Blog

Lifejackets, $$$$, and apple pie….

Well Day 8 has come to a clsoe and I am in Hermiston, OR. Left the comforting sight of the Columbia River GForge yesterday and the topography has changed dramatically from rainforest type landscape to wide open rolling agricultural hills. Yesterday had the wonderful pleasure of running with my partner Peggy who even made the long drive with a delicous apple pie!! What a treat!! Spent the night in the Roosevelt Grade School and dinner was provided by my friend Daniel (host) mother…It has been interesting  learning what has made and broke these communities. A town such as Goldendale loses an aluminum factory, Roosevelt has mainly vineyard and fruit workers. Hermiston mainly agricultural. The find of the day yesterday was a red PFD and today 8 cents, which brings my current total to $1.03, along with 42 bridges crossed and 2.5 gallons of chocolate milk consumed. Life is good on the road.  The highlights of the week have been to numerous….Wonderful smooth roads through this beautiful, wet green of Western Oregon and then Washington. Hosts so welcoming and warm. Over 600 students lining the sidewalks in front of Prairie High School in Battleground, WA as I passed by and placed a flag for one of their alumni. The genuine sincerity of everyone has been truly amazing…I relish the though of ice on my feet and chocolate milk at the end of the day and the quiet moments to look around each mile. Today being Mothers Day was particularly moving….somewhere a mother was thinking of her son or daughter and I hope that somewhere from above he or she is smiling down. To all who have sent encouragement I thank you sincerely and deeply…the journey moves on!!!!!

In the gorge…

Headed east and the gorge has been beautiful even in the rain. Last night I stayed in the 1905 Lyle hotel and a few town folk came down. Lewis and Clark traded here with the native Americans on their journey west. No flats and no blisters for the road is good.

Hello Hail, Hello Rain, WOOHOO

Well it is the end of day 3 and I am 101 miles into this journey. It seems only hours ago that I left the beach in Astoria, only hours ago that I crossed the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Longview….Today was winding, hilly tree shrouded roads fro Kelso to Battleground. Gotta love the rain, hit and miss and most of the time it hit me. I haven’t succumbed to my music yet, it has been to much fun with my own thoughts and watching for traffic and thinking about each name. The best part of the day is knowing that there is a host waiting for me and that is a good thing. Tomorrow I will place a flag at Corporal Jeremiah Johnsons high school when I run past. I am staying with his parent tonight and that is an even better thing. There is tremendous love in the reflection of their loss. I am indebted for their hospitality to me and the sharing of their home.The body feels good, the dogs (feet) are barking right now but that is expected. To those who have shown support and sent well wishes from afar…THANK YOU…..off to bed….more later

Hello Astoria..

Arrived in Astoria, OR today. What an amazingly beautiful town, in fact the oldest town west of the Mississippi River…FACT. We went up to the highest poin in town and could see the Pacific in the distance….ahhh my start point on this journey. The America Legion in town is quite involved in showing their appreciation. They will be having a reception for me Friday night, be out at the start on Saturday morning and have recruited over 100 Legion Riders to escort me across the bridge into town and enlisted a Coast Guard helicopter to follow us. I am humbled by their genuine concern and involvement. I feel fortunate and lucky to be starting in such a wonderful place…

Tick tock Tick tock

Down to the final days now and everything has come together so beautifully. GPS and beacon work great, down to only 2 nights without hosts, just tweaking last minute details before life on the road begins. Today my brother turned 47. We ran cross country together in high school now he rides Harleys and I push a stroller…odd. He is coming to visit on Wednesday as is my son. It will be nice to see family for it has been way to long. We will fish, tell lies, tell stories, laugh, fish some more. Stuff brothers and sons do. The clock ticks……….