Wednesday July
4, 2007 -
Day 40 I'm
watching the
fireworks
over Edenton
from the
comfort of
my hotel
room. I'm on
the third
floor, so
the view is
great. I
decided to
take it easy
tonight and
rest up for
the long
trek to
Elizabeth
City
tomorrow.
Today's walk
was nice - a
beautiful
Carolina
blue sky,
wide
shoulders
and light
traffic. I
really
enjoyed the
bridge over
the Chowan
River coming
into town. I
met some
nice folks
in town when
I stopped
for lunch.
One family
was very
interested
in what I
was doing
but the
mother
assumed I
must be
affiliated
with some
religious
radio
station. Her
twenty
something
daughter set
her straight
by saying
that NPR was
way more hip
than
Christian
radio.
Hmmm...an ad
campaign
maybe? Nah
- John
Lennon
already
tried that
one.
I am
discovering
that public
radio is
very well
recognized
by most
everyone I
meet. I've
only gotten
one dirty
look the
whole trek
when I
invoked the
name NPR. Of
course I
didn't talk
about my
purpose with
the guy at
the dive in
Pollocksville
with the
rebel flag
t-shirt that
said "If
this offends
you, you
need a
history
lesson".
Come to
think of it,
I didn't
talk to him
about
anything. I
was
interviewed
tonight by
Earline
White with
the Chowan
Herald. She
asked some
great
questions
I hope you
had a great
4th
celebration
- there were
lots of
folks
hanging out
on their
front
porches
along 17
today and
the air was
filled with
the smell of
hot dogs,
burgers and
of course
BBQ. Sweet
dreams ...
Tuesday July
3, 2007 -
Day 39 Cool weather, decent roads and good scenery through the Roanoke River
Wildlife Refuge made for some decent walking today. I covered the 16
miles from Williamston to Windsor in time for a late lunch at a local
dive. The daily special was "home style rabbit" - I passed on it - I'm
holding out for squirrel.
The longer I walk the more I pay attention to my surroundings. I don't
even listen to the MP3 player much on most days. As a result, I am much
more aware of the wildlife scurrying around, trying no doubt to avoid me.
In the early days, I marveled at the quantity of road kill and wondered
why I didn't encounter more live critters - without the earphones on I
now know they are all around me.
Although I have encountered several cyclists on this journey, I have
seen only one other walker - a creepy one at that. I have dubbed him the
"evil ghost hiker" because of the nature of our encounters. The first
time was just north of Beaufort on my "second coming" to Charleston. He
was walking south with traffic, so we practically bumped into one
another. He was wearing a pack but he just didn't look right and I got a
weird vibe from him. He also would not look me in the eyes or speak. I
never felt that he was threatening, but just strange, and soon forgot
about him. Then several days later I met him on the road again just
south of Pawley's Island. Just like last time, he avoided eye contact and
quickly shuffled past me. The strangest thing was that once again he was
walking south, even though I had progressed nearly 150 miles north since
our last encounter. Very strange.
Tomorrow I head for Edenton. I hope to get there in time to enjoy the
4th of July festivities. I hope you have a safe and happy 4th as well ...
Monday July
2, 2007 -
Day 38 First
things
first: Happy
18th
Birthday
Meggie!
Sorry I
can't be
there to
celebrate
with you.
You rock,
girl.
The weather
today in NC
was perfect
for walking
- high 70s
and low
humidity.
The 22 mile
trek from
Washington
to
Williamston
was pretty
lonely, with
nothing but
miles of
corn fields
interrupted
occasionally
by tobacco
fields. It
was a diet
of peanut
butter
crackers and
water until
I hit the
Shamrock
Family
Restaurant
here in
Williamston.
It's hard to
believe I
have been on
the road
almost 40
days. As I
get closer
to the
Virginia
state line,
I feel like
I am almost
on the home
stretch. We
are also on
the home
stretch
toward
raising our
goal of
$25,000 -
the purpose
of this
adventure in
the first
place. With
about $7,500
to go, now
is the time
for you to
make your
pledge (if
you haven't
already).
