Day 79, June 21, 2012

  I woke up on day 79 inside the country store near mineola TX. It was the store on the blueberries farm where the owner (Jill) had really hooked me up. I didn't ask for anything but she had given me a new cart, and bunch of snacks and drinks. I had slept well in the air conditioning.
         I woke up around 7:30 and Jill said she would be there around 8 to open up the store. So I packed up so it was clean for opening time. I was just finishing packing when she came in. She brought 2 white shirts down from the house for me.
          So she asked if I needed anything else, and at that point I was so thankful for what she had done for me already. I told her she had done plenty and thanked her. She was heading out to take her daughter to a horse riding event and a guy had come to meet her there to work the store. So she said goodbye to me and gave me her number. She wanted me to find a phone and call her after I finished.
        I headed up the road around 8:15. I walked about 4 miles and into mineola. When I got there I headed to a laundromat. I wanted to wash my socks and underwear that I changed out of. I wanted to clean them before they stunk up my bag inside or got mildewed.
        After that I headed down the street to a dairy queen where I wanted to get caught up on my journals. So I ordered a chicken sandwich and plugged in there while typing my journals. After about 2 hours sitting there the manager came up and said I couldn't sit there all day. So I told her I would wrap it up soon. So I packed up and headed out not long after.
        My water jugs were low so I pulled off at a tire shop to fill them up. I used a hose on the side of the building and filled the jugs and also wet my towel for my head. After that I headed out towards Grand Saline. It was pretty warm so I was drinking water often. I walked through the hot part of the day and was sweating like crazy. It was really hot out.
        I walked all the way to Grand Saline and got there around 9:30pm. When I got to the edge of town there was a baseball game going on under the lights. So I pulled off and sat right behind the left field fence to watch it. I was the only person watching from out there in the outfield. And it was funny, the left fielder on one of the teams was walking towards me every few pitched and pulling his phone out of his back pocket to check it. He was hiding it from everyone else but I saw it. It was pretty funny but also bummed me out a little.
         I watched a few innings then headed into town to figure out where to sleep. The first church I found was pretty exposed and didn't have any good spot that was hidden to sleep. So I headed further down the road to check out another church. This one also didn't have any good spots but it was the last church before leaving the town. So I made my bed in a shadow area in the breezeway of the front door. It wasn't the best spot but it would do.
        I fell asleep around 11 there and was beat. After using my new cart though, I was happy with it. The wheels worried me a bit, but it had way more storage space and that is good so I can pack more water on the long stretches.

     

