Kansas part II ended Dec.15, 2003, upon entering Nebraska. 1,507 miles were walked. 69 nights I was safe, and 56 I was homeless and unsafe.
Total days in Kansas were 136 with 73 safe nights and 63 unsafe. Total miles were 1,683, the most of any state so far.
In Christ’s love,
Don
August 2003
Colorado Part IV and Colorado Grand Totals
Dear Friends,
Reality set in very quickly at 2pm on July 10th, going from ten straight days of air conditioned comfort to 95 degree heat. After exiting Ludwicks vehicle it was difficult. In the sun where I walked most of the time it was 115 - 120 degrees, Phew!!! This was the story of the rest of Colorado, it was upper 90's to lower 100's every afternoon. Denver was smoggy too.
Much thanks to Steve and Susan Goering; Boulder Mennonite Church; Michelene, Bruce, Geral and Asher Fast; Ellen Delano and Wayne Morrison; Sandy Sanborn; Julie Liggett; Les and Bonnie Shenefelt; Phyllis Tribby; George and Betty Over; Rachel Deim; Prince of Peace COB; Sarah Leatherman Young; Janet and Tom Crago; Patsy and Carl Koop; Western Plains District Conference; and Ken and Margie Ullom, for all the food and housing and hospitality. Big thank you's to George Over and Sarah Leatherman Young for typing and e-mailing for me.
I was blessed when a BVSer in Denver stopped while riding her bicycle on the same street I happened to be walking on. It was my pleasure to get to know Rachel Deim. She carried my pack over nine miles and walked with me over one and half miles before taking my pack. She has the women's record for both walking with me and carrying my pack. Rachel has been working at Bridgeway in Denver and soon will be heading back home to Switzerland.
While at District Conference in Pueblo I experienced the best children's message ever. Skeeter and Adele McConnell are something else.
Colorado part IV ended August 13, 2003 when I entered Kansas for the second time. In between there were 20 safe nights and 14 unsafe ones. The Colorado Part IV miles totaled out to be 341.
The state of Colorado grand totals are 96 days and 1,233 miles were walked. The total safe nights were 56 along with 40 unsafe.
In Christ Love,
Don
July 2003
Kansas Part I, Nebraska Part I, Colorado Part III and Annual Conference, Boise, Idaho
Kansas – Part I
Dear Friends,
On May 31st the walk entered western Kansas for the first time. Eleven days later I exited after walking 176 miles. Seven nights were spent in culverts, abandoned buildings, under vehicles, etc. and four were spent in a safe home.
There was an old truck with a 1954 license tag still attached with the motto: “Kansas, The Wheat State”. Why Kansas changed this license plate sure doesn’t have anything to do with a lack of wheat. Many farms are 1000’s of acres. Some depend on timely rainfall and others irrigate. Either way you better go eat your Wheaties, ‘cuz there is wheat growing everywhere.
I had a very difficult time due to humidity, high heat, hail, tornadoes, pounding rain, wet camping gear, ticks, mosquitoes, snakes and few safe places to sleep beyond the COB.
Also, mountainous terrain fires me up, and Kansas is pretty flat.
Much thanks to Dorothy and Richard Akers; Galen and Cindy Penner; Kathy and Jim Applegate; and the Maple Grove COB for accommodations, food, water, company and other acts of loving kindness.
Lord willing, I’ll be back in Kansas mid August. Any state that still has 3-seater outhouses and super sunrises and sunsets is worth returning to.
Nebraska – Part I
When one leaves Kansas for Nebraska it’s hard to tell except for going from Jayhawk to Cornhusker country. Same weather, same wheat, same flat to rolling topography.
I entered Nebraska June 11 and left June 18. Two nights were in unsafe places like the old farm truck I slept in after escaping a 60 m.p.h. dust, rain, lightning and hail storm one evening and five nights I was safe. 105 miles were walked that week. Walking west again wasn’t very appealing, and with similar environmental conditions as in Kansas, walking continued to be very difficult.