I am truly
grateful to
those of you
who have
supported my
journey. I
have never
felt alone
out here,
even on the
long days
when the
highway
seems
endless.
Thank you
for that.
Oh well,
time to call
it a night.
The road
awaits me in
the morning
...
Sunday July
1, 2007 -
Day 37 I had a
great day
off
yesterday in
New Bern,
resting my
feet and
continuing
my visit
with the
Cottons.
They dropped
me off back
in Vanceboro
this morning
and I
finished my
walk into
Washington,
NC - the
"original"
Washington,
founded in
1776. Thanks
to a good
rain last
night and
overcast
skies today,
the
temperature
stayed in
the low 80s,
a refreshing
change. The
walking was
good and I
made it to
Washington
early in the
afternoon.
That gave me
an
opportunity
to look
around this
beautiful
historic
town.
I spent some
time
yesterday
plotting the
rest of my
journey.
When I hit
Elizabeth
City in a
few days, I
am going to
veer off
Route 17 and
head due
east toward
the coast.
This coastal
route will
add at least
one extra
day of
walking, but
will allow
me to avoid
going
straight
through the
middle of
the Dismal
Swamp. A
good choice
I think.
If the next
two days go
as planned,
I will be
celebrating
the 4th in
Edenton. And
if the rest
of the
journey goes
as well, I
should
arrive at
NPR on July
26 - exactly
two months
after
leaving
Jacksonville.
Although
there are
many
stretches of
17 in NC
without
shoulders to
walk on,
there are
more
dwellings
and points
of interest
on the long
stretches
between
towns than I
found in SC
and GA.
People
everywhere
continue to
express a
genuine
interest in
what I am
doing and a
sincere
willingness
to help keep
me going. I
guess the
backpack and
other
accessories
really break
down the
barriers to
random acts
of kindness.
All the more
reason to
drop out of
the routine
once in a
while and do
something
adventurous.
I'm already
planning the
next one.
I hope your
weekend was
as good as
mine, but I
doubt it.
Back at you
tomorrow ...
Friday June
29, 2007 -
Day 35 -
Night Sorry
for getting
behind in my
blogging.
Excessive
moisture
(rain,
sweat, bath
water, etc)
apparently
killed my
BlackBerry
yesterday,
cutting me
off from the
world
temporarily.
Thanks to
the great
folks at
Alltel here
in New Bern,
I now have a
new BB
(which I
promise to
treat
better). It
is
definitely
my lifeline
on the road.
I arrived
in New Bern
on Thursday
afternoon
and was
rescued from
the heat by
Sylvia
Cotton. She
and her
husband
Larry have
been hosting
my visit to
this
historic
city. Sylvia
was a
roommate of
Hilda Jones
at UNC.
Hilda is
still
working her
magic,
watching out
for me as I
travel
through her
home state.
Another
reason why I
have been
remiss in my
blogging is
because I am
having such
a great time
getting to
know these
great folks.
They are
both
retired, but
Larry is
teaching
math at the
community
college. He
uses his
engineering
and design
skills in
pursuit of
his passion
- creating
music and
amazing
inventions.
There are
pictures of
several of
his
creations
(the
marimba, CD
players, and
wildly
imaginative
clocks)
posted in
the hike
photo
gallery. His
studio is
fascinating,
as is he. I
could talk
to he and
Sylvia for
hours -- and
have been!
Sylvia is
a great cook
and I have
been
thoroughly
enjoying
lots of good
dining.
Today I
walked 16
miles to
Vanceboro,
where Larry
and Sylvia
picked me up
and brought
me back for
another
evening with
them. They
have
graciously
invited me
to take
tomorrow off
the road and
relax in New
Bern. I am
looking
forward to
the down
time and
more
visiting. On
Sunday they
will drop me
off back in
Vanceboro,
where I will
head for
Washington,
NC.
