Mon., June 21 - We talked about 7:30am and Jim was doing well. He had a pleasant evening at the local bar & grill eating a nice supper and talking to another customer who lives locally. He was disturbed much of the night by heat lightning. Sure enough about 4:30am there was a thunderstorm for a couple of hours. Once the rain lightened up, he went out to explore the park area. He had been wondering how he would get water to make his breakfast. He found an old-fashioned pump and then an outhouse - all the comforts of home! Since his tent was soaked, he moved everything over to the pavilion and draped the tent over a picnic table to dry it a little before packing up. After breakfast he was on the trail just before 7:30, after discarding excess food to lighten his pack for this final day of hiking. The skies don't appear threatening yet, just overcast with patches of blue - quite a cool breeze blowing - optimum hiking conditions for Day 21. The forecast does call for scattered showers & thunderstorms, so he hopes to get most of his mileage in while the weather is nice. We talked again briefly at 9:45 while he was taking a half hour rest at one of the trail picnic tables in Osakis, MN - temps still cool & breezy. He is really thrilled with this Lake Wobegon Trail - the amenities on the trail itself, as well as the access to local towns, just a few feet off the trail. It would be a perfect trail for a day hike - no need to carry food, just stop in town for a nice lunch break - what a nice support for local businesses. I could even be talked into an all day hike with those luxuries!
Once again, the best laid plans.... Jim called about 2:30 and google maps failed him AGAIN - the Holiday Inn was not where they said it was!!! It was all the way on the other side of the highway interchange. Once he realized it wasn't where he thought it was, he called them and they gave him directions to walk another 4 miles. He said "I can't possibly walk anymore today - can you pick me up?" They asked if he had a reservation and he said "yes" (thank God I had made one last night - we don't usually do that). They arranged to pick him up at the Burger King nearby. Then they asked how they would recognize him! He said "I'm the guy with a 3-day beard growth and a large heavy pack on my back - not any others like me here". He told me that his legs are really tired and he could not walk even another mile today - time for this hike to end! We talked again at 3:00 and he had been picked up and was in his room. He had even set up his tent on a patch of grass near the parking lot to dry it out. He was drinking large amounts of iced water. And the good news is that the man who picked him up will drive him to the bus stop tomorrow morning (he was planning on a taxi). So I guess all's well that ends well. Fortunately, the hotel has a restaurant on premises so he won't have to walk far for his dinner. We talked again briefly tonight and Jim did have a nice dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Miles Today - 17 Total Miles for This WI-MN Hike Segment - 376.75
Tues., June 22 - We talked early this morning and Jim had a good breakfast at the hotel and then caught his pre-arranged ride to the bus station. When we talked he was waiting for the bus to arrive. We talked briefly as I was leaving the soup kitchen this afternoon and his bus ride was pretty much on schedule and it dropped him in downtown Minneapolis where he caught another bus (as the only passenger) to the airport. When we talked he was waiting at the gate to board his plane to Chicago and then a connecting flight to Newark. He did call from Chicago to say he had made it that far. Later in the evening we had a terrible thunderstorm here in New Jersey - I sure was hoping this wouldn't delay Jim's flight! Lo & behold, his flight was a half hour early. So the weary traveler is now home safe & sound and apparently none the worse for wear. We'll see if he can fit into dress shoes to go to work tomorrow... Jim has now walked 2,125 miles and more than halfway across the country. Thank you all for your interest in Jim's travels - see you in September when Jim will finish Minnesota and more than half of North Dakota.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Days 19 & 20 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Sat., June 19 - We talked around 8:15 this morning. Jim was at Perkins very early for breakfast and then left his motel just after 7am. The weather was cloudy with a stiff headwind breeze. He is anxious to leave the busy Rt. 75 and get to St. Joseph, MN - notable as the eastern terminus of the Lake Wobegon Trail. Jim will be on this trail for much of the rest of this trip. He called again briefly at 9 and he was on the paved trail - he had just passed a large area with picnic tables, etc. Apparently every town that the trail passes through will have this type of area. The only bad part of the Lake Wobegon Trail is that camping is illegal - this means that Jim has NO IDEA where he will sleep for the next two nights! We talked again around 2pm and he was just walking by a beautiful grouping of over 100 pink & white lady slipper flowers. He had gone through the town of Avon where there was a Lions Club fair - he stopped for a slice of pizza! The weather was still overcast with an occasional glimpse of the sun. He said he is loving this paved trail. He called about 5:30 and said he was reminded of the country song "People are Crazy". The line is "God is great, beer is good and people are crazy". He has a new line - "God is great, beer is good and people are AMAZING"! He passed a man (Cliff) on a bicycle on the trail and they stopped to chat. Jim told Cliff he was looking for a place to stay but he didn't know of anyplace. As Jim was walking away, Cliff called him back so he could take his picture and along comes Alice, who knew Cliff. When Alice heard Jim's story, she went to the church to see if he could camp in the cemetery but they said no. After that he stopped for lunch at a restaurant that Alice recommended (all of these places are just a few feet off the trail - very convenient). He was back on the trail less than 1/2 mile and along comes Alice again - she had been looking for him. She told him to walk about 4 more miles on the trail and to look for a mowed path and the house across the street. He didn't find the right path at first but eventually did. He knocked on the door and Sherry was expecting him - she said he could pitch his tent in her backyard and use their outside faucet - what a relief - the end of a long 8 solid hours of hiking. Later in the evening, Sherry's husband Andy came out to chat with Jim, along with their two cats and a dog - all very friendly. Andy said that Jim wasn't the first to do this - a woman and her horse stayed there before. As Jim's version of the song goes, "PEOPLE ARE AMAZING"! The animals ended up coming out to "visit" a few times this evening.
Miles Today - 24 Total Miles to Date - 334.25
Sun, June 20 - We talked around 7:30 and Jim said that it was a cool night sleeping and he woke to a heavy dew - his tent was soaked inside and out. He got up and out early and had a good breakfast in Freeport (after 2 miles on the trail). So far it was a beautiful day with fewer clouds than yesterday. His feet are fine but his legs are tired from the long day yesterday. He called again about 10am and he had just left St. Mary's Church in Melrose (coincidentally the same church name as our home parish here in NJ). Unfortunately, he was too early for the next Mass and if he waited for it, it would really make him too far behind schedule. So he went into the church and said all of the prayers and the readings for today - the best he could do, hoping that God understands. The day was feeling warm already - mid to high 70's. I checked the forecast for him and it is expected to be quite hot today. He is heading for Sauk Centre for his next meal break. We talked briefly around 1:15 while he was sitting under a tree for shade, trying to recover from the heat - probably about 90 - hoping that the center of town is close! We talked again about 4:30 and he did get into town about 1:45 and had a beer and a little rest. He was chatting with the bartender and she told him about a bar & grill in West Union (just about the mileage he wants to do today) and said to ask for Joyce who might be able to help him with a place to stay tonight. Meanwhile he found the only place in town that serves lunch - the local hotel - and he even got to charge his phone while eating there. As he left Sauk Centre, he noticed a plaque that said Main St. in town was the inspiration for Sinclair Lewis' book "Main Street"! Jim never passes an historical plaque without reading it. He also said he was feeling much better than he was before lunch. We talked again around 6:30 and he had finally found West Union - further than he expected, but that will just shorten tomorrow's walk. He found the bar & grill he had been told about but Joyce wasn't there. He explained his problem to the bartender and he said he would call the mayor! Sure enough, the mayor said that Jim was welcome to pitch his tent in the town park across the street - 100 feet from the trail! When we talked he had set up his tent to dry - there was a nice breeze so things should dry out nicely. The park is beautiful - a pavilion and playground - he set up his tent under a tree. He was planning to go back to the bar & grill for supper and hopefully some conversation. Jim says his legs are OK, considering the mileage and no blisters! I think he is very happy that tomorrow is his last day of hiking. I made his hotel reservation for tomorrow night as well as a plane reservation for Tuesday afternoon - he will take a bus to Minneapolis to catch the plane home.