Thanks to Alberta Grosbach; Lois and Marlin Wine; Duane, Tina, Rebecca and Joel Grosbach; The Palisade United Methodist Church; The Enders COB; Dallas and Charlotte Wine; Jan Schultz; Olan Wallin and Francis Baker for the love and kindness shown to me in many ways. Lois Wine walked for 10½ miles, good for the fifth farthest anyone has walked with me over the entire walk. Three cheers for Joel Grosbach who as a teenager has decided to continue farming the family farm. This makes it possible for the rest of us to continue eating from God’s creation.
Colorado – Part III
June 18 to July 1, a total of 13 days, were walked again in Colorado. Nine nights I was taken care of and four were spent outside in less than ideal conditions. I continued to walk in a westerly and uphill direction back to the edge of the Rockies for 186 miles. The humidity and severe storms lessened as the mountains got closer, although the heat continued.
The Haxtun COB; The Fleming Colo. United Methodist Church; Barbara and Ron Michieli; Bob, Mindy, Randy, Bradley & Brian Nuse; Byron and Eula Frantz; Cheryl and Joel Brumbaugh-Cayford; Eva and Dave Klink; and the Northern Colorado COB helped me with lodging, food, laundry, visiting me on the highway, and more. Thanks to everyone.
A special thanks to Ken and Paula Frantz and children. Not only did they supply pizza and ice cream “on the road”, but Nathan and Rachel walked a couple of miles with me.
A very special thanks to the baby English Sparrow who showed me God’s love.
2003 Annual Conference – Boise, Idaho
George and Katherine Eisele of the Antelope Park, Nebraska COB picked me up near Mead, Colorado July 1 and transported this walker about 800 miles to Boise via Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. Dan, Amy & Gloria Ludwick and friend Lydia of the Smith Creek, WV COB returned me to Mead via the same route 9 days later. Much thanks, for what would have taken me 4 months to walk, y’all drove in 2½ days.
In between those two rides I walked 10 miles in Idaho. Thanks to the Mt. View COB in Boise and David McKellip for housing the first two nights. Many others took care of me later on and I’m very grateful. Praise God I survived my time there. Now I’m trying to get back in shape again after riding and being air conditioned for a week and a half.
In Christ’s love,
Don
June 2003
Utah and the beginning of Western Plains District. (Colorado parts I & II, and northern New Mexico)
Dear Friends,
Utah, Colorado and New Mexico can be described in one word: WINDY! Phew-wee! Praise God, as over one-fourth of the time the wind was at my back. A big "Thank You!" to George Eisele of the Antelope Park congregation in Lincoln, Neb., for making the original church contacts in the Western Plains District.
Utah
The walk entered Utah March 9 and exited 388 miles later on April 1. Of the 23 nights, 19 were spent in the usual unsafe places like abandoned buildings, culverts, and bridges, while four were safe courtesy of Marty, Heidi, Gordon, and Gabe Shelton-Jenck. They reside in Sandy, Utah, near Salt Lake City, and their hospitality helped balance the negativity I received much of the rest of the time. Marty is pastor of Community of Grace Presbyterian in Sandy, and I was blessed to work with the sr. high youth, and the little ones, too.
I wouldn't recommend walking and sleeping outdoors in the Salt Lake City area during the time kidnapped Elizabeth Smart was found. It became open season for drifters and transients. One cop seemed to be trying out for the NYPD Blue TV show. That was a night I'd like to not repeat soon.
On the positive side, Box Elder County deputy Chuck Hoffman and Utah state trooper Larry O'Connell showed me some serious courtesy while doing their jobs, which lifted me up. Also, Ron Horton, of Mt. Home, Idaho, stopped his vehicle while traveling from Salt Lake back home to say hi. I'd stayed with Ron and his family months earlier in Idaho.
Even though I had a permit to walk the freeways in Utah, not all officials were obliging. Sometimes it's impossible to convince the authorities that for me, walking the freeways is safer than almost any other roads most of the time.
