October 26, 2007
Friday - I will get back on the road headed for San Diego on Sunday the 28th. I will be on the road by 6:00 am. For those of you who have asked why I am nuts enough to walk in the winter? Because... I want to hit the arid territories like Arizona and parts of California while the weather is yet cool. If anyone wants to see my exact route, simply go to Googlemaps.com and get directions from Reading, Ohio 45215 to San Diego and then check "without highways". You can do the same thing with San Diego to Bellingham, Washington and from there to Key West, Florida. And the final leg of my journey, from Key West to Surry, Maine. My next entry will be from somewhere out there on the road.
October 28, 2007
Sunday- A man and his son stopped and talked to me for nearly an hour. They brought me two hot chicken sandwiches. An Ohio state trooper stopped to see if I was alright and offered me a ride. Later that night as I went to pitch my tent and the damn frame broke! I got to look at the stars all night and the full moon was glorious! I forgot all about the 30 degree temps.
October 29, 2007
Monday - Pamela left her roadside produce stand to talk to me She said, "I just have to talk to a man with "LOVE LIFE" over his head...how often will I get to do this?" She told of having an auto accident not nearly a year before that left her with some brain damage, it nearly took her life. We talked of how dear life is and how we are all such unique individuals. We talked about the power each one of us has inside and are able to use in all situations...no matter how grave they may seem at the time. And we discussed our belief in a creator that made us in its own image...thus giving us the strength to handle LIFE...and LOVE it! She wrapped her arms around my neck and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said,”you stay safe!"
October 30, 2007
Tuesday - Two ladies stopped early in the morning, put down their frosted window and said, "Hey, we just left Cracker Barrel, you like cornbread?" You know what I said! They handed me a bag of cornbread muffins and plenty of butter and jam and then drove off! I did manage a "thank you" though. The muffins were great!
A guy named Arnold stopped and explained to me how important my "LOVE LIFE" sign was to him as he has cancer. He said he refused to give in and that he loved life more every single day!! You have to love people like that!
As I was walking by the Hearthstone Restaurant three employees yelled at me. They said they wanted to hear my story so I walked over to the parking lot. We talked and then they fixed me a wonderful fried chicken dinner to take with me! Later a man stopped and asked what I was doing. About a half hour later he came back and gave me a bottle of Gatorade...he had noticed I was low on water! "Kindness is the shadow of God in man."
October 31, 2007
Wednesday - It was cold this morning and my tent was still broken! A little store, the only thing I saw in Andersonville, Indiana fixed me a ham and cheddar cheese sandwich, the price was based on the price per pound of the particular meat and cheese you chose and that's all. My stacked high sandwich was $1.33 and delicious!! A Rush county sheriff's deputy stopped and checked my identification, I guess they get lonely out there...glad to do my part. Freddy Barnes stopped and directed me to a great camping spot next to the Rushville, Indiana City Park. He was a fine young man and had a great outlook on life...he made me feel good. And the camping spot was perfect as it was near a Hardees Restaurant for fresh coffee the next morning!
November 1, 2007
Thursday - Found a place to weld my tent frame, A family owned shop , Starweld. It is owned by the Starkey family. The son took much time to fix my problem and Mary Clair; the daughter patiently helped me put the frame back together. Tim, the father and president of Starweld (a huge company, by the way) would not take my money when I tried to pay. And then Tim kept asking me if I was sure he couldn't do more for me! What a great company, what wonderful giving people! I was walking parallel with a train of over a hundred cars and I finally turned to look at it as it's horn seemed to keep blowing...the engineer was waving hello to me quite vigorously!! Now that makes you feel good!! In Texas a small plane flying over me very low dipped its wings to me twice!
November 3, 2007
Saturday - Found a lady's purse just outside of Indianapolis with all her credentials and drivers license in it. I called her; she was delighted and came immediately to retrieve it. Just a little more than an hour before as she was crossing a parking lot to a drugstore to get a prescription filled a man had grabbed it. She was 88 years old (same age as my mother!) and he threw her against a car! She had just put a hundred dollar bill in the purse to pay for her prescription. I felt terrible for her! But she said,”Hey, I’m 88 and this is the first time this has ever happened to me and we just have to let things go and go on!" She told me not to feel bad and offered me a ride through Indy but I wanted to walk through the city. A good choice, It is a great city! Later as I walked through Indy, I walked pass the International Engine Plant-Indianapolis. The UAW members who were employed at the plant were on strike. At one time in my life I was a UAW member so I started up a conversation with them. As soon as I spoke of my former membership they insisted I carry one of their signs, ”UAW Members Against Unfair Labor Practices" I carried the sign down to the last entrance gate where there were more strikers. It looked pretty good with my “LOVE LIFE" sign! It was a very long plant!
November 6, 2007
Tuesday - A lady pulled up on this very cold morning and asked,”Hey, you prefer coffee or cappuccino?" "Cappuccino!” I said, with great enthusiasm!! Now you talk about something feeling real good going down into your tummy on a cold Indiana morning!!
November 7, 2007
Wednesday - Kent stopped and asked me lots of profound questions. Don't know how well I answered but it was a delight to talk with such a fine and intelligent young man. While talking with Kent a lady got out of a truck and said, "Here, I saw you and went home and made you a fresh chicken salad sandwich and there's a cold drink in there for you." She handed me the bag and away they went! The sandwich was perfect but the love behind it was way beyond that! I "LOVE LIFE"! In all that I encounter I have no choice but to "LOVE LIFE"!!
Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. I am in Rockville, Indiana home of the Covered Bridge Festival! It's a really neat old town. I'm getting close to the Illinois line and I'm on U.S. Route 36. It is cold but the people I've met certainly have not been!!
November 19, 2007
Monday - I am in the town of Mt Sterling, Illinois. I just left the Cell Tech store where I had to purchase a new phone charger. Yup, dumb-dumb left his in a restaurant two days back...not like I'm going to go back and get it. One thing I've learned from my walks, “I never go backwards." The young lady at Cell Tech, Amber Lambeth was so sweet and helpful. She shared with me that she just lost a good friend in a fire. She was a very sweet young lady.
November 10, 2007
Saturday - I walked through Dana, Indiana, the home of Ernie Pyle, WW II heroe.
November 13, 2007
Tuesday - Today I met a real Christian man, a man who truly seemed to be applying the teachings of Jesus to his life. He said some very beautiful things that left me truly inspired. He is an African American truck driver by the name of Elvis Beal. I wish all could partake of the wisdom and the love that came out of this truly fine gentleman.
November 16, 2007
Friday - The Black Dog Bar on Route 55 in Springfield, Illinois stated on its sign that the third annual "Turkey Testicle Festival" was coming up. Just in case you were wondering if there were "rednecks' in Illinois. I hated to miss it but I must keep on walking
November 18, 2007
Sunday - Chris and John Miller of the Sugar Grove community near Rushville, Ill. invited me in for lunch as I walked by their home. The food was awesome and Chris made up some cookies for me to take on the road. They also let me use their bathtub to find a leak in my sleeping mat. When I left, John and his son's were in the barn dressing out a freshly killed deer.
December 3, 2007
Monday - I am in Columbia, Missouri on U.S. route 63 and headed SOUTH!! It has been in the 20's at nights and my sleeping bag is not doing what they said it would do. Sooooo...I head for warmer ground. I will head west again in Arkansas and then walk across Oklahoma before heading south again in Arizona. People in Missouri are wonderful. I have been stopped four times by state troopers who simply wanted to know if I was doing okay and even offered rides. Met Bob Hayward from Salisbury, Missouri, we spoke for several hours and had delightful and inspiring conversation. Thank you Bob for your kindness and heart felt insights into this wonderful LIFE we all share
December 6, 2007
Thursday - Laura stopped and said she had seen me several times in the past three days and just had to stop and talk to a man who had "LOVE LIFE" over his head. She took me to KFC and paid for my meal. We talked for a long time, she is writing a book, and she is very wise about life. She also gave me a huge package of the best damn trail mix I ever had! On the Appalachian Trail we called it GORP (good old raisins and peanuts). And she gave me a huge hug! That was even better than the chicken. Saw a beautiful bald eagle in top of a tree just staring at me. I stood there and stared back for a long time so I could watch him take off, they are so beautiful in flight.
December 10, 2007
Monday - Met a really nice young man named Jeremy. Freezing rain forced me to grab a motel room.
December 11, 2007
Tuesday - Got caught in the freezing rain again at Monett, Mo. and this time there was no motel room! I found some shelter under a canopy over the entrance of a church. In the middle of the night the wind kicked up and blew the rain in on me and soaked my sleeping bag and everything else. I had a pretty miserable night.
December 12, 2007
Wednesday - Stopped in the Star Dine-In Restaurant where Wayne Clinton and Joshua Greene paid for my breakfast and asked me lots of questions about my walk. Two ladies both named Kelly stopped and talked. One of them said she had a teenage daughter that is suicidal and into drugs. She thanked me for listening.
It was approaching dark and I was so used to walking in the rain and cold all day I really hadn't noticed that my clothing was now covered in ice. I didn't like the thought of camping in that condition so I knocked on the door of a farm house and asked to bed in their barn for the night. They were an old couple and obviously frightened and told me no. I was in a very rural area and becoming more than a little concerned. I passed a couple more homes but no barns. I came upon a church with a porch on both the front and the back. I decided to camp on the front out of the wind even though it could be seen from the road. Just before I blew up my sleeping pad I decided to try the front door of the church… it opened! And the heat was on! I let myself in and filled out the guest register and proceeded down stairs. There was a washer and dryer so I did my laundry. I found a can of ripe olives and consumed them with gusto! I made myself a nice bed on the warm carpeted floor and slept very warmly. I left them a note about the olives and having done my laundry. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Branch Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mack’s Creek, Missouri for leaving your church unlocked!
December 14, 2007
Friday - Got a motel room in Roger, Arkansas for $28 bucks! Good thing I did 'cause it poured the rain all night long!
December 15, 2007
Saturday - I am in Springdale Arkansas in the home of a wonderful family who rescued me from the cold and the snow. I am about twenty miles from Oklahoma. I have had over a week of ice storms and very cold nights
December 16, 2007
Sunday - I will get back on the road today, hopefully it won't be too cold tonight. It is predicted to warm up tomorrow though. Thank you all for following my journey. As much as I hate to leave the comfort of a warm friendly home, I still always anticipate the excitement of hitting the road again. Adventure and beauty await me!!
December 21, 2007
I am in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I spent the night in a motel and out of the cold and wind. An off duty Tulsa police officer, Darrin, gave me a ride across town to get my room A really neat guy who will soon be releasing a study he did on hitchhiking and who picks up hitchhikers. He gathered his information by hitchhiking all over the state and interviewing those who gave him a ride. He said the Tulsa Police Dept. was not real keen on his exploits so he has stopped for now. He was very interesting to talk to. I will be getting back on the road today. I have decided to go south into Texas and see if I can get warm!
