Center of the World? That's nothing. I'm from the Center of the Universe!
Just to set the record straight, most of the religious people I've met on this trip are totally normal and respectful people, not like the couple of pushy, preachy ones I've mentioned on this blog over the last week or so. Their interactions with me are generally run-of-the-mill: a quick "God bless you" or "I'll pray for you tonight", both sentiments I'm happy to hear. And occasionally something more meaningful happens.
I met a couple of guys, Randy and Curt, in a little park by the river in Warren yesterday. They meet regularly to just sit and think and talk about God and the world. They told me a little about their faith and asked if they could say a prayer for me. I said "Sure!" Randy took my hand, Curt placed his hand on my shoulder, we bowed our heads, and Randy came up with a prayer for me, right on the spot. It was a really wonderful moment.
Later in the day they tracked me down on the web and sent me an email, which included a line that's really stuck with me. On contemplating my walk: "We thought what a great way to go about life and remove yourself from the main stream."
I love how these guys make time to share their experiences and work through them together and just think together. Religious or not, the world could use a lot more of their kind of thoughtfulness.
Many of my nights are like last night. I ask someone if I can pitch my tent on their property, they say okay, and I never see them again. In case you were wondering what happens on those nights I don't write about, it's this. Nice, quiet, nothing exciting.
To give you a little more detail about last night, the guy who agreed to let me stay on his property pointed me way down to the far end of a field, right next to his neighbors' house. I guess he figured if I'm a serial killer, at least I'll kill them first. How neighborly of him.
I briefly met Bob (pictured), one of those neighbors, last night. He told me to give him a holler if I needed anything. He then came down to check on me this morning, and asked "You want me to fix you on up some eggs?" That's an offer I'll never turn down, so I went inside and met his wife Diane (who didn't want to be in the picture even though she had on awesome giant duck slippers) and their two dogs, and Bob fixed me on up not just some eggs, but an entire breakfast, including dessert (a jelly doughnut)!
In case a car runs off the road into this sign, these posts will cleanly snap off at ground level, reducing the damage to the vehicle.
After getting turned down by a couple of people last night, I came upon High Water Farm, owned by Scott and Teresa. They welcomed me in and told me to make myself at home, and Teresa cooked me dinner (fresh eggs from their own chickens!) while I set up my tent (they said I could sleep inside, but the tent has started feeling like home; I did take them up on their offer of a shower), and also breakfast this morning before I headed out. They own nine horses on the farm, and board three more. Their daughters Stephanie (pictured) and Amy are talented competitive riders. Lacey the horse was also supposed to be in this photo, over on the left, but ducked out of the way as I snapped the shot.
Day 28
Fun on the bridge
April 23rd, 2010
I took this video back at the Paulinskill Viaduct in New Jersey, and just got a software update that allows me to post it.
I just something.
This fragment of a letter blew over to me while I was sitting on the grass. What did it say?!
My first hotel of the trip (courtesy of a Travelocity gift card from my walking crew in NYC) and my first two days of rest! I'll be back on the road Monday.
Greg is the brother of my friend Sarah from New York. He lives in Richfield, where the hotel is, and took me out for dinner and a couple of beers at an old dive bar haunt of his. His cousin-in-law Tanner was in town visiting and came along too. We even got to see some kids hacky-sacking in the parking lot, the first time any of us had seen anyone doing that in over a decade.
Dad (right) is joining me on my journey this week. Thanks to Alan (left) for dropping him off right on my route!
I found this on the ground in Brunswick, OH. Anyone know her?
They welcomed us onto their beautiful farm without hesitation, and showed their hospitality through that most wonderful medium: tacos! Plus they had lots of friendly animals for Dad to pet and talk to.
In western PA I started seeing little enclosures built to protect kids from the elements while they wait for the bus in the morning. The shacks usually have a nice homemade feel to them, but this one was a little different.
Except for the dog in the football helmet
They let us stay in their barn to keep warm last night. Mark offered us some homemade burritos, but sadly we had just eaten. We could have had back-to-back Mexican dinners!
A good rule of thumb: If a food has x, y, and z in its name, it's probably not good for you.
to find the Big Sky.
I have been posting a lot of sky pictures lately, haven't I?