Miles Today - 25.5 Total Miles to Date - 359.75
Miles Today - 24 Total Miles to Date - 334.25
Sun, June 20 - We talked around 7:30 and Jim said that it was a cool night sleeping and he woke to a heavy dew - his tent was soaked inside and out. He got up and out early and had a good breakfast in Freeport (after 2 miles on the trail). So far it was a beautiful day with fewer clouds than yesterday. His feet are fine but his legs are tired from the long day yesterday. He called again about 10am and he had just left St. Mary's Church in Melrose (coincidentally the same church name as our home parish here in NJ). Unfortunately, he was too early for the next Mass and if he waited for it, it would really make him too far behind schedule. So he went into the church and said all of the prayers and the readings for today - the best he could do, hoping that God understands. The day was feeling warm already - mid to high 70's. I checked the forecast for him and it is expected to be quite hot today. He is heading for Sauk Centre for his next meal break. We talked briefly around 1:15 while he was sitting under a tree for shade, trying to recover from the heat - probably about 90 - hoping that the center of town is close! We talked again about 4:30 and he did get into town about 1:45 and had a beer and a little rest. He was chatting with the bartender and she told him about a bar & grill in West Union (just about the mileage he wants to do today) and said to ask for Joyce who might be able to help him with a place to stay tonight. Meanwhile he found the only place in town that serves lunch - the local hotel - and he even got to charge his phone while eating there. As he left Sauk Centre, he noticed a plaque that said Main St. in town was the inspiration for Sinclair Lewis' book "Main Street"! Jim never passes an historical plaque without reading it. He also said he was feeling much better than he was before lunch. We talked again around 6:30 and he had finally found West Union - further than he expected, but that will just shorten tomorrow's walk. He found the bar & grill he had been told about but Joyce wasn't there. He explained his problem to the bartender and he said he would call the mayor! Sure enough, the mayor said that Jim was welcome to pitch his tent in the town park across the street - 100 feet from the trail! When we talked he had set up his tent to dry - there was a nice breeze so things should dry out nicely. The park is beautiful - a pavilion and playground - he set up his tent under a tree. He was planning to go back to the bar & grill for supper and hopefully some conversation. Jim says his legs are OK, considering the mileage and no blisters! I think he is very happy that tomorrow is his last day of hiking. I made his hotel reservation for tomorrow night as well as a plane reservation for Tuesday afternoon - he will take a bus to Minneapolis to catch the plane home.
Miles Today - 25.5 Total Miles to Date - 359.75
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Days 17 & 18 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Thurs., June 17 - We talked this morning and Jim left the state park about 7am and he was walking through the buggy woods to get to the road. He said that the whippoorwills and owls serenaded him last night. He also had one toe in pain last night while trying to sleep - a couple of ibuprofen took care of it. He was looking forward to an easy short mileage day. His feet are great this morning with nothing sensitive. His body is tired which is a great reason to change the plan and divide today's schedule into two days - a prudent decision. His walk in the woods was chilly but once he got to the road it started to warm up quickly. He saw a beautiful white bird that he couldn't identify. The pond he went by was full of lily pads, ducks and geese. This included a flock crossing the road with babies! He wants to assure the world that judging from the amount of goose poop on the shoulder of the road, we are not in danger of running out of Canada geese! We talked again in the late morning and he described a huge number of black flies who swarmed him today - fortunately they weren't biting and only one got in his eye! He sure has seen lots of evidence of why Minnesota is called the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" - the waters are beautiful out there. With all the water, he is seeing loads of bird life. Today he saw a hummingbird whose beak was longer than his body - about a 4" beak! He came to a small county park before the turnoff to the road into town and stopped for a half hour rest. The red wing blackbirds continue to accompany Jim where ever he goes.
We talked again around 1:30 this afternoon. The rest of his walk this morning was very windy - actually blowing him off step at times. Fortunately it was a tail wind rather then the head wind that he had last week. He is really loving Minnesota - a nice mix of country roads and trails and not too many busy roads. The further he gets from metro-Minneapolis, the more snowmobile trails he is seeing. They are parallel to his road and very well laid out and marked.
He arrived at the motel that I found right on schedule and had a shower and washed his clothes. He then went to a bar next door and had another one of their local beers and read his book at the bar. After that he went to Burger King for lunch. He was planning on a nap this afternoon. We talked briefly at 5:30 and Clearwater was having a severe thunderstorm with dime-size hail, pouring rain and tornado warnings. I could actually hear the hail through the phone. Fortunately he was safe inside his motel and he expected the front to move through quickly so he could go out for supper. The news actually reported hail the size of 5" baseballs in Alexandria, MN - about 80 miles away. He called a half hour later and when he went to the motel lobby to check out the weather more closely, there were actually people camped in the lobby huddled under the stairwells for safety! Jim said he has never quite seen cloud formations like this - they go all the way down to the ground. Some people were even outside taking pictures! We talked again at 8:30 and Jim wasn't able to leave the hotel for a couple of hours. The news reported that a tornado did touch down and caused some damage nearby. When we talked the skies were now clear. Jim had supper at a local family restaurant where he will also be able to get breakfast in the morning.
Miles Today - 11.5 Total Miles to Date - 293.75
Friday, June 18 - We talked at 9:15am (Jim's time) while I was at the beach for the day. Jim got to the breakfast place at 6am - wonderful rhubarb french toast! He was on the road at 6:30 and when we talked it was still cool - low 70's with a nice breeze and high thin clouds. He was sitting by the side of the road resting with his socks off. He saw a GREAT sign today - "Alexandria, MN" - that is the end point of this hike. The reports on the local news were very sobering about the tornadoes - at least 2 dozen of them - lots of damage. His feet are feeling great but his legs area a little tired. The lower mileage for yesterday and today should help that. Jim said he has been struck by the difference in road kill on this trip. Previously he would see many opossums and deer. This time it has mainly been birds and turtles. We talked again about 2:45 and Jim was having a great day - beautiful weather that was fairly comfortable. He was able to get onto a paved bike path that went along the Mississippi River and then through the woods. He ended up right on the campus of the University of St. Cloud. He went by the P.O. and mailed back a completed book and then noticed the local library - a gorgeous new building about 2 years old. He was able to use a PC and catch up on e-mails for about an hour. He arrived at his motel around 2pm and almost didn't get a room - there was a quilting convention in town! Fortunately, there were 2 cancellations as he was standing there - that was a close call! He said he really loves St. Cloud - walking trails - pretty downtown - just a great feeling being there. We talked again around 6pm while he was looking at the local news - seeing pictures of the tornado destruction - really terrible. Earlier he had found a used book store that I told him about and he spent quite a bit of time there and found just what he wanted for his last book on the trip. Jim did ask me for an alternate place to stay tomorrow night in case he had to cut the day short and I was able to give him that info and directions. He is hoping not to need this, but better to be prepared. I was able to read Jim an e-mail I received today from one of those ladies from Red Wing, MN. If you recall from previous blogs, they asked if was walking for a cause and then gave him $20 for the trail conference. I sent her an e-mail thanking her and she sent me a wonderful note about God's Spirit moving her to talk with Jim - very uplifting to read and share with Jim.
Miles Today - 16.5 Total Miles to Date - 310.25
We talked again around 1:30 this afternoon. The rest of his walk this morning was very windy - actually blowing him off step at times. Fortunately it was a tail wind rather then the head wind that he had last week. He is really loving Minnesota - a nice mix of country roads and trails and not too many busy roads. The further he gets from metro-Minneapolis, the more snowmobile trails he is seeing. They are parallel to his road and very well laid out and marked.
He arrived at the motel that I found right on schedule and had a shower and washed his clothes. He then went to a bar next door and had another one of their local beers and read his book at the bar. After that he went to Burger King for lunch. He was planning on a nap this afternoon. We talked briefly at 5:30 and Clearwater was having a severe thunderstorm with dime-size hail, pouring rain and tornado warnings. I could actually hear the hail through the phone. Fortunately he was safe inside his motel and he expected the front to move through quickly so he could go out for supper. The news actually reported hail the size of 5" baseballs in Alexandria, MN - about 80 miles away. He called a half hour later and when he went to the motel lobby to check out the weather more closely, there were actually people camped in the lobby huddled under the stairwells for safety! Jim said he has never quite seen cloud formations like this - they go all the way down to the ground. Some people were even outside taking pictures! We talked again at 8:30 and Jim wasn't able to leave the hotel for a couple of hours. The news reported that a tornado did touch down and caused some damage nearby. When we talked the skies were now clear. Jim had supper at a local family restaurant where he will also be able to get breakfast in the morning.
