails that are easy to take. Also, at times the trail climbs over rocks and other obstacles that cause unsure footing......so, we had to be careful. In warmer weather, there are rattlesnakes in the area, but guess it was too cool for them. Overall, I found I had to be more alert than when walking on roads, although didn't have to watch for cars!

The part of the trail around the Roanoke Valley is really nice, with lots of great views of the valleys below. Around 3pm, we reached the Lambert Campsite, a nice place with a couple of shelters and a great creek running through it. Shortly after that, we reached the Andy Layne Trail, a 3 mile hike down the mountain. At times the terrain is very steep, and it's harder going down than up. We reached the parking area around 430, where Rita was waiting to pick up two weary hikers. That's a total of about 7 hours for 13 miles, minus an hour for lunch and rest.....no speed records set today.

It was a great day and a great walk, and maybe I'll do more of the trail some time. In fact, there's another 10 mile section from Rt 311 to Tinker Cliffs, and we're talking about doing that soon. My legs were a little sore from the up and down hill, especially the calves. I found myself wanting to stop and talk to the through hikers, much like people wanted to talk to me during my long walk. I also felt a little "closed in" by the forest, which is much different from walking the roads. But, each has its own, unique attraction. Maybe some day I'll do the whole thing, minus these 10 miles! Maybe one of the grandchildren will want to walk the AT some day, and invite me to come along.

About the pictures:
That's Cole and Ashley, 2 of the through hikers on their way to a rest in Daleville;
This huge rock serves as a dry place to camp.......could you sleep under this?;
Eddie calling on water "gods" to fill his empty bottle;
Me at Lambert Campsite;
End of day for two tired hikers.

Washington & Old Dominion Trail - Day 2

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

I was up at 6, courtesy of a wake-up call from Rita. Because of the long day yesterday, and up late working on the blog, figured it wouldn't hurt to have a little help.....and I needed it. By 730 or so, we were on the road heading back to the 7-11 in Herndon, where we stopped yesterday. Today was supposed to be a shorter day, thanks to the 24+ miles yesterday. According to our info, we have only 21+ miles to complete the walk. Although both of us are a little sore from the long walk yesterday, we are also ready to get going again. Baring unforeseen incidents, we should complete the walk in 2 days.

Jon's wife Laura dropped us off at the 7-11 around 815, and we set out toward DC. We walked through Herndon, and on to Reston. Although we're walking through one of the most congested areas in the USA, much of the time the trail seems far from civilization. We came to Reston, and passed a large Oracle office building, a golf course, and then stopped at a 7/11 to pick up a couple of items. As we walked on, we climbed a short, but steep hill, called Buckthorne Hill. It was significant only that most of the trail is relatively flat. At the top of the hill is a bench called Papa's Bench, dedicated to a father, and for resting after the climb.

We passed by Hunter's Station, designated as a flag stop along the railroad. We came into Vienna, and passed the Freeman House and Museum. It was getting near lunch time, and the map indicated there was a McDonald's at Mile 11 on the trail, so that's where we planned to go. We asked a biker about McDonald's, and he said there wasn't one. We looked around town and found the Vienna Inn, and stopped there for lunch and resting. After a lunch of hot dogs and clam chowder, we went to the register to pay. The young woman asked about our walk, and remarked that she hated to walk. "If I could get a Segway in my house, I would use it to go room-to-room!" There was no mistaking how she felt about walking.

We walked outside and rested a while longer, then set out for Arlington. We had about 7 miles to the beginning of the Martha Custis Trail. We passed through Dunn Loring, VA, which I had never heard of, but it has an interesting history. The trail through Arlington was a little confusing.....not so well marked for a stretch. After a couple hours of walking, we reached the intersection of Washington & Old Dominion, and Martha Custis Trails. We rested for a while and started out on the final 4+ miles of the trip. This trail shadowed I-66 most of the way into Washington, and the closer we came to the city, the busier it became. Mostly bikers, and they ride about as crazy as auto drivers! This trail was well marked and rolling, but nothing extreme. After an hour or so, we reached the end at Theodore Roosevelt Island.

But, the Washington Monument was still in the distance, so we set off for that. After crossing the Potomac, we could see it in the distance, but weren't sure how to get there. We walked toward the Kennedy Center, and asked a woman directions. She sent us back the way we came, around the Lincoln Memorial, past the WWII memorial, and finally at the monument around 7pm. Lots of people playing softball and kickball on the lawn, but we were happy to just stand there, rest, and watch them. Our walk today ended up being longer than yesterday, about 25.5 miles. After a few pictures, we walked to the Metro Station and took the train to W. Falls Church. It was nice to be moving and not walking.

Jon Jr. met us at the station, and before long we were sitting around the table recapping the day, and having a nice dinner prepared by Laura and Anya. We completed the walk in 2 days, our goal, but maybe it was a 3 day walk. But, we have lots of time to rest, and think of other places to explore at 3mph.

About the pictures:
Jon at Herndon Station;
Entering Reston;
Marker at Hunter Mill Road Crossing;
One of only a few animals we spotted;
Finally at Washington Monument.

Washington and Old Dominion Trail - Day 1

Monday, April 25, 2011

A month or so ago, a friend from Gastonia, Jon Childs, invited me to walk the Washington and Old Dominion Trail with him. Asking the walkingman to go for a walk is like asking a kid if they want ice cream.......of course we do. The trail is 45 miles long, and our goal was to walk it in 2 days. It starts near the Village of Shirlington in Arlington County, VA, and terminates in Purcerville, VA. Jon has family in nearby Leesburg, VA, and was going there this weekend to return 2 granddaughters to their parents, so we decided to do the walk this week. His drive from Gastonia to Leesburg brings him within a couple of miles from our house in Daleville, so he picked me up on the way and we arrived in Leesburg late Sunday evening.