Day 78, June 20, 2012

I woke up on day 78 and the dog that was there most of the night had taken off. It was about 8:30. I got up and packed my stuff. There was a bunch of dirt on my tarp so I waved it to shake it off. Once I packed up I hit the road early.
       I started walking and a couple miles up came to Hawkins. I walked through and it was a real small town. I came past a breakfast cafe and stopped there to use the restroom. When I came in, the lady at the door gave me a menu, and said order anything I wanted and it was already paid for. It was really bizarre and I was confused. I didn't know who paid for it or what happened. All I could think was they saw me walking up and decided to just give me a free meal. I wasn't sure but sat down after using the bathroom and ordered a breakfast. It was awesome! They were extremely friendly there and really waited on me with care. They also were interested on my journey and were supportive. It was a good pick me up and I was very happy. I left there about an hour later and hit the road.
        It was really hot! I was drinking a lot of water and keeping me head towel wet. I walked about 10 miles at a fast pace and then sat down for a break. I was at an old church that looked to be closed down. I didn't see any plug ins or water access there. After 20 minutes I headed out.
       I was putting in a good day walking. I came to a small little junction where there were some houses. I was looking out for a place to fill my waters as I had just run out. The first place I saw was a little country store on a blueberry farm about 4 miles from Mineola TX. So I stopped there to get a water.
        The lady there asked where I was walking to so I told her. She was amazed and said she wouldn't charge me for the water. She said to take a break outside the store to cool down. A couple minutes later she brought out a bag with 2 cartons of organic blueberries and 4 gatoraids. Then she asked if she could ask me some questions. I said sure so she sat down with me.
          We ended up talking for about an hour. She was so interested in my journey and we also talked about faith for a good while and where we both stand. She was very sweet and understood where I am as I did her. She then said to stay there and that she had a cart for me if I wanted it. She went up the dirt road to her house that was back in the property. She came back with a blue cart similar to mine but with 4 wheels and more carry space. She said they don't use it and for me to take it! I was shocked! It was perfect. She also brought me all sorts of snacks and more drinks! She brought a sleeping bag, towel, and then said for me to stay the night in the store if I could stop there today. I was so taken back by it that I didn't even know what to say. I didn't even know how to express my thanks to her and felt like I was not giving enough of a thankful gesture. But as I started switching my things over to the other cart, it was hitting me how much it meant. All the worries I have for this trip are running out of water in the long desert. But this new cart can carry plenty of water. It was perfect!
           So she left the store to me and I was still messing with my new cart. I was more exited now for it then I was buying a new car! I was organizing it with my stuff. And I really felt like it was a great tool for survival and that I was more prepared now. And all this from not asking for anything. She gave me so much I had to turn down a lot of it! It was awesome. I took the wheels off of my other cart also to pack them just incase.
         She brought me dinner (a hamburger and tater tots) a little later, then left me in the store for the night. There was a little kitten in there too so I was playing around with it while I relaxed on the floor there. There was a bathroom and air conditioning. It was awesome. I read the bible a little also while laying there getting ready to go to sleep. And also before I laid down I changed my socks. My other ones smelled so bad that it would have stunk up the whole store. I grabbed the can spray in the restroom to spray my shoes also. I was hoping they wouldn't smell that and think I was trying to cover anything up (other then my smelly ass feet).
       It was a good night and I was so thankful for this treat! It means a lot to have shelter and to be away from all of the bugs and the humidity. It was sure a treat! I fell asleep and the cat slept right behind my head on my sleeping bag there.
          I fell asleep very thankful that night and felt very spoiled and taken care of. I even gave Jill (store owner) all my money to make me feel more comfortable about staying there so they won't worry about me being a phony and stealing or something. I slept really well that night beside a few times when the cat went nuts and knocked things down or clawed my hair.

   

     

