Thanks!
Pat Crawford
triumphantly hiked into
the nation's
capitol on
Tuesday
afternoon,
July 24th,
2007.
After
a journey of
945 miles,
he would
like to
thank
everyone who
made
contributions
in support
of his
effort, both
corporate
sponsors and
those of you
who made
individual
pledges.
The Blog Back Home -
The Final
Chapter As
I wrap up my
second week
of work
since my
return to
Pensacola on
Friday, July
27, it seems
like a good
time to make
one last
entry. The
reception at
NPR on
Thursday
(7/26) was
really nice.
NPR
President
Kevin Close
and CEO Ken
Stern hosted
the event
and many of
the NPR
staffers
were in
attendance.
I was amazed
at how many
of them had
followed my
journey
online. A
suggestion
was made
that I make
a
presentation
next year at
the Public
Radio
Development
Conference
on “extreme
fundraising”.
Whatever it
takes to
keep public
radio
healthy is
well worth
the effort.
I made my
quiet return
to Pensacola
the next day
and enjoyed
my reunion
with Megan
and Morgan.
Since then
it has been
a whirlwind
of activity,
reconnecting
with
everyone and
sharing the
experience.
I plan to
make a
formal
presentation
on September
20th at
7:00PM at
the
Institute
for Human
and Machine
Cognition. I
hope you can
attend.
Adjusting to
a more
routine
existence
has had its
challenges.
My legs are
finally
accepting
the fact
that they
aren’t going
to be
walking 20+
miles a day
and are
letting me
sleep again.
I am
delighted to
be back
home, but do
feel a bit
restless. I
wouldn’t
hesitate to
take off on
another
adventure
tomorrow. Oh
well,
something to
anticipate.
As a
result of
this
experience,
my head is
in a really
good place
right now. I
don’t plan
on leaving
that place
any time
soon,
regardless
of the
inevitable
daily
challenges
that life
sends us. In
fact, I hope
I can use my
mind set to
create
better
outcomes for
me and
everyone I
interact
with. I have
already
started
working on
my book,
before my
feelings and
recollections
fade. There
is so much
that I want
to share,
much more
than has
been
addressed in
these blogs.
My last
thought is
this: THANK
YOU for your
support,
encouragement,
prayers, and
just
following
along – I
never felt
alone a
single day.
This journey
was truly a
group
effort. In a
way, I’ll
miss not
living my
life online.
One final
question:
what are we
going to do
next summer?
Stay tuned …
Tuesday July
24, 2007 -
Day 60 Today's walk
was the
perfect
ending to
this great
adventure.
The weather
was pleasant
and the
scenery
along the
Mt. Vernon
Trail was
beautiful.
When I was
just north
of Old Towne
Alexandria I
caught my
first
glimpse of
the
Washington
Monument and
the Capitol
Dome. That
was when the
reality
started to
sink in - I
had actually
done what I
set out to
do. I have
to tell you
that my
emotions are
mixed. I am
excited
about
getting back
home, but I
am going to
miss the
challenge
and the
freedom of
the open
road.
I stopped by
NPR to let
them know I
was in town
and was
warmly
received by
the station
relations
staff. What
a great
group! They
had been
following my
journey on
line and
felt like
they really
knew me -
just like
everyone
else who has
been
enjoying my
open book
existence on
the Web. It
may take a
few days for
me to wean
myself off
of blogging,
so bear with
me. I will
return to
NPR on
Thursday for
a reception
- how nice!
I must
apologize to
any of you
who I
offended
with my blog
last
Saturday. It
has been
removed from
the site.
You must
realize that
I have been
sharing
everything
about my
life with
you these
past two
months. I
should keep
my opinions
to myself,
but
sometimes
they just
slip out.
Returning to
work on
Monday will
take some
adjusting
I'm sure. I
have a lot
of catching
up to do. As
for
tomorrow,
I'm going
for a run -
something
I've been
dying to do
for weeks.
It sounds
crazy, but
after all
the walking
I want to
move faster
(and without
a pack on my
back). I
will
continue my
chats with
John and
Sandra until
my return on
Friday. Back
at you
tomorrow.
Monday July
23, 2007 -
Day 59 It's another
beautiful
day in
Northern
Virginia.
The walking
has been a
little more
challenging
today. Hwy 1
has some
very narrow
spots where
I had a
space about
one foot
wide between
a guard rail
and the
white line.
A few of
those RVs
came close
enough that
I won't have
to shave the
right side
of my face
for a few
days.
I am just
south of Mt.