We were up and ready to go by 715 this morning, and Jon's son, Jon Jr., drove us to Purcerville Station. (We started at the end of the trail because it is closer to Leesburg.) It was a little foggy, but already 60+ degrees, heading toward the 80s. The trail is a paved path about the width of one automobile lane, divided by a broken line......looks exactly like a 2 lane highway. The first 8 or so miles were probably the nicest we walked........tree lined, and wandering through the countryside. Most of the people we encountered were on bicycles, although a few were walking or jogging. There was a heavy, sweet smell in the air from the hundreds or thousands of shrubs that lined the path. I know their name, just can't think of it right now.

We passed through (or near) small communities named Hamilton, Paeonia Springs, Clark's Gap, and Leesburg. There are numerous side trails, leading off somewhere. It seemed a creek or stream followed the trail almost the entire day. There are occasional benches to rest along the way, a even a port-a-jon or 2. Lots of beautiful homes in the area, many of them on large plots of land, and some ranches and farms. We stopped for rest after about 8+ miles, and I converted my long pants to shorts.....it was getting warm. So far there's not any places to eat along the trail, but our info shows there is a Partlow's General Store at mile 28, about 9 miles away. So that's where we headed.

We passed houses near the trail, one had a large jar of "sun" tea sitting on the back deck......I thought that was a Texas thing. Along the way we passed a group of women pushing strollers and leading dogs, and a group of bicycle policemen (maybe 20 or so) on the trail. Maybe they were training or something. We crossed Goose Creek, and stopped for a few minutes to look at a huge hole in the ground......the Luck Stone Quarry. We passed a sigh for Ashburn, VA, which I understand is where the Redskins practice. And finally we reached mile 28, expecting to see Partlow's General Store. When it wasn't where it should have been I thought we were going to have a meltdown. But, from my other walk, I knew this is not all that unusual, so we pushed on.

After another mile we came to an intersection, and there was no Partlow's. Instead the building is now occupied by Carolina Bros Pit Bar-B-Que, and it was open. Before long we were enjoying a plate of 'que, and a Cheerwine.....worth the long walk. After eating and resting an hour or so, we decided to walk 6 more miles to a 7/11 convenience store at mile 21.5, and stop there for the day. We passed by Sterling, VA, and finally Herndon, and then came to mile 21.5......no 7/11. Finally at mile 20 we came to an intersection and there was the 7/11. We'd walked a total of 24.5 miles, and both of us were ready to call it a day.

Jon Jr came to pick us up, and soon we were back in Leesburg, refreshed after a shower, and sitting down to a nice dinner prepared by Laura and Anya. Jon had never walked over 12 miles before today, and he held up well. Tomorrow we'll walk the final 20 or so miles, the last 4 being a side trail that ends at the Washington monument.

About the pictures:
Leaving Purcellville;
Rest area and one of the side trails;
Carolina Bros. Bar-B-Que, and a satisfied customer;
The 7/11 is supposed to be right here;
Sitting down to dinner with: Laura, Jon, Jon II, and Anya, surrounded by the daughters Yatia and Megan.

Visit To Woodhill and Tryon Schools

March 24, 2011

Tuesday, March 15, was a busy day for the walkingman. The morning was spent with the 5th graders at Woodhill Elementary school in Gastonia, and after a quick lunch, on to Bessemer City to Tryon Elementary to talk to the 5th graders there. Eating lunch with a teacher is an interesting event.....they are accustomed to 20 minutes for lunch, so not much time for talking! I have a connection to Woodhill....my son attended many years ago when the school first opened. In fact, Ms Upchurch had found a picture of him helping plant a tree at the school.

I was greeted at Woodhill by Ms Angela Upchurch, who coordinated the events for the day, and also was the driving force behind the students following the walk. Mr Jacob Barr, principal, of Woodhill, was also on hand to present me with a Woodhill Hornets t-shirt. As we walked down the hall to the room, I saw a poster and messages on the wall about the walk. Good work by the students.

I was impressed by how the students used the walk as a learning experience. In addition to social studies and geography, they used it for reading and grammar. Hopefully the blog didn't teach them any incorrect grammar. They had lots of questions, and each of them had kept a journal of the walk....very impressive. After talking to the class, two student reporters, Jennifer and Madison, interviewed me for a school paper. The interview will also be included in the school section of the Gaston Gazette.

Then to lunch (20 minutes), and then a short drive to Tryon. I was greeted by the principal, Mr Terry Usery. Whereas most students at Woodhill live in the city, most at Tryon live in the country....many of them on farms. So, each group had a different perspective of the walk. The Tryon students also used the walk in many different ways. Each of them has created a chart of the places I visited, with information such as temperature, altitude, terrain, etc., about each. It was a great learning experience for them. It seemed like no time when the school buses were arriving, and the students had to leave.

As I said, it was a busy day. I had been invited to talk to the Men's Bible Class at First Presbyterian Church, in Cherryville, NC. My brother-in-law, Roger Davis, was a member of this class, As you may remember, Roger died of cancer during the walk. My sister Nan was invited to attend the meeting. I was greeted by Dr Bill Lowe, Pastor of the church, and other members of the class. I know many of you are probably Baptist who pride themselves in their dinners, but these Presbyterians really did it right. The menu: country style steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, biscuits, and cake! Southern comfort food at its best.

Talking with the men was different than with the students. Many of them had been to the places I visited, plus a couple of them were truck drivers who understood about the long, desolate, stretches in the western states. So, lots of good discussion and questions. Unfortunately I didn't get pictures from the men's class. I always take out the camera, then get to talking and forget.

I hope everyone is doing well.....it's getting warmer here in VA, so Spring is a-coming. I go to Greenfield school each Tuesday afternoon, and walk with the Trekker's Walking Club. They love to walk, and love to talk. This week I took a compass and showed them how to determine the direction we were walking. They caught on pretty quickly. After showing one student that we were walking west, I told him, "if we keep walking West we will find the teacher and other students." His response, "yes, I can see them up there!" Well, I meant if we couldn't already see them!

About the pictures:
Principal Barr and some Woodhill students,
The hall decoration at Woodhill,
Some gifts from Woodhill and Tryon school students and teachers,
The Trekker's Walking Club with the walkingman.