My time
with the
Cottons has
been
wonderful. I
have made
friends with
so many
fascinating
people on
this
journey,
friendships
that I know
will
continue
long after
my time on
the road is
just a
memory. I
continue to
enjoy the
journey and
realize that
it rather
than the
destination
is what
matters. The
relationships
I am
developing
and the
appreciation
of the good
people who
make up this
country will
last a
lifetime.
This is such
a freeing
experience
-- I would
recommend it
to anyone.
It's late
- time to
get some
sleep. I'm
off line
tomorrow,
but will be
back with
the next
installment
on Sunday.
Peace out
...
Wednesday June
27, 2007 -
Day 33 It has
been another
great day on
the road. I
prefer days
like this
when I have
no idea what
the road
will bring
or where I
will end up.
Route 17
narrows to
two lanes
and
virtually no
shoulder
north of
Jacksonville,
so I really
had to pay
attention to
oncoming
traffic.
Twice I had
to duck into
the woods to
avoid huge
mowing
machines
that
extended
about 10
feet beyond
the lane.
The first 16
miles today
was pretty
desolate.
The scenery
was okay,
but no hint
of
civilization.
After that I
hit
Maysville
just in time
for lunch. I
mentioned to
the sweet
young
waitress
that I was
going to
stay at the
local
campground.
She
suggested I
walk 8 more
miles to
Pollocksville
and stay at
the motel
she and her
husband
frequented
when they
were
dating. Dating?
All right -
a "hot
sheet"
motel. Why
not, I
thought. Might
get a good
deal on the
hourly
rate. Bad
move - I
should have
opted for
the tent.
This place
makes a
Patel Palace
look like a
5-star
resort. It's
all good,
though - a
part of the
adventure.
About 5
miles into
the walk
this
morning, my
left foot
had a
blowout of
major
proportion. I
was into my
stride when
suddenly as
my left foot
came down I
experienced
a huge jolt
of pain. It
felt like
the bottom
of my foot
had just
been ripped
off.
Actually,
that was
pretty close
to the
truth.
A little
background:
Over the
last few
weeks, my
left foot
(the whiner)
has
developed
multiple
generations
of blisters.
These
blisters, in
their
various
stages of
maturity
have more or
less
congealed
into an area
about 2x3
inches. Each
day I
carefully
create a
mosaic of
moleskin and
blister
patches to
hold it all
together.
Today, for
whatever
reason, my
mosaic
shifted and
took every
piece of
skin off.
Ouch! Since
I was in the
middle of
nowhere, all
I could do
was clean it
up as best
as possible,
slather on
the
Neosporin
and put on a
clean sock.
It was
pretty
sensitive
for a while,
but before I
knew it the
foot was
pain free.
Yahoo! It's
like I have
a clean
slate. Call
it
spontaneous
surgery, but
I'm digging
the results.
It's all
good. I am
looking
forward to
the
relatively
short (13
miles) walk
into New
Bern
tomorrow.
It's a city
I have
always
wanted to
visit. I'll
check back
in with you
from there.
Tuesday June
26, 2007 -
Day 32 I have
enjoyed my
day off the
road here in
Jacksonville.
I have
probably
walked five
miles around
town, but
without the
backpack I
blend in
with the
normal
population.
I couldn't
make myself
do much
resting. My
feet are
remarkably
unaffected
by the long
walk
yesterday.
Blisters
seem to
follow a
cyclical
pattern, so
I will enjoy
this period
of relative
calm.
I picked up
some
supplies,
saw a movie
and ate a
great steak
dinner. In
the morning
I expect to
be well
rested and
ready to
begin the
next leg
toward New
Bern. It's
another long
unpopulated
stretch, so
it will be
another
opportunity
for
unexpected
encounters
with caring
people.
The days are
consistently
hotter now
than when
the journey
began. I
predict that
my current
pair of
shoes will
be wrecked
far sooner
than the
last pair.
