TODAY'S JOURNAL ENTRY

Why walk across the United States?
Others have walked across this
continent. Ofcourse they have. Many
of those who made their way west
from the colonies went on foot.

I think this is an appropriate way to
let people know the scope of this project. THE WALK is not only a
large project, it deals directly with
almost every issue that concern
Americans today.

The Walk focuses on history,
veterans, education,
economics, ecology, business,
recreation, science, politics,
religion and more.

It is impossible to understand
the scope of this project by
looking at it once or twice. Not
even for a few weeks but it
isn't important that everyone
understand every aspect, only
that they understand it is a full
and detailed project that can
be realized, and that it can change
the way we; and the world, sees
America.

As we make our way across this country, we will be collecting letters to give to the President. We hope letters of encouragement, hope and support.

There is no downside to this project.
It should serve to educate and inspire those who love this country and all the things that are the foundation this nation waas built upon.

I hope you will follow us along. I hope you enjoy the pictures that we can
share and the stories that we will
add to these pages. Certainly we
will not add them all -- not just yet.
Time will not permit. But, we are
keeping our little journals filled.

 

The link at the top will reflect
the days that have gone by
and back to the beginning.

The Journey Began Here
Palisades
Malibu
Santa Monica
El Monte
Pomona
San Bernadino
Adelanto
Baker
Prim/Las Vegas
Las Vegas/Mesquite
St. George
Cedar City
Parowan
Beaver
Richfield
Green River
Moab
Fruita
Grand Junction
Parachute
Rifle, Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Co.
Eagle, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
Silverthorne, Co.
Keystone, Colorado
Idaho Springs
Golden
Denver
Aurora
Limon
Burlington
Goodland, Kansas
Colby, Kansas
Oakley, Kansas
Wakeeney, Ks
Hays, Kansas
Russell, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Abilene, Kansas
Junction City, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas

Topeka
Lawrence, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Blue Springs, Missouri
Higginsville, Mo
Concordia, Missouri
Black Water, Mo
Boonville, Missouri
Columbia, Mo
Katy Trail and On
Nostalgiaville
Katy Trail Continues
Katy Trail to St. Charles
East St. Louis, Illinois
Belleville, Il
Okawville, Illinois
Mount Vernon, Il
Burnt Prairie/Grayville, Il
Evansville, Indiana
Leavenworth, In
Corydon, Indiana
New Albany, Indiana
Louisville, Kentucky
Shelbyville, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Lexington (West & North) Ky.
Lexington (East) Kentucky
Winchester, Kentucky
Mt Sterling , Kentucky
Morehead, Ky
Grayson, Kentucky
Ashland, Ky
Huntington, West Virginia
Hurricane, West Virginia
Charleston, WV.
Charleston Hills
South Charleston
Fayetteville, West Virginia
Summersville, WV
Mohongahela National Forest
(Richwood and Marlinton)
Warm Springs, Virginia
Goshen, Virginia
Staunton, VA
Harrisonburg, VA
New Market, VA
Luray, VA
Sperryville, Virginia
Warrenton, VA
Fairfield, Virginia
Arlington, Virginia
Washington D.C.
Lorton, Virginia
Fredricksburg, VA
Ashland, VA
South Hill, VA
Graham, North Carolina
La Grange, Georgia
Opelika, Alabama
Pensacola and our Summary

 

Natt
D.Anson
Steven



 

 


D.Anson playing at a McCabes in Santa Monica, California


Natt is walking ahead along the Beach in Santa Monica.


Capt. Scott Grigsby, watching the beach near the park.


I sat as still as possible, though he didn't seem to mind my movement. I traded
my hat for the scuplture. Perhaps noting the state of my hair, he understood the
value of what I offered.


Gin did a remarkable job in just a few minutes. His next customer was Elvis.


I enjoyed the obvious connection between these two friends: so different, so engaged


The shope is "Stitching is an Art" on Pico in Santa Monica. I had a wonderful visit with
the women who were busy creating works of art in yarn. If you're in the area: stop in.

.
One of the people who wrote a letter to the President in our book.
 

 

Some things I thought about today.

There was a Asian man, actually several of them, quickly making portraits of clay along the Pacific Beach Park in Santa Monica. I traded my hat and sat as he pushed, sqeezed, carved and moved the clay about until it looked like me. I enjoyed my visit with him and will cherish the little scuplture.

I was told about a Karate School that was working with inner-city kids. I went inside to find a group of people relaxing after having conducted a garage sale to help pay for the services provided their inner-city students.

I offered to place a photograph
of their school on this web site and some of the instructors quickly stood next to a wall for the photo shoot. A moment or two passed and the person in charge came to say they had to be very careful about how their school was portrayed.

This is; ofcourse, true. But, I wonder how that can best be done. More, how it is portrayed and to whom.

I have spent many years working with inner-city youths. I find
them to be not that much different than any other youths. Children
follow the strongest leader they
find available. It is often best when it is both parents, or even one. Still, sometimes it is a Girl Scout or Boy Scout leader, a supportive realtive or sometimes it is another youth. In these cases, often it is disasterous. This is true in our inner cities - and in our suburbs.

Inner-city children live in a world
where fear dominates many aspects of their lives. Those who choose to attempt to lead them out of that life must be prepared to serve as role models. As much as children may listen, the are far more likely to follow the actions displayed by those about them.

Teaching Karate may be used to offer a means to achieve courage. It may.

When the instructors circled about me and decided not to have their pictures taken, their words and their actions reflected fear. I believe their fear of how their school might be projected was just that: fear. Facing the world without concern how others might see us requires courage.

I live in the same, very scary world they do. We all do. If we do not choose to take on the role of leader, we can live our lives as we choose. Some of us will jump off cliffs and others will lock themselves behind closed doors. That is a part of what makes this nation wonderful. If we choose to take on the challenge of leadership, we cannot hide in the comfort of our own facades, we must life life honestly and courageously, regardless of how others might percieve or project us.

These words are written with a great love of all these individuals are attempting to do. It is only my perspective on things. Certainly not the only one. If they respond, I will place their responce here: unedited.
I hope they do.

STITCHING is an ART!
YARN SHOP

This is the name of a little shop on Pico St. in Santa Monica. I walked into the shop and was greeted by a wonderful group of women and a young girl, all busy doing something with yarn. I thought it would be nice to add their yarn to ours.
The women chatted with me for a while before I left. They shared a few stories with me and I with them. Certainly I was not the normal person walking in their door, but they treated me with great respect and diginity.

It should be said, most of the time I find Americans doing what we do best. Accepting the challenges that we face, and passing our courage on to the next generation. And, that is what I saw in that yarn shop.