Tuesday, May 29th.

I left off watching the radar.  I almost re-upped my room, but the weather reports insisted, despite the radar which showed a huge storm system to the southwest, that the afternoon would be sunny.  It was nearly noon when I left the hotel.  A few drops fell, but not even enough to wet the pavement.  

My first stop was to fill my Camelbak with water, then I headed to the post office.  I mailed about 12-13 pounds of clothes, shoes, etc., back to Cody.  Makes packing easier, and Panda weighs that much less.  At the post office I asked where a good place was for lunch, and was directed to Bluto’s.

So there I went, and after a few minutes my phone rang; it was my love.  He called to tell me he was being sent to an orthopedic specialist about his knee.  Still black and blue, still sore.  Poor dear.  So while we’re chatting on the phone, in a fairly empty place, a man sits right next to me, making my private conversation, um, a bit awkward.

When I hung up, the man started right in, would I do a brief interview with him for the local paper?  Someone at the post office called the paper about me.  So I did talk with him a few minutes, answering whatever he asked, giving him just a brief overview I guess you’d call it.  He said he’d email the article to me when it came out. 

I was unusually tired, as happens sometimes.  I was trying to get to a campground about 17 miles away, but after several miles of walking I knew I didn’t have the time nor energy for it.  I called around and found another camp just 3 miles up the road, giving me yet another short day.

I’m at a place called Lazy J’s RV Resort.  For a large portion of the day I walked along a rails-to-trails route called the North Country Inland Trail.  it’s not paved, but rather has a  very fine gravel that’s easy to traverse with Panda.  Not many people on it during the weekdays, just an occasional bicyclist.  So it’s a pleasant walk, and I plan to stay on it as long as I can.  It cuts through towns, so I can hop off to eat or get a drink, and get back on it, and it parallels a major route (20) that I’m not allowed on.

I hope to get in more miles tomorrow.  The lady here at the campground bent the rules a bit and let me hang a hammock (it says specifically not to) but I explained I had tree-saver straps, so she allowed it.  I sleep better in it.

Tomorrow is supposed to be only in the 70’s so that will make for a much more pleasant walk, than the near-100 degrees I walked in yesterday, and the mid eighties today.

Enjoying a campfire, feeling a bit lonely tonight.  I have only seen one other person at this campground besides the owner.  The RVs must be seasonal campers, no one’s in them I guess.  I am way at the other end of the campground, alone. 

My sweet has been on my mind all day.  I’m so concerned about his knee.  He’s a very strong, tough man, but I hate to see him slowed down at all.

I have a lot of doubts, too.  I am not making good time, I’m a few weeks behind schedule, and when I get days like yesterday and today, when I only accomplish half the mileage I should, it only serves to stress me out and get me further behind.

I don’t know if I’ll make it to Washington before it gets cold at this rate.  I know if I get into Montana and it gets too late I can drop down into Cody, and perhaps finish my walk in the Spring, but I’m hoping I start making better time.  I’m going to enjoy my campfire, get to sleep early and try to get up and out of here early so I’ll have enough hours for a 25 mile day tomorrow.

May 30, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 4 Comments

Hot weather, Donkeys, New Shoes

I left off at Ridge Ranch Campground. 

I contacted a man I’ve known from online donkey-owner lists for 15 years. I walked to Windham for lunch, and he drove down from Twinsburg to meet me.  We spent the day together.  We went to a buffet, he wanted lunch, then we shopped for shoes.  I bought a $100 pair this time, made by Brooks, at a friends recommendation. So far they are working out.

Then we went to Jim’s place, a rambling Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home on 30 acres.  Jim has 7 mini donkeys and 3 mammoth ones, all sweet moochers.  Throckmorton is his driving and show donkey who’s allowed special privileges, like being loose in the yard to graze. At some point I got very tired and took a short nap on the couch.  Jim had already made plans for us to go eat at a Mongolian buffet with some of his horse loving friends.

So at dinner we did that, and I met some of his friends.  IN the evening I stayed over, and in the morning, after enjoying a good homemade Belgian waffle,Jim drove me over Seven Hills, a series of steep roller coaster hills on the 303.

From there, Lagrange, I walked to the town of Wakeman. It was late afternoon when I arrived, and on my GPS a place called Crossroads was the only restaurant in the area, so I detoured a mile or so to it.  My GPS proved to be wrong in a couple matters, because there WERE other places, and it also told me I had arrived.. when I was staring at a field of wheat.

Anyway, I wheeled Panda inside, and had a sandwich and a Heineken, and talked to the waitress.  I had walked about 15 miles that day, and the closest hotels were in Norwalk, another 15 miles up the road, give or take.  I figured I could still make it to Norwalk if I ate and rested a few.  The waitress, however, asked a man at the other end of the bar if he’d put me up, and he agreed to.  So I decided I’d just do that.

Paul, the man I stayed with, is a cancer survivor. He was a pleasant man who described himself as an “old hippie”.  He had a beautiful home that he’d refurbished, and I stayed in comfort.  In the morning, he and I walked back to Crossroads where he was doing some gardeneing and lawn work for them, and I enjoyed breakfast before heading out in the very hot day to Norwalk.

I planned a short day, just to Norwalk, because of record high heat.  My weather report on my phone said it was 98 degrees, and muggy. Pretty miserable, the only saving thing was an occasional breeze.

Yesterday morning the man I loved sent me a simple text saying “going to have to have it looked at”.  He was referring to his knee, which had been kicked by a horse.  He never goes to the doctor, so his pain and injury must be bad for him to go.   This has been weighing heavily on my mind, .. I feel guilty for being away from Cody when he could use my help. 

So I’m in a hotel in Milan, Ohio, watching the radar.  A red flashing “glob” is headed straight for this town.  Last night I removed everything from both packs and threw some stuff away, and the rest I put into a bag, ready to be mailed back to Cody.  Should lighten my load by 20 or more pounds, things I haven’t used, don’t need, cool weather clothes, etc. I’m not looking forward to paying to ship it, but will be glad to have a lighter load, once I get to a post office.

I feel anxious, the next camping place is 21 miles, it’s hot muggy, stormy, and I guess I’m gonna have to go out in it.

So I have to get ready.. all for now.

May 29, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

Friday, May 25th

More generosity came my way. A man who said his name was “Just Ed” gave me $40.  He had seen me walking, and flagged me down.  A few miles up the road Ed flagged me down AGAIN, and gave me ANOTHEr $40, saying his wife called him a “cheapskate” for “only giving me $40”!  Another man ALSO gave me $40 at a bar, covered my meal, and a third one gave me a ride to my hotel.

These shoes make my feet hurt… so (sigh) going to have to get ANOTHER pair soon.

I can’t write long, I am at Ridge Ranch Campground near Newton Falls, Ohio, and have no power.

I am feeling very out of sorts, lonely, sad, anxious,, depressed. It took me nearly 2 months to do 1/4 of the trip, I am way behind schedule..

Need to conserve power so I can charge my phone off the computer.  It has all my GPS and mapping and stuff in it.

May 25, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 8 Comments

Amendment, May 23rd

Late afternoon, I walked a half a mile back to a bar and grill called Combine Brothers, here in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.  Neat place, Italian food.  More than I could afford.  I had $4 in the bank and $40 in cash.  The pasta meal, which had a hugely generous portion, was $9.95.  My Heineken was $3.25.  Anyway, I decided, since I had to eat, and didn’t have lunch, and it was enough for two meals, and came with a salad… I rationalized it was okay.  Plus, it was the only place close to the hotel.

Anyway, being as broke as I was, I brought my sketchbook along, hoping to make $20 or so, to cover my meal.  I sketched a man sitting a couple seats down, and somehow ended up in conversation with him.  His name was Antonio, and he was a retired mall developer.  He not only paid for my meal, he handed me a $100 bill when he left!  I was in shock!  I gave him a big hug and thanked him.  I can’t believe how many times people have been so incredibly generous to me.

I had sent my ex an email a couple hours before, telling him I was pretty broke, and while I was at the restaurant, I sent him one back saying not to worry, I was okay now.  He deposited monmey in my account anyway.  Again.