Visit To Greenfield Elementary School in Daleville, VA

Monday, March 7, 2011

I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for warmer weather. The daffodils are just coming up around here, and buds are swelling on the trees....Spring always perks us up. The people who live around me have learned if they stop and ask questions about the walk, they'll most likely be there a while!

Last Thursday, I went to Greenfield Elementary to talk to the students about the walk. The morning was spent with Greg Bowyer, the PE teacher, and his classes. I talked to all the students in the school (I believe) with the exception of the kindergarten classes. We talked for a while, then went outside where I put up the tent, and talked about the tent and the walking cart. They thought the tent was a little small. Oh, did those students have lots of questions!

Lunch was in the school cafeteria, and then met with the third graders. Ms. Alisa Gunter and other teachers had a reception for me, including cake, chips, and juice. They also gave me some gifts....a t-shirt signed by all the 3rd graders, Sundrops, Snickers bars (what made them think I ate stuff such as that?), and other things. The cake was decorated with the slogan on my business cards. The 3rd graders have followed the entire trip, and know as much about it as I do. I had one walkingman t-shirt with me, so decided to give it to the first student who could name all the states I crossed during the walk......in the order I crossed them.

One boy raised his hand and started naming......"CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, ??"....he couldn't finish. Another boy, Charlie Floyd, raised his hand. "CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC", he said without a pause. I have to think about it, and I did the walking. Congrats to Charlie, and thanks to all the students for their encouragement and support.

I was also invited to join the Greenfield Trekkers. This is a group of students and teachers who stay after school on Tuesdays and walk for about an hour or so. Ms. Beth Umbarger, Principal of Greenfield Elementary, and her staff, place an emphasis on building a strong body as well as mind. In addition to the walking program, they also have a running program.

The walk has been in the local news in this area. The Botetourt View, an insert in the Roanoke paper that focuses on news from Botetourt County, published two articles recently. One about the walk itself, and the other about the visit to Greenfield. Cathy Beason is the reporter for the paper.

Finally, before the walk started, we had a contest for the grandchildren. They had to guess the total miles walked, with the number of days being the tiebreaker. The winners are:
1st place: Carly,
2nd place: Kevin,
3rd place: David
Each received a savings bond.

That's it for now. Next week I visit the schools in Gastonia, the Cherryville Presbyterian Church Men's Bible Class, and my friends and co-workers at Wachovia. I'm looking forward to that. But this week, it's work on the taxes! Take care.......Jeff.

About the pictures:
Some of the gifts from Greenfield Elementary,
The school,
Ms. Gunter (beside me), and a few of the 3rd graders.

Chillin' In Daleville, VA

Thursday, February 23, 2011

I told you I'd be back, but it's been a struggle. In addition to the walk ending, the weather here has been the "blahs", so that just adds to the letdown from the trip ending. But, better days are-a-coming, so that's positive. I have been trying to organize the pictures from the trip, as well as my thoughts, in order to put together some type of "program" for the schools and other interested groups.

Believe it or not, I still have stuff packed in the backpack and on the cart....just can't get around to dealing with it yet. I'm back to walking the 8+ miles each day on my normal route. I've decided much of walking is mental. Why? Well, several people who came out to walk on my trip far exceeded their normal walking miles.....and none of them seemed the worse for wear. Plus, my 8+ mile walk each day seems to take about as much out of me as the 20+ I usually did on the road. If we can just get our minds to go away for a while, I think we can walk pretty much as far as we want. Just a theory, nothing scientific behind it.

I did an interview today for a local paper, and will add it to the blog when it is published. Also, I have added several news articles about the walk.....the latest from a Raleigh, NC newspaper and TV station. I will be visiting schools in Gastonia, NC, on March 15, and also a church men's class. Shortly after returning to VA, I visited Doug and Sarah at Outdoor Trails store. They were a big help in getting the right gear to take on the trip. I know, although they won't admit it, the first time I walked in that store and told them what I was going to do, they probably thought I was wacky! Would have loved to have heard their conversation when I left that first day.

Do you remember the Cooley girls....Maggie and Caroline? I'm still trying to figure out how they found me......do you think Mick helped them? Anyhow, a while back their Dad sent me an email with something very special included. It's a song, and he said it reminded them of my walk. I've added a link, so don't miss that......a very special reminder to me of all the nice people I've met along the way.

Several people have asked if I'm going to do a "recap" of the walk.....kinda a planned vs. actual sort of thing. I am, but still sorting out my thoughts. I hope everyone is doing well, it'll soon be Spring. The picture is at home in Daleville, leaning on the transportation of choice....my Ford F250......since I don't as yet have one of those beautiful Paint horses.

Until the next time, take care. If you're ever sitting around with nothing to do, take a little walk. Leave the headphones at home, and just meander along, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, and smelling the smells. You'll feel better when it's over.........Jeff.

Visit To Gastonia, My Other Hometown

Friday, January 28, 2011

Our visit to Gastonia has been short, but very busy. We arrived from the beach late afternoon Wednesday, and stopped at the Hampton Inn for a room. It was full, as often happens during week days. The Marriott Courtyard across the street had rooms, so we decided to stay there. After checking in, I decided to do a little visiting, so stopped by the Gaston Gazette to see Kevin Ellis. Kevin is the feature writer who did several stories about the walk.....all on the front page of the paper. We had a nice visit, and then next to Lawing Auto Repair, a local garage where I used to hang out while living here. They were good supporters during the walk, calling me several times while I made my way across country.

I left there and stopped in at Minges Printing to see Gene (the owner) and Anita, his right hand (wo)man. Gene and Anita printed the business cards and the posters displayed on the cart. Gene and I have known each other for many years, and always have lots to talk about.....this time was no exception. From there, back to the motel for an evening of TV and computer. Thursday morning I had breakfast in the motel, and headed out for more visiting. Rita needed the car to visit her Mother, so this was the first day I've had a good walk since last week. I walked downtown to the bank and to get a haircut (still get haircut in Gastonia), and then back to Minges Printing to order more business cards and posters for the grandchildren. I hung out there for a while, and then walked back to Lawing Auto for more visiting.

