VetWalking Week 28

Walk Across America

It all started in Green Bay, WI. and on Memorial Day, Monday May 31, 2010 we will complete our 202 day, 2,600 mile journey from Jacksonville, FL. to San Diego, CA. Our goal was to walk across America to raise donations, the level of awareness and the challenges faced by Disabled Veterans.

Our journey has lead us thru the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. We have walked through 4 time zone, 8 states, hundreds of towns and met 1000′s of people along the way.

We understand that our cause can be very emotional but we tried to keep it about Disabled Veterans and their challenges and not about any single person or political view. Sometimes, because of the nature of our cause this can be very difficult but regardless of the view it’s always about the Disabled Veterans.

Our Walk Across America campaign was full of humbling experiences that we encountered virtually every step we took. We used these experiences to give our lives a little perspective and to fuel our attempt to make a difference. As we approach the accomplishment of our goals it only defines a new list for our next project, but for sure when asked ‘what have you done lately’ we will have something to say.

Jack

 

 

 

Day 190
 
Up early and not many days left to walk. The next few days we have a long stretch of desert before we walk up a bib hill. No traffic and not many people out here. About halfway thru our walk we met Emilea and Marilea at the Blu-In RV Park. The store was closed but they opened up and told us to get what we needed and there would be no charge. Thanks so very much. We talked as we drank our Gatorade. Mike Tarpley called and told us to go back to Westmorland tonight because he reserved us a room. Thanks Mike and you’re the man. After finishing our walk we drove back to Westmorland and checked into the room. It was nice to lay back after the hot day in the desert. Watched a little TV and enjoyed the AC. Finally dozed off. Its all good.

Day 191
 
More desert and it will get real hot today. Sure will be glad to get to the top of the hill so it will be cooler. Glad we didn’t walk thru here in the summer. Drank at least 20 bottles of water today. Had 3 vets stop and sign the car today. Wasn’t much traffic on this road. We are walking thru the Anza-Borrego Desert. After finishing our walk we headed up the hill to visit the American Legion Post 468 in Julian,Ca.  Not only did we find an oasis, we found some of the nicest people. Dusty the commander had the cook make us a killer burger. We sat around and talked to all the members and the vets signed the pace car. Dusty told us we could camp in there parking lot and tomorrow we were invited back for supper. Thanks so much Post 468 you all rock. Set up camp and crashed out in the pace car. Its all good and soon we will be in San Diego.

Day 192
 
Woke up to a cool morning and had to put on a sweatshirt to start our walk this morning. We will be walking up Banner grade (mountain) today. The hill is a steep one and the wind is blowing hard into our face. Midday the walk across America would take Vince to the bus station. It was time. He had pushed me to the limits to many times. After dropping him off we stopped in Romano to meet with JC Playford at Cheers. Met Sean the owner of the bar and he offered me lunch and fixed me a huge burger. JC finally arrived and we went over to the VFW Post in Ramona. Had some vets sign the car and afterward we headed back up to the Legion in Julian to eat supper there. The fish tacos were awesome and the commander gave us a few gifts for our journey. Camped out in the parking lot again. Good sleeping weather though. Off to sleep relieved not to have the worries and aggravation that came with Vince. Its all good.

Day 193
 
Woke up refreshed and relieved to have the burden gone. Suppose to be a day off but will make up the miles we didn’t do yesterday. We started walking up the hill into Julian and looked forward to walking down the hill knowing each step would get us closer to our destination. The traffic was heavy as we walked today. Lots of waving and horn blowing. Met Steven Pollock a cyclist as we ended our walk.  His dad was in the Air Force and was a bomber Pilot in WW2. He is buried in Arlington. We let Steve sign the pace car in memory of his dad and hero. JC Playford came and took us back to the pace car. Followed him home and he introduced us to his friend Julie and her two kids James and Rose. Gave them each a little gift and I spent 4 hours shining up the pace car. Took a shower and crashed in the pace car even though I could have slept inside. Thanks JC and Julie for your help and kindness. Julie’s kids were just adorable. Its all good.

Day 194
 
Slept like a baby in the pace car. It was real good sleeping weather and my headache has finally gone away. Would be eating breakfast with Connor and his family this morning. I would meet them at the cafe here in Ramona. Connor is Mike Tarpley`s stepson. We met Mike halfway into our walk across America and now we have the privilege to meet more of his family. Breakfast was filling and talking with Connor and his family was refreshing. Mike was very instrumental in helping the walk across America as we made our way thru Texas and now Connor and his family will be. True caring Americans. Thanks so very much. Connor invited us back to his house for supper tonight. Met up with JC and we would walk a little today so he can get some film for the media. After filming for a little while we headed over to the VFW- Legion Post in Escondido to meet with the members there. They were having a dinner and we were honored to break bread with them. The mayor and members of the DAV were there and many Veterans signed the car. After eating the steak and shrimp dinner we headed over to Connors to eat another steak dinner. Looks like I wont be loosing any weight around here. Its all good. Dinner was awesome and we were invited back to eat and sleep if we needed to. Thanks so very much. We will be seeing them again soon. Drove back to JC`s and cleaned up. Crashed in the pace car again knowing it wont be long and the walk we reach an end. OOH RAH!!

Day 195
 
Woke up to the most overwhelming day of our walk so far. JC took us to interview after interview with the media in and around San Diego. The day was hectic but the press for our disabled vets is very important for the cause we walk for. Not only did we meet the press all day, we met many Veterans as our day progressed. Met Dan who is a marine and already has done 3 tours in Iraq. He signed the pace car and went home only to come back to give us a gift. He gave me his Helmet cover he used in Iraq. He even signed it. When this was happening we were doing a story with the North County Times Paper. Awesome. Long day today and I am ready to crash. Thanks to all the press today. ABC channel 10, Fox 5 and the many local papers who have done stories about our walk to raise awareness for our disabled veterans. Thanks a million JC for your help and support. Your a friend for life. From one Marine to another. Semper Fi. Its all good

Day 196
 
Woke up still overwhelmed from yesterday. Today would be another one of those days. Started our day at Channel 17 a Spanish station here in San Diego. Our last Medal of Honor winner from Vietnam was Spanish American and 20 percent of the names on the Vietnam wall are Spanish Americans. Thanks for your service and love of our country. The day just got busier and busier. We were invited back to the Rick Amato talk radio show again tonight. We were there last night. The response was good so we will talk some more tonight. After talking on the show last night, we received a call from someone in New York saying they would be making a $100,000.00 donation to our walk. Thanks so very much. A $100,000.00 will help many disabled Veterans. Thanks Rick for letting us join you on 1170 am and get the word out. Went back to JC`S to crash-out. Its all good.

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VetWalking 

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