Another man sat where Antonio had been.  I drew him as well.  We ended up talking; turns out he was staying at a hotel a half mile south of mine.  He invited me to come sit in the salt water hot tub a while, and, since I’m sore, I accepted.  He drove me to Walgreens so I could buy bandaids, which HE bought, and I changed and sat in the hot bubbling hot tub at the brand new hotel.  Really nice.  I took a dunk or two in the pool as well.  I dried off, we had a beer, and he took me back to my hotel.  Miguel was another of the awesome people I have met on my awesome trip.

I can’t believe generosity of people, and the randomness that I’ve met them.  Any other moment or circumstance and I may not have met either one.  I will sleep better tonight for two reasons, I won’t have money worries, and I soaked in a hot tub.

I was going to upload photos today, I may try in the morning… but the hot tub made me sleepy.

Good night.

May 24, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 3 Comments

But

My GPS’s “odometer” turned over 800 miles yesterday.  I have walked past mile after mile of dense woods, open fields, Victorian or Colonial homesteads, dairy, beef, horse or crop farms, suburbs.  I have passed prisitine landscaped yards, and abandoned barns and shacks, over run with weeds and vines. I have been on the outskirts of large towns, and walked the main streets of small ones.

I have met so many nice people, many of whom I mentioned on the entries of the blog. I have talked to countless others, also all nice, who’ve asked about Panda and my trek.  I have stayed in fancy homes, modest homes, a camper.  I’ve slept in beds and couches, my tent, my hammock, my sleeping bag on the ground.  So many people have bought me a beer, a meal, handed me money, given me their number, a kind word, an atta girl.  People see Panda’s sign while I walk and honk and wave.  People who have passed me on the roads have pulled over and asked what the heck I’m doing.

I’ve been hot, and it’s getting hotter, I’ve been cold, chilly, it’s been muggy, windy, frosty.  I’ve gotten stuck in a severe storm cell, and gotten soaked from rain.

I’ve run out of water, and gotten some from spigots on buildings. There are days when I feel terribly tired, when my stomach acts up, when my legs cramp. I’ve had countless blisters, and have some still.

There are days when I feel very alone, and lonely. There are times when I wonder what the hell am I doing?  There are days when I feel so full of love and happiness, when I realize I am one of the rare people who was able to make their dream come true, when I walk along smiling like an idiot, waving at the passing cars.

My face and shoulders are a deep brown from the sun. My legs are getting stronger, I’ve lost weight. Although I try to shower (or bathe somehow) every morning, and groom, and put on deodorant and makeup, by midday I have sweated it all off, I have my hair pulled up in a jaw clip, I squint from the sun.  I often have a bandana around my head or neck.  I keep another one wet with water from my pack, to wipe myself down with to stay cool. In spite of smelling like a locker room by mid day, and being burned and tan and having a bad hair day every day, I feel stronger and sexier than I ever have.

Despite all this, despite the so many, many riches I have seen, been given, discovered; despite the miles and miles I have walked, despite so many deep realizations I have had, about the world, about myself, about life, about others, a hole remains in my soul.

The sun cannot bleach it away, the rain cannot wash it away, I cannot walk away from it. MIles of silent walking, hearing only the slapping of my shoes onto the shoulder of the road don’t take me away from it.  MIles of walking with my iPod on loud, drowning out thoughts and noises and life might as well be walked in a circle. 

I miss that cowboy.  I can’t escape it, I can’t walk it away, I can’t walk away from it. He remains on my mind, in my heart, in my soul. I feel so complete and right when I am with him, therefore I feel incomplete and wrong when I’m not. 

I don’t hear from him often, he has called a couple times, I have sent him a few texts telling him he’s on my mind.  I know he doesn’t love me.  I know he’s busy, especially this time of the year.

One woman I stayed with said she’d pray I’d meet my soulmate on this trip. Perhaps I already have, since I can’t get him out of my soul.

So onwards I’ll trek, I actually hope each step I take westward, is one step towards healing, towards becoming stronger, towards getting over him.  But what stays on my mind is, the sooner I get done, the sooner I get back to Wyoming, the sooner I see him again.  I don’t know if there’s much hope for me in that regard.

And there are other issues I am dealing with.  I think on them while I walk, I ponder, I rationalize, I make excuses, then I think some more, and try to figure my life out, my self out, the world out… how did I get here?  What happens when I reach Washington, IF I reach Washington?  I’ve been trying to write my 2 kids a letter since I left, but I don’t know if I can yet, because there are too many things I don’t understand still, and can’t explain yet. I’m not sure how I ended up in Wyoming, in love, and how I ended up walking across the country, and doing the things I’ve done,…  but it’s hard to really keep my mind on all that, when it always goes back to him.

I’ve still got a long way to go, maybe it will all make sense in another thousand miles or so.

May 23, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

STILL in Pennsylvania

Despite very sore feet, and new shoes, I managed 21 miles yesterday.  The last 10 or so were excruciating.  

I walked from the KOA campground, kind of left late, at noon.  When I got into Mercer, I saw a model train store, and I just stepped inside to see the big train display, for fun.  I got talking to a few men in there, and one very tall fellow named Frank asked me several questions about my adventure.  I asked him where I could grab a”hot sandwich and a cold beer” which is what I usually ask.  He stepped outside to point to a place up the street, and said, I’ll buy you lunch, and walked with me.

Turned out he was a city councilman, he seemed to know a lot of people.  He bought me a couple beers, the owners of the place made me a good cheese sandwich and talked to me some.  I gave them my cards, and went on my way.  Before I left Frank, he gave me his number, said he had a friend in Hermitage (near the border) in case I needed a place, or anything.  Nice, nice man.  All six foot six of him.  🙂

I felt incredibly tired and was ready to stop in a few miles, but didn’t want to.  I kept walking although my feet were *really* starting to hurt.  My dear friend in Cody AGAIN got me a hotel room, and I limped, literally, the last 7 miles or so, on VERY sore feet, to the Econolodge, where I remain.  Not moving today, got it for a second night.  I’m not sure if it’s blisters from before, that haven’t healed, or the new shoes hurt, one.  Either way, even barefoot, I’m pretty sore.  And from being so sore last night (I got here at like ten PM) I carried myself funny, and THAT made me sore.  I’m out of pain killers, even Aleve, so will try to get some today.

So here I sit, annoyed, sore, and still not into Ohio.  WIll order a pizza or something, and rest all day, and try to upload some photos to the blog and stuff, make use of the time, since I have all day to try to heal my feet. 

Not like Ohio’s my ultimate destination, but I’ve been in Pennsylvania it seems forever….

May 23, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

NO-HI-O

That means, no, I didn’t make it to Ohio.  Another zero-progress day.

After I got up and showered, I took my Big Agnes® air mattress to the swimming pool to submerge it and see if I could see where air was escaping.  It has a leak somewhere, but I wasn’t able to detect from where it’s getting out.  Several times each night I wake up from being uncomfortable,… my hipbone or elbow feels as if it’s hitting hard ground, because the air has leaked from the mattress. (I am waiting for a call back from Big Agnes Company).

I needed new shoes, and there’s an outlet mall 3-and something miles southeast of this KOA, so I headed there this morning.  Although there were other shoe stores, Adidas and Nike for two examples, I went for Reebok again on account of the shoes I had had worked out fine, were comfortable, affordable, etc.  Just didn’t last terribly long.. but then I don’t know how many miles the “average” person puts on a pair of Reeboks.

As I was pushing Panda through the outlet mall, I kept hearing a weird noise.. Panda had a flat tire. My shoes and Panda had both seen better days..

Harry, my salesman at Reebok, got me a great deal on an ugly pair of shoes.  He said they were a step up from the ones I walked in with, .. he “ran some numbers” and I got them $20 cheaper than the price.  Thanks, Harry!

I grabbed a Subway sandwich and had to backtrack on the same road I came in on.  As I approached the KOA, it was 3 PM (a lot later than I’d thought), I was tired, my feet hurt like helkl from blisters,.. I decided, since I wasn’t going to make it to Ohio today after all, to stay another night at the KOA I’d stayed at, relax, maybe take a dip in the pool, whatever. 