Vernon
tonight. In
the morning
I just have
about 3 more
miles of
highway
until I get
to the Mt.
Vernon
Trail, a
shaded
walking
trail that
goes all the
way into DC
- what a
perfect
ending to an
incredible
journey. As
anxious as I
am to come
home, I will
surely miss
this life on
the road. It
is hard to
believe that
tomorrow is
my last day
on the road.
Wow!
To all of
you who have
been
following
along and
more
importantly,
supporting
this
adventure
with your
contributions
- thank you,
thank you,
THANK YOU.
I've got
laundry to
do and feet
to soak -
have a great
night and
I'll check
in with you
tomorrow -
from DC -
unbelievable!
Sunday July
22, 2007 -
Day 58 I
have really
been
enjoying
this
beautiful
Virginia
weather. It
makes the
walking
easy. My
visit to
Fredericksburg
began when I
was rescued
from the
road by
Marcia
Keener
(another
Enid
connection).
Marcia is a
policy wonk
with the
National
Park Service
in DC and a
UWF grad.
She showed
me around
this
historic
city and
introduced
me to some
really
wonderful
people. I
had a
relaxing
time, took
in an
outdoor jazz
concert, and
stayed
around on
Sunday to
attend the
Unitarian
Universalist
Church
before
hitting the
road again.
I was
interviewed
by Robert
Martin with
the Free
Lance-Star
and had
lunch with
him on the
road to
Quantico.
Tonight I am
in Quantico,
staying
right next
to the
Marine Corps
Memorial.
Route 1 has
proven to be
a scenic
walk with
surprisingly
light
traffic. I
imagine this
will pick up
tomorrow
with the
commuters.
I'll be out
there bright
and early to
find out.
Friday July
20, 2007 -
Day 56 What a
glorious day
for a stroll
along the
rolling
hills of
northern
Virginia. A
little
drizzle this
morning and
an overcast
sky kept the
temperature
in the low
80's.
Tomorrow's
forecast is
clear and
cool, so
Fredericksburg
will be an
easy goal.
In fact, I
plan to
cruise right
through the
city and
make it to
Stafford, a
mere 45
miles from
Washington.
I am really
getting my
second (or
third) wind
as I get
closer. The
feet are
great - no
blisters -
and I am
feeling
stronger
than ever. I
suspect I
will get to
the capitol
city a day
or even two
earlier than
planned.
That's no
problem for
me - I'll
hang out at
the
Smithsonian
or maybe
find a
protest
rally to
join. Then
on Thursday
I will be
meeting with
the folks at
NPR. That
will be two
months to
the day
since I left
Jacksonville.
On Friday I
fly back to
Pensacola -
yea! I am
so ready.
Thanks to
those of you
who have
been making
those
pledges.
They have
picked up a
bit. Maybe
as I pick up
the pace,
those of you
still
waiting will
do likewise.
I have heard
from a few
folks who
were
experiencing
difficulty
pledging
online. If
you don't
see your
name on the
list of
donors, it
may be
because your
pledge
didn't go
through. If
you want to
make sure,
call Trish
Allison at
850-473-7433
and she can
check it for
you.
Today I
asked a
couple of
Sheriff's
Deputies for
directions.
One of them
asked me if
I was
homeless.
The other
asked how
many
homeless
people had
he met with
a Blackberry
and a GPS
device on
their belt.
Not to
mention a
digital
camera and
an MP3
player! My
digital
utility belt
definitely
gives me
street
credibility. I
hope you
have a great
weekend. I
will keep
moving
closer to my
final
destination.
Back with
you tomorrow
Thursday
July 19,
2007 - Day
55 Today's
journey took
me through a
change of
scenery and
weather.
When I left
Richmond
this
morning, the
forecast was
HOT with an
expected
heat index
of 105
degrees. It
was warm
indeed, but
I don't
think it
ever hit
that mark.
Highway 1
was pretty
easy walking
- not much
of a
shoulder,
but traffic
was light.
North of
Ashland the
terrain
changed to
rolling
hills - lots
of them, one
after
another.
This was the
first hill
climbing
I've done on
the trip,
but the legs
were willing
and the
hiking polls
really came
in handy.
In the early
afternoon
the sky
became very
threatening
and at
around 3:00
pm let loose
with a
tremendous
thunderstorm
and
torrential
downpour.
Fortunately
I had just
stopped for
the day at a
truck stop
near Doswell,
VA.
The good
news is that
I'm just 90
miles from
Washington.
Being this
close after
two months
of walking
is awesome.
I am really
getting
excited
about
finishing
this
adventure.
