The Great American Journey

GAP WALK JOURNALS - VI

Saturday - August 23, 2008 Day 171 21.4 miles

Total Massachusetts miles - 69.1 Walking Days - 85

Washington D.C. miles - 4.6 Cumulative miles 1503.8

Awesome day today - weather was perfect with sunshine and
not too hot, then we ended right at the state line between
Massachusetts and Rhode Island at 5 p m, so you see it was
really a great day.

Back to the beginning of the day when we left the motel. We
drove toward our start point thinking that we had a very direct
route and there would be no detours to get there. Knowing it
was 9.1 miles back to the start once we were on Hwy 16, we
were both wondering what was going on when our odometer
read over 11 miles - and now things weren’t looking familiar. It
turned out we had made our own detour.

Finally we figured out that when Hwy 16 went off to the right
where we were supposed to go straight on Hwy 126, we had
followed 16 instead. Back we went, and then we finally got
back to the right road. We made a quick stop at an “On the Run”
Convenience store for a restroom. I talked with the man in
charge for a bit explaining what we were doing. I told him, “I’ll
be back soon as I walk this way. When I come back I’ll pop in
and say hi, and buy my candy bar at that time.”

Soon we were at the start and I got my gear on and headed out.
About twenty minutes later I arrived at the “On the Run,” and
went inside. I bought a mint flavored Mars Bar. Very good. I
asked Victor a few questions about the area. He has lived in this
area his whole life. I asked him if people who live here really
appreciate the rich history of the area. He told me that in this
particular area they really do. They take it very seriously, and
work to preserve it. But he also told me that in some of the areas
nearby many did not appreciate where they lived. Some of what
he told me made me wonder if that was why I don’t get as many
people waving and honking in some of the places I’ve just
walked through.

As I continued I prayed especially for Victor, and for the area I
was walking through, as well as the whole state of
Massachusetts. It has been a awesome state in many ways, but
I’ve seen much of what Victor was talking about - that not
everyone cares that much about their history, or wants to
understand it. Yet there are many who do, and I’ve seen that as
well.

Now I continued on to Holliston where I stopped at another
service station and talked with Andre for a bit. He was very
pleasant and appreciative for the prayers.

Next I continued to Milford - the town where we are based for
this week. The route did not go by our motel, but went into the
downtown area. I took a picture of the Town Hall, and helped
Norma find her way - she actually found her on way back onto
the route, but wasn’t sure how she did it. I got in the car and we
drove on through the town so she would feel more comfortable
with it. I walked on through Milford, and Hopedale, and into
Mendon where I met Norma for lunch at a Subway Sandwich
place where we ate our lunch.

Looking at the maps I told Norma I wanted to get to the MA/RI
border today. And, as you know now we did make it. Norma
waited for me at Hill Road, but somehow I got past her without
either of us seeing the other. There were whole lines of cars
going by at times, and chances are that was when I walked by on
the opposite side of the street. It was quite awhile later when I
got the phone call asking where I was. I told her I was only a
few streets from the border, and I detailed the one big turn she
had to make to get to me. Then Norma passed me by and I soon
crossed the border, but no Norma. She was still looking for the
sign that wasn’t there.

Realizing that there was no state welcome sign to Rhode Island,
nor a farewell sign from Massachusetts, I found a Welcome to
Millville, Massachusetts sign and knew this had to be the border
area. It fit the details of the map I was using, so I felt
comfortable with that. Norma came back, and we took pictures
of each other at the border, then headed back to Milford and our
motel.

You should know that Norma is doing a great job as my driver.
I’m really impressed with how well she gets the mileage right
on, even after making wrong turns and having to backtrack. She
takes her job seriously, and I really appreciate it. For each driver
it’s different - depending on their own abilities. I really
do appreciate each one’s different abilities for this job.

After I showered we ate the leftover Chinese food from
yesterday’s lunch. I heated it up in the microwave so kindly put
in our room at the motel. I enjoyed this second part of my meal
better than I did when it was fresh yesterday.

Finally I did the journal, and called Dave. Then I watched some
of the last portion of the Olympics mainly the men’s marathon. I
have started setting up my office area beside the TV where I
can’t see it, but I can hear it. That way I hear what’s going on,
but am not tempted to look at it. This has really helped me get
my work done and to bed at a more decent time each night. So
tonight when I watched the Olympics I actually got to see what
different things looked like - such as the flame, and the Birds
Nest, and other things.

Near the end of my route today I saw a sign at a furniture
manufacturer’s place that said, “Revive us again, O LORD.” This
is from Psalm 85: 6 and 7. And that is my prayer for our
country. I hope you’ll join me in this prayer. Good night all.