Day Ten

Thursday, March 31, 2011
Distance: 15.4 Miles

Today was disappointing because I got a late start, it was foggy, overcast, & drizzling, and I could have walked farther. More odd things happened to me. A woman pulled over on the side of the highway in a purple Chrysler sedan to hand me $20. She barely cracked the passenger side window and slid it through the gap. I couldn't make out what she said. I think she thought I was homeless. Another lady pulled over and offered me a ride in her car full of three-ring binders. I politely declined.

I passed just north of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and every so often I heard a distant but obviously large and significant artillery discharge. I wonder now if they have a rail gun, but I suspect it isn't there being tested. Plus it would have sounded different. And the lights would have dimmed. And Vanessa Williams had a prior engagement.

Had the grey day lifted, the bits of Chesapeake Bay I wound past on US-40 would have been delightful, but instead I got a subdued sight of yet to awaken forests and rush-marshes meeting the shallow waters.

I love the comments and emails I have received. I have not responded to many yet; I do want to get back to you so look for responses in the next couple days. Writing this weblog on an iPhone is less fluid than with a full keyboard. I don't feel like I'm doing my best work. I would appreciate any style criticisms of my entries so far so I might write these entries better. If you've read any of my other writing (i.e. Auntie Donna) I'd be especially interested in your thoughts.

Tomorrow, Baltimore.

Day Nine

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Distance: 21.8 Miles

I started at the University of Delaware and quickly crossed the Mason-Dixon line into Maryland. The Wikipedia entry on its creation is fascinating. The early history of colonial political establishment vis a vis borders makes one oddly newly grateful for federalism. Imagine if states went to war today over geographic, separatist, and or irredentist claims. These things happened, 350 years ago here - a strong historical portfolio to refute American exceptionalism.

I came upon a small town proud of itself. It was quaint with well maintained homes and plaques denoting town history. Then it got weird. Two separate homeless men - one on a packed to haul bike, one with a well-laden cart - mistook me for a fellow hobo, pointing out a place for food. It was a kindness for which I was supremely unprepared.







I passed a twelve-foot fat Budha.







Approaching the Susquehanna River brought the need to find a ride over the bridge. Police Officer Dvorak was kind enough to sigh and take me over. Thank you. He offered me good luck on my trip and drove back across.

Day Eight

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
Distance: ~18 Miles

Today I made it into Delaware, over the Delaware River, in the back of a police car. Did you know that it is illegal to walk alongside an Interstate? Even if that road is also a state highway? Even if it is a bridge? It's a bingo! I was stopped about one-third of a mile across by a cruiser and then a second officer. I explained my walk and apologized for breaking the law. The officers called in my driver's license and told me I was getting driven into Delaware. It's not cheating if the police make you. I've always said that. When queried I announced the two knives in my pack, got frisked, and took the ride to a Delaware Wawa's parking lot. I thanked the officer for the ride -- who had been good natured and curious about my trip. I continued on my quest to fix my scratched iPhone camera lens by setting course for the Christiana Mall's Apple Store. Route plotted, I found a shortcut from the Map.app's satellite imagery and arrived three hours later. Genius appointment set for an hour later, I found the food court and rested. Two screws off, a new rear panel, and we are back in business.

Taking that video was the least responsible I've been in traffic.

And sunset at the University of Delaware where I stayed that night.

Day Seven

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Stayed put and rested today. Did laundry. Watched X-Files season 6 on my iPhone with Netflix. Ate. Slept. Leaving New Jersey tomorrow. More to come.

Day Six

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

Today I walked the furthest yet, 25.4 miles, from Camden to the foot of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Eating during the day was a big improvement. Energy was high, my body is still angry with me.

Day Five

I forgot to eat food after breakfast. Whoops. I cranked out the first three miles fast and started aching, the next mile was slower and without the giddy-up and mental boost of food I got in a cycle of slowing down, breaking, resuming, and going slow. I resolved to do better the next day. Plus my iPhone lens got scratched in a manner that makes it almost unusable. There is an Apple Store in Delaware and I'll get it fixed there. I carry the phone naked; it has never gotten as scratched as it did on that table Dunkin Donuts.

Before:



[Sofa King]

After:



[Car Part Man]

that is a two hour gap between shots. boo.

