In early 2009, months before setting off on the big walk, I did some research on walking across America. One of many Google searches was “how to walk across America,” which took me directly to the page of a European man who’d walked across in 2006-07, also with a personal story rooted in the loss of a loved one to cancer. The advice I read was quite helpful, much of it helping to guide me in my early planning stages. I couldn’t find any easy way to enter into contact with the author, and after having found contact info for other guys who’d walked across (BJ Hill, Skip Potts and Greg Insco), I focused on a laundry list of questions to ask each of them on the phone. Their answers were also very helpful to me, and of course, as the story goes, I began the walk on Sept. 20, 2009.
In addition to hearing about multiple other walkers after beginning my walk, and having ultimately met Skip Potts, Troy Yocum, Ryan Powell, Jonathon Stalls, Katie Visco, Noah Coughlan and Andrew Forsthoefel (narrowly missing Zoë Romano and Matt Perdie), I was delighted but not quite as star-struck to hear of Phil Goddard, a man here in New Orleans who’d also walked across. A pedestrian neighbor who saw me with my cart mentioned Phil’s story and pointed his home out to me– directly across the street from the Royal Street Courtyard B&B, where until last Friday, I was staying. He wasn’t home at the time, and as I was to be around a few days, I put off the opportunity to meet him till later in the week.
The neighbor mentioned me & enjoythewalk to Phil as well, and the next day I ended up receiving an e-mail from him. “Let’s meet!”
Phil & I ended up meeting last Thursday night– he took me to a tasty local restaurant and bar (tasty Indian food!). About 90 minutes into our conversation and story exchanges, a sudden sense of familiarity hit: “Are you the guy that walked with the laptop, but left the battery behind due to weight issues?”
“Yes.”
“You had a sign that inspired many conversations, right? And a business card?”
“Yes, both.”
“Your media coverage worked out well, and regarding fundraising, one of your stories was broadcast to over a million viewers in Memphis, yielding no more than $20 to your cause, right???”
Suddenly I was realizing how familiar I have long been with Phil’s story: “You published a ‘How to Walk Across America’” instructional, didn’t you??” I asked, seeing the nod in his eyes, “I totally read it three years ago!! WOW!!! I can’t believe that was you! I found that instructional online and it was super helpful! Thank You!!”
The couple of hours we had to hang out was not nearly enough, so since I’ll be spending another week in NOLA, we’ll be meeting up again. Richard Noble, another walker is about to arrive here next week too. Though he’s married and somewhat “settled” now in NOLA, Phil still thinks often of his time on the road, an experience he truly loved. I invited him to join me on my way out of town, and he accepted immediately. He’s more than invited to come along for as many miles as he wishes…
Truly Amazing, how this Universe works

These are the helpful words of guidance I read from Phil during the planning stages of my walk:

TransAmerica walker Phil Goddard takes me to dinner

HOW TO WALK ACROSS AMERICA
A beginner’s guide

(C) Phil Goddard 2007

As I’ve been walking I have learned many things about what it takes to complete such an adventure, so I thought other people might benefit from my experiences.

Most importantly, if you’re even thinking about a coast-to-coast walk, or any long-distance trek, just go ahead and do it. It will change your life – and maybe other people’s – and all those nagging little worries will take care of themselves.

If you’re from outside the US, this is an especially good time. With the dollar at its lowest since 1992, meals and hotel rooms cost me half what they would have done at home in the UK.

American Discovery Trail

I didn’t use this, but it’s a combination of back roads and hiking trails running from California to Delaware. For details, see www.discoverytrail.org.

Banners

My most valuable possession was the plastic banner on my backpack, which sparked innumerable conversations, acts of generosity and, perhaps most importantly, donations. I had to undo it every time I opened my backpack, so I attached it with twists of plastic-covered wire rather than knotted string.

Blisters

These were a problem for the first few weeks, and then again each time I wore a new pair of boots. I found it was best to dispatch them as quickly and cleanly as possible rather than leaving them to get better of their own accord.

Cards

Hand out cards with your name and website address to people who give you money or are otherwise especially nice. These also act as a reassurance to donors that you’re not a con artist or fantasist, and they can see their donations on your website.

Charity, walking for

You must raise money for a good cause, so your walk isn’t just a self-indulgent jaunt and actually makes the world a very slightly better place. It doesn’t matter if you only have $50 to show for it at the end; walking for charity gives you a real sense of purpose and direction.

