Day 5–St. Patrick’s Day

So I wake up at 3ish in the morning and I keep hearing little sounds all around me. Domino isn’t bothered so it’s probably ok. I keep telling myself that anyways, as I try to go back to sleep. It sounds like the trees were trying to wake up. Like they were stretching and getting ready for a day of standing all day. I guess I nod back off because I wake up a little later and it’s starting to get light out. I notice that everything is wet. The sounds I heard were drops of water coming off the trees because of the very thick fog that I was enveloped in. I laugh at myself for thinking that it was the trees.

It takes me way too long to pack up and get moving. It’s hard to get motivated when every step you take is in the mud and every thing you touch is wet. I finally did it though. I put on my green leprechaun hat and green shoes and a green sweatshirt. I also put on a green tshirt that was given to me by a mother who lost her son last month. The shirt has her son, Kevin, printed on it. I was very honored to wear it. I was excited because I wanted to surprise her and the rest of Kevin’s loved ones that I was going to be walking for him today. Little did I know that it would just happen to turn out to be my lucky day!!

Before I get into that I HAVE to throw this in.. as I was walking out of the woods.. with a stroller.. and a silly green hat on.. and across a bumpy field.. and then onto the highway.. there were 4 construction workers just standing there staring the whole time. I don’t blame them. I laughed in my head at myself and walked on up to them. I had to go by them to get to my route. When I was close enough I shouted, “not something you see everyday!” The ringleader chuckled and the rest followed suit. I offered them an explanation saying that I’m walking across America and we camped out down there last night. The ringleader gave me a thumbs up and a “good luck!”

Very shortly after that I THINK I saw a bald eagle. I’m about 80% sure it was. I wish I would have seen it just 2 seconds sooner before it was too far. I have seen probably 4,000 buzzards already and I am very confident that this bird was different. The big white head being the main reason. It also flew more smoothly and the flapped more. Buzzards usually just hover.

Anyways, I walked and walked. With no cell phone because I’d been on the road for 3 days without any power. I was in the middle of nowhere. But it was beautiful! I could have taken pictures that could turned into puzzles. I walked through some towns where the only thing I could hear were the sounds of my shoes coming off and on the pavement. That was a nice change from walking on major highways for most of the trip.

I started to freak out a little when the ‘town’ that I had assumed would have some sort of resource to restock on water and to charge my phone was a total bust. I walked 6 miles to get there thinking that I could find a gas station and take a break and eat lunch and charge my phone and check out all of my Facebook stuff and also where the heck I was supposed to go from there. Well I had to turn on my phone and look at the map quickly and skip Facebook because I only had about 6% battery. I was about 6 miles from what looked like the next chance of water and power. This time we were completely out of both. But we walked on.. going slowly to not overheat since I had no more water for domino. We stopped at an old church. Like 1700s old. And I thought that I’d fill up with water there. No one was there and the water was turned off. Total bust again. We sat there and I plugged my phone into my solar charger so that I could turn it on to see how far we had to go to get to where people are and a car pulls up. Nice timing.

A wonderful woman by the name of Diana stopped by and donated some money. She said she is a 911 dispatcher and so is my mother. She has also unfortunately been affected by the drug epidemic. I ask if she has any water and she didn’t but she tells me that there is an outlet mall about a mile and a half ahead. Score!

We get there and I plug my phone in at a gas station and fill up on water. Domino drank a ton of it up. Good girl. We get some attention at the gas station of course and it is always fun to hear what people say when I say we’re walking across America lol. Most say “why?” When I tell them they get it. 90% of the time they have a story that shows how they are affected by drugs in some way.

One lady pulls up and gets out and I could tell she knew who I was. Her name is Kennedy and I thought that was perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. I always like when people stop to say hello. I was telling her that it’d been a little tough on both of us and that I was trying to figure out a place to sleep before continuing on so that I at least knew where to walk to. Before I can even try to think about it she offers to pay for a hotel for me and Domino. I couldn’t believe it and it was hard to accept such kindness. We really needed it though. I mean I could have done another night in the tent but I really didn’t want to. Everything was still wet too.

As we were both on the phone calling hotels to see of they were pet friendly I look over and spot Erin. Erin is another hiker going across America. She started on the same day as I did and in the same place. We even ended up at the same house the first night through a website called couchsurfing.com.  A total coincidence. Instant friend. She had it rougher than I did for the first few days. She had bad blisters and had to take a day off completely to heal up. I knew she would catch up to me because she’s a real hiker and I’m just some guy that just had a crazy idea. I didn’t think she’d catch up that fast. I was so proud of her. I was happy to see her too. We text to check in on each other occasionally and I knew she was out in the woods last night somewhere too. She also had gotten everything wet and muddy. We hung out for a while and Kennedy gave me some gift cards and told me to contact her when I needed a hotel room. Saying that if it wasn’t tonight then it would be any other time. Amazing. I mean really…

Erin took off and I told her I’d be behind her because I didn’t think domino could keep up. That was a lie. Domino walks way faster than I do. I just didn’t want to slow her down. She told me she was trying to make it to the bay bridge today. Another 12 miles. Once she left, I was like man just go. So I grabbed domino and Jenny and took off after Erin. Not to catch up with her but to stay behind her at the same pace. I actually liked the faster pace better. So did domino. We must have walked another 6 miles and I start getting Facebook messages from people telling me that some women have come together and want to give me a ride over the bridge and a hotel for the night on the other side. I was like whoa. I obviously wanted to accept but I didn’t want to cheat on the walk. So I picked up the pace and we came up with a place to meet so that I could be taken across the Chesapeake Bay bridge. Which is impossible to walk across and I knew that I had to get a ride across it. That part wasn’t cheating. Had to be done. I was picked up just 3 miles shy of the bridge. After a 21 mile day I had no problem with that.

There were a bunch of people who came together for me today because they wanted to help. That’s the only reason. It made me feel so good to know them. They kept saying that what I am doing is helping people and they want to support me and do anything for me. I couldn’t believe it. I have to give some credit to Kevin. He and the rest of the Angel gang got together today and put some moms to work. Amazing things happen when moms are on a mission! I will forever hold each of them in my heart for all of today’s good deeds. Me and Domino have been fed, sheltered, we’re clean, and we’re on a bed! I had no idea that was coming. I thought I’d be on the side of the road again.

I am going to take full advantage of this hotel. I already did my laundry in the tub lol. They have breakfast and I’m sure they have a computer. I want to catch up on all of my comments and emails. Thinking of taking the morning off to do all of that stuff. Or maybe just lay in bed until they throw us out lol.

Great day. Thanks to all of the Angels out there. I’m glad I’m on the other side of the bridge now. There are way more resources for places to stay or anything else that I made need. Even with bad weather I should be able to make some good distance here in the next week or so…

Good night and I have no idea what is in store for tomorrow!  Domino says, “ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!”