I checked back in, got the only tent site with electricity on it, hung my hammock, and, due to some building afternoon clouds, also set my tent up, just in case it rained.  I sat at the picnic table and started to write this.  Clouds continued to build; I checked the radar and all the activity seemed to be to the north east of Mercer/Grove City, so I didn’t worry.

A lady I’d met in the showers that morning stopped by and talked a bit.  She offered me a variety of foods, but I explained I was a vegetarian, but thanks.

The leaves rustled, and the sky darkened. A heard a gentle sssshhhhh noise, and, although I didn’t feel a drop, I realized a light rain was falling.  I had my stuff spread out all over; computer, phone, sleeping bag, Panda, etc.  I started to gather items and get them as quickly as possible into my 2-man Eureka! tent. Before I could, it started POURING.  I mean, out of nowhere.  I gathered and tossed, dragged Panda partway in and started to unfasten the top pack, as it contains a lot of “can’t get wet” items. Just from hauling wet stuff in alone, a puddle formed on the floor of the tent.  The rain fly wasn’t attached properly yet (it had been hot and sunny just minutes before!) and rain was blowing through the screen windows.  When I finally got everything inside, I was soaked, but it was all staying fairly dry.  I sat on my picnic blanket, folded up, to elevate me from the wet floor.

The woman I’d talked to earlier shouted through the driving rain from outside my tent, “You gotta get out of there and get a cabin!”

I told her I couldn’t afford one.  She shouted back, her husband insisted, and one could not argue with him.  And they’d pay.  I unzipped the tent, and ran through the pouring rain to the office, where Carol and Jack met me.  KOA refunded my money and the kind couple paid for the cabin I was camped behind.  Despite the rain, I hauled my stuff into the dry cabin.  The tent remains standing, as it needs to dry out,,, as does the hammock, which remains tied to two trees.

So, once again, unsolicited, unexpected, a stranger has adorned my life with kindness and goodness.  I don’t get it, I don’t understand it.. I’m by no means anything special at all, but I get treated as if I am.  It is extremely humbling.

May 22, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 5 Comments

More Kindness, Not Many More Miles

I can’t write long, I’m camping and have no power.

When I left the truck stop/restaurant I walked along the 208.  A man in a red truck stopped and asked if I needed help or a ride..  Another car stopped and said they’d seen me in Port Matilda last week or so.  They insisted on giving me $20, wished me well and went on their way.  The man in the red truck passed me again, he lived near there.

It was a quiet road, not much on it.  I was having another “I’m tired” day, so when I came to the town of Clintonville,  I stopped and went into Outlaw Cafe and Pizza, where I had a grilled cheese and a salad, and talked to the owner, John Sloss, about the town, history, etc.  He took my picture.  I didn’t want to walk far, some days I just don’t, so a friend got me a room at a Motel 6 in Barkeyville,  John told me of a shortcut to it, down an unpaved road, which shaved off a mile and a hill.  He drew me a map and I set out.

On the way four Amish buggies clip-clopped past me.  They all wave and look at Panda as if he was an oddity.

I met two shirtless young men, teenagers I guess,  who asked about my trek.  I told them I was doing it just for fun.  One muttered that my idea of fun was not the same as his.  I gave them my card.

The man in the red truck passed me again, got out, and introduced himself. “We gotta quit meeting like this,” he said. Said his name was Joe Ziffle. Joe gave me his number in case I needed a ride or anything else, he was concerned for my safety,  Nice guy, I said I’d text him when I got to the hotel, so he wouldn’t worry anymore.

I followed the shortcut and as John said, it came right out at the hotel.  I checked in and put the air on, and remembered to text Joe.  He seemed to have a lot of questions, so I asked if he wanted to grab a beer after I washed my clothes and stuff.  He said he’d swing by for a few minutes, which was fine.  I was writing a letter and charging things and stuff.

And he did come by, and was kind enough to run me up the street so I could buy some bandages for my blistered feet.  We sat and talked a few minutes, he insisted on giving me $40.

In the morning I packed up Panda and went top Burger King for breakfast and hot the road. I didn’t count, but at least 200 motorcycles passed me, all riding together, many waved or honked.  Pretty cool.  I could see them down the road for a long way in either direction, like a train.

When I arrived at Grove City, I was very hot.  Hottest day so fr I think, so as usual I wanted a cold beer and a break from the heat.  I stopped in the Blue Ribbon Tavern.  I was the only patron for a while, and talked to the petite blonde barkeep.  Soon, a handful of men filtered in, I talked to several different ones as I sat, enjoying being out of the sun.  I was going to try to make it to the outlet mall but it closed fairly early as it’s Sunday, so I figured I’d tackle the shoe issue tomorrow (I need new ones already! There are plumb wore out!)

It got later and I was still shooton’ the shit with people.  I decided I’d better eat before I headed out to camp up the road.  The new bartender brought me a menu from a pizza place, and asked me what I wanted, so I ordered a cheese pizza.  I sat talking to a man named Steve, and she put a LARGE pizza down by me.  I told Steve he’s better share it, I can’t carry it with me!  So we shared it, and he said he’d give me a ride to the KOA up the road.  One man that walked out handed me $20, (If you’re keeping track, that’s $80 handed to me for no reason other than kindness!)  I went to settle by bill as Steve brought his car around.. and again, I wasn’t charged.  I can’t believe this, I swear I get treated like a celebrity or something.  I never ask for a thing, I’m not raising money for a cause, I had cash and a credit card with me, but people insist on giving me money or buying my meals and drinks. 

So Steve drove me to the KOA campground, where I am.  I man I met several towns and a couple weeks back texted me tonight, just checking on me.  Sweet.

I hope I have more energy tomorrow.  I need to buy shoes as my feet are blistering again, and I can feel gravel and stuff through the rather thin soles of my Reeboks, and I want to hit Ohio.  I am about 20 miles from it.

Have to close here to conserve battery.

Wonders never cease.

May 21, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 1 Comment

Didn’t make miles, but did make a friend.

(Left off in the hotel in Brookville) I tried to sleep in but knew I had miles to cover.  I am anxious to get out of Pennsylvania, for the simple fact that I’ll feel like I’m making progress if I enter a new state.  I barefooted it over to the lobby and picked up a few of the “Continental Breakfast” items, took them back to my room, and ate while I watched my favorite documentary which just happened to come on. (Black Blizzard)

Right beside the motel was a laundromat, so, even though it was late morning, I stopped to wash a load of clothes and dry my damp-from-condensation sleeping bag. I finally hit the road at one o’clock.

The 322, which I was still following, is very hilly. Even so, and even with my late start, I managed 20 miles. I arrived in Brookville and stopped at a little bar called simply The Tavern.  Grilled cheese for $1.75: can’t beat that. I asked a couple that sat near me about places to camp, rooms to rent, whatever.  They gave me the names of a few places, but they were out of my price range. Before they left, the barkeep told me they’d paid for my dinner and Heinekens.. It keeps happening. Some men came in all wearing powder blue t-shirts; they’d been playing softball I presume.  One man    struck up conversation with me, and told me he had several places for rent.  One across the street was empty; he told me to wait there, he was going to get the keys and let me stay in it.  Great, I didn’t have to camp, I’d have a shower.

So I had another beer, waited, talked to some other locals, and waited some more. Pretty soon it was apparent this man wasn’t returning; the place closed at midnight and that hour was rapidly approaching.  One couple had offered me a place but I held out hope “Smitty” would return.  The barkeep called him but got no answer.  Another couple told me they’d drive me to a good place to camp along the Clarion River.  We loaded Panda up, but not until I left a nice drawing of a jackass for Smitty at the bar.

They drove me to a place where boats were docked and people launched canoes and such.  I threw down my picnic blanket and mattress and George, and went right to sleep.  Some cars drove in and out early in the morning, and when it was all clear, I walked around and checked out my surroundings.  I was camped right by a wide, quiet river. A few boats were docked off a variety of somewhat dilapidated docks. I looked for the dock or pier that was easiest to access and lowest to the water’s surface.  I slipped my bathing suit on, got a towel, bandana, and biodegradable soap, and made my way down a steep, rusty staircase to a slanted, weathered dock.  I dunked my bandana into the cool water and took a sponge bath… and as I got wetter and wetter I decided to just go ahead and jump in.  Mistake.  My body locked up and I lost my breath for a second, it was colder than I thought.  The air temperature was in the 40’s somewhere, I could see my breath. My swim in the Clarion River didn’t last long!