NOTE: In August I posted that my two friends, Mark and Susan, rode a motorcycle two hundred miles to bring me the poem, ”Pied Beauty" by Gerrard Manley Hopkins. Last week, my dear sweet friend Susan lost her fight with cancer. I have never met a more giving person....I will miss her very much...as will ALL who knew her. She touched many, many, lives.
I thoroughly loved the state of Oklahoma. In walking through Arkansas and Oklahoma I knocked off two of the states I had not yet walked in. I still have Wyoming, Nebraska, S. Dakota, and Iowa. I met lots of Native Americans in Oklahoma. A Cherokee lady, Bernese stopped and shared fried burritos with me. Gloria Adair, another Cherokee working at Speedy's convenience store in Kansas, Oklahoma, talked to me at length about her people and the shameful Trail of Tears. She explained the route for me and pointed out that we were not far from where the terrible march ended in Tahlequah, Ok. I met Ike the next day, a thoroughly happy man!! He said that after his first cup of coffee in the morning he immediately opens his first beer and then drinks all day long! "I thoroughly enjoy it." He said. "And I smoke cigarettes all day too!" He added. He said that he was perfectly happy with his lifestyle and had no desire to change it. He explained that his two grown children were quite religious and refused to visit him because of his habits. "That part hurts." He said with a sigh. Ike insisted on making a donation to the Stevie Lee Fugate Foundation and buying my next meal. I wonder if Jesus would choose not to visit this man.
Oklahoma State Trooper, Thilge, stopped and checked me out and asked if I needed anything. Tulsa, Oklahoma had suffered an ice storm a few days before I walked through and the apparent damage was everywhere! It looked as though a mild hurricane had hit it. Robert Marris, first cousin to baseball great, Roger Marris, stopped and gave me water and bought me a meal. Robert was an ex-marine of thirty one years and was quite interesting to talk to. In Tecumseh, Oklahoma, I met 18-year-old Allison and Amber who wanted their pictures taken with me and my beautiful sign. At the Quick Stop I met Tony and Alicia. Louie Smith came out of his house and treated me to delicious fresh well water. He said, "That's some of the best damn water in Oklahoma and I really am a great, great, grandson to Jesse James!" He was very interesting. In Davis, Oklahoma, I ate the best fried pies I ever had! They're just called, Original Fried Pies. They are sold at only six locations in Oklahoma and Texas. I spent New Year’s Day in a motel in Ardmore, Ok watching college football! It was wonderful! I met Crazy Bill in Ardmore and he blessed me with another night in a motel room! A friend forever! Crazy Bill wasn't really crazy but you could tell he was a bit odd and he took delight in the name his friends had dubbed him with. (How in the hell would I know if one is odd or not?) He took me to his welding shop where he had several old dilapidated sports cars. One was a 1953 Porsche. My eyes immediately went to a contraption consisting of several piston operated arms in a circle mounted on a stand. "What's that? I inquired. "That's a perpetual motion machine I invented.” He stated proudly. "Shouldn't it be moving?" I inquired. "It almost does... I still have to work out the bugs." He said with a very confident look on his face. He showed me pictures of a 1930's Bentley he wanted to purchase. He said that even though he really could not afford the Bentley he would continue trying to purchase it. He explained that it was much more important than eating. He said he always makes sure he still has money for beer and cigarettes though. Josh, a mailman in Ardmore stopped and gave me a new pair of gloves specially made for sorting out mail on cold days. They are wonderful as I can dismantle my tent and such on cold mornings without removing the gloves.
In Lone Grove, Oklahoma, I met Clara who took me to a local restaurant for lunch. Clara explained that less than a year ago she lost both her 50 year old son and husband of 56 years to cancer. She said that she still loved life and that she could not have made it without her faith in God. The eatery was packed and everyone in there knew Clara and you could tell they loved her. She truly inspired me.
In Ringling, Oklahoma, a blind man, Wayne Grey, turned his head in my direction and asked, "are you the guy walking?" After I answered "yes" he called over Natalie, the waitress and whispered in her ear. Natalie, who was absolutely beautiful and charming, came over and informed me that Wayne would be paying for my breakfast! Natalie said that she wasn't surprised at all,”That's just the way he is." She said. I thanked him and he simply said,”I like what you're doing...God bless you." Just outside of Ringling Donna picked me up and took me to her beautiful home for lunch. Her family had owned the large ranch, The Howard Cattle Company, for three generations. She sent me on my way with a bag of fresh pecans and wonderful homemade pecan cookies. Pecans are part of their ranch enterprises.
In Crowell, Texas, Mamie Moore stopped and asked where I intended to spend the night. After I told her I would be sleeping in my tent she insisted on getting me a motel room! She was very insistent on the matter!! The next day I was invited into Shaw's Pharmacy for coffee and good conversation by Mike Shaw. They all asked where I spent the night and when I told of Mamie's persistence they all chuckled in agreement that you don't say "no" to Mamie!
In Earth, Texas at Pizza Place and More, I was treated to a great breakfast of sausage burrito's and coffee by Mary, Steve and Mari.
January 19, 2008
I am in Clovis, New Mexico. It has been very cold at nights and I am having trouble with sleeping bags that are promising -15 degrees and then not working below +32 degrees! But Campmor is sending me another one to pick up at Roswell, N. M. I still manage to stay warm by simply putting on all the clothing I have with me.
January 28, 2008
Monday - I am in Socorro, New Mexico in the home of Henry and Terri Rosas. Henry asked me in for breakfast as I walked by his home yesterday morning. This morning they told me there was a severe storm approaching in the area I would be walking into and suggested I stay one more night. Henry has a beautiful collection of Harley's!