Visited there for a while until lunch time, then Rita and I went to Tony's Ice Cream for lunch. Tony's has been in business in Gastonia since 1915, and it feels like the 1950's when you walk in the place. After lunch, drove her back to her Mother's, and back to visiting. Stopped by to see my buddy, Mike Friday, for a while. Then back to Minges printing to pick up the order (they did a rush job for me since I'm leaving for VA tomorrow.) Then went to pick up Rita, and visit my mother-in-law for a while. She is in her 90's, living in an assisted living home, and struggles to understand exactly why I was walking across the USA.....I can only imagine. Then back to the motel to rest a while before dinner.

Jack Bradshaw had invited us to dinner with him, his wife Patsy, and Jon and Laura Childs. We met them at 6, had a nice meal and lots of talking about the walk, and happenings in and around Gastonia. Jack and Jon were two supporters of the walk......both came out on the road to visit and walk with me, and Jack and Patsy had me stay in their condo at N. Myrtle Beach. Both are "walkers" themselves. It was great to see them. After dinner, we stopped by the grocery store to get a supply of my soda of choice, Sun-Drop......can't get them in VA. Then back to the motel and start getting ready to head out tomorrow. It's always busy when we come down here.

We were up early this morning, ate breakfast, and headed out to run a few more errands. Then drove to Charlotte for the interview with Keith Larson.....which was a little disappointing. It almost appeared he wasn't expecting me or something, the interview was over before it really got started. Oh well, guess the walk is old news now! Then drove back to VA......it's the first time I've been home since late August. Some snow on the ground, but not much.....but it's cold. It'll take weeks to get all my stuff straightened out, so there'll be no time for "walk" lag for a while. It'll be nice to get back into some type of routine. Over the next few weeks I'll be visiting the students who have been following the blog, plus have been asked to speak to a men's class at a church in Cherryville, NC. So, still a few things going on that allows me to ease out of the walking mode, rather than stop immediately.

About the pictures:
Jon and Laura Childs, Jack and Patsy Bradshaw;
Gene and Anita, Minges Printing;
Charles Faulkner, Spindle Center Barber Shop;
Tony's Ice Cream.

Leaving The Beach

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The couple of days at N. Topsail Beach was nice and relaxing. Thanks to one of the blog followers, John Woods, for allowing us to use his place. The weather was less than ideal, but that's what you get on the East Coast during the winter months. We visited my cousin, Nancy Dudley in St. James Plantation, and my brother Robert, in Carolina Beach. Robert drove us out on the beach in his Jeep, and that was fun. Because of the weather I haven't walked for a couple of days (already getting soft!), but hope to be able to when I get to Gastonia. We'll pack up this morning and head west to Gastonia for a couple of days, then on to VA on Friday.

I will be doing an "in studio" interview on the Keith Larson Show on Friday morning, January 28, at 11am. Keith is on WBT 1110 in Charlotte, NC. I hope you will be able to listen in, if not, we'll try to put a link on the blog. The pictures are: The walkingman in front of John Woods' house in N. Topsail Beach; Mayor Art Schools of Emerald Isle presenting the key to the city. (do I look pleased or not?)

Winding Down

Monday, January 24, 2011

The celebration at Emerald Isle was quite an occasion. Mayor Schools and others did a great job making the family and me feel welcome. And the snow was a bonus....I think the unofficial tally was 7 inches. The beach was beautiful, and the sunset Saturday evening was brilliant. The children and their families left on Sunday, and Rita and I just hung out. We walked for a while on the beach (I found a sand dollar!), and of course I watched the football games.

This morning we'll pack up and move to another beach house in N. Topsail Beach for a couple more days, before driving to Gastonia to visit friends and family. Then, back to Daleville on the weekend. On Monday, January, 31, 815am, I will be doing a radio interview with Ben Ball on the morning show "Coastal Daybreak", out of Morehead City, NC. The station is "The Talk Station, WTKF-FM, WJNC-AM". Here are a couple of new links:

A video that granddaughter Abby did at her school in Apex, NC. We could never get the video to load on Youtube, so just filmed it off the screen and loaded that way. The quality suffered some, but still you can see it.

An article by Kevin Ellis in the Gaston Gazette.

Day 146 - Emerald Isle, NC

Saturday, January 22, 2011

As you might could imagine, sleeping didn't come easy last night. The closer I moved to the final destination, the more thinking I was doing in the evenings. That, plus fewer miles during the day makes me less tired in the evening. But I was asleep when the wake up call came at 6, and soon was up and getting things in order for the final few miles to the Bogue Inlet Pier. It was cold last evening, really cold, and there are predictions of several inches of snow today. There was a Hardee's across the road, so I walked over there for breakfast, and soon was back at the visitor's center getting everything ready. A guy who lives nearby, Bill Ennett, stopped by and brought me a cup of coffee. The mayor of Emerald Isle, Art Schools, arrived, took a few pictures, and I started the final 3+ miles at 830.

Traffic was light on Hwy 58, and there is a good shoulder for walking. There's been a good bit of publicity in the area about the walk, so lots of people were driving by waving, honking their horns, and stopping to take pictures. As I topped the bridge leading onto the island, I saw several cars parked on the other side of the bridge, waiting to talk and take pictures. This is the last "hill" of the walk. As I reached the other side, the mayor and others were there to take more pictures. Jon Childs and his wife Laura from Gastonia had come down for the final day.....and they were there. A woman and her daughter came up, introduced themselves, and asked if the daughter could ask me some questions about the trip. She was doing a classroom project about the walk.

All along the walk people were stopping to say hello, standing along the road waving, and taking pictures. A guy named Steven approached and asked to walk along for a while. A woman on a bike approached and walked a while. By this time I was very surprised and excited by the number of people who were out for the walk. As I neared the final turn to Bogue Inlet Pier, the mayor alerted 2 police cars who would escort me the final 1/4 mile or so. I soon saw the sign for the pier and the crowd waiting to greet the walkingman. I spotted the family, and it was a happy reunion. Everyone talked for a while, the mayor gave me a key to the city and said I was only the third person to ever receive one.......what an honor and thrill. We walked out on the pier, and the grandchildren poured the Pacific Ocean water that I carried across country, into the Atlantic.