Walking on
the hot
asphalt is a
bit like
dancing on a
griddle
(although
those who
know me know
I don't
dance on
anything).
And I might
as well just
dump water
on my head
given the
speed at
which it
goes through
my system.
Needless to
say, the
sweat glands
are working
overtime. And
the amazing
thing is
that I have
lost very
little
weight. I
can envision
the
testimonial
now: "I
walked 500
miles and
lost a
whopping
SEVEN
pounds!"
Big deal -
a brief
stomach
virus can
get better
results than
that with
far less
effort. I do
feel more
physically
fit than I
have in my
entire life.
I can
identify
every major
muscle group
in my legs
and I
guarantee
you there is
zero percent
fat in those
hard working
appendages.
This
adventure is
good for the
body as well
as the
spirit.
I know I
said I
wouldn't
blog today,
but I
couldn't
resist - I
feel too
good and
besides,
this is your
journey too.
Thank you
for keeping
up with me -
it means
more to me
than you
know. Peace
be with
you...
Monday June
25, 2007 -
Day 31 -
Night Stop After
taking the
day off
yesterday, I
made up for
it today by
walking 30
miles to
Jacksonville,
NC. I
wanted to
get here so
I could
celebrate
walking from
JAX to JAX
in one
month.
The walking
was pretty
easy - Route
17 in this
area has
bike lanes
and wide
shoulders
and is well
maintained.
It's not a
particularly
interesting
stretch but
good for
making time.
The feet
were mostly
cooperative
so I was
able to hit
my full
stride again
for the
first time
in several
days (no
more speed
limping).
I had a
backup plan
in the event
my feet
might fail
me. During
lunch today
at Yogi's
Grille in
Holly Ridge,
I met a
couple from
Jacksonville
who agreed
to be on
standby to
give me a
lift to a
motel and
then back to
the road
tomorrow if
needed. They
also bought
me lunch.
Nice people
are
everywhere -
just be open
to their
kindness and
practice it
in turn.
As I walked
the many
miles
alongside
Camp
Lejeune, I
was
entertained
by the
paratroopers
who were
practicing
their
maneuvers -
dozens of
them leaping
from a large
lumbering
plane that
kept
circling the
area. I did
get to walk
in a gentle
rain shower
for about
three hours.
It was nice,
as it cooled
things off a
bit.
I am still
somewhat
tired from
all the
socializing
I did over
the weekend,
so I am
going into a
self-imposed
exile
tomorrow to
recharge.
After my
morning
report with
John
Richardson,
I am going
to cease all
communication
until
Wednesday
morning. I
will remain
in
Jacksonville
until then
as well.
Saturday June
23, 2007 -
Day 29 -
Night Stop Tonight
I am just
north of
Wilmington,
staying in
the
beautiful
home of Paul
and
Elizabeth
Hosier. Paul
is the
Provost at
UNC-Wilmington
and a
colleague of
my boss John
Cavanaugh.
Paul and
Elizabeth's
home is in a
beautiful
rural
development
with an
abundance of
woodlands
and a
beautiful
salt marsh
filled with
all sorts of
wildlife.
Paul is a
seasoned AT
hiker, so we
have enjoyed
sharing
notes on
hiking. He
and
Elizabeth
are such
gracious
people.
Yesterday I
made the
trek from
Kure Beach
to
Wilmington,
winding up
at the end
of a long
day at the
home of Ann
Cameron
Shuman, the
last of my
trilogy of
Hilda
relatives.
Ann was the
perfect
hostess and
entertained
me with
family
stories and
a history
lesson about
this
wonderful
city. The
lesson
continued
this morning
with a tour
of
Wilmington's
historic
district.
What a
fascinating
place -
there are
probably
more ghosts
per capita
here than
anywhere -
most linked
to pirates,
blockade
runners and
others
associated
with this
busy coastal
seaport.