Miles Today - 11.5 Total Miles to Date - 293.75
Friday, June 18 - We talked at 9:15am (Jim's time) while I was at the beach for the day. Jim got to the breakfast place at 6am - wonderful rhubarb french toast! He was on the road at 6:30 and when we talked it was still cool - low 70's with a nice breeze and high thin clouds. He was sitting by the side of the road resting with his socks off. He saw a GREAT sign today - "Alexandria, MN" - that is the end point of this hike. The reports on the local news were very sobering about the tornadoes - at least 2 dozen of them - lots of damage. His feet are feeling great but his legs area a little tired. The lower mileage for yesterday and today should help that. Jim said he has been struck by the difference in road kill on this trip. Previously he would see many opossums and deer. This time it has mainly been birds and turtles. We talked again about 2:45 and Jim was having a great day - beautiful weather that was fairly comfortable. He was able to get onto a paved bike path that went along the Mississippi River and then through the woods. He ended up right on the campus of the University of St. Cloud. He went by the P.O. and mailed back a completed book and then noticed the local library - a gorgeous new building about 2 years old. He was able to use a PC and catch up on e-mails for about an hour. He arrived at his motel around 2pm and almost didn't get a room - there was a quilting convention in town! Fortunately, there were 2 cancellations as he was standing there - that was a close call! He said he really loves St. Cloud - walking trails - pretty downtown - just a great feeling being there. We talked again around 6pm while he was looking at the local news - seeing pictures of the tornado destruction - really terrible. Earlier he had found a used book store that I told him about and he spent quite a bit of time there and found just what he wanted for his last book on the trip. Jim did ask me for an alternate place to stay tomorrow night in case he had to cut the day short and I was able to give him that info and directions. He is hoping not to need this, but better to be prepared. I was able to read Jim an e-mail I received today from one of those ladies from Red Wing, MN. If you recall from previous blogs, they asked if was walking for a cause and then gave him $20 for the trail conference. I sent her an e-mail thanking her and she sent me a wonderful note about God's Spirit moving her to talk with Jim - very uplifting to read and share with Jim.
Miles Today - 16.5 Total Miles to Date - 310.25
Monday, June 14, 2010
Days 14, 15 & 16 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Mon., June 14 - We talked about 7:30 (his time) this morning and Jim was on his way to the revised campground in Maple Plain, MN. He is expecting rain but it was still dry when we talked. Since I was at the soup kitchen today, we didn't talk again until 3:45 when Jim was still looking for his campground. He got to the road he was looking for and it said "Not a Thru Road". He stopped a car and asked if he could get through and the driver said it turned into a path but he thought he'd get through - he was hoping for the best. It did rain today between 9am and 1pm, although a portion of that was lunch for an hour in Wayzata. Much of today's hike was on the Luce Line Trail from Wayzata - a very scenic gravel trail through woods, fields and along bodies of water. We stayed on the phone for an hour while he was trying to find the campground. I had the map up online and helped him finally get to the campground entrance. He is hoping to find a short cut out tomorrow since he had to walk several miles off his route to get to this campground. We talked again around 6:15 and Jim was settled in his cabin - logs on the outside and knotty pine on the inside - looks brand new - it even has heat & electricity and curtains on the windows! It is a large campground on Independence Lake, but Jim has no intention of exploring the area - all he wants is a good night's sleep! Today was a long day - 8 1/2 hours - so Jim's feet are a little achy but no sign of blisters. We talked briefly again at 8:15 and Jim had talked to someone in the office and he can take a trail from the campground that will shorten the way back to the road he wants - great news.
Miles Today - 25 Total Miles to Date - 238.25
Tues., June 15 - I talked to Jim this morning and he was in a great mood - he had a good night's sleep from 9:30 - 5:30. The day started out foggy and misting a bit but as we talked it was clearing up - the sun is trying to peek out of the clouds. Jim quoted Psalm 118:24 (our favorite) - "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Little did we know how true this would become later in the day! He did say that the mosquitoes were a bit pesky this morning. We talked again about 2:45 and Jim had a great morning of walking on the trail today - temp was cool and feet felt good. He went to the Watertown Post Office and got his supply package and about 6 cards/notes - he was thrilled - thanks everyone! He had already walked 13 miles and still had about 9 more to go to get to a B&B in Montrose, MN. He then shared a remarkable story about his "lucky day". After the P.O. he went to a local bar & grill and got to talking with his young waitress (Haylee) and later her mother (Jolean). As usual, they were fascinated with "Jim's story". He had called the B&B and was a bit distressed that it was going to cost him $100 to stay there. When he said that, Jolean said "I'll put you up for half that". He kind of ignored her for a bit but then pursued the subject and they worked out a plan. She did call her husband who was a little more cautious, so Jim suggested that she photocopy his drivers license for safety. He was able to stash his pack and walking stick in Jolean's car and arranged for her to pick him up at the end of his day's walk - a much easier walk without 30lbs on his back. Once again... the best laid plans... a little over an hour into the trip the rain started and he had no raincoat with him - UGH! He was quickly soaked. He found a tree in someone's front yard and kind of huddled under it for protection. A man came out and said "Can I drive you somewhere?" Jim explained "Sorry, I can't accept". Then the man invited Jim in and he did accept that offer. He had a nice cup of tea with them and waited out the rain for about a half hour. People are so nice!! Unfortunately, he didn't think to ask to borrow an umbrella because there was another storm with thunder later on. He made it to the agreed upon meeting place and Jolean picked him up and took him back to her house. He had a shower, washed some clothes and had a nice cookout supper with the family. Their older daughter stopped by and kind of gave him the 3rd degree - I guess she isn't as trusting as some! His left foot is hurting a bit so he may try to break up tomorrow's hike into two days. He asked me to try and find him someplace to stay at the halfway point.
Miles Today - 22.5 Total Miles to Date - 260.75
Miles Today - 25 Total Miles to Date - 238.25
Tues., June 15 - I talked to Jim this morning and he was in a great mood - he had a good night's sleep from 9:30 - 5:30. The day started out foggy and misting a bit but as we talked it was clearing up - the sun is trying to peek out of the clouds. Jim quoted Psalm 118:24 (our favorite) - "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Little did we know how true this would become later in the day! He did say that the mosquitoes were a bit pesky this morning. We talked again about 2:45 and Jim had a great morning of walking on the trail today - temp was cool and feet felt good. He went to the Watertown Post Office and got his supply package and about 6 cards/notes - he was thrilled - thanks everyone! He had already walked 13 miles and still had about 9 more to go to get to a B&B in Montrose, MN. He then shared a remarkable story about his "lucky day". After the P.O. he went to a local bar & grill and got to talking with his young waitress (Haylee) and later her mother (Jolean). As usual, they were fascinated with "Jim's story". He had called the B&B and was a bit distressed that it was going to cost him $100 to stay there. When he said that, Jolean said "I'll put you up for half that". He kind of ignored her for a bit but then pursued the subject and they worked out a plan. She did call her husband who was a little more cautious, so Jim suggested that she photocopy his drivers license for safety. He was able to stash his pack and walking stick in Jolean's car and arranged for her to pick him up at the end of his day's walk - a much easier walk without 30lbs on his back. Once again... the best laid plans... a little over an hour into the trip the rain started and he had no raincoat with him - UGH! He was quickly soaked. He found a tree in someone's front yard and kind of huddled under it for protection. A man came out and said "Can I drive you somewhere?" Jim explained "Sorry, I can't accept". Then the man invited Jim in and he did accept that offer. He had a nice cup of tea with them and waited out the rain for about a half hour. People are so nice!! Unfortunately, he didn't think to ask to borrow an umbrella because there was another storm with thunder later on. He made it to the agreed upon meeting place and Jolean picked him up and took him back to her house. He had a shower, washed some clothes and had a nice cookout supper with the family. Their older daughter stopped by and kind of gave him the 3rd degree - I guess she isn't as trusting as some! His left foot is hurting a bit so he may try to break up tomorrow's hike into two days. He asked me to try and find him someplace to stay at the halfway point.
Miles Today - 22.5 Total Miles to Date - 260.75
Wed., June 16 - I was in NYC today, so we didn't talk until around 7pm this evening. We did text a few times, so I knew he was doing fine. He cooked his own breakfast this morning and then sat on the sunporch drinking coffee and doing Sudoku puzzles. About 7:30am Haylee drove him back to where he left off yesterday. He arrived at Lake Maria State Park around 4pm but was a little frustrated. It was one of those parks where no one was manning the registration bldg except on weekends. He self-registered which is fine, but then it was well over a mile to find a camp site. But the site he found was near a water supply (spigot), restroom (no shower) and picnic tables. The problem he was finding tonight was bugs - mosquitoes, flies and loads of caterpillars - and a VERY warm night - UGH! His feet are doing OK but he still wants to break up tomorrow's planned 24.5 mile hike into two days. I found him a motel a little less than the halfway point so that will give him a little more rest tomorrow. He may be able to make up the extra day at the end - time will tell. It is too soon to tell if his feet will allow that - they seem to be doing quite well today.