It was snowing harder, and the crowd was leaving, so we packed up the cart and other stuff and headed to the house. Emerald Isle Realty provided a house for the family for 3 nights......a beautiful place on the ocean and lots of room. Lots to talk about, and everyone was happy about the day's events. Kevin Ellis from the Gaston Gazette called to interview me for another article in the paper. Mayor Schools and others in the area really made us all feel welcome......a perfect ending to an perfect adventure.

Over the next several weeks I'll be posting new entries to the blog about different stuff. Just things I want to share that I didn't have time to do. Plus, will be adding more pictures along with descriptions, and "cleaning" up the blog where needed. Some of the people who are following it are new to the blog, so they are still catching up on the story. I hope you will continue to read it and offer comments, questions, etc.

About the pictures:
Finally, Emerald Isle;
Pacific Ocean into the Atlantic;
A sign the family made;
Some of the crowd waiting for the walkingman;
A video of the final few steps.

Day 145 - The Day Before The Last Day.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Last night was restful, being inside in the utility building. The woman who runs the business, Cathy, came by Burger King while I was still there, and said I could stay in any of the buildings.....so I got an "upgrade" for no extra charge. I walked over and was looking through each one when Jack Bradshaw called, and we had a good laugh about the buildings. Turned out they were not cold like the bus, so that was good. I read the paper for a while, but soon was asleep due to lack of sleep the previous night. The family is coming down today, and I will spend one more night in the tent before seeing them tomorrow. My goal today is just walk a few miles, find a camping spot, and get ready for tomorrow.

The first stop was at Burger King for breakfast and the USA Today paper. Hung out there for a while and started walking toward Swansboro. News about the walk has been in the local papers, so lots of people waving and tooting their horns. A guy came out of his house and crossed the street to talk. Introduced himself as James Baggs, a resident of Swansboro since 1946 (or of this area). He was quite an interesting guy and we must have talked 30 minutes or more......what's the hurry? The mayor of Emerald Isle, Art Schools, stopped by to check how things were going, and he stayed and talked a while. I eventually headed out, with much more knowledge of the area than I had before meeting James. I passed by the historic district of Swansboro, and snapped a few pictures. then crossed over the White Oak River into a small community named Cedar Point.

I saw some young people working on a project near the waterfront, and walked down to check things out. Turns out they are students from UNC-W, working on a project to determine the right size to build artificial reefs for oyster beds. The students introduced themselves as Mark (it was his project), Katherine, Anne, and Luke. They were shoveling shells into baskets, and going to take the baskets out in the water and create an oyster reef. Nice students, and an interesting project. While I was there, a reporter for WITN, Channel 7 out of Jacksonville, Amanda Paul, came and did a story about the walk. Amanda was a pleasure to talk with, and did a great job with the interview. It was supposed to be on TV this afternoon around 5-6, but I didn't get to watch it. Maybe it's on their website. If someone finds it, pls comment with the link.

You know, I've driven these roads for years, but it's amazing the things I'm seeing today that I've never noticed before. I have about decided to not go on the island until tomorrow morning, so started looking for a place to camp near the bridge. Frank Rush, Emerald Isle Town Manager, called and I told him I might camp over here. He suggested somewhere near the Visitor's Center near the bridge. I went in there and introduced myself to Mary Licko, and her husband Bill. If you're ever a walkingman, Mary is the kind of person you look for along the roads. She was ok with me putting up the tent there, and even suggested I could use the facilities at the center. I set the tent up in the back of the building, and about that time things started getting crazy......in a nice way.

People starting coming in to visit me, phone calls from both friends and reporters, and about everything else. Two women from the Swansboro Area Chamber of Commerce came in, introduced themselves as Donna Hammond and Sherri Hitchcock-Hutson. We talked a while and before long they were inviting me to lunch at a great little place in Swansboro, Church Street Deli. I had soup, a ham sandwich with cheddar and horseradish, and bread pudding for dessert. A great meal and good company. While there, a woman came in with 2 children who wanted to see this man who just walked across the USA. They had lots of questions, and we had fun talking. Mary from the visitor's center called and told us there was a photographer waiting there to take some pictures. He was from a sister paper to the Gaston Gazette, and both papers will run the article. (I said it was crazy today.)

Frank Rush stopped by to say hello, and he had lots of questions. Frank is an outdoors person, so was interested in the walk. Denise Ziegler of Emerald Isle stopped by and brought her two daughters, Abby and Addison, to visit the walkingman. We had fun talking and Denise took a couple of pictures. They left and soon it was time for Mary to leave, but she left me with one piece of advice: "there's a dark side to being a celebrity, so don't fall into that trap!" I knew when I first saw her, Mary was going to keep me out of trouble. The family has arrived now, and I've been hiding from them until tomorrow.....plus, those Cooley girls could be most anywhere. My daughter Julie spotted my hidden tent almost immediately, and sent me a text message, "i c u"......so much for hiding. So instead of being in a nice house on the beach with them, it's the tent for me tonight.

So many people have called over the past few days, some I had to cut short the conversation, others I couldn't even answer. But, I'll call you back soon and we'll talk. Also, Kevin Ellis of the Gaston Gazette called to give me some info about an article. He's done several great articles about the walk in the Gazette. Kevin just recently lost his wife after a battle with cancer, so I'm certainly been thinking of him the past week or so.

About the pictures:
Abby and Addison Ziegler, and the Walkingman, in front of the last camp site....taken by Denise, their mother;
Anne, Luke, Mark, and Katherine (l-r), shoveling shells;
Swansboro historic marker

Day 144 - Swansboro, NC

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Last night was interesting....I had a great place to camp, and electricity inside the tent, but at times thought I was being invaded. Helicopters seemed close enough that they were right over the tent, and more than once I jumped off the sleeping bag pad when a loud "boom" sounded from one of the big artillery pieces across the river. It was not real cold when I got into the tent, but during the night seemed to get more so. I woke up before 5......wasn't going to be late for my 7am appointment at the south back gate on Camp Lejeune. My goal today is get through the camp (15 miles) without any incidents, and then go as far as I can after that. It now appears I will beat the Saturday stagecoach to Emerald Isle, so maybe I'll just chill for a day.