The bad news
is that the
Florida
universities
are facing
budget cuts
that will
significantly
impact WUWF.
All the more
reason for
you to get
on board
with your
contribution
now. We are
close to the
goal - about
60 pledges
of $100
would take
us over the
top.
I personally
have spent
more than
$5,000 on
equipment,
supplies,
food and
lodging for
this hike.
That is in
addition to
eight weeks
of vacation
time. Add in
the abuse to
my body of
walking
nearly 900
miles (and
counting)
and you can
appreciate
my level of
commitment.
Sure it's my
job, but
more than
that it's my
passion. I
think it's
yours as
well. Public
radio
listeners
aren't
generally
passive
about
anything.
Let's send a
message to
NPR about
how much
WUWF means
to our
community.
The irony
here is that
while NPR
has decided
not to cover
this as a
story, they
may be using
it as a part
of their
national
fundraising
efforts.
That's okay
with me.
Together we
are doing
what really
matters -
keeping the
only
broadcast
service
still truly
engaged with
its local
communities
alive and
well. Thank
you for your
support. I
have never
felt alone a
single day
out here and
look forward
to sharing
more stories
when I'm
back home
again - in
one week!
Right now
I'm headed
for the
truck stop
diner for
who knows
what. I'll
be back
online
tomorrow.
Wednesday
July 18,
2007 - Day
54 A pleasant
15 mile walk
brought me
in to
Richmond,
the
beautiful
capitol of
Virginia,
where I will
heading
north on Hwy
1 in the
morning.
I am really
on my final
approach to
DC, with
about 120
miles
between me
and NPR. I
taped an
interview on
the road
this morning
with the
folks at NPR
for use in
the next
national
fundraiser.
Having that
conversation
reminded me
of my
purpose for
spending two
months on
the road -
to raise
$25,000 in
support of
WUWF
programming.
We are about
$6,000 away
from meeting
that goal.
When I
arrive at
NPR one week
from
tomorrow, it
would be
great to be
able to tell
them that we
have met or
even
exceeded
that goal.
If you have
been
procrastinating,
now is the
time to act.
I am doing
all I can to
make this
happen and
know that
you want us
to succeed.
Thanks again
to all of
you who have
already made
your
contribution.
I am feeling
the
cumulative
fatigue from
the 800+
miles that I
have
traveled,
but the
spirit is
good and I
am looking
forward to
what lies
ahead. I
think
getting
closer to
Washington
will
energize me.
Oh well,
it's time to
relax. Peace
be with you.
Tuesday July
17, 2007 -
Day 53 This has
been a great
day! The
feet and
legs are
back into
the rhythm
of the road.
So is my
mind for
that matter.
Four miles
into today's
walk I
stopped at
Patsy's
restaurant
for my
country ham
fix. I
realize that
eating
country ham
and trying
to stay
hydrated is
counterproductive,
but I can't
help it. At
the end of
each day I
have salt
deposits on
my shirt.
Patsy's was
filled with
locals who
were very
interested
in what I
was doing. I
had some
great
conversations
and Patsy
gave me my
breakfast on
the house.
After
bidding
farewell to
these
gracious
Virginians,
I headed
east on
Route 60.
The walking
has been
good on this
stretch of
highway,
with good
level grass
shoulders
(easier on
the feet
than
asphalt).
I stopped
for lunch at
Luca's
Italian
Restaurant
in
Providence
Forge, where
I had some
great
conversations
with more
friendly
locals and
scored a
free lunch -
maybe I
could make a
living as a
hobo. I had
my picture
taken for
the
restaurant's
wall of fame
- at last I
have been
immortalized
in my home
state. Susan
is fixing me
dinner
tonight, so
I have to
say it has
been a fine
day indeed.
Tomorrow
is the final
leg west
into
Richmond
where I turn
north on
Highway 1
and begin my
final
assault on
Washington.
With more
than 800
miles behind
me, it seems
really
close.
That's it
for today -
I'll catch
up with you
tomorrow.
Monday July
16, 2007 -
Day 52 I'm
back on the
road after a
wonderful
long weekend
in Richmond
with Morgan
and my
dearest
friends of
all time,
Steve and
Judy
MacPherson.
They are the
finest
people I
know and I
only hope I
can grow up
to be like
them.
I got an
early start
today and
the walk has
taken me
through
Jamestown
and then
into
Williamsburg.
I went right
through the
campus of
William and
Mary
College,
such a
beautiful
place
steeped in
Colonial
history. Then
I strolled
through the
historic
village. I
hadn't
planned to
do that but
my sense of
direction
got me
heading east
instead of
west for a
couple of
miles (some
things never
change).