Miles Today - 21.5 Total Miles to Date - 282.25
Friday, June 11, 2010
Message from Jim
Hi All:
Thank you for following my adventures here on the Jim Hike blog. With the trip now half done, I am pleased to get this far with only minor physical issues. The 2+ days of rest here in Minneapolis will do me a lot of good as I prepare for the remaining 165 miles.
Unlike my previous cross-country segments, this one will include brief visits with three of my college classmates: Buck Foot in Red Wing, Jim Smith here in Minneapolis, and John Gordon this Sunday in Edina. It's a great pleasure to be able to create these mini-reunions along my journey.
Thanks for all of your blogposts giving me encouragement and support. Special thanks to those of you that have pledged a total of $8.80 per mile for the NY-NJ Trail Conference. With 194 miles completed in the last 10 days, we have raised just over $1,700 for the NYNJTC. My goal remains $10 per mile for the estimated 360 miles of this segment. So if you aren't yet on our donor list, please consider making a pledge for the benefit of the thousands of folks that hike our beautifully maintained trails in the NY-NJ region.
My break from the roadwalking is well-timed, as the weather forecast for today and tomorrow is RAIN, heavy at times, including thunderstorms. I've already had a fair share of that on this trip, so am glad to be inside a hotel instead of my tent. Please continue to enjoy my travels through this blog.
Thank you for following my adventures here on the Jim Hike blog. With the trip now half done, I am pleased to get this far with only minor physical issues. The 2+ days of rest here in Minneapolis will do me a lot of good as I prepare for the remaining 165 miles.
Unlike my previous cross-country segments, this one will include brief visits with three of my college classmates: Buck Foot in Red Wing, Jim Smith here in Minneapolis, and John Gordon this Sunday in Edina. It's a great pleasure to be able to create these mini-reunions along my journey.
Thanks for all of your blogposts giving me encouragement and support. Special thanks to those of you that have pledged a total of $8.80 per mile for the NY-NJ Trail Conference. With 194 miles completed in the last 10 days, we have raised just over $1,700 for the NYNJTC. My goal remains $10 per mile for the estimated 360 miles of this segment. So if you aren't yet on our donor list, please consider making a pledge for the benefit of the thousands of folks that hike our beautifully maintained trails in the NY-NJ region.
My break from the roadwalking is well-timed, as the weather forecast for today and tomorrow is RAIN, heavy at times, including thunderstorms. I've already had a fair share of that on this trip, so am glad to be inside a hotel instead of my tent. Please continue to enjoy my travels through this blog.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Days 10 thru 13 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Thurs., June 10 - Jim called VERY early this morning to say he decided to get on the road early (like 5:30 I think) to hopefully avoid much of the predicted rain this afternoon. We talked again around 7am and he had already had breakfast and had stopped on the lawn of a local school to temporarily set up his tent to dry out while it was still sunny & breezy. There is nothing quite like the smell of a wet tent, so this was a practical use of an extra half-hour. While Jim was stopped at the school, one of the kids came over and asked what he was doing. Jim responded "drying out my tent" and then proceeded to explain how it had rained earlier and it wasn't a good idea to fold up a wet tent, etc. No curiosity at all about the bigger picture - like why was Jim hiking with a large pack on his back, etc. We talked again about 9am and Jim said he was making good progress. He was just getting off busy Rt. 55 and getting onto Pine Bend Trail - looking forward to some trail walking vs. busy roads. He said his feet are great and actually "couldn't be better". Thanks for the good feet prayers - they seem to be working. I now have my rental car (didn't need it for getting to the mall) and am ready to pick him up whenever he calls. We are hoping for a 1pm meeting.
Well.... the best laid plans.... Jim called around 11am and the first thing he said was "it won't be 1pm" - googlemaps failed him again. His map led him directly to a fence at an oil refinery property - no way to get around. He then found a road that was going in the right direction. Fortunately I was in the hotel room with my laptop, so I gave him the correct road info that he needed - maybe it will be 2pm! Oh and... it was sprinkling rain as we talked - UGH!!
He called again around noon and said he was doing well even though it was raining lightly - he had covered his pack and put on his rain jacket. He was 3.6 miles away from the county park where we planned to meet. I had a quick lunch and headed out. With much relief I found the wayward traveler at the right place around 1:20pm - he had been there only about 5 minutes ahead of me. I must say he was walking a little funny - his gait really looked tired. He actually said that he could not have walked any further! The first thing he did when he got to our hotel was take a hot bath. Yesterday's walk in the extreme wind really took a toll on his legs. He said they felt like jello - he actually couldn't even drive us back to the hotel! We went to the Mall of America for dinner tonight and Jim's first comment after walking inside was "I haven't heard this much noise in a week and a half!!" I don't think he was impressed, but dinner was great (Bubba Gump Shrimp Company).
Miles Today - 20 Total Miles to Date - 194.25
Fri., June 11 - Breakfast at the hotel - skype conversation with Jim, Jr - mini golf (Jim won) at the mall and an A&W lunch (Jim's request). A total of 3 hours at the mall did Jim in - too much walking in regular shoes! Later in the afternoon we were resting at our hotel when Jim's guardian angel tapped him on the shoulder. He started feeling apprehensive about Sunday's hike continuation because it would be taking him over a large marshy area. So we decided to drive the route and sure enough the bridge that google maps had him crossing was closed even to pedestrian traffic - good thing he found that out before he arrived at the bridge. We found an alternate route that will work for him (although it does involve a busy Rt. 77 for about a mile and a half) - thank you, Lord!
We later met our friends, Jim & Ruth for a wonderful dinner at the mall - they actually drove 4-5 hours from Wisconsin for this weekend! We had great food and conversation - even our waiter (originally from New Jersey) wanted the hike blog info!
Sat., June 12 - Breakfast at our hotel with Ruth and Jim and then back to the M of A. The four of us did the Aquarium and loved that. Then back to mini-golf where Jane shaved off 18 strokes from her yesterday's score - yea! We all had lunch, did a little shopping and then back to the hotel. Jim and I went to Mass and then met R & J for dinner at a wonderful place - new to us but familiar to R&J - "Buca di Beppo". We highly recommend it if you ever find one in your travels.
Sun., June 13 - After breakfast at the hotel, I dropped Jim off where I had picked him up on Thursday afternoon. He is hoping for no rain today but not real confident. He is able to walk without his pack today because his route will take him right by this hotel, so he left it here. Around noon he should be at the hotel where he will meet classmate John Gordon. John's wife will take the pack back to their house and Jim & John will walk the rest of the day together. It is great for Jim to have the company. We talked around 11:30am while I was waiting for my delayed plane (UGH) and Jim reported quite an adventurous morning. He got to the entrance ramp to Rt. 77 (the altered route due to the closed bridge) and saw a sign that we missed on Friday - "NO PEDESTRIANS". He backtracked to a fence we had seen and scooted up a hill and over the fence - reducing the amount of time he needed to be on the illegal Rt. 77. He made it half way to where he could get off that road but sure enough a MN state trooper stopped him and said he couldn't walk there - wouldn't you know he'd be caught! The trooper then gave Jim a ride to the exit he needed and gave him a written warning but no ticket - he was actually quite a nice guy. Jim is most upset about the 3/4 mile gap in his hike, but there is no way to accomplish that. Maybe we'll go back to Minneapolis after the bridge opens up again and he can walk that section on the original route!! We talked again this afternoon and John met up with Jim as planned and as they walked the planned route, John was able to show Jim a better route that included trails and a beautiful greenway along a lake and creek. There were lots of other hikers and cyclists. It was a nice cool day with no rain - very pleasant. All of the lakefront property in this area is owned by the city and they have created miles of walking and biking paths along the lakes and creeks. Officials were smart enough to set aside this property in 1883 and all the land, whether along the MS River, lakes or creeks is publicly owned - what a GREAT idea. Jim also was very impressed with the huge mulberry trees - 200-300 years old, 10 feet in diameter and 100 feet high - absolutely majestic! We talked again after I got home and John is working diligently to find Jim a better route for tomorrow's hike. As it turns out, the campground that Jim had planned on doesn't exist. They found another one which will add about 5 miles to tomorrow's hike - bringing it to 21-22 miles. Jim isn't too concerned because the weather is supposed to be good tomorrow and it will reduce a higher mileage day planned for Tuesday.
