While walking across Harford County, the Baltimore Sun caught up to me at the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company and printed this story: Man’s cross country trek stops in Harford to promote healthy living.
Monthly Archives: October 2013
Baltimore Bike Party!!!
Not only one of the sweetest, soul-widening experiences of the entire Walk, but of my life, I’d say.
On the final Friday of every month, hundreds of smiling spirits from within and outside of Baltimore converge in the heart of Charm City for a 10-mile, 7:30 PM bike ride through both busy and abandoned streets of Baltimore, “good” and “hood.” Hundreds of citizens of all economic stripes come together into one big, awesome bike party to generate and spread the consciousness-expanding happiness across many miles of Baltimore–a new route each month, through sidewalks of wealth and of ill health. All are invited, all hearts are lighted.
Host Carlo Rago heavily insisted I stick around to participate in Baltimore’s October Bike Party, and host Eddie Bee provided me with a bike to do so. Wow, WoW, and WOW!!!!
I’m not sure exactly who organizes Baltimore Bike Party, but what’s clear is that their efforts have continued to inspire a fantastic community to flourish in happy, healing Charm City. ♥
Photo: Baltimore Bike Party
Photo: Baltimore Bike Party
Photo: Baltimore Bike Party
Host Carlo Rago tells me Bike Party is a favorite aspect of Baltimore culture: “instantly addicting.”
Eddie Bee, another Baltimore host, lent me a bicycle for the off-the-route excursion…
Bike Party with Carlo Rago!
Bike Party on Halloween week, where we also meet up with wonderful CSers Michelle and Maegan, mother and daughter, appropriately dressed 
Intro to Baltimore with Eddie Bee
Host Eddie Bee was the first to welcome me to Baltimore. A fascinating guy, Eddie invests in Baltimore’s “broken” communities, fixing up and living in abandoned properties in transitioning inner city neighborhoods. Eddie hosted for three nights–it was really great getting to know him while in town, and his personalized tour of the city was perhaps the best urban tour I’ve been given anywhere in America. Eddie is very inspiring–I may even end up following in his footsteps!
Baltimore
On what was about 20k for the day, coming up Hwy 2 from Glen Burnie, here is a pic from Batlimore’s famous inner harbor
Many more pics are being taken in this instantly-fascinating, ultra-friendly and culturally rich city. More will soon be posted… :)
Mi Luz!!
What a FANTASTIC treat!! I always love it when Rocio joins me on the road!! (This weekend in Maryland.)
Let’s Finally Get to Know Each Other! (Cipolla Family at Fort Meade)
I hadn’t met them before my final afternoon on foot into D.C.; however, Guy, Katy and daughters Nina & Lily joined me for that final afternoon of June 22 as I made my way across the Potomac River, through the National Mall and to the front of the White House. Friends of Christal Bardfield, whom I also met that afternoon, they’ve invited me in as I continue the journey from D.C. to the Atlantic– given that they live on my route, at Fort Meade.
We met this afternoon after only about 10k from Laurel. After they took me to pick up a free basket of groceries far from my route, we spent hours getting to know each other over the course of the evening. Guy & Katy have many interesting stories of getting to know each other at a small town Nebraska high school, meeting again years later, getting married and shuttling all over the country with the Army over the course of a dozen busy years. Daughter Nina has athrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis. Her form, affecting her feet and wrists, is more mild than that of Stetson Bardfield, the happy, polite 12-year-old boy whom I also met as he and family joined me on that final day into D.C.
I’m hoping to inspire them to host more “strangers” in the future!!
Dad (Guy), Nina, Lily and Mom (Katy)!
After dinner, Nina & Lily go to their “office” to design some beautiful pictures for me!
Thank You, Nina!!
Thank You, Lily!!
As both Nina & Lily are huge fans of Pokemon, I can’t tell you how many times I submitted to “electro-shocks” from Pikachu!! –Once Lily learned she had that electro-shock power, she’d use it again, and again… and again!! Eventually, Mom taught me how to put up a “defense shield” against Pikachu’s electro-shocks
Conscious Corner!
I enjoyed a wonderful experience today meeting the staff of Roots Market, who not only gave me a gift certificate for a basket of healthy groceries, they also provided a tour of the store and explained their “Conscious Corner.”
Host Katy Cipolla and her daughters came and enjoyed the tour and the market as well.
