Up and over

I'm heading up and over the Cascade mountains going through Santiam Pass. I just barely have connection right now to post this... I probably wont be able to post for a while. I'm still taking pictures... you will just have to check back later to get updates. Before I loose you I just want to thank Karen Kuzniczci for the generous donation to WFP, Howard Bergerson for the chat at A&W, Michael and Jan West for the soft bed and new z-coil shoes, Lorin M. Danté for bringing joy at the gateway to the mountains, and to Bob Hartsock and Dylan Irish for hosting me in Cascadia.
See you on the flip side.

Lebanon to Waterloo... Frontpage of the Democrat Herald

Alright... today was a big day for Walk For Progress! I was front page on the Democrat Herald with a great write-up by Alex Paul. His story did a great job of encapsulating what WFP is about for me and how it is an evolutionary discussion across the country. The paper was everywhere I went today which was just too much fun. I assure you all that as I get more into the swing of things, I will have more discussion here on what I am hearing from the communities I pass through. I don’t want to write about my beliefs and conceptions but only wish to outline a sense of what and where my discussions are evolving towards. I got on the road today and stopped by to have breakfast and met Don Bailey at the seat next to me at the counter. He was another affirmation of my discoveries regarding attitude. His attitude has kept him youthful and vital. We spoke on all the roads and towns I would traverse on my travels and on his dream to ride across the country with his wife Jerry on motorcycles. This coming week he will be driving the 20 all the way across to visit his brother who has a dairy farm near Syracuse NY. His discussion of how farmers are doing was typical in that it is always a struggle for these families to stay afloat as very little of the profit margin comes back to the farmers. The interesting part of the equation I am seeing is that corn now is a dual use crop... Ethanol has started to drive the cost for corn up... so corn farmers are doing very well... (Jim and Val were telling me this the other night when Taby and I met them for the evening)... however, farmers who raise corn for cow feed and dairies are being sqeezed even more as the price of everything except milk seems to be skyrocketing. Along route 20 in western Oregon, a major paradigm shift is underway as the region is in search of what will define them after lumber. Many of the mills have shut down or scaled back and the communities are only now starting to come back. But it is a process. Lebanon, the town I was in yesterday and today has a homeless population and a community of people that are having a very rough time supporting themselves and their families. The First Church of Christ has a number of programs designed to help the community through this transition. Pastor Linda, is part of a program that provides counseling to individuals who the state has turned away and can’t afford any other source of mental or emotional help. They also have a “soup” kitchen that provides hot meals three days a week. These are not “soup” meals but rather full nutritional home-cooked dinners of Lasagna, Salad, Bread, dessert of various sorts, fruits, juices and great dining services! I was fortunate to be able to help out bussing tables and cleaning up as dozens of families came for meals and there was plenty for everyone to have seconds. I enjoyed my meal very much. I walked 7 miles from Lebanon to the Waterloo County Park where I would spend the night... Then Linda came and picked me up form there so that I could help out with the soup kitchen. On the way to the kitchen, we stopped and visited at a sushi place in town and I got to learn about the community and discuss issues of faith and soul with Linda and her sweet seven year old daughter Mattie. Linda expressed the cohesion of their church community by quoting the founders of the their denomination: “In essentials - Unity. In non-essentials -diversity (liberty). In all things Charity (Love).” She also used a phrase that appealed to me: “siempre gumbee” (always flexable). Then before I went to help at the soup kitchen, I met Rachel at the Lebanon Express who will be running a story on WFP next wednesday. Then in to help at the kitchen. After that Linda took me back out to my camp site here in Waterloo right on the river. This was about 6:30 and I got my tent set up. At around seven, Matt who is the son of Nancey that I met at the church came by and invited me to come out and join in discussion with a bible study that he and his friends hold. I had a stimulating evening with Matt, Brian, Scott, Bodie, and Tatton. We discussed everything from original sin to how our own perceptions of self affect how we live and whether we can live up to our own highest ideals. Matt took me back here to camp and we went even deeper into our faiths regarding the nature of good and how we choose to live our lives.

Link to the Front Page news story on WFP:
http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2007/04/23/news/top_story/7aaa01_walking.txt

Lebanon

Auntie Ann dropped me back off where she picked me up on Saturday. I walked the rest of the way into Lebanon. I went into the Lebanon First Christian Church just in time to catch, Amazing Grace, the last song by the Lebanon Community Chorus I met Linda the Pastor and other member from the community who had gathered for this performance. They gave me a big bag of cookies for my trip:-) It was a beautiful day with only a short burst of rain which left behind a shining rainbow. I had the best Chineese food and met Doug Tuller. Him and I chatted for over an hour. He lives in Sweet Home and had worked making hard woods out of wood chips for 33 years. He was delightful company. We spoke about how big companies like Walmart and Warehouser have been making it so much harder on the small communities and how much tougher it has become to support a family these days on working wages. He loves covered bridges and as I walk along I will take photos of them to post on the site for him to see. He lives with his daughter Linn who is going to help him use the internet so him and I can stay in touch and so he can watch the website. Thanks Doug for the wonderful dinner and company!