Miles Today - 19 Total Miles to Date - 213.25
Well.... the best laid plans.... Jim called around 11am and the first thing he said was "it won't be 1pm" - googlemaps failed him again. His map led him directly to a fence at an oil refinery property - no way to get around. He then found a road that was going in the right direction. Fortunately I was in the hotel room with my laptop, so I gave him the correct road info that he needed - maybe it will be 2pm! Oh and... it was sprinkling rain as we talked - UGH!!
He called again around noon and said he was doing well even though it was raining lightly - he had covered his pack and put on his rain jacket. He was 3.6 miles away from the county park where we planned to meet. I had a quick lunch and headed out. With much relief I found the wayward traveler at the right place around 1:20pm - he had been there only about 5 minutes ahead of me. I must say he was walking a little funny - his gait really looked tired. He actually said that he could not have walked any further! The first thing he did when he got to our hotel was take a hot bath. Yesterday's walk in the extreme wind really took a toll on his legs. He said they felt like jello - he actually couldn't even drive us back to the hotel! We went to the Mall of America for dinner tonight and Jim's first comment after walking inside was "I haven't heard this much noise in a week and a half!!" I don't think he was impressed, but dinner was great (Bubba Gump Shrimp Company).
Miles Today - 20 Total Miles to Date - 194.25
Fri., June 11 - Breakfast at the hotel - skype conversation with Jim, Jr - mini golf (Jim won) at the mall and an A&W lunch (Jim's request). A total of 3 hours at the mall did Jim in - too much walking in regular shoes! Later in the afternoon we were resting at our hotel when Jim's guardian angel tapped him on the shoulder. He started feeling apprehensive about Sunday's hike continuation because it would be taking him over a large marshy area. So we decided to drive the route and sure enough the bridge that google maps had him crossing was closed even to pedestrian traffic - good thing he found that out before he arrived at the bridge. We found an alternate route that will work for him (although it does involve a busy Rt. 77 for about a mile and a half) - thank you, Lord!
We later met our friends, Jim & Ruth for a wonderful dinner at the mall - they actually drove 4-5 hours from Wisconsin for this weekend! We had great food and conversation - even our waiter (originally from New Jersey) wanted the hike blog info!
Sat., June 12 - Breakfast at our hotel with Ruth and Jim and then back to the M of A. The four of us did the Aquarium and loved that. Then back to mini-golf where Jane shaved off 18 strokes from her yesterday's score - yea! We all had lunch, did a little shopping and then back to the hotel. Jim and I went to Mass and then met R & J for dinner at a wonderful place - new to us but familiar to R&J - "Buca di Beppo". We highly recommend it if you ever find one in your travels.
Sun., June 13 - After breakfast at the hotel, I dropped Jim off where I had picked him up on Thursday afternoon. He is hoping for no rain today but not real confident. He is able to walk without his pack today because his route will take him right by this hotel, so he left it here. Around noon he should be at the hotel where he will meet classmate John Gordon. John's wife will take the pack back to their house and Jim & John will walk the rest of the day together. It is great for Jim to have the company. We talked around 11:30am while I was waiting for my delayed plane (UGH) and Jim reported quite an adventurous morning. He got to the entrance ramp to Rt. 77 (the altered route due to the closed bridge) and saw a sign that we missed on Friday - "NO PEDESTRIANS". He backtracked to a fence we had seen and scooted up a hill and over the fence - reducing the amount of time he needed to be on the illegal Rt. 77. He made it half way to where he could get off that road but sure enough a MN state trooper stopped him and said he couldn't walk there - wouldn't you know he'd be caught! The trooper then gave Jim a ride to the exit he needed and gave him a written warning but no ticket - he was actually quite a nice guy. Jim is most upset about the 3/4 mile gap in his hike, but there is no way to accomplish that. Maybe we'll go back to Minneapolis after the bridge opens up again and he can walk that section on the original route!! We talked again this afternoon and John met up with Jim as planned and as they walked the planned route, John was able to show Jim a better route that included trails and a beautiful greenway along a lake and creek. There were lots of other hikers and cyclists. It was a nice cool day with no rain - very pleasant. All of the lakefront property in this area is owned by the city and they have created miles of walking and biking paths along the lakes and creeks. Officials were smart enough to set aside this property in 1883 and all the land, whether along the MS River, lakes or creeks is publicly owned - what a GREAT idea. Jim also was very impressed with the huge mulberry trees - 200-300 years old, 10 feet in diameter and 100 feet high - absolutely majestic! We talked again after I got home and John is working diligently to find Jim a better route for tomorrow's hike. As it turns out, the campground that Jim had planned on doesn't exist. They found another one which will add about 5 miles to tomorrow's hike - bringing it to 21-22 miles. Jim isn't too concerned because the weather is supposed to be good tomorrow and it will reduce a higher mileage day planned for Tuesday.
Miles Today - 19 Total Miles to Date - 213.25
Days 8 & 9 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Tues., June 8 - I talked to Jim about 7:45 (his time) this morning. It had rained all night and he had a fitful night's sleep with the rain noise waking him several times. When we talked, the rain had pretty much stopped and it was very breezy and chilly (mid 50's). He will need a lot more clothes on today - the good news is that it makes his pack lighter! His feet are beginning to swell badly (not all that unusual) and one toe is pretty sore. He will doctor it before walking today. Since today was a travel day for me, we didn't talk again until this evening. As it turned out, it was much too wet this morning for Jim to pack up his stuff. He just sat in his tent and read and did Sudoku puzzles. He finally took everything to the shower room and packed up there. He didn't leave the campground until about noon. He walked about 1.5 miles to get the main road and a total of 5.5 to get to a very busy highway, when the rain started up again - he quickly got soaked. He had just turned off the highway when his Red Wing, MN classmate (Buck) drove by and stopped. Buck really wanted to pick him up right then, but Jim turned down the offer - "it wouldn't be fair". Buck did make Jim's P.O. stop for him to get his re-supply package, so that was helpful. Jim continued on in the pouring rain and arrived at Buck & Joan's house about 5pm - a soggy mess! He had walked steadily today without a break. He says his feet are "hurting but surviving". When we talked he had already had a shower and his soggy clothes were in the washer. Joan was cooking up a special meal that I know Jim will appreciate. I arrived in Minneapolis about 5pm today and will "hit the Mall of America" tomorrow morning bright and early!! Jim called about 10pm to tell me a story he had forgotten (this would only happen to Jimmy Boy). When he was a few blocks away from his destination, a car with a couple of ladies in it stopped and said "Are you the guy who is hiking from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico?" He said "No, I'm the guy hiking from Portland, ME to Seattle, WA". They asked if he was hiking for a cause and he explained about the Trail Conference and keeping the local trails in good shape. They decided that was a great cause so one lady gave him $15 and the other one $5. So I have added $20 to the spreadsheet I am keeping for Jim's "Pennies Per Mile" pledges.
Miles Today - 15 Total Miles to Date - 152.5
Wed., June 9 - We talked this morning around 7:30 and Jim had a real good night's sleep and a good breakfast at Buck & Joan's house. He is quite apprehensive about his left big toe on the underside - it is VERY sore. He may try bandaging it to immobilize it - that seemed to work very well on his pinkie. He is looking forward to a bright sunny day today. I am looking forward to my Mall of America excursion! How many miles will I walk??? We talked again at 12:30 while Jim was resting (gave me a short rest as well). The wind today is so strong that he can barely move - a real test of his leg strength - quite a hilly walk as well. It is a beautiful day (low 70's and low humidity), except for the extreme wind. When Buck picked up Jim's P.O. package yesterday I was expecting him to have a note there from me, but he didn't. So after Jim left, Buck went back to the P.O. and got my note and found Jim on the road to give it to him - THANKS, BUCK!!
I can report that the Mall of America is AMAZING - the amusement park in the center of everything is fun to look at while walking the mall. I had visions of being there from 10am to 9pm but I have to confess that I petered out around 3:45 - how does Jim do this day after day? He did say that he wanted to see it, so I think we'll pop over on Friday - some great looking restaurants for us to try.