I dried off, dressed, packed up and headed west on the 322.  The little town I came to didn’t have a restaurant, so I got a premade sandwich, a couple Red Bulls and gatorades, and walked a bit further.   The highways split, I sat and examined a map and decided to take the 208.

Shortly after getting on the new road, I came to a tavern.  I was in a lazy mood, and wanted to stop and study the map and make sure my chosen route connected to the road I wanted to take into Ohio.

I talked to the very pretty bartender a bit, and to some of the local men sitting around having lunch and or a beer. I had a beer or two, then ordered lunch, and got talking to a man named Casey who’d seen me walking earlier. Somehow we got on the topic of my artwork, and he told me he had a cabin a few miles from there, that he’d built, and he’d love to have a drawing of it.

The bartender didn’t charge me for my sandwich or beers.

So, after I ate, we loaded Panda into his Cherokee and drove to his cabin, which was secluded on about 60 acres of woods. He drove grass trails to it, The Amish neighbors raise deer for game; and the small herd of whitetails panicked as we paralleled their fence. At the cabin he showed me how it was built, high up on a huge flat boulder, and we spread out my picnic blanket and sat in the sun and talked a while, drinking a PBR.

After about an hour, we drove to get his son, and since it was late afternoon, and my day, as far as mileage went, was pretty well shot, he invited me to stay over. We stopped to pick up a pizza, which I insisted on paying for, and went to his place. After we ate, I worked on this blog, and he and his son Sidney played board games, video games, wrestled, etc. I had a nice comfortable couch to sleep on, and after Sidney went to bed upstairs, Casey and I talked a while, before I got too sleepy and fell asleep.

In the morning I enjoyed a nice hot shower and loaded Panda back up into his Jeep, and Casey drove me to this truck stop in Emlenton, a few miles west of Knox, where we were. We came here because there’s a restaurant, and he said I’d pretty much be out of the hills.

According to Google maps, I’m 44 miles from Sharon, which is very close to the Ohio border. I am anxious to get out of Pennsylvania, and anxious to get out of the hills. I have two drawings now, one of the owner of Over the Mountain, and now the cabin for Casey. I told him I couldn’t promise when, but that I would get it done and mailed to him at some point. Although I didn’t make many miles yesterday, I had a really nice time with Casey and his son, and like to think I made a friend. As soon as I am done with breakfast, I’ll be heading west on the 208. I hope to make Ohio by Sunday night or Monday morning.

May 19, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 1 Comment

Long day: Luthersburg to Brookville, PA

What a day.  

I left off camped behind La Rue’s Hilltop Tavern.  Apparently my nice 60-something-dollar air mattress has a hole or a leak in it.  A couple times during the night I woke because I could feel my hip-bone hitting the ground.  I blew it up several times during the night.  Grrrrrr.

I woke again because of some noise my phone made, and I saw a shooting star.  I simply wished when I got back to Cody, I could again be in the arms of that cowboy I’m so crazy about. (God I miss him……..)

I woke at 6:30 to clear skies, some morning fog and mist, but it looked like a great, sunny day ahead.  After looking cautiously around, I decided there was no one at the restaurant, no one apparently lived above it, no cars on site.  A garden hose was coiled up out back.  I used a flattened box that was stacked outside as a bath mat, I took my clothes off, and showered with the garden hose.  Chilly, but effective.  I dressed, packed Panda, and hit the road.

The sweet, very pregnant girl that waited on me at the restaurant the night before had told me I could shower at her place in Reynoldsville, but since I got up so early. I figured I’d hit her place early and she might still be sleeping.  I didn’t know how far she lived.

A couple miles west I came to a motel with the odd name of the Bobette.  I had called it the night before inquiring about the price.  They had a diner, so I stopped in for a cheese omelette. The waitress had odd eyeliner.  The men in the place, farmers I guess, were discussing socialism. “Tell me ONE PLACE socialism has worked” dared one fellow. 

“China” said another.

“Then MOVE there!” said the first one.

I charged up my phone and iPod some, paid up and headed west.  I was still feeling rather tired.  Somewhere along the road a bit east of Reynoldsville I stopped to pee and to rest.  I was sitting on a stone culvert, drinking a Red Bull, when a red car pulled over across the street.  By her silhouette I knew it was Rachel, the girl from La Rue’s the night before.  She saw Panda and I and invited us to stop at her place, less than a mile up the road.  She was out in her yard and waved me in.  She was walking her dog Tig, a brindled Boxer.  Since I was tired, and it was quite warm, I needed a break.  The sweet girl invited me in and gave me a nice glass of ice water.  We sat and talked and played with her adorable dog a while.  I was so tired still.  She asked if there was anything I needed and I said, “a nap.”  No problem, she’d go out and get some sun and let me nap there on the couch a while.  I zonked right out.  How extremely nice of her to let a complete stranger in, let alone let her sleep a bit.  

When I woke (thanks to Tig licking me in the face!) I put my shoes on, refilled my Camelbak and headed out.  I had a quick lunch at a local pizza joint.  There were a few clouds now, which kept the temperature down some.

But the clouds continued to increase as I walked. A drop here and there was actually welcome as hot as I was.  But the drops grew bigger and more frequent, and the wind picked up as the sky darkened.  I stopped and pulled the folded tarp out and secured it over the load, under the cover. The rain was now driving, huge drops of cold water pelting me with a lot of force. In no time at all I was soaked, cold and wet and the rain was coming down so hard, directly at my face, I literally couldn’t see. I staggered a few feet and saw a house with an open garage so I trotted up the driveway.  An open storm shelter under a porch on the house is where I rolled Panda, and I went on the porch.   A nice lady came out before I had the chance to knock.  I apologized for trespassing but she could certainly understand why.  I asked if I might sit out the storm on her porch and then be on my way.  She brought me a towel and offered me a drink.  Her name was Mary, and she was very kind.  She offered me a cold drink, and sat and talked to me as the thunderstorm blew over.  After several minutes the rain stopped and I went on my way, after thanking her profusely for her graciousness during my intrusion.

I walked through the afternoon, my energy slowly feeling like it was returning to normal.  I texted a friend in Cody, asking him to look up places to stay in the upcoming town.  He and a friend cohort reserved a room for me at a hotel.

When I hit Brookville I passed a couple doing yard work.  The man told me he’d seen me both yesterday and today, and we talked a bit.  I asked where I could get a hot sandwich and a cold beer, and they recommended a place called Dirty Ehrma’s, a couple blocks off the 322.

Neat bar, busy as it was “wing night”.  I talked to a man named Chad a bit, discussed love and places we’d lived and such.  He was waiting on a to-go order, and once they delivered it to him, he wished me well and left.  I finished my beer and, since it had gotten dark, asked for my tab.  I had no idea:  Chad had paid it without saying a thing. Awestruck again!  I don’t know why this keeps happening, but (he has my card, and might read this) THANK YOU!!!!

And another again thank you to Rachel, the girl who visited with me and let me take a short nap at her house, and Mary, who let me seek refuge from the rain on her porch.  More nice people, I seem to be finding the nicest of them all on my trek.  It literally blows me away.

So I’m in a comfortable hotel room and need to get to sleep so I’ll close here.  Another amazing day thanks to the amazing people I come in contact with.  I posted this on Facebook a couple days ago:  There are no strangers; they are just friends I haven’t met yet.  I find it to be very true, mile after mile. 

And my GPS turned over 700 miles today.

May 17, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

Never-Ending Kindnesses

Short day today, just ten miles.  For some reason I have been incredibly tired. 

