One Year Ago
Aug 15th, 2009 by Lyn Hanush
GAP WALK JOURNALS - VI
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.