Jim called around 5pm and he was lost, or more precisely the campground was lost. I did some google-mapping for him and hopefully sent him off in the right direction - we shall see... We talked later in the evening and as it turned out, he gave up on the campground fairly quickly. He was apparently at the right address but it was actually a trailer park, not a campground - oh well! Fortunately, there was a nice motel nearby with an Applebee's Restaurant about a 5-minute walk away - perfect! As soon as he checked in, he had a hot bath to soote his aching muscles - just what the doctor ordered. The good news is that he had no problems with his feet today - yea!!! He says he is now confident that his feet are going to hold up - I think we should still pray for that anyway!!! Today was a much tougher day than the mileage would indicate because of the heavy winds. Someone at Applebee's told him about a good breakfast place on his way out of town. You can add one more prayer to the list - that I can find him where he is supposed to be tomorrow - those who know me well know that I can be directionally challenged at times!
Miles Today - 21.75 Total Miles to Date - 174.25
Miles Today - 15 Total Miles to Date - 152.5
Wed., June 9 - We talked this morning around 7:30 and Jim had a real good night's sleep and a good breakfast at Buck & Joan's house. He is quite apprehensive about his left big toe on the underside - it is VERY sore. He may try bandaging it to immobilize it - that seemed to work very well on his pinkie. He is looking forward to a bright sunny day today. I am looking forward to my Mall of America excursion! How many miles will I walk??? We talked again at 12:30 while Jim was resting (gave me a short rest as well). The wind today is so strong that he can barely move - a real test of his leg strength - quite a hilly walk as well. It is a beautiful day (low 70's and low humidity), except for the extreme wind. When Buck picked up Jim's P.O. package yesterday I was expecting him to have a note there from me, but he didn't. So after Jim left, Buck went back to the P.O. and got my note and found Jim on the road to give it to him - THANKS, BUCK!!
I can report that the Mall of America is AMAZING - the amusement park in the center of everything is fun to look at while walking the mall. I had visions of being there from 10am to 9pm but I have to confess that I petered out around 3:45 - how does Jim do this day after day? He did say that he wanted to see it, so I think we'll pop over on Friday - some great looking restaurants for us to try.
Jim called around 5pm and he was lost, or more precisely the campground was lost. I did some google-mapping for him and hopefully sent him off in the right direction - we shall see... We talked later in the evening and as it turned out, he gave up on the campground fairly quickly. He was apparently at the right address but it was actually a trailer park, not a campground - oh well! Fortunately, there was a nice motel nearby with an Applebee's Restaurant about a 5-minute walk away - perfect! As soon as he checked in, he had a hot bath to soote his aching muscles - just what the doctor ordered. The good news is that he had no problems with his feet today - yea!!! He says he is now confident that his feet are going to hold up - I think we should still pray for that anyway!!! Today was a much tougher day than the mileage would indicate because of the heavy winds. Someone at Applebee's told him about a good breakfast place on his way out of town. You can add one more prayer to the list - that I can find him where he is supposed to be tomorrow - those who know me well know that I can be directionally challenged at times!
Miles Today - 21.75 Total Miles to Date - 174.25
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Days 6 & 7 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Sun., June 6 - Ken and Jim were up early this morning and they went to church together at 7:30 - always a treat for Jim when he can make that work location-wise. After church, Ken drove Jim back to where he picked him up yesterday afternoon and sent him on his way (thank you so much, Ken!!). The first hour of hiking was a steady up hill climb - good that it was early while he is still energetic. He walked about 7 miles into Plainview, MN and had lunch and a big glass of milk in a nice cafe. He had nice conversations with people there, including 4 cyclists. They asked him if they could follow his trip so Jim said there was a blog but he didn't know the link! (I will have him write it down tonight when he is camped). He gave them my e-mail address so we'll see if they send me an e-mail for the blog link! When we talked around 2pm, the sky was beautiful - sunny with fluffy clouds and a nice breeze - temp was low 70's - great day for hiking. He was walking in sandals today as he did most of yesterday. He re-bandaged his pinkie toe this morning and all seems well with his feet. Today he is walking past huge farms - acres and acres of corn, now about 6-12 inches high. At one point, he walked by a house and a guy called out to him "Wanna take a break and come inside" (why do people invite perfect strangers into their homes - never ceases to amaze me). Jim said no thanks and the dog comes over - when Jim reached down to pet him, the dog gave him a kiss - sure nicer than that one the other day! His feet are really tired and he figures he has 8-9 miles to go - no clear plan on tonight's camping plans, but hopefully by a stream that he identified. Later in the afternoon, Jim was really tired, so he sat down by the side of the road for a quick rest on a grassy area. He then decided to take off his pack and lay down for a quick nap. Several cars stopped so people could check to make sure that he hadn't been hit by a car! He ended up resting for 1/2 an hour and it was just what he needed. A little while later he found a campground that he wasn't expecting. There was no one around to register him so he set up his tent by a picnic table and finally a woman came by to collect his money - she said $22. He told her that was more than he had paid anywhere. He then told her his story and she wrinked her nose and said "what - where are you headed?" I think she thought he was a bit daft. She didn't take his money and said she wanted to talk to her sister and she'd come back later. She comes back and asks to see his driver's license - she wanted to write down his info so she would have a record but then didn't charge him anything - good deal! Just before getting to the campground, the skies opened up but Jim could see blue skies ahead so he decided not to cover anything and sure enought it only lasted 5 minutes. Everything just dried off quickly. It was divine providence that he found this campground because there really was not a good place to camp with accessible water.
Miles Today - 16.5 Total Miles to Date - 115
Mon., June 7 - We talked about 10am today and Jim woke up feeling really refreshed today. When he woke there was a thick fog everywhere - he was concerned about getting on the road in the fog - not a good idea. Fortunately it cleared fairly quickly and he was on the road a little after 7am. Hiking conditions were close to ideal for the time of year - temp in the low 60's and nice & sunny. As we talked he was walking by a field of cows just staring at him! Up ahead he was seeing detour signs for road construction - he was hoping that only cars couldn't use the road. I checked the map for him and the detour would take him much out of his way - he plans to keep walking and hope for the best. We talked again around 12:45pm while he was at lunch in beautiful Lake City, MN. The road construction was quite an obstacle, at times forcing him into farm fields, so his hiking boots are quite muddy - he'll need to clean them tonight. He was really enjoying this town - a nice harbor and marina right on the Mississippi River - it actually looked more like a lake to him. It was a very picturesque walk even through town. We talked again briefly (cell phone battery low) about 5pm and he had just checked into Frontenac State Park. The campsites are a mile up hill from where he registered. Fortunately another camper was at the register office buying something and she offered him a ride to his site. He was looking forward to a nice warm shower and resting his tired feet. We talked a few times tonight after Jim got his cell phone charge at the campground - he is still doing well. He told me about his constant companions in this area - red wing blackbirds. He says they are beautiful creatures. They sit on the phone wires until he walks by and then they circle over his head and chatter to him - he says they are quite social - I just think he's been alone too much! The forecast for tomorrow is rainy, so it may be a soggy day for Jim. He hopes to stay with a classmate in Red Wing, MN tomorrow night so that will be better than a campsite if he does have a day of rain to deal with. I leave for Minneapolis tomorrow and will have the laptop with me for blog updates.
Miles Today - 22.5 Total Miles to Date - 137.5
Miles Today - 16.5 Total Miles to Date - 115
Mon., June 7 - We talked about 10am today and Jim woke up feeling really refreshed today. When he woke there was a thick fog everywhere - he was concerned about getting on the road in the fog - not a good idea. Fortunately it cleared fairly quickly and he was on the road a little after 7am. Hiking conditions were close to ideal for the time of year - temp in the low 60's and nice & sunny. As we talked he was walking by a field of cows just staring at him! Up ahead he was seeing detour signs for road construction - he was hoping that only cars couldn't use the road. I checked the map for him and the detour would take him much out of his way - he plans to keep walking and hope for the best. We talked again around 12:45pm while he was at lunch in beautiful Lake City, MN. The road construction was quite an obstacle, at times forcing him into farm fields, so his hiking boots are quite muddy - he'll need to clean them tonight. He was really enjoying this town - a nice harbor and marina right on the Mississippi River - it actually looked more like a lake to him. It was a very picturesque walk even through town. We talked again briefly (cell phone battery low) about 5pm and he had just checked into Frontenac State Park. The campsites are a mile up hill from where he registered. Fortunately another camper was at the register office buying something and she offered him a ride to his site. He was looking forward to a nice warm shower and resting his tired feet. We talked a few times tonight after Jim got his cell phone charge at the campground - he is still doing well. He told me about his constant companions in this area - red wing blackbirds. He says they are beautiful creatures. They sit on the phone wires until he walks by and then they circle over his head and chatter to him - he says they are quite social - I just think he's been alone too much! The forecast for tomorrow is rainy, so it may be a soggy day for Jim. He hopes to stay with a classmate in Red Wing, MN tomorrow night so that will be better than a campsite if he does have a day of rain to deal with. I leave for Minneapolis tomorrow and will have the laptop with me for blog updates.