Clothing

Mine basically consisted of four t-shirts and a sweatshirt with my ‘Coast to coast’ logo, a pair of long pants with unzippable legs that converted into shorts, and a lightweight but warm jacket during the winter.

Don’t buy cotton t-shirts – they quickly get soaked in sweat and show the dirt. Use synthetics instead, which you can hand-wash with a bar of soap and are dry in an hour. If you start in summer, save weight by buying your winter clothing when it starts getting cold, and vice versa.

Most good motels have guest laundries.

Distances

I averaged about 15 to 20 miles a day, and my record was 32. My overall daily average for the whole trip was much less, because I treated myself to several two- to three-week breaks, taking ten months to walk 3,000 miles.

Donations

Some charities will allow you to set up your own specific fund on their websites so that people can donate online. Alternatively, use Firstgiving.com or, in the UK, Justgiving.com. They take five percent of everything they collect, but charities like them because they do all the administration and send them regular payments. Their websites also have lots of useful hints on publicizing your cause.

When people gave cash donations, I kept the money for my day-to-day expenses and made regular equivalent donations via my Justgiving.com page.

Food

I brought a little stove with me, but jettisoned it because I decided cooking food was too much trouble. However, I was able to afford motels and restaurants and travel in relative comfort; if you’re traveling on a lower budget and camping a lot, cooked food may be more important.

Footwear

Wear whatever feels right for you, but make sure it’s waterproof. I wore an expensive pair of walking boots and then, when these eventually expired, two pairs of ordinary workboots – so that was about a thousand miles per pair.

Interstates

In the deserts of the southwest – New Mexico and Arizona, principally – you may decide that following the interstate is the only option. Other routes are either non-existent or more circuitous, presenting a logistical challenge because they offer limited access to food and water supplies. Interstates have rest areas and truckstops every fifteen or twenty miles.

The police seem to be fairly relaxed about walking on the interstate, though you should face oncoming traffic and avoid walking after dark. I only used the interstate for a total of about 25 miles. I walked alongside the Union Pacific railroad for a couple of hundred miles; this follows I-10 closely, rarely at a distance of more than a mile, and has a path alongside it. Alternatively, you’ll usually find there’s often a frontage road, a path through the desert, or a wide strip of grass beside the shoulder where you can walk almost unnoticed.

Journals

Keep one: you’ll have far too many extraordinary experiences to carry around in your head for the rest of your life. And who knows, it could be the basis for a bestselling book. Same applies to blogs.

Laptops

My ultra-portable IBM Thinkpad was another of my most precious possessions. Updating my blog and answering emails made the time fly during all those long evenings in motels, and helped me to share the experience with hundreds of friends and strangers – which, if you’re fortunate enough to embark on such an epic journey, you have a duty to do. It was well worth the extra few pounds, and I left the battery at home to save weight.

Loneliness

Yes, you will feel lonely sometimes, but it never lasts for very long, and the experience of solitude can be life-changing. I found it more difficult at the beginning, but by the end I was almost dreading going back to a normal life surrounded by fellow humans.

Maps

I had a small-scale Michelin road atlas of the whole country, and tore out all the pages covering areas like Hawaii and Alaska which were unlikely to feature on my route. I also tore out the other pages as I finished with them.

As I entered each state, I bought a DeLorme atlas – sold everywhere, expensive at around $20, but very detailed and worth every penny. Again, I threw away all the pages I wouldn’t be using.

In Texas, New Mexico and Arizona I didn’t bother buying a DeLorme atlas because there were so few towns that everything worth knowing was marked in the small-scale Michelin.

And of course there’s Mapquest, one of the greatest inventions of the early 21st century. I spent hours poring over this and planning every little detail of my next few days – in fact sometimes I found myself becoming overdependent on it, and thought just get out there and walk.

Motels

Always ask for a discount. My standard spiel when I checked in was ‘I’d appreciate any discount you can give me, because I’m walking coast to coast for charity’. Nine times out of ten, the receptionist showed no interest at all, but still knocked ten dollars or more off the rack rate simply because I asked. On a few occasions, they gave me discounts ranging from 30% to 100%.

And sign up for every loyalty scheme you can lay your hands on. On average, twelve paid-for nights will earn you one free night. The best is Trip Rewards, because it covers about half the motel brands in America.

Publicity

Milk your walk for every iota of free advertising you can get: newspapers, radio, TV. You won’t get many donations direct (in Memphis, TN, a city of 1.2 million people, I was on the 6 pm and 10 pm TV news and received precisely one donation as a result), but you will get recognition when you’re out on the street the next day, and then people will give you money. It’s also great for your morale when people ask: ‘Are you the guy that was in the paper?’