Kevin and Heather are a young married couple who were broken down way out in the boonies. A busted axle put them in a bad situation hundreds of miles from home. They rescued me from a 60-70 m.p.h. dust storm that was about to turn into a 60-70 m.p.h. rainstorm. I slept in the front seat of their 1981 Ford truck and am very grateful for their Christian-like actions.
I sprained my right ankle for the third time the day after entering Utah. The torn pants, blood, and limp didn't help my image. A briskly walking bum, it seems, is better looking than a bloody, limping, bedraggled one during these "image is everything" times.
Except in the high mountains, Utah is a mighty dry state. Water was a constant problem due to pollution, the dry conditions, and huge stretches of NO human habitation. Praise God some motorists were considerate and stopped to see if I was OK. While crossing 7,500-foot elevation Solider Summit, I ate snow and drank snowmelt water. That 7,500 feet became the highest elevation of the walk.
All in all, Utah is in last place for states for me to walk through. Praise God, it was March and not July, as I might not have made it.
Colorado Part I
Tracy Stoddard of the Koinonia congregation in Grand Junction brought me water at the Utah border. She also made super arrangements for my stay in Grand Junction. Grand Junction was an oasis for me, and thank you's to Chuck and Becky Stoddard; Christy and Melissa Whitney; Deb, Steve, Jennifer, and Cary Allerton; and the Koinonia congregation for food, lodging, laundry, love, and you name it.
Before starting the 110-plus miles uphill journey to 11,018-ft. Red Mountain Pass, I retired my third pair of pants and vowed to not wear cotton ones again due to chafing. And I purchased a tiny cook stove because Rod Leard from the Glendale (Calif.) CoB sent me a gift certificate from a camping store. Thanks, Rod -- it works great. Now there will be no more smoky fires to attract unwanted attention.
The Rocky Mountains in April are gorgeous. Many peaks are over 14,000 feet in elevation, and some of the passes still had 5 feet of snow. What a blessing to have clean water. Although it was still dangerous to cross the Rockies at this time due to late storms, it was a great experience for me.
One phone call from Marilyn Kiefaber in Maryland and a few others from Grand Junction led to a string of places to stay and much kindness. There were no Brethren for almost 300 miles, but the connections were super all the way into New Mexico.
Thank you's to Marilyn; Chuck and Betty Worley; Gail and Fred Boden, along with their children and grandchildren Fred, Justin, Jason, Paula, and Shane; John Mocko; Beth Patterson; Western Colorado Congress; Kevin and Brenda Williams; Bill Patterson; Amy McBride; Lynn Vogel; Theresa Archibetk; Bruce, Nancy, Paul, and Eve Donegan; Josh and Karma Tomaska; Andy Nilson; Ann Jacobs; Scott Fetchenheir; Dwight, Lovie, Anna, and Charly Cooper; Holly and Vic Figueroa; Janice, Kelley, and Katey Sanders, and Ariella; Steve, Leigh, Maddie, and Jack Meigs; Julie from Magpies; Ross Worley, Tammy and Ashley.
To walk from a 4,586-foot elevation to 11,018 and back down is no picnic. The love and hospitality of those above won't be forgotten for a long time, nor will the magnificent beauty of the rest of God's creation I was blessed to experience.
Josh and Karma stopped to ask if I needed a ride. I said no, and explained why, and they offered pizza and liquids at their family's restaurant five days in the future for this walker. Five days for me is equivalent to an hour and a half for them by car. I eventually arrived at the Portal Pub and Pizzeria in Ouray, Colo., and was greeted by Josh and Karma and children Alicia, Thomas, and Jeremy. Also, Gail, Mark, Mary, Jeremiah, Sky, and probably others whom I didn't get their names. Seeing as I don't drink alcohol, I refused a beer and drank the next best thing with pizza (water). Man, this was a LARGE pizza. I can really eat, and have to eat a lot just to survive the difficulty of walking "all the time" with a heavy load. I could only eat half and doggy-bagged the rest.
