The Great American Journey

GAP WALK JOURNALS - VIII

Wednesday - October 8,  2008  Day 217   11.1  miles

Total Maryland miles - 46.9        Walking Days - 102

Washington D.C. miles - 4.6   Cumulative miles 1778.1

McDonald’s - our breakfast place here in Aberdeen where we’ve
had some good talks with Rob (a McD’s employee). Today we
had a brief time of prayer with him, then took his picture
with each of us. After that we wished his manager, Sue, a happy
birthday, and got her picture as well.

Now we were on our way out to pre-drive today’s and
tomorrow’s routes. It was a very simple route with only two
basic turns. I started on Business U.S. 1 and then went straight
onto Hwy 147 when Hwy 1 went to the left. A little further
down the road I turned onto Hwy 152. I was on this one most of
the day then. There was lots of traffic here, no sidewalks, but
very nice wide shoulders. I had no problem walking this road.

It was fun in many ways since there were quite a few truckers
who loved honking when I waved to them. That started some of
the drivers of cars honking, and every so often cars and trucks
coming up from behind me honked. Much of my prayer time
today was spent praying for all these people.

I stopped in at one convenience store for the restroom and a
candy bar. The clerk noticed I was rather patriotic looking with
my flag on the walking stick, and all the red, white, and blue
that I wore. I explained what I was doing, and another clerk
asked if the lady in the van outside was part of my group. I had
been so pre-occupied with watching traffic to get across the road
that I hadn’t even noticed that Bonny was out there. I turned
around after making my purchase, and there she was. Bonny had
seen me come across.

Soon after this I came to the junction with Hwy 7 where I would
be turning for the rest of the day - only 2.4 more miles.

Throughout the day I had been receiving text messages from
Sam (my granddaughter) or Alyce-Kay (her mom, & my
daughter) with updates about Sam’s condition. It looked like her
baby would be born today, but alas, it was not to be. She ended
up going home from the hospital to wait a little longer. It should
be soon though. Dave and I will get to see this new great-
granddaughter and her older brother on our way back to
California later on this month. I also spent a lot of time praying
for Sam and the family there as I walked.

After turning off of Hwy 152 onto Hwy 7 the road was
narrower, and the shoulders hardly there, but the traffic was a lot
less. There was usually a grassy area where I could walk if cars
were coming. As I entered Baltimore County I had to cross a
bridge where the shoulder on my side was non-existent. On the
other side it was next to non-existent, but at least there was
some space, so I crossed over. I waited for a few cars to pass,
then went across the bridge, and I think there were no cars at all
while I was crossing. Thank you, Lord.

It wasn’t long after this that I came to the Dew Drop Inn where
Bonny was waiting in the parking lot for me. The Dew Drop Inn
seems to be closed down, so our parking there was certainly no
problem.

After we got all our statistics written down we headed back to
our motel via Route 7 which takes us right to Aberdeen and with
a couple of turns we end up at our motel. Bonny needed to stop
at a couple of stores first. Then we went home to clean up and
eat our dinners.

It was a good day. Tomorrow will be on Hwy 7 all day.