Staff member Katie, who studies integrative nutrition at a nearby college, explained the very sustainable approach of the business at Conscious Corner in Columbia, MD. They not only provide rich food to the community, they also feature high quality dog food, a vegan restaurant, and clothing and housewares for men and women. Wonderful people!!
How Do You Spell Darren?
“How do you spell ‘Darren’,” one Darren asks the other.
“D-A-R-R-E-N.”
“YES!!” they proclaim, as they both slap a strong high-five.
Darren Hoppert (left), who hosted me in Laurel, Maryland, came out to walk the final five miles with me to his Laurel home Tuesday night.
The other Darren– Darren B (right)– saw the signs and stopped us to hear the fuller story. Having quickly learned that one another was Darren, I learned that most Darrens don’t meet many other Darrens, and when they learned that they each spelled “Darren” in the easiest and simplest way, they gave each other this unique, “I-feel-you” high-five as they carried on that: “there’s no need for the letter ‘Y’ in Darren; no need to split ‘Darren’ into two words (e.g. Dare-Rynn),” etc. I don’t know that I’ll ever again be privileged to such a closely concurring conversation between freshly met Darrens, lol.
I went on to enjoy hours of conversation with Darren Hoppert– hearing of many motorcycle travels he’s done around the world, and hearing of many more places he’ll be journeying to across the years that come.
As he walked the first couple miles with me out of Laurel yesterday, at the farewell-for-now moment, he said, “I feel like I should say something…or something…” (unsure of what).
Me: “Just the fact that you’ve walked with me speaks so much greater than words, Darren– I love it when people walk with me!”
Ahh, GREAT people– and many more to come!!
Lending a Hand in MaryLand!!
Henry presents me with some food for the road, from Maryland’s Potomac Adventist Book & Health Food Store. Thanks Guys!!!
Of the many diverse religious experiences I’ve participated in across the miles, without a doubt I must say that the Adventists have an absolutely superior diet compared to all other Christian churches I’ve attended.
Host Anupam creates magic in the kitchen
Fork, spoon and knife have been the eating tools I’ve used for as long as I can remember. Though I’ve used chopsticks many times, I’ve never felt quite so comfortable with them. Tonight, however, a new and unexpected twist came along: eating rice, sauces, toppings, yogurt, etcetera with the raw hands, as natives of India eat. Hosts Anupam and Rohit, grad students at the University of Maryland’s College Park campus, actually put silverware next to my plate for me to use. However, as I saw them comfortably digging in with the right hand, skillfully shoveling loads of tasty Indian cuisine from plate to mouth, I couldn’t help but join them– especially since I felt a bit out-of-place being in such an environment for the first time.
Surprisingly, channeling a variety of running food types from plate to mouth was harder than I thought. Just grabbing a pile from the plate (caveman style) and shoving into the mouth makes one look and feel fresh from the abyss. They showed me how to skillfully scoop and grab with the first three fingers, and use the thumb to cleanly shovel it all into the mouth. (Fun stuff!!)
Anupam and Rohit are not only hosting me, they’ve invited me to a pair of out-of-this-universe, home-cooked Indian meals that Anupam has made. (WOW!!!) I’ve enjoyed many a meal in Indian restaurants, but I don’t know that I’ve ever enjoyed Indian food as delicious as Anupam’s…
The whole experienced unexpectedly brought “finger-licking good” to a whole new level!!!
Farewell, Fabulous New Friends!!
Saying farewell to D.C. meant saying farewell to many fabulous friends, new and familiar. Among these wonderful people are Kristin Olson (big smile, red scarf) and roommates Shannon, Chelsea and Joel (not pictured: Graham and Josh).
During my time off, Kristin and her staff at the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund reached out to me and invited me to their DC Cancer 5k, which was taking place on my birthday . I was happy to be back in time to join their 5k (Rocio came too!!), and was also warmly invited into the home Kristin shares with five wonderful and inspiring roommates.
I ended up spending three weeks in the greater DC area, working with local cancer-related organizations in addition to catching up with lovely peeps, doing digital work, and getting my body back up to speed for the many miles to come…
Though we may never be living within (easy) walking distance of one another’s homes, I love the soul-expanding feeling of gaining new lifelong friends .
Farewell for now, Chelsea, Kristin & Shannon!!
Up ahead in the distance…
The Basilica
Final steps from D.C., the other side of the street lies the next state: Maryland.
Welcome to Maryland– my kind of place!