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COAST TO COAST WALK ACROSS AMERICA FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JOHN GOODMAN BLOG Even though the Coast to Coast Walk for Habitat has been temporarily delayed, the drive to raise $45,000 to sponsor a house for a deserving family in Hot Springs is moving ahead full steam. Since the original plan for pledges was 1 cent/mile for 2,700 miles ($27), we’re going to stick with that. But that’s not a magic number. If you wish to give more, that’s great. Already contributors from about a dozen states have given over $10,000. I want to be sure that your name appears on the spreadsheet of contributors, and even though we have until the end of the year, I’m asking folk who have kept up with the “Walk” to go ahead and send your check to Habitat, P.O. Box 171, Hot Springs, AR 71902. If you have already done so, thank you so much! I’ll be providing you information early in 2009 on the family that will receive this “hand up” in life as a result of this very unique “coast to coast” fund raising project. Thanks so very much for your participation! Status Report - June 16, 2008 THIS IS A VERY DISAPPOINTING DAY FOR ME. I SPENT ABOUT 5 HOURS TODAY DOING LAB TESTS AND CONSULTING WITH DR. STEPHEN HOLT, RHEUMATOLOGIST AT LITTLE ROCK DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC. HIS DIAGNOSIS IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, AND HE STRONGLY ADVISED ME THAT TO CONTINUE THE COAST TO COAST WALK AT THIS TIME WOULD BE A VERY FOOLISH DECISION. I SWALLOWED HARD AND SAID, “I UNDERSTAND.” A QUICK AND AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT OF METHOTREXATE & STEROIDS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BRING THE DISEASE UNDER CONTROL. THE TREATMENT HAS ALREADY BEGUN WITH METHOTREXATE INJECTIONS IN BOTH HIPS AND WITH A STRONG REGIMENT OF PREDISONE (STEROID) WHICH WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. SEVERAL OTHER DRUGS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE MIX OVER THE NEXT MONTH. BLOOD TESTS WILL BE REQUIRED REGULARLY. DR. HOLT TOLD ME THAT THIS SUDDEN ONSLAUGHT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WALK. THIS IS A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW BUT SUCH IS LIFE. SO, THE COAST TO COAST WALK IS ON HOLD FOR THE MOMENT AS DICK, CAROL, RUTH & I SORT THROUGH THINGS AND MAKE SOME BIG DECISIONS. OUR RVS ARE STILL PARKED OUT NEAR SOCORRO, NM, SO WE WILL BE TRAVELING BACK TO N.M. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE EFFORT TO FUND A HABITAT HOUSE THROUGH OUR WALK. THE DREAM WAS GOOD, THE CAUSE IS WORTHY, OUR INTENT WAS SOLID. PLEASE SEE IT THROUGH. AFTER ALL, WE DID WALK 800 MILES ACROSS CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, AND PART OF NEW MEXICO. WHO KNOWS? IF GOD WILLS, PERHAPS THE WALK CAN CONTINUE SOMEDAY WHERE WE STOPPED ON JUNE 2. Update from John Goodman - June 11 IN MY LAST REPORT I TOLD YOU I HAD SEEN A DOCTOR AT FT. BLISS ON FRIDAY (6/6) FOR MY ARTHRITIS LIKE SYMPTOMS. BY TUESDAY (6/10) MY SYMPTOMS HAD NOT IMPROVED, SO AROUND 9 P.M. RUTH DROVE ME TO THE E.R. AT SOCORRO, & I WAS SEEN BY THE MOST WONDERFUL MEDICAL TEAM I HAVE EVER MET. FROM LEONARD THE MED. TECH. TO JOE LOPEZ, A GREAT R.N. TO DR. DEBORAH NAGY, A RETIRED AIR FORCE M.D. AND ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE DOCTORS ANYWHERE. THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED AN I.V. OF SALINE SOLUTION (TO GET FLUID INTO MY BODY), ADDED A STRONG DIURETIC TO GET FLUID OUT OF MY BODY. THEY ADDED A STEROID & SOME PAIN MEDICATION. THEY TOOK BLOOD SAMPLES. FOR ALMOST 6 HOURS THEY WORKED WITH ME & STUDIED MY LAB TESTS. BOTTOM LINE: I HAD A RHEUMATOID LIKE AUTO-IMMUNE SYSTEM ATTACK CAUSED BY UNDETERMINED SOURCES. I WILL NEED FURTHER TESTING & EVALUATION BY A RHEUMATOLOGIST. IT WAS WHILE I WAS LYING IN THIS HOSPITAL BED, SOMETIME PAST MIDNIGHT THIS MORNING, JUNE 11, ON OUR 43RD ANNIVERSARY, THE MED. TECH. WAS CUTTING OFF MY WEDDING BAND (HE SAID IT WAS EITHER THE BAND OR MY FINGER-MY FINGERS WERE THAT SWOLLEN), RUTH RECEIVED A CALL THAT MY SISTER, DOROTHY, HAD DIED. SHE HAD EITHER A CORONARY OR PULMONARY EMBOLISM. MY SIS LIVED IN CROSSETT, & A MEDIVAC HELICOPTER WHICH HAD BEEN DISPATCHED FROM LITTLE ROCK HAD BEEN GROUNDED IN PINE BLUFF ON THE WAY TO CROSSETT DUE TO BAD WEATHER. THEY WERE TRANSPORTING HER BY AMBULANCE TO LITTLE ROCK, BUT SHE DIED IN ROUTE. I WAS RELEASED FROM THE E.R. AROUND 3 A.M. WE ARE DRIVING BACK TO AR TODAY & TOMORROW. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE PENDING. PLEASE PRAY FOR US. WE’VE BEEN DRIVEN TO OUR KNEES. Week 12 - June 1 thru June 7, 2008 SUNDAY. WE WERE WELCOMED AT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOCORRO, NM, & GIVEN A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK ABOUT HABITAT & ABOUT OUR WALK ACROSS AMERICA. SUNDAY AFTERNOON WE MOVED OUR RV’S SOUTH TO SAN ANTONIO WHICH WILL BE OUR BASE FOR A FEW DAYS AS WE WALK EAST ON HWAY 380. MONDAY. WALKED ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE RIVER AT DAYBREAK ON HWAY 380 EAST AND INTO DESOLATE COUNTRY. WALKED 10 MILES, 1.5 MILES SHORT OF OUR 800 MILE MARK, AT WHICH TIME I RECEIVED THIS CLEAR MESSAGE FROM BODY CENTRAL…………….