When I
finally
found Route
60 I headed
for
Richmond.
The route is
named
"Richmond
Road" with
excellent
signage for
the
directionally
challenged
like me. I
made it as
far as Toano
and called
it a day. My
road angel
today is
Susan
Hudson,
another dear
friend who I
haven't seen
in over 20
years. She
is yet
another one
of my circle
of friends
in this part
of Virginia
who have
been
watching
over me on
this part of
my journey.
I have
really been
spoiled
these past
several
days. After
I get to
Richmond on
Wednesday, I
will be on
my own for
the final
leg into
Washington.
If all goes
as planned,
I will be
walking
through the
front door
at NPR one
week from
Thursday.
It's hard to
believe.
A big
thunderstorm
is rumbling
outside
right now.
I'm glad I
got off the
road when I
did. Time
for my nap
now - back
tomorrow
with more
news from
the road.
Tuesday July
10, 2007 -
Day 46
(posted July
11) The walk
along Route
10 today was
steamy but
scenic,
particularly
through the
town of
Smithfield.
This is home
to probably
the largest
supplier of
ham and
other meat
products in
the
universe. It
is a
beautiful
community
with rolling
hills,
nicely
restored
Victorian
homes and an
impressive
performing
arts center.
It was also
a rural
route today,
taking me
through
farms and
plantations
with little
traffic.
It's hard to
believe I
was only
about six
miles from
the huge
Hampton
Roads urban
sprawl.
I am glad I
took this
roundabout
way around
the city.
The extra
miles are
worth the
effort. I
felt the
same way
about
getting off
17 in NC and
heading back
to a more
coastal
route. The
produce
stands that
I passed on
that
diversion
afforded me
the
opportunity
to feast on
delicious
corn,
strawberries,
peaches and
other
earthly
delights.
This will be
my last blog
until
Monday,
7/16. I am
taking the
next few
days off for
a little
family time.
I will
resume the
hike on
Monday where
I stopped
today -
Bacon's
Castle -
about 10
miles from
the Surry
Ferry to
Jamestown.
Have a great
rest of the
week and
don't worry
about me.
Monday July
9, 2007 -
Day 45
(posted July
10) Sorry I'm
late on this
blog. I had
a great
evening
visiting
with my old
friend Gray
Coughlan and
his wife
Barbara and
forgot about
my posting.
Yesterday I
did a lot of
walking
through a
rather
industrial
section of
Portsmouth.
I am making
a big arc
around the
major
metropolitan
area of
Norfolk,
heading west
to pick up
the lesser
traveled
route 10
which will
take me to
Surry. There
I can catch
the ferry
for a short
hop across
the James
River to
Jamestown.
I can tell I
am in a big
military
area. Route
168 coming
up from NC
is called
Battlefield
Blvd. Then
route 13
running east
and west is
Military
Highway.
This is of
course the
ultimate
place for
American
history,
with
Jamestown
celebrating
its 400th
anniversary.
I think
every kid
raised in
Virginia has
to build the
Jamestown
fort with
toothpicks
in the 3rd
grade. I
know I did.
I'm having
lunch in
Smithfield
right now.
Then it's on
to Bacon's
Castle and
maybe I'll
get close to
Surry if the
temperature
(98 degrees)
doesn't get
me first.
Back at you
later ...
Sunday July
8, 2007 -
Day 44 What a great
day! It was
an easy 20
mile walk
from Moyock
to
Chesapeake,
in spite of
temperatures
in the mid
90s. I felt
good all day
and was able
to maintain
a good pace.
In fact, I
was burning
up the first
five miles
in Virginia
walking on
the
Chesapeake
Expressway
until one of
the Virginia
State
Police's
finest
busted me. I
pointed out
that there
was no
signage
prohibiting
pedestrians,
but that
didn't deter
him from
making me
backtrack a
bit and get
on the
business
route. Oh
well, at
least when
he ran my ID
through the
system my
speeding
convictions
from the 70s
didn't show
up. All in
all a nice
welcome for
my return to
the state.
Part of the
reason that
the day went
so well was
the fact
that at
least every
five miles
or so there
was a 7-11
store (oh
thank
heaven) with
nicely
chilled
Gatorade. I
think my
stretches of
desolation
are history,
at least for
a while. The
Chesapeake
area is a
massive
urban
sprawl. Food
and lodging
is
plentiful,
but so is
traffic and
intersections.
