taking a little inventory and making realistic plans for the New Year

So, there has been some assessing going on regarding the walk. There were some prerequisites set before embarking. In keeping with the commitment to Health (awareness) there was a recognition that some stretches of the walk would require escort to maintain a level of safety. It just seems like a good idea.

Unfortunately there has not been sufficient commitment by volunteers to fill the need. As a result it has been decided this year only the three most significant points will be walked.

Those points are:
(the longest pedestrian sidewalk) along Bayshore Blvd. in Tampa, FL
(the longest pedestrian bridge) The Big Dam Bridge from Little Rock to North Little Rock, AR
(the longest pedestrian trail tunnel) The Snoqualmie Tunnel in Kittitas County, WA
[unfortunately the tunnel still has not been reopened and there is an increasing likelihood that it will not be reopened in time]

If You have any questions feel free to contact Us. There has already been talk about bicycling the path next year and with a possible cycling partner there may be less need for escorts.

-have a great year and create awareness

and with a number of steps, stretch 13 brings Us into a new state

stretch 12 brings Us to a state line

and now stretch number 11

                                                                        and after nine, but before eleven

10

#9

stretch #8

Day 7

Where is this again? :)

and into Georgia

a brand-new state

Ahh, the last day in Florida, beautiful Florida... beautiful Florida?

#4

This one looks like it will be an interesting stretch. Let Us now if You have any information about the area.

another stretch

Each one of these is planned to be one day of walking. :) We appreciate the information that You have to share about the location and the road conditions.

so, here's a map of the second stretch

 If You see that You are close to this stretch send Us a note. Information about road conditions, interested in volunteering, something important in the area You want to draw attention to.
Let Us know.

I'm moved in with my host Family now. It is convenient enough that the apartment is around the corner from a park by Carnero Street in Guadalajara. So, I've been working on a training routine.

I'm doing a run/walk of around five miles a day and twice that on Saturday and Sunday. I think I may take Friday off each week. :)

yeah, I'm still wearing 'em (above)
but, I've got a couple of new pair here
:)

something like an itinerary is developing

It includes a specific path and a time line. These will prove to be excellent references if You are considering volunteering as an escort.

The text of the each turn and curve is a bit lengthy, but if You are along this stretch and are interested in receiving the details feel free to contact Us.

This is the first stretch that is scheduled to begin on May 1st of 2010. We are planning on a morning start. It is approximately thirty miles long and will comprise the first day.

:)

The Facebook page is in the works. Thanks for the support. If You have something You want to add check in there or through the communications channels here.

This blog will still be updated so keep checking in here, but hopefully the Facebook page will be helpful in connecting with people who are interested in this too.

the page is "each along (a walk for awareness)"

positive feedback, good.

So, I'm getting more friendly waves on the road.

Individuals are beginning to voice some promising things too. There's someone interested in escorting in Colorado and a possible co-walker there (thanks R). There are individuals in Arkansas that have expressed interest in gathering group, cause and individual support for the walk.

We'd like to thank everyone that has done anything so far. If it was only to mention the site to someone else, it is having an effect.

Keep posting and contacting and I'll keep walking. :)

(I'm planning on posting some more detailed maps and descriptions of parts of the route soon. If You are interested in more details about a particular section let Me know. thanks D)

training (did I just say that) has begun

I began walking (intentionally training) recently. Approximately six hours is the longest yet. It's really amazing scenery here. I've been to diverse regions: Colorado, New Zealand, Antarctica -right here in Putnam County is quite beautiful also.


I sometimes walk roads that I'm not familiar with. Other than keeping track of the general direction that I need to be working back toward I have little to navigate by. My six hour walk was one of these. After walking to Algood and then back up along 111 to the edge of Putnam county, I began to trek through the mountain roads. I was concerned that some of these rural roads don't always connect with others, but the roads came out in general directions similar to where I was heading, and after going up a mountain and coming down what seemed a different peak that was connected by a road, I found myself in the area of a road that I knew went into Cookeville, the town I was heading to.

So, if You find yourself in Putnam County or specifically Cookeville keep an eye out for Me. The sides of some of the roads are narrow, so if You want to honk or shout be careful that You don't startle Me too bad. :)




I'm posting some pics that were taken while training.



A sufficient flow of materials, etc. is developing that a Facebook page is in discussion. If anyone is interested in being the Administrator let Us know. Thanks

When to begin?

I looked at my schedule and the best time to make this happen in what seems to Me a practical timeframe was to do it between April July 2010. Weather and ensuring routes such as the Snoqualmie Tunnel were open were the next considerations.
So, I began looking up average temperatures and rain fall in the key areas along the route.

April, May and June seemed the best, all things considered. I haven't set a specific start date yet, but the months are set, barring any unexpected delays.