Usually, my sister would send out a press release to all the local media just before I arrived, and then I followed these up with phone calls if there was no response. At first I thought the TV stations wouldn’t be interested, but I ended up getting quite a lot of coverage.

If you don’t know how to write a press release, get a friendly journalist to help.

Routes

I walked from New York to Los Angeles, but not by the most direct route. I started in June, so I caught the hot weather on the east coast and in the midwest, but I figured this was better than being in the deserts of the southwest during summer.

I also went a long way south, through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, to avoid the really cold weather in winter. I had half a day of heavy snow and a couple of ice storms, but that was about all.

Before I set off, I spent hours poring over piles of maps and planning a route, but then I decided this was all pointless. It was much more satisfying to have an overall idea of where I wanted to go, but to make most of it up as I went along.

Shinsplints

I’d never heard of this painful inflammatory condition, but everyone else knew straight away what it was when I described the symptoms. I had it three or four times during the walk, and each time a couple of days’ rest cured it.

Water

Because I stayed close to major roads for much of the way, water was rarely a problem. Depending on the temperature and the distance between water supplies, I carried between one and eight liters in bottles. These included my two much-derided but very useful lightweight aluminum thermoses, which kept the water cool all day – most motels have ice machines, so I usually put a couple of inches in the top. I used plastic mineral-water bottles for the rest.

If you’re venturing further away from civilization, you may need to bury water supplies along the way beforehand and record their location using GPS. I managed to avoid doing this.

Weight, backpack

Mine weighed about 40lb. It was rarely comfortable, but I got used to it.

Weight loss

I can think of easier ways to shed unwanted inches, but I lost around 15lb.

After a later departure from Boutte, and walking across the tall, pedestrian unfriendly 310 bridge to the east side of the Mississippi (HUGE milestone), I continued through the dark for miles atop the east bank levee, to St. Rose, where I found a midnight-friendly spot to rest for the night. Here’s the midnight Facebook post I wrote upon arriving last night:

I decided to sneak my way up to the covered, upstairs outdoor entrance platform of the second-floor door of Bread-Life Church, in St. Rose (I think). I believe I’m about 3 miles shy of South Kenner, which I wanted to reach, but I’m unsure if any discreet camping opportunities there will be as good as here. The surrounding, working-class neighborhood feels safe; no dogs are barking at me and calling attention to my presence; I’m next to a main road, yet mostly out of view; I have the height advantage over any animals or people from up here; and if seen, the worst to happen would likely just be that I’d be told to move. I’ll reach NOLA on foot tomorrow, where friendly locals have invited me in for the next week. First night outdoors in Louisiana and lovin’ it

MORNING UPDATE:
I awoke this morning to a bright blur of foggy sunshine. Of course, given the circumstances, I don’t get any “deep sleep” in these scenarios, for my mind always sleeps with one eye open– I hear all surrounding noises, I hear any cars turning and coming my way (which fortunately weren’t many). Funny, given my potential to be very visible on the 14-foot-tall perch of the tiny upstairs door platform, I figured most drivers would simply pass without noticing anything. However, in an otherwise still surroundings, movement ALWAYS attracts the eye–so even though my instincts told me to shift around and look every time a car turned my way, I had to overrule my instincts and stay still– only looking a few seconds after hearing the vehicles. I know that at least one cat spotted me, but unlike barking dogs, kitties aren’t effective at alerting the surrounding world to the presence of a stranger. Though I probably could have slept an extra hour or so, not long after dawn, I arose, packed up, carefully stepped my heavy cart load down the stiff staircase, and walked to the paved path atop the levee, and continued on my way to Nola. I write now from Metarie, halfway into the day’s walk. Nine miles to go to reach tonight’s hosts, friends of Andrew Forsthoefel, the other transcontinental trekker (since meeting, we’ve been sharing some hosts in our opposing directions). Andrew’s friends live in New Orleans’ Uptown/Touro area, and have invited me to many St. Patrick’s Day festivities and fun. If I arrive in time, I’ll get to join them for a parade.
The following pics are of my carefully chosen sleeping spot, as I arose early to finish my haul into NOLA:

Heading out of Raceland after Monday & Tuesday’s thunderstorms, Miss Claudette Pitre, who hosted me at her bed & breakfast in Raceland, called ahead to arrange a place for me to spend the night in Des Allemands. Immersed for years within the local tourism trade, she has many contacts in the area, gave some “swamp people” friends of hers a call: Arthur & Kathy, owners of Arthur’s Airboat Tours. They gave me the green light, I headed in from Raceland, and they let me spend the night in a comfortable travel trailer they keep on the side of their house. Though their evening airboat tours generally run in the $60-per-person range, they gifted me a spot on one of their powerful wind-driven watercrafts. Chad, the pilot/tour guide, showed us all around the local swamp, introducing us to local bullfrogs, nutria (20-lb swamp rat), herons, bald eagles, and gators of all ages, including babies and aggressive mamas. One of the most on-edge interesting moments came when Chad slowed the airboat next to an enormous, thousand-pound alligator, “Big Al,” the king of his territory. Big Al is just now coming out of hibernation, and is therefore easy to handle, Chad assured.

Yes, this pic is for real. Yes, this is a gator in the middle of a Louisiana swamp.

“We won’t get this close to Big Al in the summer,” Chad tells me…

(Connected narrative from Facebook photo narrative; photos soon to reach photos page of enjoythewalk.org:)
Through no other option than to simply have jumped off into the swamp far earlier, Chad, the airboat pilot, had built up built up quite a degree of faith and trust amongst his five passengers. He started the tour by steering us at high speed into docks and trees, only to shift the airboat at the last moment and narrowly miss by inches, and making it obvious that he knew exactly what he was doing in this lifelong profession of his. He proved himself evermore by powering us through grass, mud & small trees, up and over levees, gravel roads, and logs. When he pulled up and stopped next to Big Al, I was the closest human to Big Al– about three feet from Al’s monster jaws. Gators can jump 2/3 their length, and given that Al is ten feet long, I would have made a quick & easy catch. At minimum as a fear repression approach, I basically had no other choice but to place full faith into Captain Chad. Chad then told us the “Big Al” story. They’ve been visiting “Big Al” for years, since he was a much smaller gator, and Big Al has grown used to them. They don’t feel threatened at all, but they also know their boundaries. (They’re lifelong, master gator readers.) They won’t approach Big Al in the summer, and of half a dozen or so territorial gators of similar size in the surrounding swamp, Big Al is the only one who’s tolerant and “accustomed” with their visits this time of year, as he’s emerging from hibernation. Chad played with him, and then another female passenger held his tail before I did– and by that time I felt confident enough that Big Al wasn’t a threat. That said, Big Al shifted and started moving again when my hands got a hold of his tail. The reason you still see me there is because he wasn’t moving toward me!

Airboat Captain Chad

Well, after two very comfortable weekend nights here at A Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast, I made it six miles away from Miss Claudette’s B&B this afternoon, occasionally enduring some light sprinkles from the sky (which actually felt good). There was a 50% chance of thunderstorms for today, and though there were clouds in the sky, the sun was shining on the B&B, so I decided to simply move forward. For miles out of Raceland, I was walking Hwy 182 en route to Hwy 90, and I was just outside the outer edge of very dark skies. A huge, intimidating system was lurking less than half a mile away. In one direction, there were blue skies with patchy clouds. The other direction, black skies filled with terror. Lightning was lighting up one half the sky, and thunder was roaring its way over to the adjacent sunny skies. I’d skirted the storm for six miles, walking mostly through grassy roadsides, aside a sugar mill, and on a dirt road through a sugar plantation(VIDEO), then Miss Claudette and a friend appeared unexpectedly to rescue me from some light, opening raindrops.
“Thank You, Miss Claudette!” I yelled to her, asking her to simply continue driving until she reached the next pull-off from the fast, moving, narrow two-lane highway.
“OK,” she told me, proceeding onward for half a mile.
It took me about five minutes to reach her, and as soon as she left, the tolerable light rain began to quickly intensify. Within two minutes I was in a downpour. A minute before reaching her car, her vehicle well within sight, powerful winds were whipping the raindrops sideways. Completely drenched and at a challenge to stand still amidst the suddenly intense winds, I arrive to her car door and hopped in without the slightest hesitation.
Miss Claudette returned me to her B&B, where I changed into dry clothes, and have also decided to accept her invitation to remain for today too, amidst patches of more thunderstorms. Clear skies for tomorrow, so we think, and I’ll move forward then.
Angels on the path… Absolute Angels…

For more videos from today’s storm-straddling miles, see my YouTube page.