Tonight I
had dinner
with my old
college
friend and
one time
roommate
Fletcher
Fosque. He
and I were
part of a
small group
of students
at
Hampden-Sydney
College who
put an FM
radio
station on
the air
(WWHS-FM,
still going
strong) in
the early
70s. We were
totally
enthralled
with
creating
radio.
Fletcher got
real and
became a
dentist. I
never
outgrew the
infatuation.
It was great
catching up,
since it has
been more
than 25
years since
we last got
together.
Tomorrow I
continue to
weave my way
through the
urban
sprawl,
heading
toward
Portsmouth
and then
Williamsburg.
The big news
here is the
heat wave,
with
forecasts
close to 100
degrees by
mid week -
whoopee!
Hope you had
a great
weekend.
I'll check
back in
tomorrow ...
Saturday July
7, 2007 -
Day 43 It's
hard to
believe that
this is my
last night
in North
Carolina. I
am staying
at Trisha's
Bed and
Breakfast in
Moyock (a
GREAT place
by the way -
I highly
recommend
it). The
Virginia
state line
is only 0.3
mile from
here. The
trek through
NC has been
great - many
experiences
and new
friends -
not unlike
SC and GA.
Some days it
seems like
that first
day on the
road in
Jacksonville
was a
lifetime
ago.
I sounded a
little
whiney
yesterday -
sorry about
that. Ten
hours of
sleep fixed
that
problem.
It's all
good today
and as I
begin
tomorrow by
briefly
dropping to
my knees at
the state
line to kiss
the ground
of the
homeland,
it'll be
even better.
I have a
whole group
of friends
in Virginia
ready to
keep me
moving. I'll
tell you
more about
that later.
Happy
7.7.07. Back
with you
tomorrow ...
Friday July
6, 2007 -
Day 42 Tough
day - hot
weather,
narrow road
with no
shoulder,
tired body.
As to the
last, I
admit I
walked too
far
yesterday
and am
paying for
it today.
The good
news is that
I am
relaxing at
a nice Bed
and
Breakfast in
Barco and
will be
staying in
another one
just 15
miles north
tomorrow in
Moyock, so
hopefully
I'll have a
moderately
restful
weekend.
Tomorrow I
will be
heading due
north again.
I can feel
the pull of
Virginia and
should be
crossing the
state line
on Sunday
morning.
I assure you
that in
spite of my
aches and
pains, the
spirit
remains
strong and I
continue to
have the
time of my
life.
Besides,
once I fall
into the
rhythm of
the road
every day
the physical
dimension is
overshadowed
by the
spiritual
one. And the
people I
meet every
day continue
to bolster
my spirits
with their
kindness and
support of
my
adventure.
Oh well,
it's time
for me to
veg out.
Have a great
weekend -
I'll check
in tomorrow.
Thursday July
5, 2007 -
Day 41 This has
been a good
thinking
day. The
road
conditions
have to be
just right
for such a
day, and
today the
road was
perfect. Hwy
17 through
this part of
NC is
constructed
like an
interstate -
a wide bike
lane for me
and four
wide divided
lanes for
the traffic.
This gives
me the
opportunity
to
concentrate
on something
other than
surviving
oncoming
traffic. So
I did a lot
of thinking
about a wide
variety of
things
(Warning to
staff: I
spent a
great deal
of time
"visioning"
about WUWF -
you know
what that
means.)
All the
thinking
took my mind
off the
walking,
which was
good because
I had to do
a lot of it
to get to
Elizabeth
City. I put
my MP3
player in
the shuffle
mode,
cranked it
up and never
looked back.
All in all,
a good trek
today.
Tonight I am
staying with
Alden
Hoggard and
Patty Davis,
Enid
Sisskin's
in-laws.
They are
great folks
and gave me
a tour of
this
beautiful
waterfront
community.
This
adventure
has been one
giant
history
lesson for
me and I
have
certainly
enjoyed it.
Tomorrow I
am leaving
17 and
heading due
east to the
coast on
Route 158. I
will be
staying in a
little place
called Barco
at a Bed and
Breakfast.
It was
exciting to
see road
signs today
for
Chesapeake,
VA. I am
getting very
close to the
state line
and should
be crossing
over into
the state of
my birth on
Sunday. I
have really
been pushing
the miles to
get to
Virginia, as
I plan to
rendezvous
with my son
Morgan there
toward the
end of next
week and
take a
four-day
weekend off
the road.
Then I will
be charged
up for the
final trek
through the
Old Dominion
into DC.
Thanks as
always to
all of you
who are
supporting
the walk -
soon we will
be
celebrating
together!
Time to call
it a day, so
I'm calling
it ...