The next morning, prayer, their love, and pizza propelled me from Ouray (7,706 feet) over Red Mt. Pass (11,018). Pizza from the night before fueled my morning, and the other half was eaten for breakfast, which fueled my afternoon. I'd planned on taking two days to walk the 23 miles of difficult walking up and down into strong winds. Man, I flew and did it in one day. Praise God!
Hey, they serve alcohol at the Portal Pub, but it wasn't a rowdy place. I don't do advertisements, but they make great pizza. Tell them you heard about it from the Walk Across America guy when you stop in.
Scott Fetchenheir busted all the walk records. He carried my pack for 15½ miles above 10,000 feet in elevation. No one has walked with me that far with or without my pack. And I have no plans walking above 10,000 feet again on this walk. The high-altitude record is set in stone.
I have a confession to make. When I walked over Molas Pass (10,990 ft.), I didn't have my pack on. I had Scott's 5-pound pack instead. So, the photo of me at Molas is staged for the camera. The real photo is the one of Scott walking. If you'd like to see Scott's face, his picture is on the link to the congregational photo page. I walked many high-altitude passes with my pack, but the one I didn't was Molas. You can find Scott in Silverton, Colo., on their main street at "Fetches" Mercantile Store. Scott lined up other places for me to stay, and he physically picked me up while carrying my 75-pound pack. I sprained my ankle for the fourth time acting like a tourist looking around and smashed my shoulder into the pavement while carrying his little pack.
Josh, Karma, and Scott aren't Brethren. They were total strangers to me, but they sure know how to dish out some of God's love they've been given. There were others I could elaborate on, too. I praise God for those that chance reaching out to others in need.
Colorado part I started April 1, and I entered New Mexico April 22. Of the 21 nights in the state, 15 were in homes and six were spent outside, including my first cave. 262 miles were walked.
New Mexico
Blue sky? WOW, this place has it. To'kahooka'adi was my destination. Big thanks to Russell and Edith Keister for checking up on me before arriving, bringing me water, and walking with me. They're combined ages total 160 years, and each one of them walked a mile or two with me. Upon arrival in Lybrook, I was treated royally by the To'kahooka'adi congregation. Special thanks to Ned Yazzie for the warm reflective gloves.
Steve Barker and Ginny Jones rolled out the welcome mat before Lybrook. I had a great time with them. Also thanks to Pip Howard, Randy Simons, and Matt Johnson.
I was told northern New Mexico has the largest natural gas deposits in the world, and lots of oil also. There are wells and refineries all over.
There is a large Native American population. The difference between the haves and the have-nots is quite apparent. Hi to the four young people I met at the Nagezzi Trading Post.
From Bloomfield through Navajo country to the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, I walked it all. I was offered much by many that didn't have a lot. Believe me, I noticed and will remember this most hospitable treatment by the general public of the entire walk.
Yvonne Wakefield brought me water twice way out in the boonies, and I'm very thankful for this gift.
I was blessed to see my first wild elk. They are big! Much of the scenery in northern New Mexico is spectacular. God is great!!
The shirt Winston Ho gave me last year was retired. Now I'm wearing one courtesy of Russell Kiester. Edith is the first person on the entire walk to offer me toilet paper. She is a brave woman, and I'm putting the t.p. to good use.
Total days in New Mexico were 12 along with 11 nights. Eight were spent in the wilds, and three in homes. From April 22 to May 3, 195 miles were walked.
My last day, at least till I go to Clovis, N.M., if invited, was spent climbing up towards Cumbres Pass on the Colorado border. Snow and wind were coming, and I was desperately looking for suitable shelter.
Colorado, Part II
May 3, during the late afternoon, I re-entered Colorado. The winds and clouds were building. I was over 9,500 feet in elevation and spotted a tiny (3 ½ feet by 5½ feet) building. This is where I weathered the storm for the next 36 hours. My candle I'd been carrying for the entire walk was used for heat and I survived, praise God! May doesn't mean the end of winter in the Colorado mountains.