Day 77, June 19, 2012

 I woke up around 8:30am on day 77. I sat up from the dirt. I had dirt all over my arms and now that it was light I could see that there was a bunch of dirt all over my sleeping bag too. I had a headache and my knees were really hurting. I honestly felt like my knees were hit with a hammer, and felt like I was hungover, even though I didnt drink.
       So I slowly sat up. I was still very tired. I could feel my eyes swollen from not sleeping enough. I was pretty beat up. I got up and packed my things slowly. I filled up my waters with a hose there and got ready to go.
      I headed west on the 80 and out of the town of White Oak TX. About 2 miles in I came up to the grandpa in the van from the father/son walking. I went up and said hello. He was waiting for them from a couple miles back. So they were just behind me. He asked if I needed anything and was very nice. I was all set to go but said thanks anyway. He also said to contact them on Facebook if I get into any trouble. So I said thanks and that I would maybe see them again.
        I walked down another mile or so and had just got into the country. There were just trees around. All of a sudden the rain started pouring. And it quickly became heavy. I walked quickly to try and find some sort of cover, whether it was a big tree or whatever. I came up to a turn and just got lucky enough to come to a fruit stand type place and hurry under some cover. I just missed getting soaked as it really poured once I got under it. I felt like god had my back and I was able to stay dry. It was closed but I sat in a rocking chair and waited out the rain. Once it stopped about 20 minutes later I continued.
        I headed up the road at a good pace and came to the town of Gladewater. I walked through most of the town and was getting to the last little bit. Suddenly it quickly poured down rain again! I hurried under a little overhang along some old commercial stores. I was under it staying dry when next door I saw a man locking up a barber shop and then running to his car. He got in, then all of a sudden I saw him again coming back. He said "hey come in man, stay dry in here". So I rolled my stuff in. He said he was leaving for lunch but he could wait. So I went in and sat down. He said I could sit there and hangout with him until the rain stopped. That was pretty cool. Love to witness the good in people's hearts.
      So he asked about me and I told him about my walk. He was very inspired and interested. He also offered me a drink and then a haircut! I took the drink but couldn't cut my hair til I reach the pacific. So we sat and talked there a while. I enjoyed talking with him and a couple customers while I waited out the rain. When it stopped though, I wanted to keep moving. So I headed out and said goodbye and thanks.
       I continued and left town. It was a good distance to the next town of Hawkins. And just as I was leaving about 2 miles out of town, the rain hit again. I was caught in an open area with nothing around, so I pulled out my tarp and literally stood on the shoulder of the highway with my tarp over me and my cart. I was standing and holding my tarp wrapped around me so when the big trucks passed the tarp didn't blow up into the air. It was a rough 20 minutes standing there in the down pour. When it stopped I waved my tarp to get most the water off, folded it, packed it in and continued.
        I walked then at a really good pace and made my way to Big Sandy TX. I stopped there for a break. I rested about an hour there. Then as I continued I hit one last long stretch of country. I walked along that stretch and my knees were starting to throb. I think it was from how I slept on the dirt. They were locked all night straight and hurt all night and in the morning. So I just slowed down the pace a bit and kept on. I got about 2 miles from Hawkins and a man pulled over. He asked in a very disappointed voice "what are you doing?!". So I told him. He then said "get in the truck so I can take you up ahead to the next town". I told him I couldn't. Then he said, "are you a Christian?" and I started to answer and said "well I have been a member of a Christian church..." and he cut me off and said loudly "are you a Christian?!" so I looked at him and said "no". He handed me a subway sandwich and said "well I am, I love Jesus, and that came from the lord" and then he pulled away burning out.
         I ate the sandwich and was pretty hungry. Then I walked ahead and came to a church just east of Hawkins. I stopped there and hiked to the back near some trees. There wasn't much around and my clothes were damp from the rain, so I made a fire to dry them out. I was sitting there as the sun was setting near my fire. I looked over and saw a white dog walking to me. It looked old and was skinny. It came up near me and sat down and stared. I looked at him. I thought about calling him over but he looked dirty and I didn't want to smell any worse than I already do. He laid down and never moved all night. I laid there tending my fire til I was tired and then fell asleep next to it on my tarp in the dirt next to my watch dog. The bugs were heavy there but it was an ok night. I woke up once from rain, but it lasted only a minute. Then I went back to sleep.

      
      
     

Day 76, June 18, 2012

 I heard someone yelling and it woke me up. I sat up and looked towards the field next to me. There was a man there and he waved at me. He yelled "I thought you were dead!" I laughed. He said "just want to make sure your ok,  don't bother me". So I laid back down and rested my eyes a while longer.
       Then I woke up. It was about 8am. I got up and took a piss. Then I packed my things up and got ready. After brushing my teeth and filling my waters there I hit the road.
      I headed into Longview TX. It was really humid. I walked for about 5 miles when I stopped for a break. It was pretty warm and I wanted to make sure to stay hydrated and also keep my towel on my head moist. I continued ahead.
       I kept a good pace and kept trucking. When I got to the end of Longview I stopped at a burger king to charge my stuff and order a burger. I stayed there maybe an hour. Before I left there I filled my water jugs in the bathroom sink. And off again.
         I walked through the next couple little towns that were not really spread far apart. It was a small town, then houses along the highway, then another small town. Without really hitting any stretch of nothing. That is nice incase I need to stop for any reason. Like to use the bathroom or fill my waters. The only problem is that there is not really a shoulder on the side of the highway to walk along. I'm either in the lane, or I have to hop me and my cart up onto the curb and onto the side of the road. That is a bit of a hassle and slows my walk down.
         As I was on that stretch a car pulled off. It was a lady who asked if I was the man walking to California. I wasn't sure if she was looking for me, or the father son team behind me. So I said yes I was, then she said her daughter and granddaughter follow my twitter and they told her I just left Longview. Then I knew it was me she was referring to. She took a few pictures with me and then gave me $20. She hungout a few minutes and then told me good luck. Always awesome to have people come track me down!
        So I walked to the last little town of White Oak before hitting a stretch of nothing. So I decided to take a midday break there. Well more of an early evening break before an evening walk. So I stopped at a taco bell there. I ordered a couple dollar menu items and sat down near an outlet.
         I sat there about 20 minutes when I was getting ready to leave. And then suddenly rain started dropping outside. It soon was a heavy down pour and lighting struck fiercely around there and the thunder roared loud. It went on long enough where I could not make the rest of my stretch before dark. So I would have to find a place there to sleep.
        I stayed in taco bell a while, then around 10 I headed to a church across the street that I found on my GPS. The ground was already dry, which I was a little surprised by. And the only spot I found out of sight was in the dirt behind the church. So I made my bed there. The surface was really hard and uncomfortable. But I laid there anyways until I fell asleep around midnight.