In Portales, N.M. while savoring my senior citizen coffee at McDonalds an old gentleman walks up and says, "Good morning." I responded, "Good morning and how are you sir?" "Could be better." He said, "Everyone tells me I shouldn't put a combination lock on my door...but damn, it's not like it's on my house...it's on a damn storage shed!" I just nodded my head. He continued, "Apple cider vinegar mixed with baking soda seems to help me a lot... I thought about putting magnets next to the combination locks... have a good day." And out the door he went leaving me sitting there still nodding my head. "You have a good day too sir." I mumbled to myself. Outside a few minutes later the same gentleman approached me as I was putting on my backpack and preparing to leave. "where you headed ?" He asked. "San Diego" I answered. "Hmm" He said, "There is a trucking company right here in Portales that goes to California... S&L I believe it's called... they have reported scorpions dying from cancer... that's why I always wear this here cowboy hat." He wasn't wearing a cowboy hat... he must be nuts... ? Probably the exact thoughts of passer-bys as they drove by me early that morning sitting on the side of the road shaving and brushing my teeth in 29 degree weather. The old gentleman seemed just as happy as I am. Later that day a gentleman pulled up in an old beat up Mercury and asked, "Had lunch yet?" And then handed me the largest barbeque beef sandwich I had ever seen! It was on a sub roll with gobs of barbeque smothered in Monterey Jack cheese! It was delicious!
In Roswell, N.M. Nancy picked me up and took me to the post office to pick up my new sleeping bag, which was not there. She then asked if I would like to go to the grocery store with her. I was able to get some things I needed. We had wonderful conversation. She said she couldn't resist stopping to find out about my sign. She had suffered from severe depression in her life and said it was her determination to love life that pulled her out of it. She said my story encouraged her to continue forward on the positive path she was on and not look back. What a nice trade off 'cause Nancy's story certainly encouraged me.
In Hondo, N.M. at the only store in town, I spoke to a Navajo lady who said she took her little boy to the school bus stop near the store each morning and then waited all day at the store for the bus to return. She said their small ranch where they raised sheep and cattle was 25 miles from the bus stop. She explained that they could not afford the gas for two round trips every day. She was originally from the Ramah Navajo Reservation near the Arizona line.
I met Robert Leyva, a Mexican American who was so very proud of his home state of New Mexico! He pointed to the distant mountains and told me, "Those are the Capitans...and that big peak over there is Capitan itself!" He named all the mountain ranges I would be walking through and past on my journey through his beautiful New Mexico. He gave me his business card, he worked for a beer distributor and it just said, "The beer experts"... I used to be one of those...only I didn't get paid for it. The Capitan Mountains are the birth place of the original Smokey Bear. He was a bear cub rescued from a forest fire in the Capitans in 1950. He spent his life in the zoo at Washington D.C. as the real Smokey Bear.
As I was nearing Lincoln, N.M., Dale picked me up and took me on a guided tour of Lincoln, the town where Billy the Kid killed the sheriff of Lincoln County and where he escaped from jail. The town is almost exactly as it was in Billy's day. Dale pointed out things like the Tunstill's store and the building that Billy escaped from. Dale knew the history quite well, it was all very interesting. Dale said he was the most blessed man alive to live where he lived. He said he owned mountains on both side of the highway, I had camped on his land unknowingly. He said he loved the town of Hondo where he led the choir every Sunday morning in a little Baptist church filled with the sweetest people on earth!! I think they are blessed to have Dale.
At the hardware store in Capitan, N.M. two of the employees helped me patch up my tent with duct tape provided by the store. The whole store gave me an audience earlier as I related my story and why I was walking. As I was leaving Capitan, John Cox, a deputy sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico, stopped and gave me two hot sandwiches and a big hot cup of coffee. We talked long and John shared with me the story of a miraculous healing of a brain tumor in his three year old son. We were both teary eyed. I was telling John how my new Mountain Hardwear Lyel SL -15 degree sleeping bag was not even keeping me warm in + 32 degrees! He said that he had plenty of sleeping bags and immediately went back home and got me one. It was very heavy but I hoped to be able to handle the extra weight until I could pick up my new one at Socorro, NM. John gave me his card and told me to call on him for anything I might need! He stressed over and over,”Please do not hesitate to call me for anything no matter where you are!" Wow!
In San Antonio, New Mexico at The Owl Bar and Grill, as the waitress handed me my cheeseburger she said, "A lady already paid for your meal, she asked me not to tell you who she was...I've never seen her before anyway." I told the young lady that I was truly touched and that I never got used to it no matter how many times it happened. She said it touched her also and she had tears in her eyes. I gave her one of my cards and she promised she would email me from my web site.
January 28, 2008
Monday - I am in Socorro, New Mexico in the home of Henry and Terri Rosas. Henry asked me in for breakfast as I walked by his home yesterday morning. This morning they told me there was a severe storm approaching in the area I would be walking into and suggested I stay one more night. Henry has a beautiful collection of Harley's!
February 1, 2008
Friday - I am in Magdalena, New Mexico waiting on my new replacement sleeping bag and THE "SUPER BOWL"!! A gentleman stopped and told me the story of his son who had recently lost his 23 year old fiancée to murder. She had a three year old son who called her fiancée daddy. The gentleman's son had grown much attached to the little boy. He not only lost the love of his life, he lost his new son, the grandparents have the little boy. For a time his son was having thoughts of taking his own life. He said that he felt his 28 year old son was getting much better but he was still concerned for him. The grandparents are allowing him and the little boy to have time together. I shared with the father some of the encounters I have had with those who were talking of ending their precious lives. He felt that he could use the information with his son if it were ever needed. This fine gentleman purchased me a room at the Western Motel in Magdalena, New Mexico. A very good friend of mine gave me the room until Monday due to the cold weather approaching and the fact that my present sleeping bag was not to be trusted at 9000 ft. He also said that I should not miss the "Super Bowl"!! The weather is to clear by Monday and I should have my new sleeping bag by then.