The amount of traffic going into the base between 6-8 is amazing......it's backed up at least a half mile, and maybe farther. But I'm walking in the "out" lane, so not much stopping me. Frank passed me on the bridge and said he'd meet me at the main gate. The security people were expecting me, and directed me to a place where I would be safe from the traffic. Frank had the guest pass ready, but we had to wait a few minutes for the waiver form to come that releases the armed forces from any responsibility in case of an accident. With all forms signed and in place, the security officer asked me to wait a few more minutes until the sun rose a little more. I finally headed out around 730.

For the first mile or so the traffic was pretty heavy, but soon it had thinned out and only a few vehicles were passing me. It's a nice road, tree lined, clean, and little traffic. I could hear and see the helicopters overhead, and the loud sounds of both small arm and artillery fire. Occasionally there would be a wide strip of concrete across the blacktop......this is where the tanks cross the road, and the concrete keeps them from tearing up the pavement. I was a little apprehensive about getting on the wrong road, but the roads are well marked......almost no risk of getting lost. Frank came out to check on my progress, and we talked a while, and he went back to work. I passed a sign for Onslow Beach along the way.....don't think I've ever been there. I only stopped to rest once, and then for a short time, and was at the other gate at 12 noon......at least 1 - 1.5 hrs sooner than I expected.

I talked a while with the security people, then called Frank to let him know I was off base. Many thanks to Frank Accevedo, Head of Base Operations, for handling the logistics of the walk, and to Commanding Officer Col. Lecci for approving the request. It was just a walk down Hwy 172, but being in Camp Lejeune made it a special part of the trip. I turned onto Bear Creek Rd, a 3 mile walk to Queen Creek Rd. I saw 4 horses in a field and they came to the fence. I happened to have some mints, and offered one to the biggest horse. He knew how to eat it, and was soon crunching away. When I tried to give one to the other horses, the big one would push them away. So, he was the only one to get mints today.

I called Ken Schroder, who lives with wife Betty east of Selma. Ken had given me his number and asked that I call sometime to update him on the walk. He said they were just talking about me today, and Ken told me Betty had asked, "do you think we will hear from him again?" Well, Betty has her answer now. Betty had seen me in Subway, started to ask what I was doing, but didn't. Then she went home and told Ken to find me and see what was going on. A very nice couple. I've also passed some cotton fields today......now have seen cotton being grown in every state from AZ to NC. And I thought cotton was no longer grown in the USA. I haven't seen armadillo in NC, nor coyote....and that's a good thing. In the past couple of days I've lost my coyote stick, so have no defense against them except bare hands! Not sure where I left it, but it's not the first thing left behind on the trip.

I turned on Queen's Creek Rd for the final 4 miles to Swansboro. Saw a group of guys doing utility work, and one of them stopped me and said he'd seen an article in the paper about the walk, and they were just talking about it......and I walk up. We talked a while, and I moved on. Queen's Creek Rd is busier than Bear Creek, and the school buses were running. The walk into Swansboro was not as pleasant as the rest of the day. I soon came to Hwy 24, and stopped at Burger King to have lunch. Noticed a booth with an outlet, asked if I could use it, and settled in to work on the computer. I met a nice young man working there named Sebastian, and he came over to talk for a while. Sebastian graduated from high school at age 15 (!), and has lived in Hawaii previously. His shift had just ended and he was waiting for a ride home.....which never seemed to come. He had a car, but his mother wrecked it (his story!)......that's a switch.

It was getting late and I needed to find a camp site, so started looking around in the immediate area. There was a business nearby that sells carports and storage buildings.......Carolina Carports. It has some nice grassy areas in among the buildings, so I asked the owner if I could put a tent in there. "That's fine, but I have an empty building in back, and you can use that if you want," was her response. Is this going to be another Greyhound bus deal?) I checked out the building and decided to take her up on that.) So, will be inside tonight, right beside Burger King. I'll let you know tomorrow how that works out.

I probably have less than 15 miles left to walk. Will do a very short day tomorrow, and finish on Saturday. Can you believe it?

About the pictures:
My guest house for tonight;
A scene on Queen's Creek;
The evening crew at BK, Swansboro.

Day 143 - Snead's Ferry, NC

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I finally left the convenience store sometime after 9 last evening and walked the couple of blocks to the local park where I had decided to camp. I chose a spot that was dry (some of the ground was soggy from recent rains), and not so obvious to passersby. I soon had the tent up, and gear and myself inside. The camp site is right beside the Intercoastal Waterway, and I think that's Susan and Tyler's sailboat anchored just out from the park. I woke this morning to the sound of rain on the tent. Not hard, but enough to make packing the tent and gear a little messier. Plus, I don't like packing the tent when wet, but not much to do about that now. It was still a little dark when I headed out, first stop Hardees for breakfast. I sat there for a while waiting for the rain to stop, and finally crossed the street to a convenience store to find a paper. Still raining, so I sat there for a while, and the sky began to get lighter......so maybe today won't be to bad. The destination for today is somewhere near Camp Lejeune.

The walk on Hwy 210 along the ocean is much nicer than dealing with the traffic on Hwy 17. I hear the roar of the ocean rather than 18 wheelers. It soon stopped raining, but still cloudy and cold. But there are bicycle lanes on both sides of the road and little traffic, so nice walking. After Surf City Beach comes North Topsail Beach, and then a bridge leaving Topsail Island. After a couple more miles I came to Snead's Ferry, and stopped at a Holiday Inn Express to ask about using their wi-fi. They charge for that, and I was glad to pay the nominal fee. In fact, prefer to pay a little something to use their facilities. I sat there a couple of hours doing computer stuff, and then headed out....still a couple of miles before I get to Hwy 172. The motel is located a little out of the way from businesses, and I thought that a little strange. But, there's a golf course nearby, and lots of people out playing......so, think that's where they get lots of customers.