It was over 320 miles to Pueblo, Colo., from Lybrook. Three more mountain passes, and I'd be out of the Rockies. The highest was only 10,230 feet. My pack frame busted for the final two times, and praise God for bungee cords and hose clamps along the highway. These gifts allowed me to continue. I've never prayed for my pack till this time, and it made it. It lasted 5,339 miles, is in sad shape, and officially retired now.
Pastor Dave Foncannon, of the Pueblo Mennonite Fellowship, hooked me up with LaPuente in Alamosa and others. Thanks to Lance, Sandra, and everyone else at this home for the homeless for their wonderful gifts. Thanks also go to the Duartes: Richard, Geneva, Wendy, and Marci; and Eugene Schultz for places to stay on the way to Pueblo.
It was shocking for me to go from winter to summer so quickly as I dropped to the Great Plains and lower elevations. I hadn't experienced 80 degrees since I don't know when, and 80 degrees is very hot for me and my feet.
There were new places to stay, like a boxcar and a bunker. The Rockies continued to be breathtaking in my rear view mirror. Shelter was still very important because it stayed windy most of the time.
As I neared Pueblo, Dave Foncannon carried my pack -- my busted pack, my heavy busted pack -- the last 8 miles. As I left Pueblo a few days later, he carried my new, lighter pack 6 miles. Dave has the distinction of being in second place for miles walked with or without my pack, and he's the only person besides me to carry both packs. It's retired, so another "feet" written in stone. Dave is the bearded one in the Pueblo congregation photo. The new pack is a gift from the Bakersfield (Calif.) COB. Thank you!
Thanks to Wayne and Esther Bowman for the royal treatment while in Pueblo. Also, to the Pueblo Mennonite Fellowship, Dorothy and Darryl Troyer for meeting me on their way to Indiana with all kinds of goodies, Patsy and Carl Koop, and Marvin Read. Your acts of kindness mean a lot to this homeless man.
My third pair of shoes was retired in Pueblo. They lasted 2,144 miles. The new ones (#4) were a half-size too small, which I've paid a large price for the damage they did to my feet. They were retired after 175 miles, and I'm now on pair #5. They were purchased by the Imperial Heights CoB of Los Angeles. Thank you!
Wild flowers and windmills abound on the high Great Plains. Got to see my first live snake of the year, a bull snake, which helps me to think and pray a lot more about where I sleep at night now. I don't want a snake in my sleeping bag. The first night with my new pack, the rodents chewed through it to get my peanuts. My old pack was 3 weeks old for the first and only chew-through of its career. I guess that means I'm ahead of schedule with the new one.
Thanks to Dan and Josie Gustamanto for their hospitality, and to Doreen and Floyd Foncannon for their hospitality and bringing me goodies out on the highway, too. Also to the Matheson Community Bible Church and especially sister Susan and Pastor Chad. And to Meryl for checking up on me.
I've had many more good experiences with law enforcement than bad. There was a real baddy in Limon, Colo., where I was physically messed with without good reason. Down the road, I will write about it in the Loaves and Fishes paper. Check www.meetingground.org, and sooner or later it will appear.
The Great Plains are a place of wheat fields, sparse population, and great sunrises and sunsets. Also, thunder, lightening, hail, and tornadoes. These are things I haven't had to deal with much from the Rockies west, but it's a way of life in this part of the world, so Lord willin', I'll adapt.
The week from Pueblo to Arriba, where the Bethel CoB is located, was eventful. Severely hurting feet while waiting for a new pair of shoes happened. Two new personal walk records were set. I'm not proud of them, but it was the way it had to be in order to keep commitments. A total of 155 miles were walked during the week in between churches. This broke the old record set last April/May in between La Verne and Bakersfield, Calif. And Saturday, May 24, I had to walk 34 miles to reach Bethel COB. This smashed the old 30-mile record set in Washington Oct. 18, 2002. Improper fitting shoes made it even worse. Praise God it's not like this every week. Hopefully never again.