I left off at the Hampton Inn in Clearfield.  I ended up staying in Clearfield again, after doing laundry and stuff, and more rain,.. a friend got me a room at the Days in.  So I walked basically in a circle and ended up just a block or so from The Hampton.  The Days Inn had a lounge, so I went down hoping to make a few bucks with drawings.  Met a nice young man named Adam, a truck driver, who basically lives in/near his truck, forsaking an actual home for his OTR job.. I let him crash in my room just so he wouldn’t have to sleep in his truck again.  He was up and “Adam” early.  I got a late checkout, watching the rain.  It was a miserable drizzly day AGAIN, but I headed out, following the 322.  All day, it went uphill.  I’m not kidding.  Like 7 miles of an uphill grade.  At the very top, which I hot about 6 PM, was a restaurant/bar called Over The Mountain.  I stopped in for a sandwich and a beer.  A very nice dark-haired woman named Kim served me a cold Coors.  A good looking young man with a fiddle in a case came in and said Monday night he and some locals jam together.  Just my luck, sounded like fun.  I knew right then I was done walking for the day.  I talked the Kim and this young man, and he also played the mandolin.  Pretty soon some other men came in with guitars and such, and they played together, but the young man had to leave.  I was the only non-musical guest of the place, which was fine, I was enjoying the hell out of it.  I talked to Kim about possible places to set up a tent, and she said I could camp under the covered pavilion outside, which was perfect.  I would have enough roof I wouldn’t have to set up a tent.  I started drawing pictures of the men playing, and soon Kim said she had an empty apartment i could sleep in, instead of the pavilion, that I could stay in.  HAd a bed and a shower.  

I kept drawing, and soon she said I’d already “earned” my meal and beers, and one more drawing I’d have “earned ” the apartment too.  I drew about 4-5 portraits of the musicians.  She hung them up.  The men played really cool music till 2 AM.  She told me they seldom play more than a couple hours, she didn’t know why, but they played all night.

At 2 AM, I rolled Panda into the apartment and passed out.  I woke after 10 AM, I must have slept like a log.  I showered, dressed, fought Panda out of the door, and went inside where I ordered breakfast.

I took Kim’s photo as I still owed her a drawing of herself, and hit the road.

I don’t know why I have been feeling extremely tired the last few day, like so tired it’s starting to worry me.  I walked maybe 6 miles and a truck passed me and then pulled off in front of me.  It was Kim.  My cable bag must have fallen from Panda when I wrestled him out the door.  I’d have been screwed without it.

I only walked ten miles today but the sleepiness took over.  I stopped at a little restaurant and have ended up in a grassy spot right behind their parking lot.  Too tired to go on tonight.  So I’m closing here and closing my eyes.  It’s only 6:30 at night, I don’t know what’s wrong, but I do know I need sleep.

May 15, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 8 Comments

Mother’s Day

I can put *another* word after “Mother”… I looked at the weather report. MORE RAIN, lots of it.  Big green flashing glob headed towards me on the radar.

W.h.a.t.  f.u.n.

I spent a lovely evening in a Hampton Inn compliments of my daughter; a Mother’s Day gift.  Took a dip in the pool last night, enjoyed a free breakfast this morning and an exceptionally comfortable bed.  Just wasn’t in it long enough.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful.  I had breakfast in a diner right across from the hotel I stayed at, and a man in there recognized me.  He’d seen me walking the night before.  I think more likely it’s Panda that they recognize.

On the road a man in a red truck asked me if I needed a ride.  I explained what I was doing, and we talked a minute.  His name was Nelson Housted, and he said he was the oldest lineman in Pennsylvania.  He is 73 and still climbs the telephone poles to fix the electric wires. Pretty cool.

When I got to Clearfield, my daughter called and asked where I was, said she wanted to get me a hotel.  In hindsight, I should have taken the hotel tonight, but I didn’t know there was this much rain headed my way,  Anyway, she said she’d put me up in a nice place, and it was so tempting, I said okay for last night.  I stopped for dinner at a place called Denny’s Beer Barrel, where I drew a couple pictures hoping to make some money.  Earned a whopping $4 and a free beer.

Anyway, as I was walking up the hotel, an SUV pulled over and offered me a ride.  everyone thinks Panda has a baby in it, so it draws attention especially at night: a mother pushing a baby along a highway.  So the nice two young gentlemen loaded Panda in their vehicle and gave us a ride to the Hampton Inn.  I’m sorry to say I’ve forgotten the driver’s name, as I meet so many people in a day the names get jumbled, but the other fellow went by Junior, or JR. Really nice young men, I truly appreciate their assistance.  I gave them my card.  JR took a picture of Panda.

I think people think what I’m doing is cool (so do I!) and they like to be a part of the story.  And so many people are.  From simple direction-givers, to rides, to people who’ve put me up, friended me on Facebook, paid for a meal, given my money, food, gifts, bought me a drink or a meal, took my photo, commented on my blog, met me along the way, offered me a ride, even people who have just waved and lightened my mood.. so many people are woven into this adventure.  And those two young men are now part of the fabric.

A post I put up, I think it was the end of March, listed a handful of people who I owed thanks to.  And I acknowledged then that I knew that list would grow.  I didn’t know how exponentially the list would expand, how amazing the people I’d meet would be, and the amazing things they’d do for me would be.

Beyond the scenery, beyond the fact that my legs have held up, beyond what I’m learning about myself and what this experience is doing to me, beyond this almost-ridiculous tan… far from all that, the most amazing thing has been the kindness that has been bestowed upon me.  The generous people, the welcoming homes, the places to stay, complimentary meals, the atta girls, the virtual pats on the back, the trust, grace, friendship, support, rides and offers for rides, waves, thumbs up, free beers, gifts; … all have blown me away.  I cry on a daily basis, from being touched so deeply by the kindness of strangers. I often walk along bawling like an idiot, from sheer joy and emotion.

And I cry, still, almost daily, from missing the man I’m so crazy about.  I can’t seem to even WALK him out of my system.  Don’t guess that works with love.  Lust maybe, but not love.  I guess that, too, in itself, is pretty amazing; to feel that strongly for a person, that hundreds of miles of scenery and exercise and friends and distractions and adventures can’t make a DENT in easing how much I miss him.  If anything, I miss him more the longer I’m away.  On days when I am dragging (like today), knowing he’s at the end of my trail gives me the incentive to keep moving.  The sooner I hit Washington, the sooner I get back to Cody, the sooner I see that strong, amazing cowboy again.  (sigh)

Three days of rain headed my way. I am getting too far behind to sit it out.  Just going to waterproof my stuff the best I can, and keep on truckin’.

Happy Mother’s Day to you parents of anything, even a houseplant. “Mothering” isn’t just reserved for raising humans.  🙂

May 13, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

“I Can See Clearly Now, The Rain Is Gone”

And for the most part, at least for now, it is.

(In my iPod is a lovely version of that song, done by a very good friend of mine from Cody. When I finally saw the sun, I played it as I walked… )

But not after raining steadily all day Tuesday.  I stayed at the KOA campground for 2 nights.  I repacked my bags, washed my clothes, dried my slightly damp sleeping bag, charged my electronics, and read half of a sci-fi book I took from the paperback exchange rack.

I even shot a few games of billiards in the game room. Of course no one was there to see my great shot in which I sunk two balls with one hit.

A young man driving a very high-stepping high strung Tennessee Walker to a light two-wheeled cart trotted through the campground.

I bought a couple bundles of firewood and when the rain finally tapered off at night, I made a campfire and enjoyed being warm and dry, after several days of feeling cold and wet.

On Wednesday, the sun made a valiant effort to come out.  A few rain showers blew through, but the sun ended up winning the weather tug-of-war.  I walked into the town of Bellefonte.  I hit it about lunch time, so the first place I came to I stopped for lunch.  All I’d had was (eek) packaged chocolate cupcakes from the KOA’s general store for breakfast.  It was called Bonfatto’s, and they claimed to be famous for their sub sandwiches, so that’s what I ordered.

For some reason, I was out of sorts all day.  Just in a funk, tired, sour mood. I continued into Bellefonte and stopped at a Rite-Aid drug store to refill my monthly prescriptions.  I learned there that controlled substances cannot be transferred but once, so I had to start over with my Norco (a Vicodin-type drug) prescription.  So I figured I’d hang around till I could find out if my doctor would call it in the same day and such.  Everyone in the office knows about my walk, and the strange situation I’m in, so they hurried to get my doctor to write a new scrip and get it called in.  But it still takes a while.  So, resigned to hanging around Bellefonte, I stopped at The Governors’ Pub for a Heineken.

I talked to the employees awhile, and learned some local history.  The Mills Brothers started right there.  And the pub was so named because many of Pennsylvania’s governors came from Bellefonte itself.  Pretty soon the happy hour crowd started to filter in.