“YOUR WALK IS BEING INTERRUPTED FOR THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE. YOU MUST GET OFF YOUR FEET IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT CONTINUE.” THE REST OF MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY WERE LONG, LONG DAYS FILLED WITH PAIN & FRUSTRATION. MY SELF DIAGNOSIS WAS AN ATTACK OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN MY FEET, KNEES, & HANDS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A REGIMENT OF CELEBREX, GLUCOSIMINE, FISH OIL TWICE A DAY & REST. I WAS ALSO GREATLY ENCOURAGED TO HAVE RUTH RETURN ON TUESDAY EVENING FROM A WEEK’S VISIT IN AR. FRIDAY. RUTH & I DROVE DOWN TO EL PASO TX (ABOUT 200 MI SOUTH OF WHERE WE ARE PARKED) WHERE I CHECKED MYSELF INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OF THE WILLIAM BEAUMONT ARMY HOSPITAL AT FT. BLISS ARMY POST. THE MEDICAL STAFF AT FT. BLISS TREATED ME LIKE I WAS ONE OF THEIR OWN. DR. ALISON CELIS CHECKED ME OVER, MADE X-RAYS OF HANDS & FEET TO RULE OUT STRESS FRACTURES. SHE CONFIRMED THAT I HAD A FLARE UP OF ARTHRITIS, COMBINED WITH PETELLA TENDONITIS & CHANGED MY MEDICATION FROM CELEBREX TO A MORE POWERFUL NSAID (NON-STERIOD ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG) CALLED MELOXICAM. MOST IMPORTANTLY SHE DIRECTED TIME OFF. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PILL TO SWALLOW FOR ME. BUT I AM ALREADY LEARNING SOME VALUABLE LESSONS. WHAT HAVE I LEARNED? HERE’S A GOOD LESSON. IN A TUESDAY EMAIL TO THE MATTSONS, A FORMER PASTOR, TOM ULLRICH, OFFERED A PRAYER FOR US (IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF MY SITUATION). INCLUDED IN HIS POIGNANT PRAYER WERE THESE WORDS: “MAY YOU REST WITHOUT REGRET”. NOW HOW POWERFUL IS THAT? AND HOW TIMELY WAS THAT ADMONITION? THAT HAS BEEN A HARD LESSON. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE 7 DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (7 DAYS IN THE BANK), WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING OURSELVES. CAN I REST WITHOUT REGRET? I’LL TRY HARD. *ANOTHER LESSON: NEVER, EVER TAKE YOUR FEET FOR GRANTED. DID YOU KNOW YOUR FOOT HAS 26 BONES, 33 JOINTS, 112 LIGAMENTS? *I AM LEARNING A LOT ABOUT LISTENING TO MY BODY’S SIGNALS. *FOR WHATEVER REASON, GOD HAS ARRANGED THIS “DOWN TIME”. I WILL TRUST HIM & BELIEVE HE KNOWS BEST ALWAYS. RUTH & I ARE GOING TO STAY WITH OUR DAUGHTER IN LAS CRUCES, NM (ABOUT 45 MI NORTH OF EL PASO) FOR A FEW DAYS. WE WILL THEN GO UP TO ALBUQUERQUE & CELEBRATE OUR 43RD ANNIVERSARY ON JUNE 11. I WILL NOT WALK NEXT WEEK AT ALL. THE MATTSONS ARE DRIVING BACK TO AR FOR A WEEK’S VISIT WITH THEIR SON & HIS FAMILY IN CONWAY. *GOD WILLING, WE WILL RESUME OUR WALK ON MONDAY, JUNE 16. THE GOAL REMAINS THE SAME. Week 11 - May 25 thru May 31, 2008 MEMORIAL
DAY. DICK & I HAVE BOTH WORN THE UNIFORM OF OUR NATION, AND SO, ON
MEMORIAL DAY 2008, WE PROUDLY DISPLAYED OUR U.S. FLAGS AS WE WALKED 16 MORE
MILES EASTWARD ON NEW MEXICO HIGHWAY 60. (THE CROSSWINDS WERE FEROCIOUS).
SEVERAL MOTORISTS HONKED & WAVED. SOME POSSIBLY READ ABOUT OUR WALK &
SAW PICS OF THE ORANGE MEN IN THE WHITE MOUNTAIN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. (WE ONLY
BECOME CELEBRITIES AFTER WE LEAVE A TOWN). TUESDAY.
WE WALKED THROUGH MAGDALENA, A
SMALL VILLAGE IN WEST CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW HOW IT GOT ITS
NAME? SPANISH SOLDIERS SAW THE FACE OF A WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN PEAK NEARBY. A
PRIEST WITH THEM WAS REMINDED OF A SIMILAR PEAK IN SPAIN CALLED “LA SIERRA DE
MARIA MAGDALENA,” SO HE CALLED THE NEW MEXICO ONE LA SIERRA DE MAGDALENA.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON WE RELOCATED OUR RVS FROM MAGDALENA TO SOCORRO. “HOOF
HIGHWAY”. AT THIS POINT I SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE GREAT CATTLE
DRIVES THAT TOOK PLACE ANNUALLY ALONG THIS ROUTE THAT WE WALKED MONDAY &
TUESDAY. THIS WAS ONE OF THE WEST’S HISTORIC “HOOF HIGHWAYS” FROM 1885
UNTIL ABOUT 40 YRS AGO. WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION, ONE CAN STILL SMELL THE
MANURE & HEAR THE COWBOYS. THE PEAK WAS IN 1919 WHEN 150,000 SHEEP &
21,600 CATTLE WERE DRIVEN ALONG THIS ROUTE FROM SPRINGERVILLE, AZ, & QUEMADO,
NM, TO THE RAILROAD HEAD IN MAGDALENA. THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS FENCED
THE DRIVEWAY, WHICH COULD BE 5 TO 10 MILES WIDE, & DRILLED WATER WELLS EVERY
10 MI. WEDNESDAY.
I TOOK RUTH TO ALBUQUERQUE FOR A 6 A.M. FLIGHT BACK HOME TO CHECK ON OUR HOUSE
& VISIT OUR GRANDKIDS IN LITTLE ROCK. DICK & I DECIDED TO TAKE THE DAY
OFF TO REST. THE DAY OF REST TURNED INTO A BUSY DAY. I VISITED THE FRIENDLY
SOCORRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOLK. WHILE AT THE CHAMBER I WAS INTERVIEWED BY A
REPORTER FROM THE SOCORRO MOUNTAIN MAIL NEWSPAPER. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THIS
HAPPENED TO BE THE DAY FOR THE WEEKLY SOCORRO ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON. I MET SOME FASCINATING
PEOPLE AT THE ROTARY LUNCH AND WAS GIVEN A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT
HABITAT. (SEE PHOTO WITH ROTARY PRESIDENT MARJ AUSTIN).