Miles Today - 22.5 Total Miles to Date - 137.5
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Days 4 & 5 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Fri., June 4 - I spoke with Jim about 8:30 (my time) this morning as he was about to leave his campsite. It had rained hard most of the night but fortunately stopped by 6am in time for him to pack up his gear (always a miserable task in the rain). Of course his tent was soaked so he had to pack it up that way - good thing that tonight is a motel stay! He enjoyed his visit and wine last evening with his campsite neighbor (Carl), who is our age and an avid cyclist and hiker. Jim will wear hiking boots today and is a bit concerned about his left foot - two problem spots that need watching. As we talked, he was watching a beautiful white bird wading in the water near him. So far, the wildlife has been very impressive on this trip. He will be on the Great River Trail today for several miles before heading into the town of Winona, MN for a library (internet) visit.
We spoke again about 6pm and Jim was relaxing at his motel. He reported that the bugs were unpleasant today, so he finally dug out his spray and after that it was better - also, no attack dogs today, but it was another real warm one - the last 5 miles were the toughest. He was on the trail until mid-morning and then on a very busy road. About 11:30am he crossed the bridge that said "Welcome to Minnesota". He has now completed 8 states in his cross country quest and has 5 more to go to get to the west coast. After crossing the bridge, he came to a beautiful old building that he thought was built by the famous architect, Henry Richardson (one of Jim's favorites). It was the Winona Courthouse so he had to go inside and check it out. The building was actually built by a different architect (Marbury) who was heavily influenced by H. Richardson (guess Jim has a good eye). He later saw two churches in a similar style. He did have a good rest at the Winona library and checked his e-mail and saw the Hike Blog for the first time - also had a great lunch at a local pub/grill. Mid-day he changed to sandals and his feet felt OK while walking today. He did mention a local news item he heard at the motel about the "unsafe bridge conditions" - the bridge he went over mid-day - serious corrosion - so glad that's done with!! When we talked he was looking forward to a relaxing evening reading the newspaper. He does have an issue tonight with his right foot - the bones on the top are sore - hoping it is not a stress fracture - please say your prayers on this one.
Miles today - 16 Total Miles to Date - 77
Sat., June 5 - We talked about 7:30am (Jim's time) and he had already gone for a nice breakfast at the restaurant next door to his motel. He was just relaxing and waiting to leave so he would get to the Minnesota City P.O. when it open at 9am - a little over 2 miles to walk there. He said that the top of his foot was still sore but not as bad as last night - probably just overuse in the heat. We spoke again briefly on Sat. evening, but Jim was "too busy partying" to really talk and I was in CT for a quick overnight visit. The rest of today's info comes from a conversation that I had with Jim on Sunday afternoon. He arrived at the P.O. when it opened and got his re-supply package as well as a fascinating article from NH friends Carol & Dave thanks, guys). It was about a man who is walking cross country (http://www.imjustwalkin.com/). He is about 8 days ahead of Jim so I just sent him an e-mail - not sure how many miles a day he does, so Jim would love to meet up with him. I can't believe that there is someone else as CRAZY as my husband! He had a great day of walking until his google maps failed him - sent him to a road that didn't exist! He tried a gravel road that seemed to be headed in the right direction according to his compass. He then stopped a guy in a pickup truck who wasn't sure about the road but invited him to stop at his house about a mile up the road - they were having a pig roast! Sure enough, a mile later he stopped at the house - they offered him a blooody mary but he just asked for a beer. They helped him with his directions and asked him to come back in 6 hours when the pig was done - he was sorry that he had to pass on that one - too much of a delay! He connected up to the right road and around the corner comes his friend Ken (from the sausage & peppers on Thursday), who had been looking for him. Ken parked his truck and walked with Jim for over 2 miles. Ken then went back to his truck and took Jim's pack with him to make it easier. Without the pack on his back, Jim was really able to crank up his pace. The weather started to look more ominous and sure enough Ken drove up and handed Jim his rain jacket. Good thing because then it started to pour continously and the temp dropped 20 degrees. Ken came by around 4pm and since Jim had walked 1.5 hours in the rain, he called it a day - he was soaked to the skin - UGH. He was very grateful for the heated truck and a blanket that Ken gave him for the 45 minute drive to his house. Ken is a retired school teacher who now owns a couple of restaurants. After Jim showered and did laundry, Jim & Ken headed to one of Ken's restaurants (Rochester, MN) and feasted on wonderful appetizers. Then they went to a friend's party that was being catered by the restaurant - lots of fun and great people. I guess that was why he couldn't talk to me!!
Miles today - 21.5 Total Miles to Date - 98.5
We spoke again about 6pm and Jim was relaxing at his motel. He reported that the bugs were unpleasant today, so he finally dug out his spray and after that it was better - also, no attack dogs today, but it was another real warm one - the last 5 miles were the toughest. He was on the trail until mid-morning and then on a very busy road. About 11:30am he crossed the bridge that said "Welcome to Minnesota". He has now completed 8 states in his cross country quest and has 5 more to go to get to the west coast. After crossing the bridge, he came to a beautiful old building that he thought was built by the famous architect, Henry Richardson (one of Jim's favorites). It was the Winona Courthouse so he had to go inside and check it out. The building was actually built by a different architect (Marbury) who was heavily influenced by H. Richardson (guess Jim has a good eye). He later saw two churches in a similar style. He did have a good rest at the Winona library and checked his e-mail and saw the Hike Blog for the first time - also had a great lunch at a local pub/grill. Mid-day he changed to sandals and his feet felt OK while walking today. He did mention a local news item he heard at the motel about the "unsafe bridge conditions" - the bridge he went over mid-day - serious corrosion - so glad that's done with!! When we talked he was looking forward to a relaxing evening reading the newspaper. He does have an issue tonight with his right foot - the bones on the top are sore - hoping it is not a stress fracture - please say your prayers on this one.
Miles today - 16 Total Miles to Date - 77
Sat., June 5 - We talked about 7:30am (Jim's time) and he had already gone for a nice breakfast at the restaurant next door to his motel. He was just relaxing and waiting to leave so he would get to the Minnesota City P.O. when it open at 9am - a little over 2 miles to walk there. He said that the top of his foot was still sore but not as bad as last night - probably just overuse in the heat. We spoke again briefly on Sat. evening, but Jim was "too busy partying" to really talk and I was in CT for a quick overnight visit. The rest of today's info comes from a conversation that I had with Jim on Sunday afternoon. He arrived at the P.O. when it opened and got his re-supply package as well as a fascinating article from NH friends Carol & Dave thanks, guys). It was about a man who is walking cross country (http://www.imjustwalkin.com/). He is about 8 days ahead of Jim so I just sent him an e-mail - not sure how many miles a day he does, so Jim would love to meet up with him. I can't believe that there is someone else as CRAZY as my husband! He had a great day of walking until his google maps failed him - sent him to a road that didn't exist! He tried a gravel road that seemed to be headed in the right direction according to his compass. He then stopped a guy in a pickup truck who wasn't sure about the road but invited him to stop at his house about a mile up the road - they were having a pig roast! Sure enough, a mile later he stopped at the house - they offered him a blooody mary but he just asked for a beer. They helped him with his directions and asked him to come back in 6 hours when the pig was done - he was sorry that he had to pass on that one - too much of a delay! He connected up to the right road and around the corner comes his friend Ken (from the sausage & peppers on Thursday), who had been looking for him. Ken parked his truck and walked with Jim for over 2 miles. Ken then went back to his truck and took Jim's pack with him to make it easier. Without the pack on his back, Jim was really able to crank up his pace. The weather started to look more ominous and sure enough Ken drove up and handed Jim his rain jacket. Good thing because then it started to pour continously and the temp dropped 20 degrees. Ken came by around 4pm and since Jim had walked 1.5 hours in the rain, he called it a day - he was soaked to the skin - UGH. He was very grateful for the heated truck and a blanket that Ken gave him for the 45 minute drive to his house. Ken is a retired school teacher who now owns a couple of restaurants. After Jim showered and did laundry, Jim & Ken headed to one of Ken's restaurants (Rochester, MN) and feasted on wonderful appetizers. Then they went to a friend's party that was being catered by the restaurant - lots of fun and great people. I guess that was why he couldn't talk to me!!
