A Paso Robles Grandmother's

(Lyn Hanush)

Great American Journey

A WALK ACROSS AMERICA

Update May 14, 2004

As of May 14 the Great American Journey Team has walked 3,330 miles and have just passed through Albany, Georgia, and finished just west of Doerun on Highway 133.

 

Sunday School with President & Rosalynn Carter

at Maranatha Baptist Church on May 9, 2004

The Team entered Georgia on May 3, and then on May 9 we were able to attend the Sunday School class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, that President Carter taught. President Carter is a Deacon at the church and teaches about three weeks a month. The church has about 150 members (about 60 active members), but about 10,000 visitors a year. We were there on Mother's Day, which is one of their lowest "Carter Sundays", so there were only about 300 visitors that Sunday. After being searched by the Secret Service we had a "briefing" of when we could take pictures, when we could talk with Jimmy Carter (only when asked a question), and other cautions. Dave joined the church choir and sang with them for this Sunday. After the church services we lined up with everyone else to get our picture taken with President and Rosalynn Carter. This was a highlight of the trip.

On the previous day we met the Plains mayor, Boze Godwin, and passed on the "mayoral greeting" from our Paso Robles mayor, Frank Mecham. Boze and his wife Betty are cousins of the Carters, and very active in the Maranatha Baptist Church. Boze is in charge of videotaping the church services, and will send us a copy.

For the last several months "moving day" has been a very traumatic day for Lyn. Just about every time it has resulted in significant repairs and unwanted delays (sometimes several days each time). This has gotten to be an extremely discouraging process for Lyn each week. This weeks moving day was no exception. We started the day with the RV not starting - it started, but then stopped each time. This ended with a days delay and about $300 in repairs (we had to call the serviceman back the day after it was "fixed" because it still wouldn't start). Eventually, on the drive from Eufaula, Alabama, to Albany, Georgia, the RV stalled three times. The first time the RV stalled on a narrow two-lane highway, which had no shoulders. Lyn prayed for someplace to pull off, and a spot came up on the left side. After quickly checking for oncoming traffic she just barely slipped into the space off the highway before the RV quit entirely. After letting it cool off for about 30 minutes, the RV started again, and Lyn could drive about thirty miles before it stalled again. This was repeated again a third time. At least the second and third times were where she had some shoulder to pull off onto. Then after the third stall Lyn was pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol (her first time in 46 years of driving). It turned out that the "month" tag on the California license plate was faded, but it made Lyn frustrated about getting the RV started again. After "babying" the RV to the RV Park where we were going to stay (selected because they had a mechanic on the grounds), the mechanic made a cursory inspection and pronounced that the repairs would probably be at least $1,500 to $2,000. And even then, with no warranties, and more likely still chances for more repairs.

So the decision was made to abandon the motorhome and start staying in motels. That will make the rest of the walk much less stressful, and will hopefully eliminate future delays. Lyn has already found someone to buy the motorhome, so she is working on getting the title transferred to Georgia.

Since they will be using motels the rest of the way there may be some additional route changes when they get to Florida. They may decide to walk closer to the ocean where the motels are more readily available.

The following Tuesday (May 11) they had interviews with two newspapers and a TV station. They were on the 6:00 news on WALB-TV on May 11. They were able to go into a pizza parlor to eat and watch the news. Of course all the staff at the pizza parlor were excited about them actually being there with them when they were on the news. All of the other patrons joined in on the fun too. The TV station said they will send a video copy of the broadcast, so that will be available.

Wednesday May 12 was the one-year anniversary of starting the Walk. A lot has happened and they have met a lot of wonderful people since they left the Peace Arch in Blaine, Washington on May 12, 2003. They have now walked 3,330 miles though 14 states. We estimate that they still have about 900 more miles to go. Lyn is hoping that they will be able to finish at Key West, Florida, near the middle of July. They realize that those last eight weeks in Florida will be tough because of the heat and humidity in June and July.

Visit the website. This update cannot cover it all. You can visit their website at: www.greatamericajourney.com to follow along with the walkers and join them in praying for America. We try to update the website every week.

Mail can be sent to The Team care of General Delivery at Post Offices along the way. Address the mail to all three walkers (that way any of them can pick it up at the Post Office), and underline the Team member's name so they will know who it goes to. So address your mail to: "Lyn Hanush, Joan Balog or Ronni Schoch."

Mail by May 26, 2004:           Website:

General Delivery                    www.greatamericajourney.com

Starke, FL 32091-9999