I learned
about an
interesting
solution to
an 18th
century
problem of
accidentally
burying
people who
were not
actually
dead but
temporarily
catatonic.
This was
before the
days of
embalming
obviously.
In order to
minimize the
number of
folks dying
AFTER
burial, they
began the
practice of
tying a
string to
one of the
deceased's
fingers,
running the
string
through a
small hole
in the
casket and
up to the
surface
above. There
it was
attached to
a small
bell. The
bell would
stay in
place for
three days,
watched by
someone
around the
clock. If
the alleged
deceased
awoke and
wiggled his
finger
within the
three-day
time period,
he would be
dug up and
rescued.
This
practice led
to the
expression
"saved by
the bell" -
did you know
that? I
didn't think
so. Ann had
many similar
stories and
kept me
thoroughly
entertained.
What a
delightful
lady!
Today I
actually
walked to
Hampstead,
about 15
miles north
of
Wilmington.
My feet are
telling me
to take a
day of rest,
so tomorrow
I will
return to
Wilmington
and spend
another
evening at
Ann's home.
I will
listen to my
feet, as I
think I have
been
covering too
many miles
too fast (I
am already 6
days ahead
of
schedule).
Besides, Ann
has a great
soaking tub
(as do Paul
and
Elizabeth -
I'm soaking
as I blog -
hope I don't
drop the
Blackberry).
Unless my
day of 'R
and R' puts
me in a
reflective
mood, I will
most likely
not blog
tomorrow.
Have a great
weekend and
I'll catch
up with you
on Monday.
Peace be
with you ...
Friday June
22, 2007 -
Day 28 -
Morning I met so
many
wonderful
people and
had such a
great time
visiting
yesterday
that I never
found time
to blog -
sorry about
that.
I began the
day by
bidding
farewell to
Supply,
which isn't
actually a
place but
rather the
center of a
collection
of tiny
places, each
with their
own
identities.
Supply is
basically
the post
office. I
took Route
211 which
runs pretty
much due
east over to
Southport,
where I met
up with
Cissy and
Buck Kitchin.
Buck is a
cousin of
Hilda Jones,
one of
several that
I will be
seeing in
this part of
North
Carollina.
They have a
beautiful
home in
Southport's
historic
district
overlooking
the Cape
Fear River,
which leads
into the
port of
Wilmington.
We had lunch
at the Yacht
Basin
Provision
Company with
friends Ben
and Gibby
Wilson. Coastal
Living
Magazine
named it one
of the best
"coastal
dives" and
it lives up
to its
reputation.
The food was
great and
the
atmosphere
very "divey".
My only
regret is
that I did
not get to
see the
Egret who
regularly
visits,
walking
through the
restaurant
in search of
handouts.
After a tour
of the area,
I jumped on
the Fort
Fisher ferry
for a quick
ride over to
Kure Beach.
At Kure
Beach I was
greeted by
Mararuth and
Joe Capell
(more Hilda
cousins) and
spent the
night in
their lovely
home
overlooking
the
Atlantic.
They had a
house full
of friends
celebrating
the birthday
of Adele-
Cox Cines.
She and her
husband
Douglas were
joined by
friends
Barry and
Sondra
Nelder, Don
and Phyllis
Mojzis, and
Jean
Stewart.
Overseeing
the
activities
was the
grand
matriarch
Mararuth Cox
- a lovely
lady indeed!
What a
wonderful
evening of
great
Southern
food and
conversation.
I so enjoyed
being a part
of this
family
gathering,
as I think
that is what
I miss most
during my
trek.
The NBC
television
station in
Wilmington
interviewed
me on the
road on
Wednesday,
so yesterday
was "honk
and wave"
day all
along my
route.
People are
so
encouraging
and just
plain nice.
This journey
continues to
assure me
that the
American
people are
still the
best in the
world.
The only
disturbing
thing to me
along our
great
Atlantic
coast (and
all of our
coastal
communities
for that
matter) is
the impact
that
development
is having on
our fishing
industry.