A handsome couple sat a couple seats from me and we started talking. The pretty curly blonde invited me to join her and Howie, her boyfriend, at her table for dinner.  I’d already eaten, but sat with them after a bit.  A very talented 3-man-band set up in the corner. One was on a standard 6-string acoustic guitar, one was on a bass guitar, but it looked just like a regular acoustic guitar, minus 2 strings.  The third man alternated between a mandolin (my favorite) and a ukulele.  They were very very good, and played songs by artists like Neil Young, John Prine, the Stones, etc.  I drew two of the musicians, and put the drawings into their open guitar case in lieu of a monetary tip.

Then Cheri, after asking me if I had “serial killer tendencies”, invited me to stay with her.  Another extreme kindness by a virtual stranger.  What’s this world COMING to anyway!!??  She and Howie left after she gave me her address and phone number.  I lingered a bit longer, drawing pictures and loving the music.  Of course, I checked the time and it was a couple minutes past nine, so I missed the drug store for the evening, and decided to take Cheri up on her generous offer.

One man I drew turned out to live on the same street as Cheri, and he offered to walk me as far as his place.  He had a pleasant British accent and was a potter. We walked the hilly streets of Bellefonte and he pointed me towards her place.  I arrived just as Cheri’s daughter was arriving; she helped me park Panda in the garage and I enjoyed a beer with Cheri and Howie and Leo.. Leo’s a Jack Russell mix.  Cute lil guy.

Cheri gave me a pillow and blanket and I slept on a couch in her beautiful home.  In the morning I enjoyed a nice hot shower and she made me French toast and coffee.  She photographed me and Panda, directed me towards CVS, and bid me adieu.

CVS wasn’t open yet, so I took my time walking there.  I strolled through Bellefonte’s charming town park.  Bellefonte means “beautiful fountain”, named for the splendid fresh water stream that runs through town.  In the park it flows over a man-made waterfall, under scenic bridges, past a gazebo, and meanders through lush green grass.  Park benches, mallard ducks, trees and walkways complete the prettiest city park I’ve seen. The park is bordered by an historic railway station, complete with a couple old passenger cars. I stopped to use the rest room and my phone rang.  The number was local to the area.. ?  Turned out it was a fellow I’d met a couple days earlier named Marty.  He’d offered me a ride one drizzly afternoon whe I was heading towards Bald Eagle Park.  I’d given him my card and we’d texted eachother a few times.  He’s following my blog, and sent me some ideas on roads to take and such.  Anyway, he’d seen me walking through town and called to say hello.

After I picked up my prescription I headed out of town.  I followed the highways west.  Rain dampened me on and off, but not enough to deal with.  The road was fairly uninteresting, beautiful scenery but much the same after several miles.  I came to the town of Unionville.  Someone said the population was about 300.  There was one little cafe, aptly called the Unionville Cafe, so I stopped for a meal.  Cute little place.  Cash only.  So I was careful what I spent, I only had like $11 in cash on me.  I ordered a grilled cheese and had them put lettuce and tomatoes in it. I got talking with the lovely woman who both cooked and waited the tables.  I lingered a while so I could charge my phone, which was almost dead.  When I requested my check, she said it was “on me”. Yet ANOTHER unexpected kindness!  I left a $5 tip, thanked her, she took my card so she could “follow” me online, and I headed west. Late afternoon I arrived at Port Matilda.  An unassuming little town again, but it had the Port Matilda Hotel and Inn.  I wheeled Panda up the handicap ramp and into the tavern part for a cold beer.  Time to get the GPS out and start deciding where to stay.  If there isn’t an obvious place to camp, like a state park, campground, etc, I use satellite imaging to look for patches of trees (which, if photographed in full foliage, look oddly like broccoli, my sister Doona refers to them as broccoli patches) in which to “hide” and camp in.  Just out of curiosity, I inquired about the hotel rooms.  The lady tending bar said one room was $25 since it didn’t have cable TV working in it.  Not bad.  I was tired and needed a shower.  I figured a drawing or two, if I could sell them, would cover it.  So I drew a few people, met a few people, but only “earned” a couple free beers.  No cash.  Now it was dark, so I said What the hell and took the room.  Shift change brought me a different barkeep who said the room was $40.  Not doing it.  I explained I’d been told $25, so they accommodated me at that price.  When I paid my tab, I got the key to the room, which was up fairly steep wooden steps on the outside of the 2 story hotel.

So I pulled Pandemonium up the steps and into a rather funky little hotel room.  The room contained 2 twin beds, only one of which had bedding on it.  I moved the lamp over to that nightstand, plugged a few things in that needed charging, got my book, peeled the covers back and AAAAKKKK!  Right in the middle of the bed was a two-foot-in-diameter WET SPOT!  I don’t know what it was wet WITH, but I didn’t want to find out.  I put my skirt back on and trotted down the stairs.  The tavern door was locked, the stool upside down on the bar.  I went around back and pounded so someone would hear me.  A lady answered, she’d been in the bar earlier, and I told her.  She brought fresh sheets up and said who ever had stayed there slept in the other bed, that’s why it was stripped.  Perhaps he’d spilled something?  Whatever.  No tv, the heat was a radiator I pulled from the closet and plugged in.  So I settled into the other bed, cracked the window just a bit for fresh air, and fell asleep.

Until a noise woke me.  Weird hissing sound, popping noises, and voices from outside.  I sit up, “now what?” and look outside.  In the parking lot below sat a white Chevy pickup.  Four wheel drive, fairly late model. On fire. Just on fire.

It looked, if I had to guess, that the fire started by the right front tire. Although there were a couple people on their porches watching, I called 911 in case no one else did.  They asked how close it was to the hotel.  So I took a few photos and videos, just because it was fairly fascinating to watch a nice truck simply disintegrate with dramatic pops and hisses and lurches as the tire melted.  Black and white smoke, both, curled from the poor Chevy.  Soon a fire truck pulled up and uniformed men unrolled the hose and extinguished the Chevy Inferno.

By now it was 2:30 AM.  I was awake, a bit agitated from all the activity, so I took a sleeping pill and went to sleep.

A text at 9 AM woke me up.  I showered, packed, maneuvered Panda down the steep steps but got stuck at the bottom.  There was a very heavy garbage can on the landing where I needed to make a right turn.  I couldn’t move the trash can, I couldn’t get Panda around it.  I asked some men unloading large panes of glass to assist me, one handsome fellow did, and helped Panda onto solid ground.  He asked about my trip, wished me well and, after buying enough food and such for a several hour walk, And a minor wrong turn, I headed out towards 322.

Didn’t take long for a few other roads to merge, and I had to walk on a ramp to get on the 322.  On the ramp it said “Motor Vehicles Only”.  I stopped.  Shit.  3 GPS directions said take the 322 towards Youngstown, Ohio. I rationalized that neither I not Panda were technically vehicles, so it didn’t matter that we did or didn’t have motors.  Technically, he’s a wheeled conveyance and I’m a pedestrian.  So, risking getting pulled over, I entered the highway anyway.  It had a very wide shoulder and wasn’t heavily traveled, and I walked several miles before a cop car went by.  I waited, “He’s gonna u-turn and come back and kick me off.”   But nothing happened.

A couple miles up the road, a truck passing me honked several times.  I realized it was the glass truck I’d approached in Port Matilda for help. They recognized Panda.

And the whole time I walked, I was going uphill.  Gradual, but definitely uphill.  I realized that hills are getting progressively easier for me as my muscles and endurance are improving.  The hill was such that there was a truck lane for miles, and the big rigs had their flashers on as they crawled up the hill.  I barely broke a sweat.  🙂

Finally, at the top, the road narrowed and became a 2 lane again, And then went DOWNhill.  A hill steep enough to require a runaway truck ramp.  This landed me in the town of Philpsburg.  I came up on a small bar that looked cute, so I stopped in for one, and Man what a dead place,  It had atmosphere and potential, but no one was in there.  I was texting my friend Dave, and said the barkeep had the personality of a shoelace.  Seriously, unwelcoming, spiritless, zero-affect woman who didn’t smile, just served me a Coors and told me the price.  She wore some flowered apron that made he look like she worked in a rest home.  She never greeted me, struck up conversation, nothing.  Wow.  No WONDER the place was vacant. So I moved on, and finally, here I am.  A good friend (who digs helping me out) got me a room at the local hotel.