Thanks to Earl and Mary Ann Saffer for checking up on me during the storms, bringing me goodies, and hospitality. Also to Bethel CoB for lodging and dinner, and everyone else who encouraged me on the way during the 34-mile marathon. A big thank you to Mary Ann Saffer, who deciphered my handwriting and helped to get this update to Elgin.
Thanks to Robert and Karen Varnam and the Flagler Baptist Church for food and lodging; also for the opportunity to participate in Wednesday night Bible study.
Thanks to teenager Sean Potteroff of Seibert for the wonderful gift of safe drinking water. He gives me hope that some kids will grow up into adults that imitate Jesus Christ.
I left Colorado on . . . the morning of May 31. Total miles from the New Mexico border through Part II of Colorado to the Kansas border were 444. Fifteen nights were spent out in the usual and unusual places, and 13 nights I was safe in a loving home.
In Christ's Love,
Don
January 2003 (and March 2003)
IDAHO AND A NEW WALK RECORD
Dear Friends,
Idaho may be a small CoB District, but it doesn't mean the walk won't be here a while. Thanks to the Twin Falls congregation, I'm blessed to be able to rest and keep out of the winter weather before crossing the Rocky Mountains next spring and summer. Because I've only been in Twin Falls a short while, there will be a large P.S. added sometime in March or April after the state of Idaho becomes walk history. I'm looking forward to exploring Twin Falls. Any town that still has two drive-in movie theaters has to be OK.
Five of the six congregations hosted me. Original church contacts were made by Jim Hardenbrook. Later accommodations in between Boise and Twin Falls were handled by Rich Brown, Joan and Loren Holloway, and Liz McCabe. Thanks to you all. It was a wonderful blessing having five places to stay over the nine days in between Boise and Twin Falls during December. The other four nights were spent in culverts and under bridges. Praise God the cold strong east winds only happened one day out of nine.
Next, I'll be headed to western Colorado via either Utah or Nevada, depending on where I can legally walk interstate highways. If you can help with places to stay overnight in those states please give me a call on the 800 number.
The Forrest Gump cap Thersea Watterson of the Pasadena, Calif. COB gave me was officially retired in Twin Falls. Not bad for 2,974 miles and 8 months of everyday use.
This easterner continues to be amazed how dry the west is. I was very surprised by the thick smog in Boise and, I huffed and puffed carrying my heavy pack while the authorities were advising not to go outside. Thankfully this only happens during the winter months so Annual Conference this July should have much cleaner air.
November 8th I crossed the Snake River and entered Idaho from Oregon. The Snake was crossed much earlier as it flowed into the Columbia River near Wallula, Washington. December 12th I crossed it for the third time and entered Twin Falls not far from where Evil Knievel attempted to fly over the Snake River Canyon aboard a motorcycle. Evil got wet in 1974 and I arrived dry twenty eight years later.
From November 8th through December 11th thirty nights were spent in homes or churches. The other four nights were spent outside. In between the Oregon border and Twin Falls 301 miles were walked.
Thanks to all that helped me with food, lodging, laundry, etc. in between Fruitland and Twin Falls. I apologize to those I've accidentally left out. Thanks to Lois and Earl Traughber; Bill and Tina Frey; Carol Bowman; Pam and Jim Hardenbrook; Don and Dorothy Hardenbrook; Nada and John Kelleher; Nampa COB Youth; Nampa COB Women's Fellowship; Nampa COB; Mildred Brown; Boise Valley COB; Rich and Jan Brown; Boise Mt. View COB; Betty and Bruce Winchester; Dale and Nelda Blickenstaff; Mt. View COB People of the Covenant; Susan, Bob, and Nick McKellip; Gary, Diane, and Brye Ackerman; Pamela and Jason Miller; George Winje and The Boise Stage Stop; Ron, Sarah, and Katelyn Horton; Alice, Jake, and Savannah Atwood; Jimmy, Nancy, Anna, and Sally Orr; New Life Community Church; Gene, Sandra, Celeste, Hannah, and Christy Kissinger; Jessie and Joyce Dunn; and the Twin Falls COB.
