Thursday, July 31, 2014
Storms approaching my position from the north and south west
Thunder storms approaching fast. Will seek shelter under the wood pagoda soon. My little tent won't hold up under strong winds.
Day 95- Tweakers strike again!!
Tweakers slipped into my camp at midnight walking around my tent flashing their flashlights into my tent for about a half hour. Every time I got out to confront them they melted into the trees. Then at 330am they came back and started a fire in my fire pit. I have a feeling this will happen again tonight.
Well, it took me 11 hours yesterday to walk to this campground. Numerous blisters formed and so I washed my feet this am put on clean socks and now will walk the 3 miles to the nearest grocery store. Haven't eaten since noon yesterday. So it will be a 6 mile hike today on blisters!
Just talked to one of the campground employees, Shaun who offered to take me to Walmart 5 miles away but would not be able to drive me back. So I got into his truck when Shaun saw his boss the park ranger coming up the road. He quickly turned around and drove me back to camp as he would gave gotten into trouble taking me into town in the company truck.
Luckily, he didn't get into trouble. But now am looking at a 6 mile or 10 mile hike depending on what store I go to. Dilemma!
It was very cold last night. Hard to sleep because of that and the tweakers. Woke up with dew on my sleeping bag. Thought that wouldn't happen inside the tent. Oh well.
I will have to finish my weekly column for the Morton Times so I can make my deadline for next week.
Just a minute after I wrote this post Ken Feather the camp manager came out and we talked. Offered to drive me into town to get groceries. This is the mgr that Shaun was worried about! Haha. Men then drove me back saving me hours of walking on blisters!
Met Dean Avery he's got an RV. He and his wife are here for the York County Fair. Will have some company today!
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Day 94-After 12 hours of walking made it to York, NE
Staying 2 nights at Recharge lake Campground west of York NE. Its getting dark. No other campers just me out at this remote camp.
Doesn't anyone camp during the summers anymore? Everybody is too busy watching TV and playing video games I guess.
Hard to put up tent because the ground is so hard can't hardly get my stakes in w/o bending them.
Very difficult day! The campground I was heading for was supposed to be right when I got into York. But they closed recently so I had to walk another 5 miles to get here! All told I walk 25 or so miles and 15 miles yesterday and the day before 5 miles.
I'm bone tired. No food here. Half to go 5 miles into town! Oh well. Thursday am I will head to Bradshaw which is 9 miles away. Then Friday head to Aurora.
Half to find a working electrical outlet to charge my phone.
Goodnight all.
Day 94- Taking a break in Waco population 236
For His anger endureth but for a moment: in His favor is life weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5
About halfway to the City of York which is 8 miles away. Tempted to stay in Waco as my feet are begging for their lives. Blisters and my soles are so sore.
Taking lunch at the Hunters Restaurant here in Waco. Nice place considering how small Waco is.
Day 94- breakfast then back to the road
The Dunbar's provided me with a great breakfast and then drove me half a mile to Rt 34 for my 15 mile hike to York.
Pastor gave me 40 dollars and we said our goodbyes. Always bittersweet when leaving!
Pics are of the road heading west at 750am.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Day 94- The Dunbar Family
Great family the Dunbar's Jon, Hope, Joey and Jesse. Hope cooked barbecued pork steak.
Meet Sharon. She took me to the grocery store in Utica to get some water.
Nice lady. Sharon. One mile out of town she asked if I needed a ride. Said sure. Took me to the grocery store in Utica so I could get some water and Powerade. I drank up my water with 3 miles to go.
Will call Pastor Dunbar now and set up my tent in his yard. He offered me the use if his shower too.
Taking a break off of Rt 34 between Seward and Utica NE
Called Pastor John Dunbar(not to be confused with John Dunbar of Dancing With Wolves movie) LOL.
He invited me to his home for tonight! First Pastor to do so. Very nice man! He is the Pastor of St John Lutheran Church in Utica NE.
Pics are of sky looking up from the ground under Pine tree.
Day 93- Walking to Utica NE 15 miles.
Where there is no vision, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18
Leaving Seward and walking to Utica, NE this morning a walk of 15 miles on Rt 34 which is just north of I-80.
A bit tired but otherwise I'm OK. Apprehensive. 15 miles a good long hike. Going to have to tape up my feet with duct tape when I take my first break. Blisters will be an issue today. Can already feel it coming on and I have only walked .7 miles. I walked from my motel to McDonalds.
A nice lady came up to me at McDonalds this morning and asked about my trip. She is an insurance agent in Seward here. Her daughter and son who work with her at the agency accompanied her. Told her about my career as a CAT adjuster.
Had a great conversation with Mark Mahnken last night. We both agreed that God allowed our paths to intersect for different purposes unique to each other.
Susie will get a hold of her brother who lives in Aurora. I plan on getting to Aurora by Friday. May camp at the City Park one of the few city parks in America that allow camping. And its free.
Monday, July 28, 2014
End of day 92- Seward Nebraska
Woke up at 6am today. Robt Nickos of Omaha was my host overnight. We had breakfast at Denny's and he drove me to the Holy Family Shrine in Gretna. Mike and Kristine Bickhaus who I met in Quincy, IL highly recommended that I visit the shrine especially since it was right on my way.
This is a Catholic church/shrine constructed of huge pre-engineered wood trusses and glass walls. The shrine sits on a bluff high up overlooking I-80. It's very serene and beautiful. People can come in and pray there. Moving.
Then we drove to Robt's girlfriend, Elaine's, house in Lincoln. Afterward, we drove to his farm outside Raymond NE and took a tour. Beautiful rolling hills. Robt and Elaine will be building a house there and will buy a few head of cattle.
Robt is retired after 40 some odd years as an insurance adjuster. He was my supervisor during catastrophe operations I was involved with due to Hurricane Ike in Houston 2008-2009. He taught me a lot about multi million dollar commercial claims.
Then he dropped me off in Seward NE where I interviewed with the local newspaper. Spoke with Amanda one of the reporters for around an hour.
Then checked in a motel as church offices were closed today as per usual on Mondays.
Will walk the 14 miles to Utica tomorrow.
Both Robt and Mark/Susie made contributions to my walk. Also, Mike and Kristine Bickhaus sent me two Walmart gift cards. They were very generous! Thanks to the Bickhauss', Mahnkens and Robt Nickos!!!
Pics are of the shrine and Robt's farmland. Robt is also portrayed praying in the Holy Family Shrine.
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