Before I checked in, I stopped at a KFC for some dinner. (I dig the side dishes). A nice looking young woman said, “You’ll think this is strange, but I’ve seen you on Facebook.  You stayed with my aunt in Bellefonte (meaning Cheri).”  How strange is that?

And now I am caught up on 3 days worth. (big sigh)

Time for sleep.  Lots of miles top cover.  Just had a bit of encouragement.  I looked up something local and it said “Western Pennsylvania”.  150 miles to the Ohio border.  Then I’ll feel like I’m making progress.  I’ve felt like I’d NEVER get out of Pennsylvania.

I hope I do in a week.

May 12, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 1 Comment

Day Off. MORE RAIN

I wouldn’t live here if you paid me.  I can’t take the WET.

Pennsylvania is a bit like Wyoming, in that it’s a very conservative state, there’s still smoking in some of the bars, and the motorcyclists don’t have to wear helmets.  But the rain drives me nuts.  I’m used to the high and dry climate of Cody, Wyoming.

After I left the truck stop mentioned in the previous post, I put my neon yellow and reflective rain coat on (that someone gave me) and walked west a bit.  The rain was relentless.  I decided to cut down to Bellefonte (near State College, where Penn State is) and get a cabin at a KOA to get out of the weather.  It’s not me so much, it’s my gear.  Although I waterproofed everything, and tarped it, the rain manages to dampen everything.  Even my sleeping bag feels damp.  It’ll go in a dryer in a bit.  Anyway, as usual, I stopped at a dive bar, where locals asked a lot of questions, bought me a couple beers, etc.  Their kitchen was closed, but they told me of a good cheap sub shop across the street.  I was apparently 5 miles or so from the campground, so I bought a sandwich, put it in my pack, and headed to the KOA.   A friend who has a KOA card got me a cabin.  I had checked my Garmin GPS and it told me how long till sunset, so I knew I had to get going, and tried to time it right.  I followed the GPS, it was a lot of roundabout directions.  Aggravating because the KOA was just 2 miles on Rt. 80 but I’m not allowed on it, so altogether about 8 miles to it.  Anyway, the GPS in my Droid said I was close, I didn’t see it, then the road I was on just ended at some truck turnaround parking lot. I was tired, mad, etc.  I called the KOA and she explained I was still 2 miles away, and I had to walk along what looked like interstate but wasn’t; it was, rather, the convergence and separation of numerous highways. Dangerous piece of roadway. By now it was starting to get dark.  Had the GPS been right I would have hit the KOA just at early dusk, in daylight, how I planned it.  So I hugged the shoulder and hurried along, pissed at the GPS. Trucks came whizzing by, some were entering, some were exiting, one came VERY close to hitting Panda, I had to pull him back FAST to avoid the side of a tractor trailer making a wide turn.  Scared the shit out of me.  My heart was pounding, I did NOT like the road!  Finally the exits ended and I was on a shoulderless road, now it was dark. I even called to see if there was a cab company that had a van, just so I could avoid being hit. “By the time I get one to you, you’ll be there.”  So I hoped I’d get seen and not hit, and walked the twisty road to the campground.  Along the highway last week I picked up a square reflector that had been attached to a guard rail (they all seem to fall off) and had it attached to my Camelbak, so I was at least somewhat reflective at night.  Despite being a bit warm from the humidity, I kept my ivory-colored fleece sweatshirt on because of it’s light color.

I’d had a brief reprise from the rain, but it was starting to come down AGAIN.

When I got the KOA I opened my “Kabin” as they call it, and there was a box, garbage, and an extra mattress leaning on a desk.  I called KOA and they moved me to Kabin 2.  They had just put a new mattress in there and forgot to clean it.  Anyway, the forecast says 100% chance of rain all day, 50% chance tonight, and it gradually decreases.  So I think I’m going to stay put.  Spend the day reading, writing, catching up with friends, doctoring a host of new blisters, washing clothes, staying dry.  This cabin has a full bed, a set of bunk beds, a counter/desk thing, a chair and an outlet.  Pretty basic.  But it does have a roof.  Also has a nice front porch with a bench.  The campground has a laundry room, a game room, showers (!!)  a small general store (since all I have are power bars with me, I hope they have some food), so I’ll manage.  Might get a bit stir crazy, but at least I get can my stuff sorted out, repacked, washed, dried, and give my feet a day to rest and heal.  I don’t know what’s with the new round of blisters.  This new shoe and 2-pairs-of-socks system seemed to be doing the trick.  Have I already worn these Reeboks out??

I walked 25 miles the day before, and all told probably 18 or so yesterday, so I’m making mileage, but this is aggravating to be blistered again, and have really no hope of being dry today, so I’m gonna try to relax and just take the punches, use my time here for something useful. Or hell, just play video games.

So after an aggravating wet day there was one lovely highlight (besides my dear friend gifting me this dry haven).  After I dozed off last night the “special” ringtone came on and my sweetie called me just to talk a bit.  Nice to know he hasn’t forgotten me.  I sure haven’t forgotten him.  Just makes me want to walk faster and further, to get back to Cody sooner, and see him again.  Love can be wonderful, and when there’s 2000 miles between you, it can also be great incentive.  But painful.  God I miss him.

I think my heart is blistered as well.  Wonder how to affix moleskin to it….

May 8, 2012 | Categories: Stories | Leave a comment

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN

I walked 25 miles yesterday.

After I left the apartment, clump clump clumped Panda down the stairs, I had breakfast across the street at a little cafe.  Then I proceeded west to Lock Haven, where I stopped for lunch.  That was about 11 to 12 miles down.  I read a review on my GPS for a place called The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop, so I went there.  Nice barkeep, he comped me a beer.  Had a good sandwich, talked to a few people, and after an hour, I headed west again on the 150.  I was heading for Bald Eagle State Park near Howard.  It was hot and muggy, and kept a bandana wet and rubbed myself down frequently to stay cool.  A roadside waterfall was a good place to get it wet. 

Anyway, around 6 or so, I came to a small town called Beech Creek.  There was the Beech Creek Hotel, which had a dive bar.  I love dive bars, so I stopped for a cold one before heading to the park.  I also wanted to charge the phone up a little.  The nice barkeep plugged it in under the bar.  They didn’t have Coors or Heineken, so I got a Bud.  A young couple asked about my trip and bought me a Beech Creek t-shirt and a beer.  I still had like 5 miles to walk, so I finished what I could of the free beer and got some cash at the ATM for the state park fees, and walked as quickly as I could to Bald Eagle.  It got dark on me.  People stopped and asked if I was okay, I guess people think it’s a baby, and not many people walk at night.  I made it to the campground and couldn’t see a THING.  My needs-batteries flashlight barely lit up the signs.  I took a fee envelope, walked into the campground, past the camp host and chose a spot.  I was pooped out, so I threw down my blanket, pad and sleeping bag and went right to sleep.

It was cloudy when I woke, and I walked to the rest room to discover it was closed. Hmmm.  I packed up my stuff and rolled out of there, to where I saw some RVs parked, .. a different loop of the campground.  Apparently, I slept in a closed loop.  Oops.  I couldn’t see squat at night.  So I took a nice hot shower, dressed, doctored my blistered (again) feet, met a couple nice ladies, and walked out of the park.  Just as I left the restroom, it started to sprinkle.  I walked nine miles this morning in the rain, and now I’m at a truck stop, charging stuff and drying off, deciding what to do.  I hate walking in the rain, if I can avoid it I do.  Might not be able to.

This has been, so far, one unbelievable trip.  People are so enthralled with my adventure, people have been so generous, so nice, so welcoming.  Everyone thinks what I’m doing is cool apparently.

I know I’m sure having a good time.

My GPS seems to add miles here and there, but the best I can figure, I’ve walked about 530 miles so far.

May 7, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 2 Comments

Cinco de Mayo

I wrote an entry last night but it never showed up.  I’ll try again, this will be two days’ worth.

Apparently I left off at Jerry’s house in Montoursville, after Panda leapt from the moving vehicle.