The walk is 11 months and 4,000 miles long and a new walk record was recently set. Jake Atwood carried my 70-pound pack 10.3 miles. Not only is this the farthest anyone has carried it, it is also the third farthest anyone has walked with me with or without my pack, and 10.3 miles is the most miles anyone has walked with me at one time. Not bad for a 15-year-old 135-pounder who is on the wrestling team. His determination to complete the mission showed me I wouldn't want to meet Jake on the wrestling mat even though I have 15 pounds on him. Thanks Jake!
Till about March 1st you can write me c/o Twin Falls COB
461 Filer Ave. West Twin Falls, ID 83301 (208) 733-3789
In Christ's Love,
Don
Idaho P.S. - March 2003
On March 9, while walking south on I-84, the walk finally entered Utah. Praise God—just like Idaho it is legal to walk next to the interstate highways in Utah. It is over 500 miles between the Twin Falls Community Church of the Brethren and the Koinonia COB in Grand Junction, Colo. The total miles walked in Idaho, including waiting out wintertime in Twin Falls from Dec. 12, 2002, to March 2, 2003, was 672. The total number of days in the state was 121, with 112 nights inside in a safe place and 9 nights sleeping outside.
The hospitality of the Twin Falls Community Church of the Brethren and others were great. Thanks to everyone including Joan and Loren Holloway; Liz McCabe; Marilyn and Tom Lancaster; Bob and Ruth Smith; Rose, Vayle, Alyssia, Sean, and Shayla Mauldin; Dee and Dave Humphrey; Don and Lois Barrington; Pharyl Smith; Beverly Reed; Christy Pyle; Bill and Adelaide Hemingway; Bruce and Rena Holderreed, Cindy and Victor Azevedo, Chuck and Fran Steinmetz; Margaret and Scot Horton, and Sissy, who let this stranger cook on her stove near the Utah border, and unidentified others.
When in Twin Falls, I highly recommend you visit the Twin Falls Community Church of the Brethren. Words can't express my gratitude for the love and kindness those folks have shown me.
Bruce Holderreed and Vayle Mauldin helped me a lot putting together a digital photo "slide show" CD for the first year of the walk. Now there is a "slide show" available for groups and congregations to see.
I became very much out of walking shape while in Twin Falls. Twenty miles a week on average without my pack isn't enough to keep me road-worthy. A special thanks to Vicki Leach and her 4th grade Filer Elementary School 50-milers who walked with me about a mile. There were almost 80 of us, and I was charged up for the rest of the day because of them. Each May, the 4th graders together walk 10 miles a day for five consecutive days. They learn science, history, and all kinds of other good things while they walk around Idaho. I wish I were in 4th grade again!
The six days from Twin Falls to the Utah border were difficult. There was wind, wind, wind, and more wind; 5,339-foot Sweetzer Mountain Pass; rain showers, sleet, snow squalls, and dust storms. Phew!
It could have been much worse, although I wouldn't recommend this as a recreational walk. Black Pine Peak (9,385 ft.) was snow-capped and gorgeous.
From the don't-try-this-at-home department: If you would like to litter from your vehicle and not cause a mess nearby, the above stretch of highway is the place to do it. If it's not heavy litter it's in the next county by nightfall. It does have to end up somewhere doesn't it?
Now that I'm in Utah there is another 5,311-foot pass coming up, long stretches of no water, and a 7,477-foot pass east of Salt Lake City. Lord willing, I'll be arriving at the Koinonia congregation the first few days of April.
In Christ's love,
Don
P.S. Joan Holloway wouldn't write this, so this last part is being phoned in directly by me. Joan did much typing and e-mailing for me. She made me feel right at home even before I arrived in Twin Falls, with her constantly letting me know she cared about me and offering to do things. Thanks again, Joan!