This part of New Mexico is so very beautiful, it truly is tha land of enchantment! The people are wonderful, all that I have spoken with are so very proud of the Spanish influence that abounds in New Mexico. I am enjoying this beautiful state very much.
February 2, 2008
Saturday - I am still in Magdalena, New Mexico because the owners of the Western Motel insisted that I take one more day courtesy of them. They were concerned about the weather conditions...THANK YOU!! I picked up my new North Face "Snowshoe" 0 degree synthetic sleeping bag from the post office. I was really surprised at how much nicer quality it was than the much more expensive Mountain Hardwear Lyel SL -15 degree down bag. And I am totally impressed with the way Campmor Inc. handled my problem. Ted Tarant in Campmors customer service department was superb! We had to exchange the bags twice and on both occasions Ted treated me wonderfully and took care of the situation as quickly as possible. Thank you Ted and Campmor! There is a storm predicted for tonight but is supposed to be gone by late tomorrow. I plan to leave tomorrow and head toward Arizona. I will really miss Magdalena; it is so very beautiful here nestled in the mountains. I am going to miss looking out my motel window at the snow capped mountains.
February 28, 2008
Thursday – I have stopped my walk and am back home in beautiful Vero Beach, Florida. I have a precious friend here in Vero Beach who without her love and support, I am convinced, I could not have made it through the death of my son. My friend is in the grip of the jaws of Demon Alcohol, and I am here to help pry her out and back into sobriety. I have been in those same jaws myself. Please have me and my friend Jeanne in your thoughts, prayers, and meditations. We will need all the extra energy we can get! Thank you!
Also, my back was giving me real problems. I am sure that if I do indeed go back out and walk, I will have to start using the two wheeled cart that I used on the other walks. The backpack weight directly on my back for 15 to 20 miles a day just will not work anymore. Could I be getting old?
I decided to stop my walk while in Jerome, Arizona where I had stopped to visit my good friend, Dave "Doc" Loomis, author of "Happiness, Use It or Lose It" (a great read!). And, I am going to try and finish my book, “Bottom Line… Love Life”! It will be out in two or twenty years. At Jerome, Arizona I officially completed a total of 21,304 miles of walking the U.S. I will fill you in on all that happened between making my decision to stop and my last entry on 2/02/08, Saturday.
February 2, 2008 to February 24, 2008
In New Mexico, I walked through an area of numerous building size satellite dishes on both sides of the road. A sign told me it was part of the world’s largest and most used radio telescope. Also in New Mexico I walked through The Valley of Fire, a valley that was filled for miles with lava from a nearby volcano. As the lava cooled and hardened it formed millions of black formations of numerous shapes and sizes with sparse vegetation now mingled with it. I found it to be quite beautiful and also a bit eerie walking through it at dusk. I had to hurry to make it through before dark...there was certainly no place to pitch my tent.
I met Baudelio Valdez and Humberto Herrera of A.F.S. Trucking in El Paso, Texas. They asked me numerous questions about my walk and when I told them of the loss of my children they both simultaneously crossed themselves in Catholic tradition. They both told me they had needed to hear my story and that it was very important to them? They never explained beyond that, but kept looking at each other in a way that suggested they could hardly believe our meeting had occurred?
Ron Hancock stopped and insisted he take me to his home for the night. I was greeted with warmth by his wife Gail and their two teenage sons. Ron told me of his fight with depression and thoughts of suicide to the point of losing his teaching job. He was currently working as a security guard. He said his loving wife stood by him and was his fortress. He said, "I was the caterpillar who thought its life was over and then it became a butterfly." Ron also told me, "If you love life it will love you right back." Ron and his family are Mormons and they asked me if I would care to join them for an evening reading of the book of Mormon. I respectfully declined with the explanation that I would also decline if they were Baptist reading from the Christian bible because I personally did not believe in any form of organized religion. His family was very understanding and never seemed offended at all.
Donna Heitmann, a Registered Nurse, and Mary Lou Allen, on their way home from grocery shopping, stopped and wanted to know what I was about. They warned me of an approaching storm that was to drop a foot or more of snow in the mountains. They told me of an old line shack nearby that was no longer used by the ranchers. They suggested it would be a better place to weather the storm than my tent. They offered to drive me to the line shack and I took them up on it. They gave me extra water and Donna raided her groceries and gave me several slices of fresh from the deli' prime roast beef. They both gave me their left over lunches from an obviously upscale Southwestern cuisine restaurant. Delicious! And I was very appreciative that they both apparently eat like birds, I had plenty of food. They dropped me off at the abandoned cabin and said they would not leave until they saw me make it to the cabin door. I trudged about 150 yards through over a foot of hardened snow. As soon as I reached the door of the line shack, I heard Donna beep her horn in farewell. Two wonderful and caring ladies! Mary Lou has ridden horses over nearly all of Arizona. She is the founder and editor of The High Country Informant (Your Mountain Newsletter). It is a newsletter history and personal genealogies of Arizona. She sends them all over the world.