Shrimpers
and other
commercial
fishermen
are being
forced out
of business
as the
waterfront
is being
taken over
by
residential
developers.
I was
shocked to
learn that
the majority
of the
seafood
served in
Calabash is
imported -
good grief
Mrs.
Calabash!
Even worse
is the fact
that America
is now
reliant on
the rest of
the world
for our
food.
Something is
wrong with
this
picture.
Okay, I'll
get off my
soap box
now. I do
know that
when I ate
shrimp with
my new
friends the
Doshers,
what I was
eating was
locally
caught -
Dean could
attest to
that.
As I have
been
blogging
this
morning, I
have been
soaking my
feet in the
Epsom salts
so kindly
supplied by
Mararuth and
Joe. Ahhhh
...
Oh well, the
road is
calling and
Wilmington
looms on the
horizon
about 22
miles ahead.
I'll catch
up with you
later ...
Wednesday June
20, 2007 -
Day 26 -
Night Tonight
I am staying
with Dean
and Glenda
Dosher,
parents of
Craig Dosher
who is a
faculty
member in
the UWF
Department
of History.
They have
spoiled me
big time.
Their house,
hand crafted
by Dean, is
beautiful.
Built in a
style
reflecting
the heritage
of this
area, Dean's
detail work
is amazing.
Every part
of the house
is solid
wood -
floors,
walls,
ceilings -
using
individual
planks of
wood (no
plywood or
sheet
paneling
here), each
piece
carefully
crafted by
hand.
Dean's
craftsmanship
is matched
by Glenda's
cooking -
delicious
fresh shrimp
with all the
country
fixin's,
including
butter
beans, pan
fried corn
(yum),
organically
grown
tomatoes and
cukes right
out of the
garden out
back, corn
bread, and a
decadent
turtle pie
for dessert.
Everything
was
delicious!
Dean also
gave me a
tour of the
area and its
interesting
history.
Meeting
folks like
this and
seeing the
really
important
features of
a community
through the
eyes of
locals is
what this
trip is all
about, and
I'm loving
it.
I had
another
interesting
encounter
today as
well. As I
walked into
Supply, I
stopped at a
gas station
to get a
drink and
call the
Doshers for
directions
to their
house. As
I'm standing
there, this
Beamer pulls
up, driven
by Doug
Jones, one
of my
college room
mates who I
haven't seen
in 32
years. It
turns out he
has been
following my blogs online
and was
vacationing
in the area
and decided
to find me
on the road.
He ended up
giving me a
ride to the
Dosher
house. We
caught up on
our lives
since
Hampden-Sydney,
and then he
was gone. It
was great to
see him
after all
these years.
Tomorrow
I head down
Hwy 211 to
Southport
for a short
visit and
then I hop
the ferry
across the
Cape Fear
River to
Fort Fisher
for the
night.
I close
with a thank
you tonight
to my nephew
Kris Perry,
who is
supporting
this leg of
the journey
in memory of
the spirit
of Betty
Oliver. As I
swelter in
the hot and
humid South,
he battles
frostbite at
his research
base in the
South Pole.
I have to
get some
sleep -
catch up
with you
tomorrow ...
Tuesday June
19, 2007 -
Day 25 -
Night I'm
spending my
first night
in North
Carolina
camping and
glad of
it. After
two days of
walking
through the
noise and
congestion
of the
Myrtle Beach
strip, I
need to get
back into
the rhythm
of the open
road. The
walking was
hard today.
It has been
extremely
hot and
humid and my
whiney left
foot has
complained
loudly. It
has been a
good
adventure
nonetheless.
After
crossing
over into
NC, I
immediately
came upon
Calabash. They
bill
themselves
as NC's
"Seafood
Capital" and
indeed the
eating is
good. I
visited one
of the
oldest and
most
recommended
by locals
restaurant,
Ella's. If
you are old
enough to
remember the
late
comedian
Jimmy
Durante, you
will no
doubt recall
the way he
always ended
a
performance
by saying
"And good
night Mrs.