AFTER LUNCH I WAS CONTACTED BY THE SOCORRO EL DEFENSOR CHIEFTAIN
NEWSPAPER FOR AN INTERVIEW. WEDNESDAY WAS A GREAT PUBLIC AWARENESS DAY FOR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THURSDAY
& FRIDAY. WE WALKED INTO SOCORRO
& ENDED OUR WALK ON HIGHWAY 60. IN THE PAST FEW DAYS WE HAVE DROPPED OVER
3,000 FT IN ELEVATION & CAN BREATHE EASIER. WE’VE BEEN ON HWAY 60 SINCE WE
LEFT CA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW HOW SOCORRO GOT ITS NAME? IN 1598 A GROUP OF
SPANISH EXPLORERS CAME UP THROUGH THE INHOSPITABLE DESERT, AND AS THEY EMERGED,
THE PIRO INDIANS GAVE THEM WATER & FOOD. SO THE SPANIARDS NAMED THE PLACE
SOCORRO WHICH MEANS “HELP” OR “AID”. THERE YOU HAVE IT! AT
SOCORRO WE PICKED UP HWAY 1 SOUTH TO THE SMALL VILLAGE OF SAN
ANTONIO, BIRTHPLACE OF CONRAD HILTON. ON MONDAY WE WILL WALK EAST ON HIGHWAY
380 TOWARD CARRIZZO, ONCE AGAIN IN VERY DESOLATE COUNTRY. SATURDAY.
COULDN’T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE DOWN TO LAS CRUCES (2 HR DRIVE) AND
WATCH MY GRANDSON PLAY BASEBALL (DOUBLE HEADER). GOOD BREAK FROM WALKING. SUPPORT TEAM. YOU ASKED FOR A PICTURE OF THE HIGHLY SKILLED & DEDICATED TEAM BEHIND THE SCENES WHO KEEPS THE AMAZING ATHLETES MOVING ALONG. WELL, I’VE INCLUDED A COUPLE OF PICS. THAT’S CAROL WITH THE LAUNDRY BASKET AND RUTH WITH THE ROASTING PAN. (SEE PHOTOS) PLEDGE REMINDER. DON’T FORGET YOUR PLEDGE FOR THE “COAST TO COAST WALK” HABITAT HOUSE. 1 CENT/MILE = $27; 2 CENTS/MILE = $54 3 CENTS/MILE = $100, ETC, ETC, ETC. MAIL TO
HABITAT, PO BOX 171, HOT SPRINGS, AR 71902. YOUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Week 10 - May 18 thru May 24, 2008 WALKING AMBASSADORS FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THAT’S WHO WE ARE, AND WEEK 10 HAS BEEN FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE AMBASSADORS. THE COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SPRINGERVILLE, AZ, GAVE US A WARM RECEPTION AND FOLLOWING THE SERVICE A LADY GAVE US A CHECK FOR $50 FOR “OUR HABITAT HOUSE”. AT A POTLUCK DINNER AT THE BEAR PAW RV PARK, EAGER, AZ, WE RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS OF $100 AND $27. AT OUR RV PARK IN PIE TOWN, NM, A COUPLE GAVE $57 FOR “OUR HOUSE”. WHILE AT PIE TOWN, A CONTINENTAL DIVIDE HIKER GAVE US $20 BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN OUR MISSION. SNOWSTORMS. WE HAVE WALKED IN SNOW STORMS BOTH THURSDAY & FRIDAY (SEE PHOTOS). ON FRIDAY MORNING WE BEGAN WALKING AT 6 A.M. JUST EAST OF PIE TOWN WITH MODERATE SNOW FALLING AND WIND CHILL OF 20 DEGREES. THE SNOW INCREASED THE FURTHER WE WALKED. FINALLY, RUTH CAME OUT TO RESCUE US AFTER ONLY 8 MILES OF WALKING. ALMOST 4 INCHES HAD FALLEN AND SNOW PLOWS WERE OUT. THE NEW SNOW ON THE PINES REALLY MADE A BEAUTIFUL WINTER SCENE HERE IN LATE MAY. FRIDAY WAS TRULY A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE. DATIL, N.M. (WE WALKED THROUGH DATIL TODAY, 5/24) DATIL BECAME A COMMUNITY IN 1884 AS A STOP ON THE WAGON ROAD BETWEEN QUEMADO & MAGDALENA. THE BEEFSTOCK TRAIL, A LIVESTOCK TRAIL, WAS THE ROUTE OVER WHICH THOUSANDS OF CATTLE AND SHEEP WERE DRIVEN TO THE STOCKYARDS IN MAGDALENA TO BE HERDED ONTO TRAIN CARS. FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THE US ARMY HAD A POST HERE TO PROTECT THE RANCHERS FROM APACHE RAIDS. HIGH POINT OF MY WEEK. TWO OF OUR KIDS AND 6 OF OUR GRANDKIDS CONVERGED ON MAGDALENA, NM, FOR A VISIT. (NO THEY DIDN’T ALL SLEEP IN THE RV. THEY GOT MOTEL ROOMS). WE KNEW OUR SON, RICK & HIS FAMILY WERE COMING FROM LAS VEGAS, BUT WE WERE SURPRISED TO SEE OUR DAUGHTER, JONNA FROM LAS CRUCES, NM, DRIVE UP. JONNA’S HUSBAND, BOBBY, IS ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE AND CURRENTLY SERVING IN QUATAR. RICK CAME OUT TO JOIN US FOR A DAY’S WALK. RICK IS AN AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT AND FLIES AN F-15E STRIKE EAGLE FIGHTER JET. TODAY HE CUT HIS SPEED FROM 500 MPH TO 3 MPH. WE WALKED 16 MILES TOGETHER. AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC DAY!! TOP TEN LIST: REASONS WHY I SHOULD MAKE AT LEAST A 1 CENT/MILE PLEDGE ($27) FOR THE HABITAT HOUSE TO BE SPONSORED BY THE “COAST TO COASTS WALK” 10. I HAVE BEEN RICHLY BLESSED Week 9 - May 11 thru May 17, 2008 SUNDAY. WENT TO CHURCH AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SHOW LOW, AZ. ONLY IN AZ WOULD/COULD A MAN HOLD UP A RIFLE IN THE PULPIT & ANNOUNCE THE ANNUAL CHURCH “MEN’S SHOOTOUT”. MONDAY. WALKED THROUGH THE TOWN OF SHOW LOW & ON TOWARD SPRINGERVILLE (HWAY 60). (HIGH COUNTRY). WALKED IN STRONG, COLD WIND GUSTS (30 TO 40 MPH). THIS COMBINED WITH WIND BLASTS FROM PASSING TRUCKS BUFFETED US ALL MORNING, LITERALLY SHOVING US ASIDE. ALSO, WALKING IN 7,000 – 7,500 FT. ALTITUDE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BREATHE. WE STILL MANAGED TO PUT 14 MILES BEHIND US. ON MON. AFTERNOON WE MOVED OUR RVS TO SPRINGERVILLE, A LITTLE TOWN THAT GREW UP AROUND HENRY SPRINGER’S TRADING POST IN 1876. TUESDAY. FOUGHT THE MENTAL BATTLE. (DISTANCE WALKING