Day Four

Eighteen miles walked. About 68 miles to date. I'm just north of Camden. The Millspaugh's were in the area and shot some video of me walking. They returned my excess gear home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlrdRBIOhI8

The road was uninteresting, unless you are left agape and enthralled by strip malls and grassy lots. I did pass a working Superfund site. Orange booms were deployed in two spots in a river and backhoes were positioned on shore. It was set next to a steel and gravel operation. I heard once that New Jersey has more Superfund sites than any other state. Not per capita, but absolutely -- a rare distinction for a small state.

Day Three

Today was easier physically, but tougher mentally. Yesterday, in the deep-puddling hate-slush I merely had to slog through to the end. The trip's cold made concluding necessary. Today, the purpose and pleasure of the trip was in doubt, each step perhaps a folly. I am not a steel-willed person. Each note I have received from all of you has helped me persevere. Tomorrow's goal will be to start early and keep a steady pace. Let's see what I can do.

I weighed my pack and accounting for food eaten it likely weighed fifty-pounds at the start of the trip. I am accumulating a list of unnecessary weight and will be sending some items home to reduce the load. I also brought too much food (I pass a supermarket at least every two hours). Once it's eaten, I will be traveling lighter. Repacking the load symmetrically with the tent at my spine was a change my right hip flexor endorsed. My road atlas will be replaced state to state with a folding road map - lighter, more compact, more detailed, minimized off-route information, and easily exchanged for the next state. No pictures today. I seem to be moved to photography by the spirit of rivers. What should I be looking out for to think to photograph?

Distances

Day One: 14 mi
Day Two: 21 mi
Day Three: 15 mi

Day Two

It snowed during the night and morning found my tent covered. I was not expecting snow.



After breaking down and drying my tent, I continued south towards Princeton. Through the day it was, at various points raining, snowing, and hailing. My pack was wrapped in its cover and I was in my waterproof jacket.


I arrived at around nine and found a room to dry off in. It snowed two inches from seven to nine. It was a rough day.

Day One

This was an interesting day. I left home at 9:07 AM through my neighborhood, out a shortcut, across Route 24, under I-78, over I-78, and into the Watchung Reservation.



My pace was three miles per hour for four miles. And then I learned that my pack was heavy. My pace slowed, my legs ached and I took a break at mile seven. Regulating hot and cold while moving and resting is important and you have to dress for the temperature you will become and not the one you are. I continued through and popped out in Watchung and finished at the far edge of Warren. I am moving cautiously to get a feel for this trip.


I got great responses very quickly from a bunch of you and I appreciate it. It warmed me up and made me smile. Thank you all.

I'm Hiking Across America

Friends of mine:
Hi.
I'm hiking across America. Yes, I'm walking and camping across the continent. Coast to coast. The idea has grown on me over the last few months and I have decided to do it. I'm young, without obligation, healthy, and eager. I find myself tied down by only an intense, emotional desire to maximize comfort and I recognize and resolve to slice that chain of vapor and make west.

I'm leaving tomorrow morning: Tuesday, March 22, 2011. I'm excited and nervous about the trip. The nervousness has set in only recently though it has cured thick. As with you, I wonder where I will find a place to set camp each night. My planned route is fluid and ready to bend as needed. The thrust is such: head south through New Jersey to Delaware, avoiding Pennsylvania. Proceed around the Chesapeake bay on US 40 West toward Washington DC. From the capital, head west through Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and on. Through the midwest as best I can aiming for Boulder. From Boulder I want to fix a route that minimizes my time in any desert and proceed upon that route to San Francisco, California.

Demand for a blog has moved me to create one. I hope you will read and comment as I move along. I have no cause or banner to trumpet on this trek. I am doing it for myself, for my own edification, for my own joy and pleasure. I hope I will get to know my country and the people that belong to it and to me (and me to them, I have no delusions of superiority).

I have been keeping the existence of this plan tight to my chest, and I'm hopeful you all will follow along as I go. I am sorry for this impoliteness - it comes from a bit of personal oddness, eccentricity, or wrinkle of character and hopefully you find it to be a part of my charm and not an insult. I have made my preparations and it is time to begin.

Love,
Dan

Kitting Up

I started looking for equipment two weeks ago; I began buying a week ago. This is some of what I got after an extensive tour of New Jersey's fine outdoor stores - Campmor in Paramus is the best.




Some of the things: sleeping bag 20F, backpack 85L, 1 man tent, solar panel charger, camp stove, climbing pants, wool base layer, etc.




I look like a bizarre amalgam of woodsman and caterpillar.

I leave tomorrow morning: Tuesday, March 22 ,2011. A day off my initial departure. I backed myself too far up with finishing purchases, figuring details, and collecting my affairs.

Dan