Calabash,
wherever you
may be".
Ella
Calabash was
the woman he
was
referring
to, as he
was one of
the many
folks who
favored her
establishment.
I have
pitched my
tent at the
Hughes
Family
Campground
on the
Calabash
River at
Sunset
Beach. They
said they
had never
had a walker
before, but
would give
me a tent
site for the
special
biker (as in
Harley) rate
of $8.00.
Needless to
say I jumped
at that
deal,
especially
after being
gouged the
last two
nights
staying on
the MB
strip.
In the
morning I
head for
Supply. For
the first
six miles, I
will be
walking on a
small beach
road that
isn't even
on the map
(light blue
highway
perhaps?).
Ah, solitude
- I can't
wait to get
back into
the
rhythm. I'll
check back
with you
tomorrow. Until
then, life
on the road
is good. To
paraphrase
Robert
Frost, "I
have taken
the road
less
traveled,
and I am all
the better
for it."
Goodnight
Mrs.
Calabash ...
Tuesday
June 19,
2007 - Day
25 - Noon As I
enjoy my
last SC meal
at the
Little River
Diner
(another
great retro
restaurant),
I want to
thank once
again the
many people
who are
supporting
the
cause. The
cause, or
"purpose" of
my journey
is to raise
money for
WUWF. In
celebration
of my 25th
anniversary
with WUWF, I
set a goal
of $25,000.
I am pleased
to report
that as of
today we
have raised
a little
more than
$16,000 -
yahoo! THANK
YOU!
You can
click on the
link to the
right to see
the list of
individuals
who have
made
contributions. If
you have
enjoyed
following
along and
want to add
your name to
the list,
you know
what to
do. Like the
blue
highways,
public radio
reaches into
local
communities,
providing a
quality
public
service that
much of the
mainstream
media has
decided to
by-pass. Let's
keep it
strong.
Thank
those of you
who have
been
contacting
our
corporate
sponsors and
showing your
appreciation. We
are getting
very
positive
feedback
from them.
Okay, this
has been my
"pledge
break" - now
I'm ready to
get back on
the road and
live up to
my end of
the
bargain. Remember,
I am using
my vacation
time for
this and
covering all
of my
expenses. 100
percent of
your
contribution
goes to
WUWF. Let's
hit that
goal.
THANK YOU
- I look
forward to
blogging you
tonight from
somewhere in
North
Carolina ...
Monday
June 18,
2007 - Day
24 - Night The cool
temperatures
and good
tail winds I
have enjoyed
for several
days gave
way to high
heat and
humidity
today. The
walking was
pretty easy
except for
the new
blister I
have
developed on
my whiney
left foot -
the down
side of
adjusting to
new shoes -
but the
benefits of
better
cushioning
and support
is well
worth it.
I am
learning my
Myrtle Beach
geography. Last night I
thought I
was in North
Myrtle
Beach, but
actually I
was on the
north side
of MB
proper. The
area they
call North
MB is what I
walked
through
today.
The main
drag of MB
runs for
about 30
miles, and
believe me
there is no
shortage of
places to
eat (or do
anything
else for
that
matter). I
really
wanted to
have lunch
at a dive
named
"Buddha's
Grill and
Lounge," but
it was
closed. Now
I'll never
know the
answer to
that great
spiritual
question
"What Would
Buddha
Grill?"
Tofu I
imagine. It
is bike week
here, so the
whole place
has a sort
of Daytona
feel to it.
Given the
number of
Putt Putt
golf courses
on the
strip, I bet
every person
who lives
here could
have their
own hole. If
they shut
them all
down, it
would
probably
cause the
world market
for outdoor
carpet to
crash.
Tonight I am
only 6 miles
from the
North
Carolina
state line.
That means
tonight is
my last in
South
Carolina.