Ms. Claudette Pitre in front of her Raceland Bed & Breakfast, A Chateau on the Bayou

On the afternoon of Saturday, March 10th, after waiting out Friday’s rains and spending a third night as the guest of the wonderful Paul & Lori Worrell at Thibodaux’s elegant antique Dansereau House Bed & Breakfast, I continued forward to Raceland, just over 12 miles down the Bayou LaFourche. Two roads run directly from Thibodaux to Raceland, Hwy 308 and Louisiana Hwy 1, each on either side of he Bayou. While some had recommended that I walk the prettier 308, some avid bicyclists told me to stay off 308, and stick to LA-1. Why? There are paved shoulders on the side of LA-1– something nonexistent aside the screaming traffic around the curves of 308. LA-1 quickly won the decision.

Both coming out of Thibodaux and walking down LA-1, what normally may have been a 4-hour race to Raceland turned into nearly a seven-hour affair. Lovely locals were stopping me left and right. Some knew the story and wanted to say hello. Others were curious as to why I was walking across America. I was so happy to meet so many of the abundantly friendly locals of LaFourche Parish.
After taking a brief lunch break with the fascinating Theriot Family, and meeting four generations of lifelong family residents of their local street, I reached St. Charles, where I was to cross the bridge above the bayou over to a treacherous final five miles of Hwy 308. I first decided a pit stop at the corner supermarket was in order. Outside the supermarket, I was approached by a variety of locals, all of whom seemed to cringe at the idea of me walking any distance aside Hwy 308. Their fear of the idea was contagious– and suddenly I began to wonder if I was putting myself into a seriously dangerous situation (not unknown to the Walk). Martin, Kerry, and “Bubba” (all of whom were new to me) were adamant that I should not walk that stretch. As it turned out, Martin & Kerry knew Miss Claudette, the owner/innkeeper of A Chateau on the Bayou Bed & Breakfast, my destination for the evening. They gave her a call for me; we all talked together; and Martin & Kerry agreed to place my belongings in the back of their truck and shuttle everything forward for me to the B&B. I was free to fly fast along the side of hwy 308. This worked out especially well, as the remaining hours of daylight were quickly ticking away, especially given all the great locals that were stopping to say hello…
I ultimately found that walking 308 with the cart would have been possible, for I have dealt with far less preferable scenarios, but not having the cart certainly proved to be very helpful to me. I made great time those last five miles, especially as the Houma Daily Courier caught up to me for the story, just in time for their Sunday edition.
I made it to Miss Claudette’s at dusk, met her fellow guests, and after hours of worthwhile evening conversation, settled into the cozy guest bed in room #1 for a full night’s sleep.

Paul & Lori Worrell, innkeepers of Thibodaux's Danereau House

Halfway between Thibodaux & Raceland, the Theriot Family pulls me off the busy highway to enjoy a meal and time to get to know them. Had I not been on track to arrive to Raceland today, I would have spent at least a day or more with the Theriots.

Breakfast at the Dansereau House

Not only did Paul & Lori provide hosting to me, they also fed me very, VERY well!

I was hosted for three nights at the Dansereau House Bed & Breakfast, in Thibodaux.

Halfway to Raceland, Kerry, Bubba & Martin find out what I'm doing and where I'm going. They warn me that Hwy 308 is very dangerous over the next 6 miles: fast, curvy, and no roadside shoulders. They volunteer to give me a ride to Raceland. I have to walk all of my miles, so I ask if they wouldn't mind simply dropping my cart full of belongings instead. They insist on doing so-- which saves me a whole lot of time as my feet fly out to Raceland over the course of the next two hours. I arrived shortly after dark.

I’ve been contacted by multiple sources regarding the appearance of the story of Andrew Forsthoefel & I meeting in Franklin.
Andrew is walking across America collecting stories from people of all walks of life. He walked by me just before 10 AM in Franklin, Louisiana, as I was simply standing outside, soaking up the morning sunshine, doing some yoga stretches, and getting a general feel for when I may wish to leave for the day, and how far I may wish to walk that day. I didn’t have any of my gear on me, but as he was a clean-cut guy carrying a backpack, with flags and a sign attached, I simply had to stop and ask him what he was doing.
“I’m walking across America, collecting stories,” he told me, “I began in Philadelphia; I’ve walked over 1,400 miles, and I’m headed to California.”
“Well, can I invite you inside for a glass of water? I have bananas too…”
“Sure!” Andrew enthusiastically tells me. “Did you compete in the Ironman race?” Andrew asked me, noticing the shirt given to me by a friend in Austin.
“No, but I think you’re gonna like my story more than that…” I invite him inside, and as he’s immediately impressed by the interior of Paul’s house, I explain that the house isn’t mine (how was he to know any different?), and that I was actually an invited guest of Mr. Paul. I escort Andrew to the living room, where my cart full of travel gear was residing, WALKING ACROSS AMERICA signs attached, and pointing it out to him, I explained: “this is what I’m doing!”

