Thursday, December 13, 2018

Day One-Hundred Twenty-Eight

Day One Hundred Twenty-Eight
Monday, August 13, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Today was nice and cool. I started before the sun came up in order to walk as much as possible before the temperatures reached eighty. The strong breeze also aided me on the walk.

I felt good today, but I began to tire after ten miles, and the asphalt is starting to hurt my legs.

Tomorrow, I will begin at mile marker 97. I got a lot of sleep when we got back to the hotel in Chadron, so hopefully I will be rested for tomorrow.

Today's Distance: 17 miles

Total Distance: 1091.1 miles

Day One Hundred Twenty-Seven

Day One Hundred Twenty-Seven
Sunday, August 12, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

After two consecutive days of walking twenty miles, I was anxious to see how I would handle today's section of the pilgrimage. My ankles were sore, my feet hurt somewhat, and my legs were tired. However, I maintained a twenty minute/mile pace, if not slightly under that -- I will continue to push myself. If my pace falls under twenty minutes/mile, it will be time to either pull back on the mileage or take a day of rest.

Hopefully, I can continue these long days for the next six days while I have Ann's help.

Thankfully, the weather was great, with above average wind speed and cool temperatures in the morning. I will be reducing the mileage hoping I can finish out the week strong. Tomorrow, I will be starting at mile marker eighty at Hay Springs, NE.

At 6:00 P.M., I went to Saint Patrick's Catholic Church to attend a Knight's of Columbus meeting.

Today's Distance: 17 miles

Total Distance: 1074.1 miles

Day One Hundred Twenty-Six

Day One Hundred Twenty-Six
Saturday, August 11, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Thankfully, the mosquitoes were under control at the start of today's walk which made it much more pleasant. However, the temperature climbed fast and early and remained hot the rest of the day. There was a slight breeze to make the 93 degree temperatures barely tolerable.

When the big semi's pass me, I take off my hat and sunglasses so I can dry off my face with the wind after the semi passes me by (feels good).

Tomorrow, I will be starting at mile marker 63.

Finished today by attending Mass at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Chadron, NE. After Mass, I received a blessing from Father Todd K. Philipsen.

Today's Distance: 20 miles

Total Distance: 1,057.1 miles

Day One Hundred Twenty-Five

Day One Hundred Twenty-Five
Friday, August 10, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Today started out bad, bright and early at 5:40 A.M. with high humidity and no breeze. I was literally swarmed by mosquitoes for the first 3.5 miles.

After those 3.5 miles, a breeze came up and it stayed cooler. The scenery started changing as well as trees and shade appeared on Highway 20, keeping me cooler. I reached Fort Robinson where we stopped to eat at their restaurant, spent time looking around the fort, and visited the horses on my sister's request (her son, my Godson, works with the horses and carriages at Colonial Williamsburg).

In 1948, when the military abandoned Fort Robinson, they allowed locals to disassemble the wooden stables. We found out that the Sage Motel we were staying in in Harrison was built out of the rough cut lumber from the stables in Fort Robinson.

Will begin tomorrow at mile marker 43.

Today's Distance: 20 miles

Total Distance: 1037.1 miles

Day One Hundred Twenty-Four

Day One Hundred Twenty-Four
Thursday, August 9, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Started today at 6:05 A.M., air was still, no breeze, swarmed by mosquitoes -- muggy all day. Rolling terrain, no trees in sight, hot all day, no fun; This is one of those days you just have to get through. Made it to mile marker 23.

Today's Distance: 17 miles

Total Distance: 1017.1 miles

Day One Hundred Twenty-Three

Day One Hundred Twenty-Three
Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Today has been a great and challenging day, starting at the Covered Wagon Motel in Lusk, WY. We drove to Highway 20, mile marker 52, walked approximately three miles before I encountered road construction. The road construction re-routed me, so I followed the rail road service road for four miles. Where the railroad met Highway 20, I had to climb up to the overpass over a shaky barbed wire fence to join Ann. She drove me 5.2 miles to the Nebraska border. In Nebraska, I walked along Highway 20 to mile marker five during the day and walked around Harrison, NE where we are staying at the Sage Motel. I walked the 5.2 miles I couldn't walk when I passed the construction zone. At 7:00 P.M. we drove to mile marker five and walked to mile marker six where I marked the coordinates for the day.

I am now three miles west of Harrison, NE. Temperatures were in the high 80's.

Today's Distance: 17.7 miles

Total Distance: 988.1

*I forgot to count the distance I walked on July 8, so my total distance is actually 1,000.1 miles.

Note: The most interesting thing that happened to me today was while I was walking the last mile in the evening. A red car drove past me, turned around, and a young woman (25-30 years old) got out, crossed the street, and handed me a liter of Aquavista water. I introduced myself and learned her name was Shota (Show-ta), an Ogalla Sioux. I told her about my 26 years in Tohatchi, NM teaching on the Navajo Reservation, and I promised to pray for her.

The greatest part of being a pilgrim is the kindness and faith you experience in others. Her last words to me were, "stay hydrated."

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Day One Hundred Twenty-Two

Day One Hundred Twenty-Two
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Started at mile marker 34 on Highway 20, dividing the mileage in two parts today for a total of eighteen miles, finishing at mile marker 52. Only a few hours away from Nebraska, temperatures in the low 80's. This morning was slightly humid and foggy making it hard to see for the first two hours -- my sunglasses were fogging up.

Today finishes my first week with Ann, walking 119.1 miles for an average of seventeen miles per day.

Today's Distance: 18 miles

Total Distance: 970.4 miles