The Great American Journey

GAP WALK JOURNALS - VI

Thursday - August 14,  2008   Day 162   20.6 miles

Total Maine miles - 349.6     Walking Days - 78

Washington D.C. miles - 4.6   Cumulative miles 1355.0

Today was beautiful, sunny and bright. I felt good. We started
out with breakfast at the motel. Our motel this time serves a
breakfast with variety. Waffles are every day, and other things
vary. We enjoyed our meal, then set off to our start point via
Hwy 95 Turnpike.

Once we arrived at Gray I got started walking. As I walked into
the main part of town I saw a man sitting on a bench. We
greeted each other, then he commented about my flag telling me
he liked that. So I stopped and told him what I was doing, and
we talked for awhile. Edward was really delightful.

Continuing on, I crossed over Hwy 95 on Hwy 4/202, now
joined by 115. A little further down 4/202 went to the left and I
continued on 115. As I waited at a signal light, a man waiting
for the light on a motorcycle waved to me to catch my attention,
then he saluted. Soon after that a military truck came by. They
honked and waved, and one of them stuck his hand out the
window and down where we could almost touch each other.
People all along here were waving wildly, honking, etc. Norma
and I figured it must be the weather - after all everyone is happy
it’s not raining.

These poor Mainers are really tired of the rain. They normally
have two months of summer, but this year they aren’t getting
any. It’s ruining their crops, and the rivers are raging.

At one of my stops at the van, a gal stopped across the road and
got out to ask if she could take my picture. She had seen me
earlier, and turned around to come back and get my picture. She
was visibly moved - fighting tears - and was just so appreciative.
Wow! I did get Kim’s picture also.

At Sebago Lake we stopped for lunch, and drove into Standish
to eat at TJ’s Sandwiches. Good sandwiches. I rested for awhile
after we returned to the spot where we had stopped, taking time
to drink my gatorade G2. I’m really trying to make it a point to
take in those electrolytes every day.

Soon after I started walking a sheriff’s deputy stopped at the
edge of the road with lights flashing. He was curious about what
I was doing. Matt asked lots of questions about how I worked all
the logistics. He was very appreciative for the prayers for our
nation, as well as for him personally. I told him I would add him
to my prayer list. He told me his grandmother had prayed a lot
for him when she was alive. So maybe I can continue her
prayers for him. What a privilege.

Matt let me take a picture of him in his car. Then I said I wanted
to get one of the outside of the car as well, so he got out and put
his hat on, and I got another picture of him. As we continued
talking he apologized for the awful weather I have been having
to walk in recently, and agreed with all the other Mainer’s that it
isn’t usually like this. We shook hands as we parted. By the
way, he was the first policeman to stop to talk with me of his
own initiative. Two others in North Carolina and Virginia
stopped when Russ told them to hassle me. I told Deputy Matt
about that and he had a good laugh over Russ’ sense of humor.
He also told me that Russ had not called him.

The beautiful day was too good to be true, so a half hour or so
later the clouds began to gather. Then the first few drops fell,
and I stopped to put on my rain jacket, and right after that it
began to pour buckets. The side of the road where I was walking
was puddling up it was a mess. Thunder began to roar, but no
lightning. But as the thunder got louder and closer I called
Norma to come let me sit in the car until that stopped. I just
wasn’t sure about lightning even though I hadn’t seen any.

Soon I was on my way again - still raining, but not as hard, and
the thunder was further away. I only had a short way to go to
finish for the day. After getting my 20 in, we headed back for
Dover. We got back in time to eat dinner at the motel. Monday
through Thursday they serve a light dinner in the dining area to
all the guests. It was Chicken Pot Pie tonight - biscuits with a
chicken mixture put over them - very delicious.

Then we went to Wal-Mart for a few things we needed. I needed
to get some Calagel for poison ivy or whatever it was that I’ve
encountered that is turning my legs into big blotchy bumpy
itches. I have been watching very carefully for anything like
poison ivy, and really hadn’t seen any, so I don’t know where all
this came from.

Back to our room after stopping for gas. I showered, then
slathered myself in Calagel.

Now it’s time to get some sleep. Another walking day
tomorrow. Good-night all.