Albany to Lebanon

Pouring rain but did 11 miles towards Lebanon anyways. My left foot and knee were giving me grief. Auntie Ann came and brought me back for the night I’ll do the last few miles into Lebanon tomorrow as an easy day. Need to give the leg a rest I guess. Could’ve been a hero and pushed through but opted to be cautious... I’m in no rush. Ordered Abby’s pizza and ate about half of the Giant pizza by myself. Chatted with my Auntie and watched some Law and investigation shows on TV... I haven’t watched the TV in a couple years and they have some pretty intense stuff on now:-) Took an Advil and had an early to bed night. Sorry for no photos but it was raining and my camera was in a dry place.

5 Miles in Albany

Started off the day with an interview Alex Paul of the Democrat Herald. A story on Walk For Progress should run either today or tomorrow! I’ll be sure to post it for you all to see. After that I walked from Auntie Ann’s house into town and went to the local museum. The downtown has retained its old town character and is a beautiful community. I walked up and down the 2 main streets and then Settled in at Wyatt’s for a sandwich, salad, fries, cheesecake, and coffee. Then I met up with my cousin Stephen and we went across the street to Baceranie’s which is a great Coffee and tea house where a lot of young people go to hang out. Had a Mango and Peach Jet Tea. My Cousin is a Skateboarder and I tried to get on... but I had my pack and was not all that successful... but someday I will be a skateboarder too:-) Walked with him over to Tabatha’s work and went out with her and co-worker’s Jim and Val. They had traveled a lot and we got to chat about different places and what we saw as needing to be done here at home. Jim was very insightful into the current state of affairs and industry in our nation. Had dinner with Tabby, Wayne and Stephen... and watched a Nascar race. Picked up some new insoles with arch support for my shoes and then went back to Auntie Ann’s. Looked through a bunch of photos from our families camping trip last year. Then hit the sack.

Corvallis to Albany - mile 67

After a late evening of deep philosophical discussion I got on the road toward Albany. My breakfast was three warm pieces of Fresh bread that Brad made with butter and honey and my last hard boiled egg. The 11 mile walk to Albany was some of the most beautiful valleys and farm land I've seen. Flowers and rivers made my forget about my feet. My Auntie Ann picked me up at the 20 and we went to my Cousin Tabatha's house. Got to use a heating pad for my left leg and foot:-) Visited with Ann, Taby, Wayne and Steven and had dinner. Turning in now so that I can go check out Albany tomorrow. When My Cousin Steven gets out of class he is gonna take me around. I get to sleep in a bed tonight.

4-18-07

4-18-07: Brad made me a great breakfast with home-made bread and eggs! I spent the day at OSU. When visiting campus I met Carolyn who recognized me from driving passed me twice on her way to Newport for surfing over the weekend. Brad met me on campus and we went to McMenamins for a great stuffed burger and I met with the local pub folk. Stephanie really hooked us up samples of the home-made brews... Thanks Steph! We then went over to a Native America philosophies class meeting where Master Story teller Ismail Hope told Tlingit stories. I'm back at Brad's for the night and he has made two new loafs of bread!

Today was a day of rest and I'm on the road tomorrow for the short trek to Albany where my auntie Ann lives.

Also you can now donate online at the sponsors page:-)

Corvallis - mile 56

Philomath to Corvallis. I took it a little easy today and only went 6 miles to give my poor feet a break. I will probably stay tomorrow in Corvallis too. Want to meet more of the university students. I’m spending the night at Brad’s pad. I met him and Molly and Jessica at the Java Spot at the OSU Student Union. I didn’t end up leaving Philomath till nearly 2:00... it was raining and I was just too cozy at the Java connection where David made me a great Salad and gifted me a big bag of tea. Walking into Corvallis the sun broke through literally when I met Cora at the Sunbreak Express Coffee stand. She was very generous and donated to the WFP Fund. I had a great visit with Brad, Molly, and Jessica at the Student Union then went over to Monroe Street and went down to Interzone for coffee and pie... then on to the waterfront. I had Pizza at American Dream Pizza... Then Popped in next door for icecream where I met Catherine, Tiffany, Ben and Patrick who were a lot of fun and I hopped in the back of Catherine’s truck with her friends and she drove me over to Brad’s place... Small world cause Catherine knew Brad. Thanks Everyone!

I'm on the road! Mile post 50

These are just quick bulletins... I will have a more detail recounting soon, but I just wanted to post something already!
Please post comments and lets start a discussion here!

4-16-07: Another big thanks and hug to Denise and Debra for the big breakfast that pushed me through the day. I was ready to stop for the day at 13 miles... but kept pushing through till I got another 18 for the day! Thanks to Mart at mile post 48 for directing me to the Mary River Park where I am now at mile 50!

4-15-07 - 10:30pm: Special Thanks to Mike, Lori, Denise, and Debra at the Fir Ridge Campground. Great food, Great Jokes! "There are too many frowns around... all I can do is try to make people smile once in a while" - Mike

4-15-07 : At camp for night two!
Mile Post 33!

4-14-07 : The Walk Is Underway!
Special Thanks to Donna, Stacey, and Jake of the Red Door Cafe in Newport Oregon. Best Breakfast to get me on my way and a generous contribution to the WFP Fund!

4-13-07 : Leaving the house for Newport