I received a call from TV station WNCT in Morehead City, and the reporter, Smitha Rao, wanted to come out to do an interview for the local news. I told her where I was heading, so she said she would meet me somewhere near the intersection of Hwys 210 and 172. I got there first, and hung around until she arrived. While waiting I hung the tent out to dry for a while. Smitha arrived, we did the interview. I'll put a link on the blog. I started down 172 toward Camp Lejeune. Along the way I passed an interesting looking place named Yopp's Meeting House, est. in 1813. After a couple more miles I saw the bridge that spans the New River, and across the river, the Back Gate Guard Station. I didn't see any places to camp on the base side of the river, but did see an RV Park and Marina on the west side. I stopped and inquired about a camp site for the night. I was told by a permanent resident that the owner goes out of town during the winter, so if I wanted to stay the night, that was fine.

The resident's wife helped me find a spot (with electricity), and soon I had the tent up, with gear inside. The woman let me use an extension cord to run to the tent so I could charge the computer and phone. The site is just across the river from the Marine base, maybe 1/2 mile or so. They are training this evening, so lots of weapons firing, helicopters flying around, and artillery booming. I feel really safe in the tent this evening. Tomorrow morning at 7 I will be at the back gate, meet Frank with the pass, and head out for the 15 mile trek across the base. I'm really looking forward to that.

About the pictures:
Mick from Monroe, LA;
Drying the tent;
Yopps Meeting House.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Many times there is more to tell you than I either have time for, or I just forget.
I wanted to tell you more about the young couple who is sailing down the Intercoastal Waterway. Susan Lee is from the mid-west (maybe Wisconsin), 26, with a degree in biology. She's seen more of the USA in her 26 years than I have in my 69......the East Coast being her latest adventure. She has a job waiting when she returns home in the Spring, but for now it's sailing south along the Atlantic, and possibly a trip to the Bahamas. She connected with her friend Tyler Martin somewhere (I miss some of the story), and they have sailed down from up North, Tyler is from California originally, and has lived around different places. His boat is a 32 footer. Susan told me he's a good captain.

The other thing I wanted to share is about the "Mick". Anyone who has kept up with this blog knows about Mick from his humor and comments. Mick has been a follower for a while, and sends emails occasionally with info about route, eating places, weather, etc. He recently sent some stuff about walking that I'll share here. I would have never thought to say these things, but certainly agree with them. If Mick will ever send me a picture I'll post on the blog, but I'm not even sure Mick is real, it might just be those Cooley girls trying to confuse me.

Some wisdom from the Mick:

Above all do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday I walk myself into
a state of well being and walk away from every illness. I have walked
myself into my best thoughts and I know of no thought so burdensome
that one cannot walk away from it. But by sitting still, and the more
one sits still, the closer one comes to feeling ill...if one keeps on
walking everything will be alright.
- Soren Kierkegaard.

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking.
Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.
- Raymond Inmon

The longest journey begins with a single step.
- Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

If you want to know if your brain is flabby, feel your legs.
- Bruce Barton

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
- John Muir

Walking would teach people the quality that youngsters
find so hard to learn - patience.
- Edward P. Weston

Happy is the man who has acquired
the love of walking for its own sake!
- W.J. Holland

It is not talking but walking that will bring us to heaven.
- Matthew Henry

Day 142 - Surf City, NC

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Last evening was somewhat of a challenge. I left McDonald's when the rain slowed, and walked a block or so to the camp site. It was near some trailers, so I walked to the closest one to let them know what I was doing. A woman came to the door (which surprised me because I thought she might be afraid to open the door), and I explained to her I was going to put up a tent nearby and just wanted her to know. She was fine with that, so back to putting up the tent. I was under a couple of those live oak trees, which sheltered the site from some of the rain. Soon I had the gear and me inside, spent a little time reading the paper before lights out. I woke up once during the night and noticed the rain had stopped, so was glad of that. I was up at 6, packed quickly because of the radio interview, and was ready at 640. The interview was short and seemed to go ok.

It was time to head out......no particular goals today, I still don't know about walking through Camp Lejeune, so need to resolve that before making some decisions about route. My first stop was at McDonald's for breakfast and read the USA Today. After that I headed north down Bus. Hwy 17. It was cool and cloudy today, but no rain, so I can handle that. The traffic coming into town was heavy, and no shoulder to walk on, so not a pleasant first few miles. I soon was on Hwy 17 (not business), and had a better shoulder and the traffic started to thin out. I decided to call Camp Lejeune to inquire about the request, and after talking to several people, was told I could not walk through the base. So, that's that......a bummer, but I can stay on 17.

I walked another hour or so and the phone rang. The man introduced himself as Frank (that's all), and said he was the Head of Base Operations at Camp Lejeune. The walk through the base has been approved and he wanted to get some details about when I would be there, how long on base, etc. That was really good news......long ago, before so many rules and restrictions, my daughters and I rode our bicycles from VA to Myrtle Beach, and we rode through the base. Since 9/11 (or before), travel is restricted to only those with a pass. Frank and I talked several more times during the day, and decided the best schedule would be to be at the base first thing Thursday morning. The walk is approx. 15 miles, so should take about 5 hours or thereabouts. This is really a highlight of the walk, and thanks to Frank and the CO of Camp Lejeune for making it possible.

I stopped at a Hardee's in a town named Hampstead. Several guys were sitting in a booth in the corner, eyeing this stranger pushing a cart. Finally one of them came over, introduced himself as Jim, and said: "my friends said you were homeless, but I told them you had money!" That started a conversation that lasted a while. Jim (nickname Jabbo) is an adventurer himself. His was mostly on a motorcycle, but he understands why a man would be out walking across the country. A really interesting guy, and we could have talked longer, but the walkingman needs to be walking. My brother Robert is looking over the route to get me to the base on time. He created a scenario of 2 short days, so I headed to the first stopping place.....the intersection of Hwy 210 and 17.

