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