Reading Time: 2 minutes If today had been Day 1, I am not sure there would have been a Day 2. I was on the road at 6 AM and saw a beautiful sunrise. As predicted, it was sand and more sand. When two hours later I finally hit some asphalt pavement, I thought my troubles were over. To […]
Reading Time: < 1 minute After packing up my tent and gear, I said goodbye to my new friend Bill in Morongo Valley and headed toward Yucca Valley, 12 miles away. My dear friend Alice Camille, a well-known and respected Catholic writer, had set up an introduction for me at St. Mary of the Valley church, and although I was […]
Reading Time: < 1 minute On a journey such as this, there will be good days and bad days. Today was a good day. I walked 14 miles in five hours. I was out the door of the High Desert Inn in Joshua Tree at 6 am, and was checking into Motel 6 in Twentynine Palms at 11 am. I […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Here’s what I have on my journey, from the top, left to right: Kelty Salida 2 tent with fly & footprint; Kelty Cosmicdown 20 sleeping bag; 4 1-gallon bottles of water; 2 1.2 liter 45degree SS vacuum water bottles (filled); 3 bottles Gatorade/PowerAde; Neckbone pillow; Tom Bihn Daypack; Tilley Airflo hat; baseball cap; REI Backpacker […]
Reading Time: < 1 minute Today was the first day I walked 20 miles intentionally, and without any pain worth noting. Frankly, when I quit for the day and found a place to set up my tent, I felt a little guilty. It was only 2:20 pm. Yet I had started walking at 5:40 am, so I’d put in a good […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes After yesterday’s 20 miles, I felt confident I could do the same today. I did. But I did not anticipate the 3.5 hour, tedious climb. Near the top of the ascent I met Linda, who did a U-turn and waited for me to approach. “I saw you walking, so I made you some sandwiches.” I […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes No way could I keep up the 20 miles per day pace given the temperature of over 102°F. The desert is unforgiving. I was on the road at 6:10 am, already tired from the push yesterday. My goal was Amboy and Roy’s Motel and Café—a modest 9 miles. As I approached a ridiculously wide turn […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes I hit the road at 5:10 am and ended five hours later when the heat inevitably defeated me. The initial ascent up Amboy Road was not too bad, and there were few vehicles coming in my direction. At 7:20 am I reached the Route 66 detour and just kept walking on the old portion of […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes I left Scott’s air-conditioned trailer in Cadiz at 7:45 PM last night, and walked for another 2 to 2.5 hours up the hill. As I was leaving, Charlie, a project manager, invited me to join him, Dave, and some others for steaks. I politely declined and got on my way. I saw the hill looming. […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes As I tried to fall asleep last night, having eaten soup and drunk fluids, my heart was beating hard and fast. I finally took some Lorazepam and drifted off. At 5 am, Scott was on his way to work. He’d asked if he could drop me and the kart somewhere to make my trip easier—he […]