Miles today - 21.5 Total Miles to Date - 98.5
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Days 2 & 3 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Wed., June 2 - I spoke to Jim about 8:15 this morning. He slept very well last night, which is quite unusual for the first night on the trail. The expected storms did not come through and he woke to a beautiful dawn. He left early around 6:15 after a bowl of cereal at his picnic table. The temp was in the low 60's so that felt really good to him. He walked about a half mile on the trail and then another mile on a road into town, where he had another breakfast - french toast this time! Then he went back to the trail (Elroy-Sparta Trail) - so far this is the best trail conditions he has seen in quite a while. It is mainly a bike trail - hard packed gravel - and very wide to accommodate both hikers and bikers. Apparently, Sparta is the "Bicycling Capital of America" - who would have known! They charge cyclists $4 a day but hikers walk for free! He is now off to W. Salem with a very full belly! We talked again around 5:30pm and Jim was doing well. He arrived at his campground around 2:45 and paid his $18 fee for a nice site along a river bank with picnic table. This area actually had a shower - he was a bit miffed that it was coin-operated and he didn't have the .25 - back to the office for change (you would think that $18 would get you a shower!). He was also able to wash his clothes in the shower! Mid day he got off the trail and stopped at a sports bar & grill in W. Salem, WI for a leisurely 1 hour lunch and rest. He said that today's walk was pleasant except it was not cloudy and cool as expected, but hot, uncomfortably humid and sunny - at least in the low 80's, rather than the 90's of yesterday. He persevered and took lots of breaks to hydrate during the day. Jim is noticing that the topography of the area is getting more interesting now. He can see hills in the distance, although he just did valley walking today - totally flat and straight. He did see quite a few other hikers today - appeared to be locals. He also passed through areas deliberately left as prairie with native grasses and flowers in bloom. There were kiosks along the way explaining this. Tonight's campground is full of camping trailers (unlike last night's empty campground). He is reporting an issue with his same problematic left pinkie toe - seems to be swelling but not sore yet. He bandaged it during the day but it came off. Tomorrow he plans to tape the 2 toes together to see if that works better. When we talked it was cooling down nicely and he was planning to cook some kind of rice meal for supper. Before leaving home, he did dehydrate some things (mushrooms, zucchini, brussel sprouts, etc.) that will add some variety to his rice and noodle packages. We spoke again briefly around 9:30pm so Jim could report the highlight of the evening - watching a porcupine ambling along the other side of the river! Guess that passed for entertainment in his world!!
Miles today - 19. Total miles to date - 37 (for those tracking their donation to the trail conference).
Thurs., June 3 - Jim called about 8:45 this morning and he was almost done with the worst part of his day - busy Rt. 16. He was out of his campsite by 6:30 and the temp was in the low 60's with a totally overcast sky - it really felt like rain. By 8:15 the sky had cleared completely and he was full of energy. He did tape his two toes together and so far they were feeling fine in his hiking boots. Today is planned to be a big mileage day, so hopefully his feet will cooperate. We spoke again briefly at 1:45pm and he was on an area of the trail that was marshy and swampy. The mosquitoes were eating him alive - swarming around. It has been a very warm day - 86. At times he had a nice canopy of trees that did help to shade him. His planned Subway stop didn't occur - couldn't find it! Just north of town (Onalaska, WI), he did find a Quik Mart type of place and got an egg sandwich and another sandwich to pack for his evening meal. He had changed into his sandals again and his feet & legs were doing well. All along the trail today he could hear trains roaring by - a very active railroad line. He did stop for a while to participate in a previously planned trail conference call. He did have an incident with a dog today - he ran across his yard, crossed the road and started after Jim. He raised his hiking pole and yelled as loud as he could. You will have to ask Jim for the full story but he basically chased the dog away!! Jim called me again about 7:15pm and he was bone tired at this point. He had gotten a call later in the afternoon from Ken Nuss - someone he met last September while hiking. For those that remember the journals, Ken was on his way home from a Packers game to MN and stopped to talk to Jim on the road. Jim and Ken have been corresponding and Jim is planning to stay at his house on Sat. night. Well, Ken met Jim and had a huge bag of food to give him - too much for Jim to carry. So, Ken walked with Jim for about a mile and then drove and dropped the food at the campground office for Jim to pick upon his way in. He arrived at the campground around 5pm and was given a $17 "luxury" site with a lake view - Jim said it looked like a swamp to him! He had a much-needed shower and then opened up Ken's bag of food. It included a huge container of sausage, peppers & pasta (one of Jim's favorites), salad and rolls & butter. There was even a yummy Italian dessert - everything was DELICIOUS. This sure beat the hours-old sandwich that he had planned for the evening! When we talked, Jim had just met his neighboring camper who had invited Jim over to charge his phone and share some wine - all the makings of a great evening!
Miles today - 24. Total miles to date - 61.
P.S. Don't forget to drop Jim a note if you are so inclined - I know he will love to read them!
Miles today - 19. Total miles to date - 37 (for those tracking their donation to the trail conference).
Thurs., June 3 - Jim called about 8:45 this morning and he was almost done with the worst part of his day - busy Rt. 16. He was out of his campsite by 6:30 and the temp was in the low 60's with a totally overcast sky - it really felt like rain. By 8:15 the sky had cleared completely and he was full of energy. He did tape his two toes together and so far they were feeling fine in his hiking boots. Today is planned to be a big mileage day, so hopefully his feet will cooperate. We spoke again briefly at 1:45pm and he was on an area of the trail that was marshy and swampy. The mosquitoes were eating him alive - swarming around. It has been a very warm day - 86. At times he had a nice canopy of trees that did help to shade him. His planned Subway stop didn't occur - couldn't find it! Just north of town (Onalaska, WI), he did find a Quik Mart type of place and got an egg sandwich and another sandwich to pack for his evening meal. He had changed into his sandals again and his feet & legs were doing well. All along the trail today he could hear trains roaring by - a very active railroad line. He did stop for a while to participate in a previously planned trail conference call. He did have an incident with a dog today - he ran across his yard, crossed the road and started after Jim. He raised his hiking pole and yelled as loud as he could. You will have to ask Jim for the full story but he basically chased the dog away!! Jim called me again about 7:15pm and he was bone tired at this point. He had gotten a call later in the afternoon from Ken Nuss - someone he met last September while hiking. For those that remember the journals, Ken was on his way home from a Packers game to MN and stopped to talk to Jim on the road. Jim and Ken have been corresponding and Jim is planning to stay at his house on Sat. night. Well, Ken met Jim and had a huge bag of food to give him - too much for Jim to carry. So, Ken walked with Jim for about a mile and then drove and dropped the food at the campground office for Jim to pick upon his way in. He arrived at the campground around 5pm and was given a $17 "luxury" site with a lake view - Jim said it looked like a swamp to him! He had a much-needed shower and then opened up Ken's bag of food. It included a huge container of sausage, peppers & pasta (one of Jim's favorites), salad and rolls & butter. There was even a yummy Italian dessert - everything was DELICIOUS. This sure beat the hours-old sandwich that he had planned for the evening! When we talked, Jim had just met his neighboring camper who had invited Jim over to charge his phone and share some wine - all the makings of a great evening!
Miles today - 24. Total miles to date - 61.
P.S. Don't forget to drop Jim a note if you are so inclined - I know he will love to read them!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Day 1 of Wisconsin-Minnesota Hike
Tuesday, June 1 - I talked to Jim this morning and he sounded great. He left his motel around 7am and was on the road to Sparta - a relatively busy Rt. 16 with a "stingy shoulder". When we talked later this afternoon he was sitting at a picnic table in his campground and reading a book. Clear sky all day but the temps were very uncomfortable - reaching 90 at some points - a tough first day of walking. The bottom of his left foot is quite sore. He did hike most of the day in his sandals (exactly what he wore on his many training hikes). The one difference today was the high temp. He did change to his hiking boots for the last hour or so and that felt better. Today was a long boring hike down one busy road. He was looking forward to a nice lunch at a bar & grill that he had identified online, but when he got there, they didn't open until 4pm - UGH! He went a little further and found another place and stopped there for an hour - a beer, lots of ice water and a great lunch! His campsite today is great - handy restroom, nearby water supply and 100 feet from the trail he will start on tomorrow. He is hoping that the forecasted rain comes in early and is done by morning for packing up. The temps are supposed to cool after tonight. We spoke again around 8pm his time - no rain yet, but it was definitely cooling down - he had even added a layer of clothing. He sounded a little bored - just reading and doing Sudoku puzzles.
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