What a
wonderful
time I've
had. I am
excited
about having
two states
behind me
and two to
go.
I'm about
56 miles
from
Wilmington,
the next
major
destination. I
hope to be
there by the
end of the
week, which
will also
mark the end
of the
fourth week
of my
journey.
Time to
shut down
the
Blackberry,
but not
without
wishing Ray
and Hilda
Jones a
happy 41st
wedding
anniversary
today! Peace
out ...
Sunday
June 17,
2007 - Day
23 - Night I'm back
on the road
after a
wonderful
father's day
weekend on
Pawleys
Island. I
have many
people to
thank: Eleanor
and Matt
Currin for
inviting me
to stay in
Eleanor's
family
home. Eleanor's
sister Mary
and daughter
Ann Marie
Johnson for
being so
gracious and
making my
stay such a
treat. Hilda
and Ray
Jones for
driving all
the way from
Pensacola to
deliver a
much needed
fresh pair
of shoes AND
surprising
me with a
stowaway -
my sweet
daughter
Megan - what
a great
father's day
present!
Needless
to say, I
have been
enjoying
myself. We
toured the
island and
particularly
enjoyed
visiting the
Lachicotte's
18th century
beach house
- an amazing
structure
that has
withstood
many
hurricanes.
Both the
beach house
and the one
in town are
testaments
to a large
loving
family with
generations
of memories
and
traditions -
talk about
the real
America,
this is it!
I was
interviewed
by Charles
Swenson,
editor of
the Coastal
Observer, on
Saturday. Then
today he
joined us
for the
first 5
miles of the
walk and I
do mean
"us". I felt
very
Gump-like
today with
my
"entourage"
consisting
of Charles,
Hilda and
Ray, and
their golden
retriever
Chaucer. I
think
passing
motorists
thought we
were some
sort of
parade. Hilda
and Ray
walked with
me for a
little more
than 7
miles, then
we stopped
for
lunch. After
lunch, we
said our
farewells
(no more
Megan hugs
for a long
while -
sigh) and
headed in
opposite
directions. I
was so
charged up
after being
with them
(and having
new shoes!)
that I kept
walking
until I
reached
North Myrtle
Beach - a
total
distance of
25 miles. My
time in
South
Carolina is
growing
short. I
will always
remember the
kindness of
the people
here and the
many new
friends I
have made.
Of course I
feel the
same way
about
Georgia now
and will no
doubt have
similar
great luck
in North
Carolina,
now looming
on the
horizon.
I can't
believe I'm
into my
fourth week
on the road
- so much
has already
happened and
there is
still so
much
ahead. Life
is good
indeed. We'll
see what
tomorrow
brings -
stay tuned.
Friday
June 15,
2007 - Day
21 - Night The 13
mile walk
from
Georgetown
to Pawleys
Island today
was a breeze
- in fact
the strong
breeze
coming off
the Atlantic
together
with an
overcast sky
has kept the
temperature
in the low
70s.
Thanks to
my great
friend and
spiritual
advisor the
Reverend
Canon Dr.
Matt Currin
and his
wonderful
wife
Eleanor, I
have a
terrific
place to
stay here. I
am staying
in Eleanor's
family home
- that being
the
Lachicotte
family, one
of, if not the
most
prominent of
the Pawleys
Island
families. Think
Kennedys and
Martha's
Vineyard and
you get the
picture. Anyway,
this is
entirely too
special for
a one
nighter.
I'm going
to stay
until
Sunday,
catch the
early
service at
Holy Cross
Episcopal
Church
(whose
Assistant
Rector
Callie
Perkins
stopped on
the road
this morning
to greet me
as I came
into town),
and then
head for
Myrtle
Beach.
As I
mentioned
yesterday,
Hilda and
Ray Jones
are on the
way with
fresh
supplies. I
will enjoy
spending the
weekend with
them and
giving my
feet some
much
deserved
rest. Have a
great
weekend ...