"By-chance" encounter with Andrew Forsthoefel, also walking across America, in Franklin, Louisiana.

Collecting stories as he walks across America, Andrew takes a few minutes to grab mine

Hosts Paul & Michelle take Andrew & me out to rural Acadia, introducing us to, among other things, delicious Japan plums!

Getting ready for the interview with Morgan City TV 22

Saying Goodbye. 2 men walking across America bid one another farewell before proceeding in their opposing directions. We'll definitely be staying in touch!

Well, after a 14-mile Monday, a 27-mile Tuesday, and 17-mile Wednesday, it’s time to take Thursday off here at Thibodaux’s Dansereau House, where wonderful innkeepers Paul & Lori Worrel have invited me to spend two nights before I continue my walk into New Orleans. Not only is my body aching and in need of a physically light day, I also can definitely use this great opportunity (especially with their wifi) to update the blogs and photos here on enjoythewalk.org.

This week’s story of the lovely encounter with Andrew Forstoefel, whom I met as he was passing through Franklin on his walk across America to collect the fascinating stories of everyday Americans, is now a tale being broadcast by news organizations across the United States and beyond– 188 stories from newspapers and stations across America and beyond can be found just on Google News. So, this is the perfect time to fill in many of the digital blanks with some of the very BEST selected moments of not only the past week, but also further back as well.

After a wonderful morning radio interview with local KBIT here in Thibodaux, I’m also preparing for up to three more interviews today in Thibodaux. People here have beautiful hearts and souls, and I feel very fortunate to have the chance to meet so many of them!

While it’s true that enjoythewalk.org was created to inspire you, and inform you of the Walk of Inspiration Across America, it’s also true that as I continue through the Walk, there is no handy smartphone app that allows me to easily update this website. Therefore, after reviewing this website, despite the fact that I update the news feed on enjoythewalk’s homepage frequently, blogs and photo updates typically have to wait till I find a location with wifi and have a day off. That said, there is a Facebook app on my smartphone, and I can typically deliver in-depth updates about the Walk, on a daily basis. Easily done with the smart phone app. If you’d like the quickest and in-depth, interactive updates about the Walk, I’d love for you to make the connection with me on Facebook. There is a link on the homepage of enjoythewalk.org; also, you can follow the walk on either www.facebook.com/enjoythewalk (the Walk page) and/or www.facebook.com/georgethroop (my personal page). You can subscribe to my personal page and/or “friend” me.
I’d LOVE to hear from you!!
Much Light & Best Wishes!!

George Throop

Earlier in the week, when I checked on line for what today’s weather was predicted to be, I not only saw storm clouds and lightning bolts, but I also saw the rare, extreme-weather exclamation points shouting out. Chances of the storm reaching us were 60-80%, so ahead of time, Nathan Landry, who’s hosting me in New Iberia, invited me to stay till the advisories evaporate. Well, by yesterday afternoon, the sky looked promising enough, so I walked to Jeanerette, to which I arrived after dark. After work, Nathan swung by and picked me up, bringing me back to his home in NI. Today, amidst stronger warnings, NOTHING came to pass. Sadly, Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana were pounded by tornadoes . My blessings to them all.
Though the forecast continues to call for potential thunderstorms and Friday and Saturday, I’m ready to leave tomorrow, but without a sure morning ride back to Jeanerette (Nate will be unavailable), I’m unsure if I’ll be able to make it to Franklin on foot tomorrow or not.
Over the course of the next 120 miles between Jeanerette and New Orleans, I haven’t a single invitation secured, but won’t be the slightest bit surprised if I still end up receiving invitations on more of these nights than not– that’s how great the people have been to me– especially true here in southern Louisiana.
While it’s certainly true that I first prefer to begin any given day’s miles with the security of knowing just where (with whom) I’ll be ending up at the end of the day, many times I have also simply just had to walk on into whatever scenario(s) will unfold. Inevitably, I’ll be meeting some helpful people on the road ahead of me. I’ll also continue to contact any B & B’s, Chambers of Commerce, Churches, and I’m about to attempt to contact The Lions and/or Kiwanis as well. I know very little about them, and am interested in learning more. Perhaps this will come as a result of being hosted by any of them…(?)
I’m excited to learn what/whom the path ahead will bring!!