IS MORE MENTAL THAN PHYSICAL). ABOUT MID-MORNING AS I WAS DESPERATELY NEEDING A PICKER UPPER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM DONNA GARCIA, FINANCIAL MANAGER, GARLAND CO. HABITAT for HUMANITY, INFORMING ME THAT A SECOND PERSON HAD PLEDGED $1/MILE ($2,700) FOR THE COAST TO COAST WALK HOUSE AND THAT OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE COMING IN. THIS NEWS SURE PUT A SPRING IN MY STEP! THEN THE BAD WEATHER MOVED IN. WE WERE IN OUR RAIN JACKETS & HOODS AS COLD, LIGHT RAIN PELTED US. WE WERE SPARED THE WORST. FLAGSTAFF GOT OVER 3 INCHES OF SNOW. SOMEWHERE IN THE MORNING AS WE LEANED INTO THE WIND AND RAIN, WE CROSSED OUR 600 MILE MARK. WE FORGOT TO STOP FOR OUR TRADITIONAL GATORADE TOAST. WE CHALKED UP 16 MILES ON THIS CHALLENGING DAY. WEDNESDAY. THIS AREA OF ARIZONA, NEAR SPRINGERVILLE, IS THE 3RD LARGEST VOLCANO FIELD IN THE U.S. AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE, ROLLING MEADOWS AND HILLS. NO TREES. WALKED 16 MILES TO THE EDGE OF THE TOWN OF SPRINGERVILLE, WHERE WE WERE MET BY A CHEERING CROWD OF 5 (RUTH & CAROL INCLUDED). THE BAND DID NOT SHOW UP. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE PARTY WAS JUDY HAYES, APACHE COUNTY REPORTER, WHO TOOK PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWED US FOR NEXT WEEK’S NEWSPAPER. JUDY WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH OUR MISSION THAT SHE GAVE US HER CHECK FOR THE 1 CENT/MILE PLEDGE ($27). IT REALLY IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE A “WALKING AMBASSADOR” FOR HABITAT. THURSDAY. WE TOOK THE DAY OFF TO REST AND ALLOW OUR FEET & LEGS TO RECUPERATE. FRIDAY. WALKED ACROSS THE NEW MEXICO STATE LINE AT 12:15 AT A BLAZING SPEED OF 3 MPH. WALKED INTO A MODERATE WIND ALL MORNING FOR A 16 MILE DAY. NOT BAD! MID-MORNING A SMALL SUV (COMING OUR WAY) PULLED OVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, AND A LADY INQUIRED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING. AS IT TURNED OUT, HELGA, AGE 76, A FREE-SPIRITED GERMAN LADY FROM LONG ISLAND, NY, WAS TRAVELING THE U.S. ON HER OWN. SHE SHOWED US HER EMBROIDERED MAP OF THE U.S. WITH DIFFERENT COLORED STITCHING WHICH DEPICTED THE SEVERAL ROUTES SHE HAS TRAVELED ALL OVER THE U.S. THIS TRIP WAS IN ORANGE, STITCHED AS SHE WENT. (I’VE ATTACHED A PHOTO) SHE HAD MADE A DUMMY FIGURE TO RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HELGA HAD WORKED FOR YEARS AS A NANNY. ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WITH THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW A DREAM. SAID SHE ADMIRED WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WISHED SHE COULD WALK WITH US. WE GAVE HER INFO ON HABITAT AND WISHED HER WELL ON HER JOURNEY. SATURDAY. 15 MORE MILES ON HWAY 60 TOWARD QUEMADO, NM. THIS IS DESOLATE COUNTRY! AND NO PHONE CONTACT. BREAKING NEWS! JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM A THIRD PERSON WHO IS PLEDGING $1/MILE ($2,700) TOWARD THE HABITAT HOUSE SPONSORED BY THE COAST TO COAST WALK. WONDERFUL!!! ROADKILL THROUGH CA & AZ: BOBCAT, DEER, ELK, COYOTES, SKUNKS, DOG, CAT, RABBITS, VULTURE, MICE, PIGEONS, FOX, FROGS, HAWKS, KANGAROO RATS, SQUIRRELS, OPPOSSUM, BIRDS, CROWS, SNAKES, LIZARDS, GROUND SQUIRRELS. A WORD ABOUT MILEAGE MARKERS MOST OF THE ROADS WE HAVE WALKED HAVE HAD MILEAGE MARKERS WHICH TELL US HOW FAR WE HAVE COME. THESE MARKERS HAVE BECOME VERY IMPORTANT TO US. SOMETIMES WE CAN SPOT THE MARKER A LONG WAYS AHEAD, AND SOMETIMES THEY JUST SLIP UP ON US AND SURPRISE US. OFTEN THEY ARE POINTS FOR CELEBRATION, PARTICULARLY THE 100 MILE OR 500 MILE POINTS. ALSO IMPORTANT IS THAT THESE MARKERS COME UP EVERY MILE AND NOT EVERY FIVE OR TEN MILES. WHEN WE PASS ONE MARKER, WE SET OUR TARGET ON THE NEXT. TRYING TO WALK 5 OR 10 MILES AT A TIME WOULD BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN WALKING ONE MILE AT A TIME. THIS IS THE TRUTH. THERE IS A LIFE APPLICATION TO THIS MILEAGE MARKER IDEA. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE THE MARKERS IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE LOVE. THE JOY IS IN THE JOURNEY! WHATEVER THE OCCASION MAY BE FOR YOU, A BIRTHDAY, SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOOL, AN ANNIVERSARY, REFRIGERATOR ART FROM YOUR CHILD, SMALL OR LARGE MOMENTS OF VICTORY, A DAY OF LEISURE, FIRST STEPS, A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET, A CUP OF COFFEE, YOU NAME IT…….STOP AND CELEBRATE THE MILE MARKER! CELEBRATE BUT DON’T STAY THERE. YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON. THERE WILL BE OTHER MARKERS COMING UP. AND THEY DO COME REGULARLY. THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL KEEP YOUR LIFE MOVING FORWARD AND EAGERLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AROUND THE CURVE AND OVER THE HILL. Week 8 - May 4 thru May 10, 2008 *REMARKABLE BEAUTY! THIS IS HOW THIS WEEK WILL BE REMEMBERED. I WILL ALWAYS CONSIDER THE WALK ON HWAY 60 BETWEEN GLOBE & SHOW LOW, AZ, AS A RARE PRIVILEGE. A