The line cabin certainly showed the neglect of years without use. The door was jammed open and both windows were completely missing from each end. There was also a large hole in the roof near where the stovepipe for the now gone stove once was. I found an old door, an old mattress, and some pieces of tin to cover the openings where the windows had been. I also found out near the dilapidated cattle pens, an oil drum that had been used for burning trash. I rolled the drum back to the cabin and placed it on a large piece of tin just under the hole in the roof. I trudged around in the snow and was able to collect a large pile of aged mesquite and discarded poles once used for the corrals. I then broke off a juniper bough for a broom and swept out all the rat droppings to make a place for my sleeping mat. I built a wonderful fire. Even though the storm never made it to my part of the mountains, it did get quite cold. I stayed toasty warm all night thanks to Donna and Mary Lou. The two of them also gave me a history lesson on their beautiful state which they both were so very proud of.
I met 72 year old Bob McCrackling from Payson, Arizona who told me he had been through eight back surgeries over the past few years and had been forced to take early retirement years before. He made extra income by selling canes he made from any piece of wood he could find that looked like it could be turned into a cane. He had a van full of them, all unique from the other. I helped him retrieve the stalk from a dead Century Plant to later make a cane from. He showed me one he already made into a cane, it was beautiful. Bob also collected unique rocks and things he found along the roadside and elsewhere to sell at his frequent yard sales. He told me he had even found very nice pieces of turquoise near old abandoned mines in nearby New Mexico.
Met Myron who was returning from a primitive skills gathering he had just attended. He showed me a coyote pelt he had just tanned from a fresh road kill he had spotted on his way to the gathering. He was wearing a pair of shorts he had made from deer hide. He said they were very comfortable and durable. He also showed me a little metal box containing what he called a moisturizing bar. He makes the bars out of all natural and mostly organic ingredients. He encouraged me to try some on my severely chapped lips. I tried it and I swear I really did see a difference a couple days later. And it was very soothing as soon as I applied it. He sells his product as Myronaturals Moisturizing Bar. This is what Myron says of his all natural product and what the ingredients are:
Myronaturals Moisturizing Bar is made with natural, high quality, mostly organic ingredients that provide moisturizing, healing, and antiseptic properties for protection and rejuvenation of dry cracked skin. - Great for potters, nurses, concrete workers, mechanics, gardeners, and anyone who needs protection from the damaging effects of occupational or environmental abuse. As a preventative measure, apply before engaging in skin damaging tasks. Offers long lasting protection, even through frequent hand washings. All ingredients have been carefully chosen for their specific properties. INGREDIENTS: Beeswax, Almond Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E Oil), Organic Calendula, Organic Comfrey, Organic Lemon Balm, Organic Essential Oil of Lemon, Organic Essential Oil of Lavender. It is the combination of essential oils and beeswax that gives Myronaturals Moisturizing Bar its distinctive, delicate and inviting fragrance. "I have put a lot of love and care into this product so that you can offer your skin the loving care it deserves." ~ Myron Myronaturals L.L.C., 570 Conifer Way, Ashland, Oregon, 97520 Phone: 541-482-7751
Tom McFarland and Wes Stevenson gave me some snacks and fresh water. They looked to be in their mid twenties. They were both Arizona cowboys working on a nearby ranch. They both rode bucking horses on the rodeo circuit around the U.S. There last rodeos were in Mississippi and San Antonio, Texas. They said their next rodeo would be at Tucson. Tom said he didn't do very good at the last event, but said his friend Wes did excellent. These were two fine young men, I was very impressed with how very polite they were.
Met Chris Hardwick who was pedaling his bike from Jacksonville, Florida to San Diego, California. He was a very happy guy who could not stop talking about his wife of 30 years and how wonderful she was. She was meeting him in San Diego and then they would fly home to Portland, Oregon.
In Jerome, Arizona I stopped to see my good friend Dave "Doc" Loomis. I met Doc when I passed through Jerome in 2003 during my walk around the U.S. I remember well how he came running up to me, pointing at my sign and saying, "You could have written my book...you could have written my book!" He was referring to the book, "Happiness, Use It or Lose It" which he had just finished writing. In front of Docs little house is an old blue school bus with a large wooden sign on its roof consisting of a large finger pointed skyward and proclaiming, ART STUDIO UPSTAIRS. This time I walked around the old delapidated blue school bus which is used for storage, and knocked on the front door of his very small one room house. The door opened up and there was Doc's smiling face and he said immediately, "Stephen, how are you?! The coffee is ready and would you prefer dry cereal or oatmeal?" I spent two days with Doc and his wonderful girlfriend, Deni, who fixed me and Doc a wonderful steak dinner on my first night. Me and Doc and his three dogs walked in the Arizona mountains for several hours each day. We went to ancient ruins and Doc took me to a place he had found which had at some time been a ceremonial circle for some ancient tribe of Native Americans. While at Docs I decided to stop at 21,000 miles and head to Florida to help a friend who asked me to be there for support after she dried out in Re-hab. I decided to try and hitchhike. Doc painted up a nice cardboard sign for me, FLORIDA. Doc gave me a ride just past Prescott and I decided to walk to Interstate 10.
While walking through Peeples Valley, Arizona, a young lady yelled at me from across the street and asked if I wanted coffee and something to eat. Her name was Arielle and she and her mother owned T-Bird Internet Cafe & Collectables. There was a big pink sign with a late sixties T-Bird painted bright pink and parked next to the sign. What really made it stand out though… the only other business besides the post office was a little gas station convenience store. I went inside and met her boyfriend Tony and her mother’s boyfriend, Michael. They fed me great sandwiches and filled me with gourmet coffee. Michael told me that he has cancer and has been operated on eight times. He said the pain was so great at one time; he had simply resigned himself to die. He had even considered suicide, even though his brother had taken his own life. His mother had come to be with him at his last operation and he said her love for him caused him to want to stay alive. He said that before his illness all he wanted to do was make more and more money through his construction business. But now he said that he has found what is really important in life and he recently sold his home and business and purchased a very nice travel trailer. He is just traveling around the U.S. as he feels led. Michael said that he now wakes up every morning knowing the most important thing before him is to love the day he has been presented with.