In the morning he knocked on the door of the room I was sleeping in, told me to get on up, shower and hit the road, he had stuff to do,  So I did just that, and in town I stopped for a quick meal and then proceeded west.

I walked pretty steadily for like 15 miles.  I finally came to a bar/restaurant called Harvest Moon.  I stopped in for a meal and a cold one.  It was stifling out, high humidity and temperatures in the 80’s.

I looked up places to stay, and, oddly enough, the campground I was going to stay at was listed, again, as being a couple miles away. Apparently there are two unrelated ones or something, bearing the same name.  So I called the Susquehanna Campground and confirmed, again, that they would take a tenter for one night.  (Some places cater only to RVs)  The man, Tom, assured me they did, for $15.  I told him my situation; I was walking, I was at Harvest Moon, and when the rain quit I’d head that way.

Tom didn’t want to wait and wonder, he said, so he said he was coming up to GET me.

And indeed he did.  In five minutes or less, he pulled in in a black SUV.  He walked in, introduced himself, told me to finish my beer, he had a friend here anyway.  So I did, and some dudes I never met bought me one for the road.

We loaded the gear into his truck and Panda rode in his friends pick up.  When we arrived at the campground, Tom ended up giving me a cabin to sleep in and he didn’t charge me even the $15!  The cabin was cute, had a futon type bed, etc. And was next door to the shower and bathrooms.

A small bird had a nest full of hungry babies under the eaves on the porch.  I watched her feed them.

I slept fine and woke at dawn, to yet ANOTHER drizzly, foggy, wet morning. I packed Panda, took a shower, and before I pulled out, I took a brief stroll around the campground.  At an intersection, a lady yelled out her car window, “Are you Shawnee Moon?”  (okay… weird I’m thinking….)  She told me she’d met me the night before at Harvest Moon.  I didn’t recognize her with sunglasses on and stuff.  She told me she had left a small flowered bag with that man (pointing to a tent down a hill).. She apologized for being in a rush, she’d love to talk, but she had to go.  “I’ll follow you!” she said.

So I walked towards the man in the tent, and walked to approach me, and gave me the flowered bag.  I thanked him and went back to my cabin.  In the bag were little spa soaps, shampoos, lotions, makeup puffs, energy bars, like a woman’s care package.  I busted out crying for the longest time.  She took the time to put that together for me, and drive to where I was, and see that I got it, and she had only talked to me for like 5 minutes.  (I’m crying again as I type this)

Now, Google walking directions informed me (via GPS) that I needed to make a big, mountainous loop to avoid walking on the 220, which was turning into interstate apparently.  So I blindly followed the directions, which had me cross the 220, go up the 287, across some other road, all apparently up hill.  One man stopped and got the map out and showed me the best route back to Jersey Shore, a man and his son came out on an ATV and gave me a cold Gatorade, and when I finally topped the damn hill, I realized I was getting a blister, so I stopped and cut moleskin , when another man and his grandson stopped to check on me.  He told me I was “miles” from Jersey shore, all that to avoid a few hundred yards??  He offered me a ride back down, so I took him up on it.  Turned out to be like 5 more miles, it was already mid afternoon and I was hot, tired, blistered, hungry and pissed off at Google.  The nice man who gave me the ride said 220 is NOT interstate through there!

So he and his grandson Caleb unloaded Panda at a tavern.  I’d said I’d like to place with a sandwich and a beer, while I RE-route myself. Place was fairly empty, except one nice looking 30-ish man who struck up conversation with me.  He ended up giving me his name and number, and talked to the bar owner, as above the bar were 2 apartments, one of them was vacant, and they let me stay!  So I hung around the bar awhile, talked to some people, drew a few people, and then pulled Panda up the steep staircase to the apartment.  It has a full or queen bed, and I rolled George out (the  sleeping bag) for bedding.  I didn’t sleep too well, I’ve been feeling really stressed lately, I think it’s feeling like I’m making no progress, and indeed, yesterday, I didn’t.

I’m up fairly early, need to patch up my feet (haven’t had a new blister in a while, empty and clean this place as if I’ve never been here, maneuver Panda DOWN those stairs (that won’t be easy), find a breakfast joint and see if I can make some miles.  Someone told me to follow the 120 as it goes on for miles.  I don’t trust Googles ideas anymore.

All for now.

May 6, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 1 Comment

H.O.L.Y. S.H.I.T. Pandemonium!

Seriously.

I spent the night in the cabin I spoke of, a darling little sleeps six cabin, a couple bunk beds and a queen.  No heat, no bedding.  I slept in my sleeping bag (who I named George for personal reasons) and got a nice very hot shower in the morning.  I repacked Panda, so I didn’t get out till. like 10:30

In Hughesville, I had breakfast and then passed a laundomat.  I needed to wash clothes, so I took another hour and washed everything.  I ended up starting walking at like 1 PM.

So I walked along, up a lot of hills, in VERY humid weather.  I’m not used to such damp muggy weather.  I was trudging along, exchanging occasional text messages with my friend Dave, and I arrive in Montoursville.  I found a quick shop and asked to use the rest room.  The clerk and a pretty redheaded woman customer both asked about Panda, parked outside, and about my walk and stuff.  The redheaded lady introduced me to her 2 toddlers and her husband, who took a picture of us together.  She said celebrities to HER, were people like me.  Cool.

The skies were darkening with a threatening thunderstorm, and I was more than 5 miles to the nearest campground where I had intended to stay.  I asked her about a good place to grab a beer, I wanted to watch the radar and figure out what to so about missing this storm, which had advisories about hail and heavy lightning.  Of course questions arose in the J&R Tavern in Montoursville, and soon a long-haired dude sat next to me and asked some questions.  He offered me a place to stay, his carport, inside, whatever, because the weather was threatening.  The sky to the west was a sick greenish-grey, and lightning flashed repetitively outside.  So, instead of “braving” the storm and walking the 5 miles, I took him up on his offer.  Large raindrops were starting to fall, so we decided if we were doing this, we’d better git.

Outside, I met him around back and we lifted Panda into his Ford Ranger.  He closed the tailgate and we buckled up and drove the short mile to his house.  We pulled up under the carport, unbuckled, went behind his truck and he yelled, WHAT THE FUCK??  The tailgate was closed, but Panda was GONE.

“HOW COULD IT GET OUT???”

I went into panic mode, immediately hyperventilating.  He peeled out out the driveway and we started backtracking, looking for my supplies.  All kinds of scenarios went through my head.  All my stuff, from clothes, medications, camping supplies, to my laptop, phone, cables, etc, all missing.  I was freaking the hell out.  He blew the horn at slow people, drove like a maniac, and pretty soon we see a small traffic jam (2 cars) at at intersection, and there was poor Pandemonium, lying on his “back”, his guts spilled all over.  The dude that found it said he’d called the local police, didn’t know what to do.  That put the guy who was driving it in the first place (Jerry) into panic mode himself.  He’d had a few and didn’t want police to smell it on him.  So the two of us threw Panda in the truck, all the loose stuff save a roll of toilet paper that got wet , and drove back to his place.  I was still on high adrenaline overload.  I went through the top pack, and my camera was there, my cables, I pulled the computer out and it was okay.. so it doesn’t look like there was any permanent harm, except maybe to my heart. Panda is safely inside, drying out.  We have NO IDEA how it got out of his truck undetected, it must have caught a gust of wind and done a backflip, because the tailgate was still up.  I’m just glad it was recovered quickly and apparently without permanent harm or loss.  It took me quite a while to slow my breathing and heart rate down to where I could even write this.

After both of us calmed down, we ended up laughing and clinking our glasses together.  He said how this was a story he’d remember on his deathbed.

I thought my trip was OVER.  Without Panda, I’d have no phone (if you’ve been following, you’ll know I just GOT this phone), no computer, tent, sleeping bag, change of clothes, toothbrush, medicine, stroller, repair kits, first aid, camera, etc.  “DISASTER” was running through my head.

I’m about ready to go to sleep, so I’ll close.  Lots of miles to get behind me tomorrow.  Didn’t get too far today cause of my late start, laundry, and bad weather.

Shit happens.

May 4, 2012 | Categories: Stories | 6 Comments