Day 27
My home for the next 6 months
I'm taking this trail through the rest of West Virginia. So happy to have made it here
American Discovery Trail marker
Some locals told me that this tunnel is haunted
Built in 1868
I had a rough start to the day. I started way later than I wanted to and just couldn’t get into the groove. I had to walk about a mile on a very busy highway with a little shoulder and then I was able to switch to a busy small road with no shoulder. So the first 5 miles or so were very stressful just trying to not get obliterated.
I walked through Clarksburg which was quaint but I was in a bad mood so I didn’t really enjoy it. I stopped by the local newspaper office and they ran a story so that was good. People were nice and amazing as usual. I just couldn’t figure out why I was so blah..
Maybe it was because it was so cold. Maybe it was the hills. Maybe I was just tired. I couldn’t figure it out. One thing that had been bothering me lately is that I don’t know how to stop people from dying of overdoses. I just want to snap my fingers and it all be over. I have to just realize that I can only do so much. It just hurts to always hear about more and more people dying everyday.
I finally got to a road that was safe enough to put headphones on. That helped a little but I still felt down in the dumps. I walked through a small town (if you can call it that) and it was so sad. It looked as if a tornado or hurricane came through and the whole area never got cleaned up. There were houses that were literally falling apart and full of junk that people lived in. I can usually find beauty in anything but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing here. One of the only houses that had windows had confederate flags as window curtains. I hope these people are happy that live there. I try not to judge. I mean, I’m happy living out of a jogging stroller. It’s temporary though! I really felt bad for this area.
Anyways, I finally make it to this trail that I have been looking forward to for over a week. It is flat and takes me all the way to the Ohio state line. The hard part of West Virginia is done! I started to feel a little better at this point.
I took my headphones off and let Domino off the leash. We rolled along. The trail was pretty muddy but nothing that held us back. I was able to go around or through it all pretty easily. One of the highlights of this trail is it’s 9 tunnels. I went through one of them today. It was built in 1868 and people say that it’s haunted. I don’t believe in all that but I love the history of this trail. It was another old rail line.
After the tunnel I felt better. I was close to my destination for the day. I needed to reach Salem where I would be picked up by someone I found on couchsurfing.com to host me and Domino for 2 nights while another dang snowstorm passes through.
I get to the rendezvous and we take the ride up to his place. An awesome log cabin secluded in the mountains. Cue the banjo music…. haha just kidding. The guy is super nice and I am in no danger here. The cabin sits on top of a mountain and has no one anywhere near it. Domino was having a blast!
We had dinner and I washed my clothes while watching tv. I was able to unwind and shake off the weird day. I get to hang out all day tomorrow and get to know my host a little and rest up for a long week ahead. Warmer temps are coming which means longer days and more camping. I can’t wait!!
I’ve been following you & your blog since day 1. I am a mother of 3 boys. I lost my oldest Justin May 2013 at age 24 , Heroin OD. You have gained many followers. Your doing great things Brett. Enjoy your weekend at the cabin. It sounds like a beautiful place to wait out a snow storm.
Brett thank you for raising awareness on this important issue. I have a son who is fighting by his demon. I never thought this could happen to our family. It has devastated our family. He’s in treatment now. It’s been 7 years of hell for our son. I’ll pray for you on your journey. Bless you
I tune into your blog every evening. Your journey is so inspiring. It’s amazing how the universe provides in sometimes the most unusual (and timely) of ways. It takes huge confidence to take life one step at a time — your journey is a great metaphor for everyone’s life, addicts and non-addicts alike.
Brett, I just started following you because I just found out that you are doing this, how wonderful that you are doing this. I pray that you can get the awareness needed. If news papers are made aware it would help, I think. When will you expect to be in Indiana? I would love to help with the awareness somehow. We have family in North Vernon, Indiana. I’ll be watching your blog for updates! God be with you son. My daughter lost her battle on December 21, 2015 and I would be proud to meet you. Hugs
Thanks Annie. I’m so sorry about your daughter. Any media that will cover the story will help get the word out. I’ve been getting most of the local papers and some of the TV networks along the way. I’m pretty sure that I go right through north vernon. It’ll still be a while before I get there though
Sorry about your sister. I was almost a statistic myself. I just celebrated 28 years Clean & Sober on April 4th. People need to be aware that addiction is not a moral issue, it is a HUMAN issue. I commend your walk and your efforts to educate and illuminate, and to honor your sister’s memory.
BTW, I do hope you have good weather when you cross the Wabash River on the Red Skelton Memorial Bridge into Illinois, it is a wonderful view, at least I have always thought so. Peace, regards, etc…
Brett, I just discovered your blog this morning, and I am stuck here in this armchair until I read everything from Day One to May 1st – today. First, I must say that I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. As you well know, no one chooses to be an addict, and I am sure she is watching you from heaven and keeping you safe. It is a tremendous thing that you are doing. You are doing amazing work, one conversation at a time. My son was in the throes of addiction for 9 years, but has worked the last three years in recovery. I am grateful every evening for one more day he was strong. He has so many friends he met through NA who relaspsed and then OD’d. It’s just tragic. I will pray for your safety and send positive thoughts are you battle the hardships of your journey. I am interested in something, and maybe you address it in upcoming blog posts that I gave not yet read, but perhaps in a future blog you could address your own issues with substance abuse, and what your turning point was to stay clean. Because through the mystery of the human mind, some of us become addicts, but some of us (myself included) can use and abuse for years but never struggle with addiction. (Why is that?) It baffles me. Were you that way? You could just stop? Or did you struggle to stop? Just something I think about as I read your blog. Your determination to do this is strong. Maybe you used that same determination to stop using drugs? Just want to get to know you better. Keep on keepin’ on!
Thanks for reading. I will tell my story when it’s ready. I’m still bringing closure to parts that need it. When it came to drugs, I was able to stop without any signs of physical addiction. It was a long process but I did it without any sort of treatment. It was just a change in my environment that did it for me. I changed my thoughts and my behaviors changed as well.