Michael drove me to Wickenburg, Arizona where I continued walking on US. Rt. 60. As I was walking along I looked to my left and saw a large white propane tank with the name of the propane and gas company on it. I could not believe the name of the company, I had to take a picture of, the Passmore Gas and Propane Company. An employee came out and answered "yes" to my question, "Is Passmore really the owners name?' I received a ride to I-10 from a Mexican gentleman in a van with signs all over it designating it as a shuttle van. He never spoke any English but he was able to get across to me that his two Mexican passengers did not mind and that he was not going to charge me. It was about a 40 mile drive to the Interstate. I made another sign saying TUSCON on it. The new sign didn't help at all...I was there for 38 hours. I simply found a place nearby to pitch my tent when nightfall approached. There was a truck stop nearby the I-10 entrance ramp where I was hitchhiking, so I was able to get meals.
I finally got a ride to the east side of Tucson from a very interesting gentleman, Dennis Armour who owns Armour Carriage Company. armourcarriageco@msn.com . His company provides a variety of breeds of working horses for parades, private parties, etc., and for work. Dennis had quit the U.S. Marines after eight years. I asked why he didn't stay in and retire. He said he saw a lot of things he thought were wrong and he told me this story. He was assigned to a highly specialized group called REACT. REACT is called in to observe and if required...take care of a potential problem. Just a few weeks prior to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, REACT was sent to the border of Kuwait and Iraq due to the government of Kuwait’s suspicions of an invasion by Iraq. Dennis told me that as soon as their force of over 700 men arrived (unknown by Iraq), there were already thousands of Iraqi troops amassed at the border. He said it was totally obvious what was about to take place. REACT was told they could do nothing until the actual invasion was complete. He said that even though the REACT numbers were far less than that of the Iraqi troops, that REACTS's abilities were far greater than the Iraqi's. He said it would be like trying to compare a bicycle to his new pick-up truck! He felt that all the deaths, rapes, and devastation of Kuwait could have been avoided by allowing REACT to attack the amassed Iraqi troops. He said he knew the U.S. was afraid of the rest of the world’s reaction if they had attacked the Iraqi's first, but he personally felt it still would have been the right thing to do. Dennis said he could never stop thinking that the horrible things which happened to the people of Kuwait really did not have to happen.
Dennis dropped me off at the little town of Willcox, Arizona. I spent a day there and could not get a ride. While walking I was offered a ride at least once a day, so I thought getting a ride to Florida would be a breeze... wrong! I had been at it for six days and still had not left Arizona! I should have taken the advice from my friends and had Doc drive me to Flagstaff to catch a flight out and head for Orlando. Now, because of my stubbornness I was stuck in the small town of Willcox! Thank God there was a bus stop at one of the gas stations.
But, if I had not taken the bus, I would not have met Louis Davis who boarded the bus at Jackson, Mississippi. Louis was a tall, middle aged, handsome black man and he sat in the seat across from me. There was a very attractive woman standing on the loading platform waving vigorously at him. Though she didn't look old enough to be his mother, she looked at him as though he was leaving for college the first time. She watched him with that look until our bus pulled away. I don't remember how our conversation was started. Louis told me he was going to Atlanta where he would meet his brother who would take him to his home in rural Georgia. He had been told by his doctors he needed rest for a few months. He and his wife of 23 years, the woman I had curiously watched waving at him as the bus left, had decided he could rest better at his brothers home. His wife and son would run his tree trimming business while he was away. Louis was 44 and was a self made man having started his business, Action Tree Service in Jackson, Mississippi several years ago. He proudly told me of the sophisticated equipment and his five employees besides he and his son. The reason he was told to get rest and avoid any tension or excitement was because of what had happened to him only five weeks before. Like most people that own their own business, Louis put in long hours. On a Friday evening about 10:30 pm. a friend had just dropped him back off at his place of business after they had gone for a quick beer to help wind down the day. As he was about to unlock his office door, two men came up behind him and stuck a gun in his ribs! They demanded he give them his wallet, and he did. The wallet had $400.00 in it. He said he had another $400.00 in his pocket that they missed. Louis told me he had never been so horrified in his entire life. He was a big man and very athletic and he said he had never been picked on in his life or anything like that. He told of begging for his life! He told them he was married and had children and to please let him live to watch his grandbabies grow up! The gun was moved from his ribs and placed at the side of his head! As soon as Louis felt it touch his head he lunged to the side away from the gun. The trigger was pulled and the bullet entered the back of the skull and went into the back of the brain and landed against the other side of the skull and stayed there. Louis turned his head around and showed me the fresh scars and pointed to where the bullet entered. he said that after he was shot he was able to keep running. He said the blood was everywhere and he knew he was in serious trouble. He ran to the home of an elderly lady he knew who lived across from his office. Before he could make it to her door, he collapsed in her front yard. Within moments, one of Louis's friends just happened by to see if Louis was still working and perhaps visit with him awhile. Seeing that the lights were not on at Louis's business, the friend started to drive on. As he was about to turn the corner, his headlights landed on Louis's body. The friend jumped out and seeing all the blood, he immediately put Louis in his car and drove him straight to the hospital, which was not far away.
