Fredericksburg

Posted on June 12, 2013 by George

…Corbin, Virginia: This is the final outpost of rural America I’ll be seeing before reaching the southern edge of the greater DC metropolitan area. (I arrived to Fredericksburg hours later.)

Farewell steps through fields of rural Virginia…

Where the sidewalk starts. This was the first sidewalk of southern Fredericksburg– the southern edge of the greater DC metropolitan area.

On the southern edge of Fredericksburg, I walk past the Slaughter Pen Farm Battlefield.

from Wikipedia:

The historic, 205-acre Slaughter Pen Farm, a key part of the Fredericksburg battlefield, was the scene of bloody struggle on December 13, 1862. Over this ground Federal troops under Maj. Gen. George Meade and Brig. Gen. John Gibbon launched their assault against Lt. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Confederates holding the southern portion of the Army of Northern Virginia’s line at Fredericksburg. Despite suffering enormous casualties the Federal troops under Meade were able to temporarily penetrate the Confederate line and for a time represented the North’s best chance of winning the Battle of Fredericksburg. The fighting on this southern portion of the battlefield, later named the Slaughter Pen, produced 5,000 casualties.

Even if 6-12 inches of highway shoulder emerges, I feel very fortunate– especially in Virginia!!

Historic Fredericksburg

Caroline Street– Historic Fredericksburg.

Fascinating Fredericksburg History…

This dazzling duo ultimately inspired a stream of Fredericksburg’s fabulous fifth graders signing and writing happy messages to me this afternoon, on the back of my WALKING ACROSS AMERICA sign.
I’m very ready to arrive to Washington with the loving thoughts and words of children & adults alike!! ” <3 “

Fredericksburg’s fabulous fifth graders finish signing and writing happy messages to me this afternoon, on the back of my WALKING ACROSS AMERICA sign. (Yes, the back of one of my signs says “FOR SALE BY OWNER.” I simply put mailbox reflective letters on the other side to say: WALKING ACROSS AMERICA. That’s how I’ve done it since the beginning )

Fabulous Fredericksburg hosts Cameron & Rachel Novak!

Don, owner of Blackstone Coffee Company, in Fredericksburg, also lost his mother to cancer. He invited host Cameron Novak & me in for complimentary meals, and shared with us extensively regarding the story of his working history, including the birth of growth of Blackstone Coffee Company– from his garage to a second store under construction. His fascinating story would make for a great documentary piece!

Handmade by Don!

Happy Campers at Blackstone!!!

Service with a smile!

Mmmm!!!

Cameron is awesome on the guitar, and inspires me– I wanna learn!!

Community of Corbin…

Posted on June 6, 2013 by George

Window-rattling thunderstorms were predicted for today, so the day’s mission was to reach as far as possible before the storms rolled in. I made it nearly 20k from Bowling Green up rural Virginia Hwy 2 to the community of Corbin.

Not far now…
After nearly 4 years, this is the first sign I’ve seen giving me a distance to my committed goal. Funny that they don’t even attach the “D.C.”
Thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon, so today’s mission was to get as far as possible before the storms!

Halfway through the day’s miles comes a butterfly blessing at blacktop’s edge!

My girlfriend has “kidnapped” me for the weekend, and I’ve found that I forgot my laptop charger. I may not be able to update more till this coming Tuesday, once she returns home… (I’m SO happy she’s here!!!)

Bowling Green

Posted on June 5, 2013 by George

The Macomber Family says goodbye this morning

Starting the day on a more remote, quiet road, en route to Hwy 301 and Bowling Green.

This is the first time I’ve stumbled across a business like this:
Dana, seen here, gives car washes on this lonely rural road by lowering a bucket into the creek water below. I love it!

Virginia Hwy 301, Caroline County

Organic PB&J on home-baked biscuits that last night’s kind host prepared for me on the way out the door today. I can’t think of anything that would hit the spot any better halfway through today’s 23k. Thank You so much, Christi M & Family!!

Ten miles into the hot day, Asia greets me on the side of the road and offers me a fresh bottle of frigid water– How sweet!!

Rural Caroline County, approaching Bowling Green.

Rural VA Hwy 301, approaching Bowling Green.

Rural Caroline County…

My kind of sign!!

Welcome!

Arriving into Bowling Green, shortly before dark.

Jimy & Loyce Edwards, my hosts for a pair of nights in Bowling Green, VA. I quickly found that this is the type of couple and community that I like spending at least a week with. That said, given a tighter schedule to reach DC by June 22, I was only able to spend a pair of happy nights with them both. Jimy is pastor of the local United Methodist Church.

The Macomber Quintet of Frog Level

Posted on June 4, 2013 by George

Having met Christi W Macomber via the Ashland Farmers’ Market, and having spent time with friends of hers in Ashland, Christi and Family warmly invited me in to spend a night with them on my way up rural Virginia Hwy 301.
Being involved in the local farmers’ market, they prepared the most DELICIOUS dinner of brown rice and many fresh veggies, Asian style. In addition to walking the last portion of the walk with me yesterday, the Macombers sent me off with a handful of Christi’s famous baked goodies and homemade granola!! (Awesome!!!)

Having ventured a “lucky 7″ miles out of my way to reach the more rural Hwy 301, I was super delighted to initially find what I’ve been sorely missing for over a thousand miles: roadside shoulders!!!
Of course, the shoulders dried up within a couple of miles, but I definitely enjoyed them while they lasted!! I truly do look forward to more shoulders, sidewalks, and hike-n-bike paths as I approach DC on foot .