CHALLENGE IT WAS, BUT WE DID IT! THE ELEVATION CHANGE IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT THE DESCENT DOWN INTO THE SALT RIVER CANYON AND THE ASCENT OUT OF THE CANYON WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK. SALT RIVER CANYON IS ARIZONA’S SECOND GRAND CANYON IN MY OPINION. (SEE PHOTOS). *BREATH-TAKING SCENERY CONTINUED EVEN AFTER WE ASCENDED UP OUT OF SALT RIVER CANYON. HWAY 60 WINDS ITS WAY UP TOWARD SHOW LOW FOLLOWING ALONGSIDE A DEEP CANYON. BEYOND THE CANYON, THE MAGNIFICENT VISTA OF BLUE/GREEN MOUNTAINS SEEMS TO STRETCH ON FOREVER. SURELY THIS BEAUTY CAN BE ENJOYED AT ITS BEST ONLY BY WALKING. WE WERE ON THE ROAD EACH MORNING AROUND 6 OR BEFORE. OFTEN THE ONLY SOUND WAS THE WIND WHISPERING IN THE PINES. *THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY THIS WEEK FROM CACTI TO SCRUB OAK, TO CEDARS TO PICTURESQUE MOUNTAIN PINES AS THE ELEVATION CHANGED. WE’RE NOW IN ELK COUNTRY. *WE RELOCATED OUR RV’S IN MID-WEEK FROM GLOBE UP TO SHOW LOW (ELEVATION 6,300 FT), WHERE WE ARE PRESENTLY CAMPED AT FOOL HOLLOW RECREATION AREA, A QUIET, PEACEFUL PLACE. BACK IN 1885, THOMAS JEFFERSON ADAIR MOVED HERE WITH THE INTENTION OF FARMING. THE LOCALS JOKED THAT ONLY A FOOL WOULD TRY & FARM THIS PLACE. THE NAME STUCK. FOOL HOLLOW. *THE GAME THAT NAMED SHOW LOW: SHOW LOW HAD ITS BEGINNING AS A RANCH OF 100,000 ACRES JOINTLY OWNED BY MARION CLARK & CORYDON COOLEY, A US ARMY SCOUT. ACCORDING TO LEGEND, IN 1876, THEY DECIDED THAT ONE OF THEM SHOULD LEAVE. THEY AGREED TO PLAY CARDS TO DECIDE WHO WOULD GET THE RANCH. THEY PLAYED ALL NIGHT WITH NEITHER OF THEM WINNING. FINALLY, CLARK SAID “SHOW LOW AND YOU TAKE THE RANCH”. COOLEY TUNED UP THE DEUCE OF CLUBS AND WON THE RANCH, THE CATTLE, THE CROPS, THE BUILDINGS. (SEE PHOTOS) THE MAIN STREET IN TOWN (HWAY 60) IS STILL CALLED “DEUCE OF CLUBS”. *PERSONAL QUESTIONS I’VE RECEIVED: (I ENJOY RECEIVING YOUR EMAILS.) HOW ARE YOUR FEET & LEGS DOING? FEET ARE FINE. I COAT THEM EACH MORNING WITH VASELINE. NO BLISTERS. I EXPERIENCED A LOT OF SORENESS IN MY CALF AND THIGH MUSCLES AFTER THE DESCENT INTO THE CANYON. WALKING UPHILL DOES NOT AFFECT ME NEARLY AS MUCH AS WALKING DOWNHILL. HOW MANY MILES DO YOU WALK EACH DAY? 15 TO 18 MILES EACH DAY. LOST ANY WEIGHT? ABOUT 15 LBS. ANY CHANGES IN DIET? I’VE INCREASED CARBS & CUT BACK ON PROTEIN. I EAT A BANANA OR TWO EACH DAY FOR POTASSIUM. USUALLY HAVE RAMEN NOODLES FOR BREAKFAST. SNACKS ON ROAD? AN ENERGY BAR. TRAIL MIX. MOST DAYS I MIX MY OWN-SALTY STUFF LIKE PRETZELS & NUTS. RAISINS, DRIED CRANBERRIES. BACKPACK? NO JUST A FANNY PACK WHICH HOLDS TWO 24 OZ CONTAINERS OF WATER/GATORADE, SNACKS, CAMERA, PEPPER SPRAY, SUN BLOCK, CELL PHONE. DOES RUTH & CAROL FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE RV’S? (A FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTION). NO, DICK & I RELOCATE THE RV’S AS NEEDED. RUTH DRIVES US TO OUR STARTING POINT EACH MORNING, CAROL PICKS US UP 15 TO 18 MILES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. ARE DRIVERS COURTEOUS? MOST OF THE TIME; SOMETIMES NOT; TRUCKERS ARE COURTEOUS. ANY PROBLEMS WITH WEATHER? THE WEATHER HAS BEEN PERFECT SO FAR. MOSTLY SUNNY DAYS AND PLEASANT TEMPERATURES. ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT QUITTING? NO. QUITTING IS NOT IN THE PLANBOOK. ROAD KILL: 2 COYOTES, HAWK, RABBIT, SNAKE, SKUNK, & A VULTURE (possibly died eating skunk). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 7, 2008 1. THE ORIGINAL GOAL FOR THIS WALK ACROSS AMERICA WAS SIMPLY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE MISSION OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND DID NOT INCLUDE RAISING FUNDS. HOWEVER, CERTAIN EVENTS HAVE TRANSPIRED THAT HAVE CHANGED MY MIND. I BELIEVE WITHOUT A DOUBT IT IS A “GOD THING”. I NOW STRONGLY FEEL THAT A “COAST TO COAST WALK” SPONSORED HABITAT HOUSE WILL RESULT FROM THIS PROJECT. 2. I AM CONFIDENT YOU WILL HELP US ACHIEVE THIS. HERE’S HOW. OUR OCEAN TO OCEAN WALK WILL BE 2,700 MILES. I INVITE YOU TO PLEDGE 1 CENT/MILE ($27) AND INVITE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. WHO AMONG US CANNOT GIVE $27 TO HELP A FAMILY ACHIEVE DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING? ONE MAN HAS ALREADY GIVEN $1/MILE ($2,700) AND IS ACTIVELY GETTING OTHER PLEDGES. 3. WILL YOU HELP? I NEED YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD IN YOUR CHURCH, YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, YOUR PLACE OF WORK, YOUR SOCIAL GROUP, FRIENDS ON YOUR EMAIL LIST, ETC. A PLEDGE OF 1 CENT/MILE ($27) IS ALL YOU NEED TO ASK FOR. WE CAN DO THIS! EACH PERSON HAS HUNDREDS OF CONTACTS & EACH ONE OF THOSE HAS HUNDREDS OF OTHER CONTACTS. 4. CHECKS SHOULD BE PAYABLE TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND MAILED TO: 5. GOD WILLING, THE FIRST HOUSE TO BE BUILT IN GARLAND COUNTY IN 2009 WILL BE THE “COAST TO COAST WALK” SPONSORED HOUSE. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT. JOHN GOODMAN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 4, 2008 - SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS ALONG THE JOURNEY - THE FIRST SEGMENT OF THE COAST TO COAST WALK HAS TAKEN US THROUGH SUCH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES INCLUDING DANGER, BEAUTY, THIRST, SOLITUDE, PHYSICAL CHALLENGE, HOSPITALITY, RUDENESS, EXHAUSTION, AND CELEBRATION. MANY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE PASSAGES HAVE RISEN TO THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND DURING THIS FIRST 500 MILES. HERE ARE THE TOP TEN: PSALM