If everything isn't in place for this timing, the next possibile date might be years later. (My schedule's rather full and many of my commitments require full-time presence making a walk, months long, impractical.)

A year seems more than sufficient organizing time now that We have a route and time -so here We go.

along the Snoqualmie Tunnel

So, after the longest pedestrian bridge it only took a few tweaked searches to guide Me to the longest (walking friendly) trail tunnel in America.
The Snoqualmie Tunnel in Washington State is just that, at approximately two miles in length, this railroad track converted to a trail offers something unlike anything else. My reading has revealed descriptions similar to dark in the day; apparently I'll need a light.
I noticed on my most recent visit to the Iron Horse State Park website that the tunnels are closed right now, but scheduled to open again June 1st.

I like the general path I've found including these three points. A walk across America-

With the seasonality of the tunnel and my existing schedule, my mind now turned to when to take this walk.

Here I'll note that some cooperation will be necessary to see this through and without that help I can't make it happen, but as support begins to surface I'm thinking it will come down to can I really walk that far. Thanks to everyone that is already expressing appreciation and support for what We are doing.
It'll be exhilarating and hopefully I won't disappoint those who are investing in this emotionally.

along the Big Dam Bridge

Among my first thoughts after choosing Bayshore Blvd. as the first point in my walk was to walk across the peninsula and walk north along the coast toward New York. The coupling of roads along the very beach and the quintessentially scenic nature of the coast only encouraged Me in attempting to incorporate a visit the New York.
I'd recently been introduced to some people there including someone that had been suggested as friend I could stay with. I worked with the Google walking map all the way up the coast zooming in to street level and searching for sidewalks on bridges. Finally though I reached Mayport and the St. Johns Ferry Service.
I didn't want to walk around on a ferry while it crossed the water and the closest bridges didn't seem to have a walkway. In short it seemed less like a good idea.
My search for pedestrian friendly bridges prompted the search that would lead to what is now the second planned "highlight" of the walk. I searched for the longest pedestrian bridge.
Viola. The Big Dam Bridge between Little Rock and North Little Rock Arkansas. The simple and direct name seems fitting to the stereotype of Arkansans and at 4226 linear feet long and 14 feet wide it is a large bridge. Take a look at the website for more details (http://www.bigdambridge.com/facts.htm) and some history.
I was born in Arkansas. Yep. It was another nice coincidence and so that's the second of the longests on this walk.

along the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk

I began talking to people about what I was planning and the next problem that presented itself was "where would I take the longest walk that I had ever walked?".
A friend and I happened to be driving through Denver and Colfax Ave. presented itself, being commonly referred to as "the longest street in America" by many. I haven't found definite confirmation of that, but I've always been enamored and somewhat fascinated by a road that crosses between States and isn't a highway or freeway.
By the end of the conversation I decided against Colfax, though it may again enter into the plan before this walking is done.
I began by looking for the longest sidewalk. I was hoping for a long, pedestrian friendly, and non-stop walk and a planned pedestrian path in the form of a sidewalk was immensely appealing. My search returned a sidewalk right here in the United States and in an interesting and attractive coincidence a sidewalk along the shore of Tampa, Florida. Bayshore Boulevard boasts the longest continuous sidewalk wrapping up and around the side of a bay with generally nice weather and in a location where I lived.
So, Bayshore Blvd. would be my beginning. Where would I walk to? The sidewalk was not close to the length that I was envisioning for this walk, at 4.5 miles, the longest continuous sidewalk seemed like a great starting point, but it just wouldn't be enough based on my past walks.

I began looking at possible routes from there (and that led Me to begin forming a list of what I would need, including escorts).

Before I even began to search for a location to walk I started my search for shoes.

I had purchased a pair of Onituska Tigers in 2008 when living in Tampa, FL. I've admitted to a number of people that they are likely the best pair of shoes that I have ever worn and for a walk of this sort I want to wear the best.

I was working in the Cinnabon at International Plaza and would often get out after the last bus ran. I lived on N. Highland in Tampa Heights area, but I've been a walk, bicycle, public transit environment supporter for some time now, so I simply accepted the approx. 4 mile walk/jog.

The shoes were a comfort each time and I began to jog a greater distance each night, beginning a block sooner each time. Before I left Tampa to assist in a USGS Green House Gas Study in Colorado I was beginning my jog around Lincoln Ave and not stopping until I'd reached the river.

So, when I began to commit to this walk I sent an email to Asics admitting my admiration for those shoes, confessing my intent to wear their shoes during the course of the walk and asking for any support They might give.


I started by choosing my shoes and I'll be wearing vegan Onitsuka shoes.

I was walking from Denver to Golden. Sometimes when I'm walking I begin to feel so good. I decided I wanted to see how long I could walk. I wanted to walk as long as I could at one time and also walk an extended trek longer than I had ever walked before.

-and now it's turned into a project I'm gonna share. :)

it began simply