Louis was in a coma for five days. When he awoke the doctors told him the damage to his brain was minimal considering what it could have been. They said they were able to repair all damage to the brain. He was told that his recovery would take months and he had to have absolute rest and must stay as calm as possible. Louis said that he had already improved a great deal since being released from the hospital.
He said the Jackson, Mississippi police department was wonderful to him and very patient and understanding with their questioning of him. They told him they had apprehended the two suspects and both were in custody. The suspects were from New Orleans and had been living in housing set up for Hurricane Katrina victims. The police also told him the suspects had marked him and had been watching him for awhile as a prospective victim. The court date for the two is scheduled for May 17, 2008.
Louis told me he had really never had any fears in his life until now. He said he was constantly turning around and looking behind him due to an uncomfortable feeling. He also told me he still couldn't believe that someone could be capable of doing that kind of evil to another human being. Louis said he knows that his life was spared and that he is truly blessed in that the damage was so minimal! He also said he believed God spared him for a reason and as soon as he was able he said he wanted to give back. Louis Davis is a fine gentleman, I am so glad his life was spared and he is healing! We agreed to stay in touch and he is going to keep me informed of his condition. Louis also is going to let me know what happens to the two men who tried to kill him.
I am still enjoying being at home in Vero Beach, Florida. I can't help but sometimes miss the adventure of being out on the road and meeting new people every day though. When I start to feel too adventurous, I simply use retrospect... taking a shower every day sure is nice! My friend, Jeanne, is doing great! She and I are still attending AA meetings daily. I am learning so much about the disease of alcohol. I can see more clearly now how my son went from an intelligent, well educated, and aspiring young hopeful to a confused young man afraid of life. I was confused as to why he started slipping in his ambition and desires? He was confused and completely over-powered by his disease... alcoholism! I was unable to see the severity of his problem and why he started lacking drive exactly when it should have increased for him... late in college. My wonderful son had an addiction, an addiction that became full blown at a place where drinking is the norm for young students.
Another reason I didn't recognize his illness, I drank like a fish! Drinking was a way of life for me, I don't remember my first taste of alcohol I was so young. I had been raised up with moonshine and bourbon all around me in Kentucky and Southern Ohio while growing up. I simply had a very hard time seeing alcohol as a disease source instead of a great social catalyst. I drank nearly every day but I did not have the disease my son did. I thank God that there is such a wonderful organization as AA available to help assure that someone else’s child does not become overwhelmed and confused from the terrible disease of alcohol! That others may not have to find out that their precious darling stuck a gun in their mouth and ended their life! God bless AA!!
May 01, 2008
Thursday - A few days ago as I was riding my bike over the 17th street bridge here in Vero Beach, I looked down and saw three dolphins playing with a fish. it was so cool, they would flip it out of their mouth as they flipped over backwards in the same direction as the fish so as to catch it again and repeat it over and over! I stopped and watched until I couldn't see them anymore. I am so very blessed to live here! I am doing wonderful! I work on my book daily. I have entered some new stories of my walking experiences and the incredible individuals I have encountered. You will find these accounts on the "Walking the U.S. stories" page. I also have added some new entries on the "Poems and Thoughts" page. Please give me your opinion of my stories.
MAY 23, 2008
Friday - Well, as much as I love my home state of Florida, I am pretty sure I will be on the road again real soon. I will head for Cincinnati where my mother and sister are. I'm not sure yet whether I will walk or ride? If I walk, I will indeed put my beautiful "LOVE LIFE" sign over my head once more. I will continue to work on my book and still hope to have it ready for publishing before the end of the year.
I will post the time I leave, my route, and other information when I am certain of my departure date.
We are all so very blessed to have each other; this fact alone is reason enough to... LOVE LIFE!
JUNE 5, 2008
Thursday - Still in Florida, I don't relish leaving Florida, but my feet are itching. I've thought of possibly walking all over the state and try and see all that is here! I never seem to be able to get the seasons right? I usually end up in the desert in summer and winter in the mountains. And I know I would certainly be more comfortable walking Florida in the winter. I'm not sure yet, just a Gemini thinking out loud. I've still a few loose ends to take care of regardless of which direction I head in. I am waiting on my new tent and as I reached into the washing machine to pull out my clean and wet clothes.. I saw my clean and WET cell phone on the bottom of the machine! Needless to say, I now have to get a new phone. And I must walk over to the other side of the state to see my grandaughter first.
JUNE 14, 2008
Saturday - I will be leaving for the West Coast of Florida on Monday, 6/16/08, to visit with my granddaughter, Cassie. After spending a couple of days there I will walk to Cincinnati. I will probably stay there through the winter and try very hard to finish my book. The book, "Bottom Line.. Love Life" is nearly finished… I think? It is still quite a way from being ready for publishing though. I have an invitation from a friend to do some sailing in Maine next summer. I will probably walk there from Cincinnati? And I still eventually want to get back to Jerome, Arizona and finish my corner to corner "Shelly" walk.
But of course, if my book gets published, some of my plans may change. Anyway, I'll keep y'all informed of my where-about and my plans. I plan on keeping up my journal by stopping at libraries along the way, once I start to head for Cincinnati. I just read that the suicide hot lines are having increased calls due to the slowing economy. So maybe I can do a little good, reminding everyone to "LOVE LIFE". In the mean time... do not forget to heed my sign... LOVE LIFE!
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2008. I rode a bus to Holiday, Florida where my son-in-law and gradaughter live. I am certainly enjoying my grandbaby. She is six-years-old and a real little lady. Her father is doing a wonderful job as a single parent! I am so very proud of both!
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