121. “I LOOK UP TO THE
MOUNTAINS—DOES MY HELP COME FROM THERE? MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE
THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH! HE WILL NOT LET YOU STUMBLE AND FALL; THE ONE WHO
WATCHES OVER YOU WILL NOT SLEEP. INDEED, HE WHO WATCHES OVER ISRAEL NEVER TIRES
AND NEVER SLEEPS. THE LORD HIMSELF WATCHES OVER YOU! THE LORD STANDS BESIDE YOU
AS YOUR PROTECTIVE SHADE. THE SUN WILL NOT HURT YOU BY DAY, NOR THE MOON AT
NIGHT. THE LORD KEEPS YOU FROM ALL EVIL AND PRESERVES YOUR LIFE.
THE LORD KEEPS WATCH OVER YOU AS YOU COME AND GO, BOTH NOW AND
FOREVER.” PHILIPPIANS
14:6,7. “ DON’T WORRY ABOUT
ANYTHING; INSTEAD, PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING. TELL GOD WHAT YOU NEED, AND THANK HIM
FOR ALL HE HAS DONE. IF YOU DO THIS,
YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE HUMAN
MIND CAN UNDERSTAND. HIS PEACE WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS YOU LIVE IN
CHRIST JESUS.” JOHN
4:13. “JESUS REPLIED, ‘PEOPLE SOON
BECOME THIRSTY AGAIN AFTER DRINKING THIS WATER (OR GATORADE). BUT
THE WATER I GIVE THEM TAKES AWAY THIRST ALTOGETHER. IT BECOMES A PERPETUAL
SPRING WITHIN THEM, GIVING THEM ETERNAL LIFE.’” PSALM
46:1. “GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND
STRENGTH, ALWAYS READY TO HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.” ISAIAH
40:31 “BUT THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE
LORD WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH. THEY WILL FLY HIGH ON WINGS OF EAGLES.
THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY. THEY WILL WALK AND NOT FAINT.” PSALM
23:4. “EVEN WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE
DARK VALLEY OF DEATH, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID, FOR YOU ARE CLOSE BESIDE ME.
YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF PROTECT AND COMFORT ME.” JOSHUA
10:25. “DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE
DISCOURAGED. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.” PHILIPPIANS
4:13. “FOR I CAN DO EVERYTHING WITH
THE HELP OF CHRIST WHO GIVES ME THE STRENGTH I NEED.” PSALMS
90:1,2. LORD, THROUGH ALL THE
GENERATIONS YOU HAVE BEEN OUR HOME! BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS WERE CREATED, BEFORE
YOU MADE THE EARTH AND THE WORLD, YOU ARE GOD, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.” MATTHEW
19:26. “……..HUMANLY SPEAKING, IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE (GOODMAN’S TRANSLATION: TWO GUYS IN THEIR 60’S, WALKING ACROSS AMERICA,
FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN). BUT WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.” MAY THESE HOLY WORDS ALSO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE YOU! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 7 - April
27 thru May 3, 2008 Hello Friends, *500 MILES AND COUNTING!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? JUST OUT OF GLOBE, AZ, WE RAISED ANOTHER WARM GATORADE TOAST IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WAITS OVER THE HILL, AROUND THE CURVE. *WHERE ARE WE NOW? WE CONTINUED OUR WALK ON ARIZONA HWAY 60 FROM APACHE JUNCTION THROUGH SUPERIOR, MIAMI, AND GLOBE, ARIZONA. THE SLOGAN FOR THE GLOBE-MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS “ORE, LORE, AND MORE”. THIS IS COPPER MINING COUNTRY. WE WILL RESUME ON MONDAY 8 MI. NO. OF GLOBE AND WALK THROUGH THE SALT RIVER CANYON ON UP TO SHOW LOW. *WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES THIS WEEK? I’M GLAD YOU ASK. MUCH OF THE MOUNTAINOUS HIGHWAY 60 BETWEEN SUPERIOR AND GLOBE HAS VERY LIMITED OR ZERO WALKING SPACE ON THE SIDE. WE LITERALLY HAD TO HUG THE ROCK WALLS AT TIMES UNTIL THE TRAFFIC PASSED, TAKE A FEW MORE STEPS, HUG THE MOUNTAIN AGAIN. ON SOME BRIDGES WE INSTINCTIVELY GRABBED THE RAILINGS, TURNED SIDEWAYS, SUCKED IN OUR STOMACHS, AND PRAYED. BUT WE MADE IT! *WHAT ABOUT THAT TUNNEL NEAR SUPERIOR? OKAY, I’LL BE HONEST. WE WALKED UP TO THE TUNNEL, SCRATCHED OUR HEADS, KICKED THE GRAVEL, AND AFTER A REALISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE DANGER, WE MADE THE TOUGH DECISION TO RIDE THROUGH THE 600 FT. TUNNEL. MAYBE THIS WILL CONFIRM FOR SOME OF YOU THAT MATTSON & I ARE NOT COMPLETELY INSANE. *OUR TEAM OF FOUR MET WITH THE GLOBE-MIAMI HABITAT AFFILIATE VOLUNTEERS ON THURSDAY EVENING. THEY ARE SMALL IN NUMBER, BUT VERY DETERMINED TO GET THIS AFFILIATE MOVING AGAIN. SEVEN FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY THIS AFFILIATE OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS. MAYBE THE PUBLICITY IN THE LOCAL MEDIA GENERATED BY THE COAST TO COAST WALK WILL INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF WHAT THIS AFFILIATE IS TRYING TO DO. THIS IS PRECISELY THE PURPOSE OF THE COAST TO COAST WALK, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE MISSION OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, TO ENCOURAGE AFFILIATES ALONG THE WAY TO KEEP THE FAITH, TO MAKE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING MORALLY & RELIGIOUSLY UNACCEPTABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IF WE CAN DO THIS AS WE JOURNEY, THEN THE WALK WILL HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS. *ANY INTERESTING STORIES? WE BECAME FRIENDS WITH THE ARIZONA HIGHWAY PATROL. I THINK THEY’RE LOOKING OUT FOR US NOW. ONE OF THE OFFICERS SAID HE WOULD INFORM THE PATROL FURTHER UP HIGHWAY 60 TO WATCH FOR THE ORANGE MEN FROM HABITAT. FOR SURE, THEY CAN’T MISS US. (TAKE A LOOK AT THE ATTACHED PHOTO OF MY ENCOUNTER WITH ONE OF THE OFFICERS.) *SPEAKING OF ORANGE. EVERY PICTURE YOU WILL SEE OF US WILL BE ORANGE. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR COMPUTER. DO NOT SEND IT TO THE SHOP. THIS WEEK WE EVEN CARRIED ORANGE FLAGS THAT WE PICKED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE REALLY DID NOT KNOW THEN WHAT AN IMPORTANT ROLE THESE FLAGS WOULD PLAY. GOD MUST HAVE KNOWN WE WOULD NEED ORANGE FLAGS. THEY MAY HAVE KEPT US FROM BECOMING ROAD KILL THIS WEEK. SPEAKING OF ROAD KILL. I DOCUMENTED A BADLY SMASHED SKUNK ON FRIDAY. TOUGH JOB. (SEE PHOTO). ALSO RECORDED A RACCOON, FOX, COYOTE, RABBIT, LIZARD, 5 SNAKES, & A MOUSE. I CAME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD THIS WEEK & SO I TOOK IT. (I PICKED IT UP & KEPT IT. GET IT?) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 27, 2008 - TOP TEN LIST OF
HIGHWAY SIGNS THAT WALKERS DO NOT LIKE TO SEE
Week 6 - April
20 thru
April 26, 2008 -
Week 5 - April 13 - 19, 2008 - Greetings everyone. We have reached Wickenburg, AZ. Tired, sore, but ahead of schedule. Enjoying every day. Continue to pray for our safety. Email me with any questions you might have or words of encouragement. Email me. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 13, 2008 - TOP TEN LIST OF LOST/TOSSED ITEMS
- CALIFORNIA
Week 4
- April 6 thru
April 12, 2008 - * COMPLETED OUR WALK ACROSS CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK. CROSSED THE COLORADO RIVER INTO PARKER, ARIZONA, ON WEDNESDAY AND WERE MET BY MAYOR KAREN BONDS AND RANDY HARTLESS, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT. THE TOWN OF PARKER IS CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL THIS YEAR, SO MAYOR BONDS PRESENTED US WITH SPECIAL CENTENNIAL PINS. *ATTENDED THE ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON IN PARKER ON THURSDAY AND MET SOME OF THE CITY LEADERS. WE WERE GIVEN A VERY CORDIAL WELCOME, AND I WAS GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY & OUR COAST TO COAST WALK. *MET A GUY NAMED AL, ABOUT 70 YRS. OLD, OUT IN THE DESERT ON TUESDAY. TOLD US HE WAS BIKING FROM PALM SPRINGS, CA TO TUCSON, AZ. WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO MAKE THIS LONG TRIP, HIS EYES GOT A BIT TEARY. HE SAID HE WILL BE RECEIVING SOME MEDICAL NEWS SOON AND IT WILL NOT BE GOOD. HE SAID, “I CAME TO A PLACE IN LIFE WHEN I HAD TO MAKE SOME IMPORTANT DECISIONS AS TO WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO WITH WHAT TIME I HAVE”. WE BID HIM WELL AND AL RODE OUT OF VIDAL JUNCTION, CA HEADED EAST. AS WE CONTINUED OUR WALK, I THOUGHT ABOUT AL AND HOW HE REPRESENTED THOUSANDS OF FOLK WHO HAVE THEIR UNFINISHED DREAMS. MAYBE THIS WALK ACROSS AMERICA BY A COUPLE OF GUYS IN THEIR SIXTIES WILL INSPIRE SOMEONE TO FOLLOW HIS OR HER DREAM WHILE THERE IS TIME. *HAD OUR MAGNETIC “COAST TO COAST WALK” SIGNS STOLEN OFF THE MATTSON’S CAR THIS WEEK. THESE ATTRACTIVE (AND EXPENSIVE) SIGNS WERE MADE FOR THIS PROJECT BEFORE WE LEFT AR AND WERE A VERY EFFECTIVE PUBLICITY TOOL. THE MATTSONS PULL THEIR CAR BEHIND THEIR COACHMAN MOTOR HOME, AND THEN WE USE THIS CAR FOR TRANSPORTING US TO AND FROM OUR WALKING POINTS. RUTH USUALLY TAKES US OUT TO OUR STARTING PLACE VERY EARLY EACH MORNING. *WHAT DO WE FIND ALONG THE ROADS? WELL, IT IS A NATIONWIDE YARD SALE. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING OR NEED SOMETHING, JUST BE PATIENT AND YOU WILL FIND IT. NEED A TOOL OF SOME SORT? NO PROBLEM. NEED A FEW MORE TOWELS? PLENTIFUL. NEED AN AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CARD? I’LL SEND SEPARATELY A “TOP TEN LIST OF LOST/TOSSED ITEMS” FOR THE CALIFORNIA WALK. *WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT OF THE WALK SO FAR? WITHOUT A DOUBT IT WOULD BE VEHICLES PASSING OTHER VEHICLES FROM BEHIND US. OUT ON OPEN ROADS WHERE THE SHOULDERS ARE NARROW AND WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING, WE OFTEN CAN’T HEAR APPROACHING CARS FROM BEHIND. WHEN A LARGE TRUCK OR A CAR WHIZZES BY GOING 70 MI/HR WITHIN A FEW FEET OF YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HAD A BRUSH WITH DEATH. PRAY FOR US!! *WHERE DO WE GO TO CHURCH? RUTH & I ARE BAPTIST; DICK & CAROL ARE PRESBYTERIAN. THEY HAVE ATTENDED BAPTIST CHURCHES WITH US, AND WE HAVE ATTENDED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES WITH THEM. LAST SUNDAY WE ALL ATTENDED FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF THE TOWN OF PARKER, AZ. WE WILL TRY TO FIND A CHURCH THAT IS HAVING A POTLUCK LUNCH THIS SUNDAY. *HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE FOUND? ACROSS CALIFORNIA WE PICKED UP $3.59 IN CHANGE. *WALKED 77 MILES THIS WEEK. ONE SMALL BLISTER. WEATHER HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. WE ARE 3 DAYS AHEAD OF THE OVERALL COAST TO COAST WALKING SCHEDULE. CURRENTLY IN BOUSE, AZ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 5, 2008 - Walking in the desert gives one thinking time. I got to pondering this subject: What do these drivers speeding by think of us? So I put together a Top Ten List of what I think they must feel/think TOP
TEN LIST OF EMOTIONS OF MOTORISTS AS THEY WAVE TO US John Goodman ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 3 - March 30 Thru April 5, 2008 - *WALKED 80 MORE MILES THIS WEEK (AVE. 16 MI/DA) ON CA HIGHWAY 62. WE REACHED OUR 200 MI MARK OUT IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AND PAUSED TO RAISE OUR EMPTY GATORADE BOTTLES FOR A TOAST. MUCH OF THE TIME WE HAD A PLEASANT BREEZE BEHIND OUR BACKS AND COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TEMPERATURES. WE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 35 MI WEST OF THE ARIZONA BORDER. WE EXPECT TO CROSS THE COLORADO RIVER INTO ARIZONA ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9. *PARKED OUR RV’S THIS WEEK AT THE MARINE CORPS AIR & GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTY-NINE PALMS, CA. THIS HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE AROUND THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FINEST YOUNG MEN & WOMEN, AND SOME FROM HERE HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR OUR FREEDOM. THREE OF THEIR UNITS DEPLOYED THIS WEEK FOR IRAQ. *WALKING ACROSS THE MOJAVE DESERT IS QUITE A MIX OF EXPERIENCES. JUST OUT OF 29 PALMS WE READ WITH GREAT INTEREST A HIGHWAY SIGN THAT SAID, “NEXT SERVICES 100 MILES”. A SOBERING THOUGHT FOR WALKERS. CONCERNS? ISOLATION, LOOSE & DANGEROUS DOGS, ENCOUNTERS WITH DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS (LIKE DRUNKS, DRUGGIES, ESCAPED CONVICTS, ETC), NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE. WELL, THE FIRST AND LAST OF THESE CONCERNS WERE VALID. FOR MANY, MANY MILES WE WERE ISOLATED WITH NO CELL PHONE COVERAGE. THANKFULLY, THE ONLY TIMES VEHICLES SLOWED &TURNED AROUND WERE FOLK WHO WERE INTERESTED IN OUR WELFARE. DOGS? WELL A FEW TIMES, WE HAD OUR PEPPER SPRAY READY AS SOME MEAN LOOKING DOGS APPROACHED. MAYBE THEY WERE JUST ATTRACTED TO THE COLOR ORANGE. (WE ALWAYS HAVE ON ORANGE SHIRTS OR VESTS). *MUCH OF THIS WEEK’S 80 MILE DESERT STROLL TURNED OUT TO BE A TRULY BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. AT TIMES I FELT LIKE I WAS WALKING THROUGH GOD’S FLOWER GARDEN. THE MOJAVE DESERT IS ALIVE WITH COLOR. FLOWERS OF WHITE, YELLOW, & LAVENDER SEEM TO DOMINATE. ALSO, SOME BEAUTIFUL BLOOMING CACTI. WHAT A DISPLAY OF COLOR & BEAUTY! WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERY YEAR, BUT WE WERE HERE AT THE RIGHT TIME. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT OF WINTER MOISTURE. IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO KNOW THAT THIS AREA CAN BE HARSH & HOSTILE, BUT WHEN IT BURSTS INTO BLOOM, THE BEAUTY IS ASTOUNDING. *ONE ADVANTAGE OF WALKING VS DRIVING IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP AND PAY RESPECT TO THOSE MEMORIALIZED BY CROSSES ALONG THE HIGHWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IN CA. EXAMPLE: JIMMY CUMMINGS, WILDCAT DAD, BROTHER, FRIEND, POOL GUY, A GOOD MAN. WE STOPPED TO PAY RESPECT TO MASTER GUNNERY SGT NICHOLAS FORMOSA, AGE 55, SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS FOR 37 YRS. WONDER HOW HE DIED ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF DESERT HIGHWAY WHERE YOU CAN SEE FOR 30 MI EACH WAY? MANY PERSONAL NOTES WERE WRITTEN ON HIS MARKER. MOST PEOPLE JUST SPEED ON BY THESE MEMORIALS THAT WERE NO DOUBT ERECTED WITH GREAT LOVE. *ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF WALKERS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE AND IDENTIFY ROAD KILL. THIS WEEK’S: RABBIT, SQUIRREL, LIZARDS (10), KANGAROO RATS (5), SNAKES (9), AND ANOTHER SNAKE WITH A MOUSE IN ITS MOUTH. UNDETERMINED IF THE MOUSE CAN BE TALLIED AS ROAD KILL. CHANGE FOUND THIS WEEK: $1.06. Departure - March 19, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE
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