Gabriel’s Rebellion. Incredibly inspiring. Gabriel has become one of my historic heroes. As far as I’m concerned, I consider him AT LEAST as much a “Founding Father” as Washington, Jefferson et al…

Half a dozen miles into my day, Christi & 15-year-old son Asa join me for the final half hour of the day’s walk to their cicada-surrounded home, tucked well into the woods of Frog Level (Doswell), Virginia.

Hooray, Macomber Family!

The entire Macomber Quintet greets me at the front gate: Duncan, Christi, Asa, Isaac & Charlotte greets me at the top of the long driveway into their forest-surrounded home.

100 More Miles

Posted on June 3, 2013 by George

Though I could reach the White House in as little as 92 walking miles from Hanover, Virginia, I’ll actually be walking well over a hundred more miles between Hanover and the White House. I’ll be adding miles not only to meet friends new & known through the course of the next hundred miles, I’ll also be taking some time to walk through George Washington’s Mount Vernon, through Old Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Georgetown, and many more places between here and the White House. Be it before or after arriving to the White House, I’ll also definitely walk to the Capitol, the MLK Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the greatest cultural jewel that D.C. has to offer: the Smithsonian!
Though I haven’t decided whether or not to walk into D.C. on Friday, June 21, or Saturday, June 22, I’ll soon be solidifying the final decision, and I invite anyone who wishes to contact and join me on foot across the Key Bridge into D.C.
E-MAIL:

ROUTE:

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New Amigos in Ashland!

Posted on June 3, 2013 by George

Just before setting out to Ashland Thursday, I didn’t know where I’d be laying my head by day’s end. Once the word got out though, and kind friends and neighbors began extending great offers. I ended up being invited to breakfast and meeting the local government at Friday morning’s Town Hall, and ….

Warmly invited in, I spent Friday and Monday at Town Hall, using their web access to catch up and to plan the remaining miles between here and D.C.

…

Shortly after arriving to downtown Ashland, Jenny Schöntag first found me a safe place to drop my cartload of stuff, and then helped me arrange hosting for the weekend. Jenny & her husband, Sammy Giacco, had something cool to invite me to every day I spent here in Ashland. They even played the support driver role as I walked to Hanover yesterday!
Shown here, Jenny, Sammy & Jenny’s Mother hosted me to a most DELICIOUS vegetarian “meatloaf” dinner last night– first time I’d ever had vegetarian meatloaf– and certainly not the last.
Thanks for all your warm hospitality, Jenny & Sammy!!!

Visiting the wonderful-vibe home that Jenny Schontag had built– where she now lives with husband Sammy Giacco!

Though I still have yet to learn her last name, within only five minutes of meeting her and answering her questions at the end of last week, Ingrid invited me to spend my nights in Ashland in the extra bedroom of her cozy, antique apartment. What’s more to love about this story is that upon extending the invitation to me, Ingrid was on her way out of town for the weekend, opening her home and her kitchen to me upon saying adios.
Ingrid returned last night–and I finally had the chance to get to know her. Her story inspires me: she took a serious pay cut to become Town Engineer for Ashland. However, compared with the commercial work she was previously a part of, she now feels enriched by doing her part to serve the people of the Town of Ashland. (Go, Girl!!!)

Casa De Ingrid, Ashland, VA

Inside Ingrid’s in Ashland

Seeing the last song of the Taters at Ashland Coffee & Tea. Jenny Schontag, hostess extraordinaire of Ashland, began her singing performances with The Taters!

Downtown Ashland, “The Center of the Universe!”

Ashland, Virginia: “The Center of the Universe!”

Ashland, Virginia

Ashland, VA

Thank You: Jenny Schontag, Sammy Giacco, Ingrid Stenbjorn, Lee Wilkinson Warren, Sylvia Bradshaw, Patty Kruszewski, David Hindman, Paul Turk, Alexis Thompson, and many others who swarmed in to offer me sweet assistance on my way into Ashland!!

Hanover

Posted on June 2, 2013 by George

Today’s 11k to Hanover doesn’t bring me any closer to DC, but it takes me out to Virginia’s Hwy 301, which locals overwhelmingly recommend I walk instead of the busy, 4-lane Hwy 1. From here, the next 40 miles will carry me through the last of “Sweet Rural Virginia” before stepping into the outer reaches of the greater DC metro area…

Leaving Ashland, Virginia…

Walking Highway 54 from Ashland to Hanover…

Walking Highway 54 from Ashland to Hanover, The Flagg Family stops to give me a warm Hello!

Walking Highway 54 from Ashland to Hanover…

Reaching Hanover on Hwy 54 from Ashland, VA

Today was a "support driver day." In other words, locals Jenny & Sammy had offered to pick me up in Hanover after my 11k walk, return me to Ashland, and then drop me off in Hanover tomorrow. What a wonderful way to do it-- as they invited me to a delicious tofu meatloaf dinner that evening, showed me a favorite rural jogging route of theirs (shown here), took me by loudly buzzing cicadas in the peak of a 17-year cycle, and shared their wonderful experiences and perspectives over hours of enriching evening conversation!

Today was a “support driver day.” In other words, locals Jenny & Sammy had offered to pick me up in Hanover (population 252) after my 11k walk, return me to Ashland, and then drop me off in Hanover tomorrow. What a wonderful way to do it– as they invited me to a delicious tofu meatloaf dinner that evening, showed me a favorite rural jogging route of theirs (shown here), took me by loudly buzzing cicadas in the peak of a 17-year cycle, and shared their wonderful experiences and perspectives over hours of enriching evening conversation!

Enjoy The Walk

Walking Across America

Monthly Archives: June 2013