The more I thought about the route and the short days, I decided to take 210 into Surf City, then walk 210 north to the base. That allows me to be closer to the ocean and pass through some small beach towns. It added about 5 miles to the trip, but there's time for that. I walked into Surf City and found a couple of good camping spots. Then set out to find a place to do some computer stuff. Stopped first at Hardee's, but they had neither wi-fi or an electrical outlet. But I did meet an interesting guy, Lee Autry. He's from Ontario, Canada, and spend half of the year down here, and half up there. He's a retired IT guy also, so we had that in common. Lee comes to Hardee's most every day, and sit and watches the sun set. But no sun today, still cloudy and cold. I decided to look around more and found a local restaurant, Watts Diner. Met Lynn there, and she said I could use the electric outlet, although they didn't have wi-fi.....but I have the air card so can connect through that. I ordered dinner, ate, and worked a while there.

I finally left Watts, looking for another place to hang out. Walked around town for a while, and finally ended up at a local convenience store with an electrical outlet and a table beside it. The woman said it was ok to use it for a while, so I did. Met more people coming into that place, some who had seen me walking into town. Two interesting people who came in to talk, Susan Lee and Tyler Martin. Susan is from the mid-west, and came east to do some sailing. She hooked up with Tyler who has a sail boat, and they are going down the Intercoastal Waterway. Very interesting to talk to them.

My camping spot is only a couple of blocks from here, so when I wrap this up will head there and spend the night. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow, gotta get out of here.

About the pictures:
Try again, next time a little less throttle;
Lynn from Watts Diner with the walkingman;
Intercoastal waterway in Surf City.

Day 141 - To Wilmington

Monday, January 17, 2011

Last evening was a good one. Robert and I watched the NFL games, he fixed dinner, and I packed the gear for the final leg starting tomorrow morning. I slept well, was up at 6, fixed breakfast, and heading out by around 7. Robert is going to keep the cart with him today, and deliver it to me this afternoon. Much of today will be going through Wilmington using busy roads, so we thought it would be safer to not have the cart. It's about 90 miles to Emerald Isle, and I have 5 days, so should be there in plenty of time to catch a ride. I still haven't heard about going through Camp Lejeune....the woman who was going to call me either Saturday or Monday (today) is off until Wednesday, so I had to start the process over with another person. We'll see how that goes. Weather forecast for today is rain starting late this afternoon, and completed during the night.

The first several miles of the walk was fine due to either good shoulders / sidewalks, or little traffic. Jack Bradshaw called to check on my progress....I think he's really worried that I'll get turned around again and head back to his condo in N. Myrtle Beach. I assured him I was going north today. Around 930 it started sprinkling rain, but nothing to worry about. I crossed over the Snow's Cut Bridge, which spans the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway.......and which makes Carolina Beach part of an island, Pleasure island. I've passed under the bridge many times boating down the waterway, but never been over it. As I continued to walk, the rain got harder and the traffic heavier.

Around noon or so, I stopped for lunch at the "Original Salt Works" diner. Loads of atmosphere and good food. While there I received a call from NPR Radio.......they interviewed me about the walk, and said it would be broadcast sometime soon....and they will let me know. After lunch I headed out again, and by now it was pouring rain......didn't wait until late evening to start. The rain suit I bought just before the trip has turned out to not be such a good bargain after all. It hardly slows down the rain, much less keep it out. I passed a shopping center with an Eddie Bauer store, and now have a new rain jacket......this one does keep out the rain. I also had a call from radio station WNCT in Greenville, NC. They are going to do an interview tomorrow morning at 640am (I'm up). They don't "stream" live, but the woman said it would be available on their web site soon after the show ends. If interested, check WNCT.COM sometime after 7am or so.

The rain continued and I decided to cut the day short and get inside. I didn't do lots of miles today, maybe 16-18.....but I'll make it up when the weather improves. There was a McDonald's nearby, so I went there and called Robert to bring the cart and gear. He offered to take me back to his place for the night, but I think it will quit raining soon, and there are several good camp sites near the McDonald's. I sat inside until he came, we unloaded the cart and gear, and he went on his way. he also brought me ice for the cooler, snacks, and sandwich.......good brother. I went back to McDonald's to use their wi-fi (does anyone know why wireless Internet is called wi-fi?....check here) for a while, and will go to one of the camp sites when I leave later this evening. Hopefully the rain will have stopped or at least slowed some.

About the pictures:
Another look at City Marina in Carolina Beach,
Intercoastal Waterway under Snow's Cut bridge;
When's the last time you saw one of these?

Day 140 - Another Rest Day

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Yesterday was a good day and I slept well last night. For some reason I feel really tired, and not sure why because not doing much. After breakfast, Robert and I drove down to (and on) the beach. He has a Jeep which is perfect for that, and he wanted to show me the northern part of Carolina Beach. We hung out there for a while, and back to his place to meet Mary. Mary has a weekly video call with her sister, Ann, who is teaching in South Korea. We called her and talked for a while, and that was interesting. It's very cold over there now, and Ann said while many things over there are inexpensive, heating her apartment is not.

After the call, Mary headed back to Cary, NC, and Robert and I settled down to lunch and some football. The game wasn't very interesting, so we decided to walk downtown to the City Marina. The weather was nice today, clear and maybe around 50. The walk was about 1.5 miles each way. We hung out at the marina for a while and then walked back to Robert's place along the beach. When we got back my legs were tired! I guess it's best to not interrupt the walk for too long. We watched more football, and Robert cooked dinner. After the game, I started organizing and packing the gear for the final 5-6 days. Tomorrow morning Robert will drive me back to where I left off on Friday, and I'll start north toward Emerald Isle.

I broke out a new pair of New Balance 1226 shoes for the final 90 or so miles......the 5th and final pair. I also did a little review of the walk, and it appears I've slept in the tent 64% of the time; in a motel 22% of the time, and in a private home 15% of the time. These numbers are not 100% accurate, but close. The number of nights in a private home is higher than I expected, so thanks to all the people who invited me in. I've also added a new link to the blog......Kevin Ellis of the Gastonia Gazette wrote another article about the walk......check it out.

About the pictures:
Robert on the beach;
Along the waterfront;
Map showing route of walk....Mick provided this, so thanks to him.