     

Day 75, June 17, 2012

 I woke up laying on the concrete on day 75. It's too hot at night to zip up my sleeping bag, so I just lay in it unzipped. And usually at some point I just end up flat on the ground with my sleeping bag over me like a blanket. So I was flat on the concrete and my body was stiff. I got up at the church I was at in marshall TX.
         I went over near the front of the church to plug my stuff in while I packed up and got ready. I filled my water jugs at the faucet also before I left. I took off walking down the highway at around 8:30am.
          I walked out of the town and into a long stretch ahead. I had a good pace and the humidity wasn't as bad as some of the days before. I trekked about 5 miles when I pulled off for a break. I drank some water along side of the highway in the country. After 10 minutes I continued.
         I walked down a ways when I saw a red SUV pull off the road ahead of me. There was nothing there so I was thinking they pulled off to talk to me. As I got closer a man got out of the passenger side. He was very old and he was carrying some sort of book under his arm. When I walked up to him, he asked if I had a minute? I said sure and walked to him. He said he had something he wanted to show me. He opened the book and it was a scrap book. He told me it was something he did when he was around my age. He had CRAWLED! 1600 miles! From texas to DC. He crawled on his hands and knees for 20 months straight in 1976 over 1600 miles! I couldn't believe it! It was so awesome that I met him! He made the effort to come out to me and share it! Something he said that meant something to me was that he wasn't even sure why he did it when he started. It just came into his heart and he knew he had to go. He later found the purpose it served him. And I think that is very similar to me and my journey. Im not 100% sure why I needed to do this when the idea came to me. But I'm finding out a lot and think now that it was fate to bring my spirit to a place it needs. What an amazing encounter. When we talked we truly shared something together and our spirits connected. It was like finding a family member half way through your life. We just had that bond and that was why he wanted to come and meet me. It was amazing!
       I talked to him a while and we discussed a lot of things. I told him where my heart is at now, and he knew exactly what it's like. He was there right with me during his trip. And he just said he has a feeling what is next for me, and he's exited about it. He said a prayer for me. After the prayer I gave him a big hug. Even though he was nearing 70, he was a brother to me and a true warrior. And for that, I was thankful for his being. After the amazing blessing of meeting him I kept on down the road.
        I walked up and at a good pace until I reached the town of Hallsville. I was ready for a break and it was about 4pm. So I stopped in at a dairy queen. When I came inside I had ran into the father son team again. We are sort of leap frogging each other each day and passing each other. They start earlier than I do so I end up passing them later in the day and pulling away when they are slowing down. So I visited with them a little more. They are also busy as they contact all the press outlets they can along the way to gain more exposure of their journey. I learned more about the way they organize their days too. They usually will use the van to take breaks in and sleep in. They walk until they need a break, then will take the van ahead to stop for lunch or whatever. Then afterwards, they will return to a landmark where they stopped to continue. And while they walk the grandfather will go to the towns ahead to visit the newspapers and tv stations for press when they arrive. Then at night he picks them up and they go to a rest stop or hotel or whatever to spend the night. So although we both walk, we have different approaches to accommodations ect. But they are both very overweight, and physically face a much tougher challenge when walking than I do. My challenge isn't so much the actual walking, but rather surviving the country with nothing and being poor.
          So after a break there I packed up and refilled my jugs. I headed west another 6 miles to the point where I was about 4 miles east of Longview TX. I came to a church in the country where it was hidden and quiet. It was a good spot and I made a bed in the back on the grass. I had gone 21 miles that day and was tired. There were no outlets so I left my electronics off mostly. I laid down and read through the bible as the sun was setting. I fell asleep around 10:30 that night. Also while I laid there a deer ran by me. That was cool.