Day Twenty-One

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

I decided to take it easy today. Started at 8 A.M. and walked 7.7 miles to Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada. Finished at 10:50 A.M. with tired legs and a need to rest. 

Went to the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4 P.M. at Saint Theresa of Avila in Carson City, Nevada where I met the Grand Knight, Joe and another Knight, Karl (not Marx). After Mass, Father Chuck gave me a blessing.

Need to get an early start tomorrow morning because the intersection of Highway 88 and Highway 395 is not walker-friendly. Hopefully, making an early start my first priority will help lessen the impact of heavy traffic. 

Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°50.9096'
W 119°46.7351'
Elevation: 4,834 feet
Course: N 0 T

Ending:
N 38°57.5534'
W 119°46.7809'
Elevation: 4,709
Course: NNW 347° T

Day Twenty

Friday, April 27, 2018

Following my dad's route, I came across the most beautiful plain with a winding river running through it and mountain ranges in the near distance. I climbed out of the RV and walked a quarter mile to the prettiest view I could find. I climbed the biggest boulder and just sat there, it my shorts and two jackets, in fifty degree weather. I just sat there and listened to the most beautiful music from my friend, Maria's, youtube channel. I sat there for hours and just my existence was a prayer. I sat there...until my dad called for a ride, and that prayer stayed with me long after I left it.

Crossbearer's Log:

My goal for today was initially walking the last fourteen miles to get to the Nevada border, but my legs were extremely tired and sore so I changed my goal accordingly: ten miles. 

In spite the changes to my goal, everything seemed to be in my favor today starting with a slight downhill grade most of the way. As the Irish blessing says, the wind was at my back the whole way making my walk nice and cool. 

Walk for the day started at 8:35 A.M. at the entrance to the Hope Valley Campground, and I walked a little over ten miles with the river running alongside the road the entire way. I soon arrived at Woodfords -- a stop for the Pony Express for the few years it was in operation. At Woodfords, I decided to take a detour off of Highway 88 and onto the Emigrant Trail (the trail that the settlers and fortune seekers (gold) used going to California. It was nice getting off the highway and, thankfully, it added very little distance to the walk. The Emigrant Trail was a peaceful one, and it dropped me off on Highway 88 about a mile and a half away from the Nevada state line.

Five hours later, I arrived at the Nevada border at 1:35 P.M. 

It has been twenty days walking through California for a total of 204 miles. Three of those twenty days were downtime due to sickness. Today, however, I finally got a little ahead of schedule - those four extra miles. 

One state down, ten states and the District of Columbia to go. 

Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°45.0857'
W 119°56.5213'
Elevation: 7,115 feet
Course: NNW 327 T

Ending:
N 38°50.9096'
W 119°46.7351'
Elevation: 4,834 feet
Course: N 0 T

Day Nineteen

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

We left our base hotel in Pioneer, California after three days of stay. Started walking at 7:35 A.M. with an immediate  three mile downhill stretch. At the bottom of that hill, I had to climb again until I reached Caples Lake, elevation 7,804 feet, which was still iced over. After the lake, I started another downhill stretch before beginning the final ascent to a summit with an elevation of over 8,700 feet. The Summit is Red Lake Peak and looked over a frozen Red Lake.

From here on out, the walk is downhill, level, or slight inclines. The last two weeks have been rough with falling sick and all the climbing. I'm hoping the next two weeks will allow me to make enough progress to get ahead of schedule.

Today was an exceptionally beautiful day, beginning downhill, cool, breezy, with an occasional hard climb, but not eight or ten miles like in previous days. The scenery was literally breathtaking, and I finished four and a half hours later for a total of 13.2 miles for the day.

Toward the end of my day, a man named Bobbie Hutton approached me on foot. He resembles the man who plays the cowbells at the Bataan Memorial Death March every year, with shoulder length curly hair. He parked his car a little further up the road and asked if he could walk with me. He told me he had seen me walking for the last three days, and he just had to stop and find out why I was walking. He worked for a Christian Youth Summer Camp in the mountains, and I really appreciated the company. Thanks to him, the next 600 meters went my quickly.

Overall, a really great day. However, I am tired and my legs are hurting. I'm praying for a cool day tomorrow to help me get to the Nevada border, fourteen miles away. 

Today's Coordinates:
 Beginning:
N 38°42.3590'
W 120°6.2345'
Elevation: 7,959 ft.
Course: N 356 T

Ending:
N 38°45.0857'
W 119°56.5213'
Elevation: 7,115 feet
Course: NNW 327 T

Day Eighteen

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Started at 8:05 A.M. in nice, cool, shady weather and climbed to 8,000 feet before descending down to 7,000 feet on the Silver Lake Dam. From the dam, I proceeded to climb back up to 8,000 feet again over the next three miles. I completed the day's walk at 11:40 A.M. [Editor's Note: Due to lack of communication], waited fifty minutes for Laura to pick me up. 

Tomorrow, my walk will start in an avalanche area (NO STOPPING, NO STANDING, NO PEDS). I'm pretty sure the signs are all talking about me. 

Later in the walk, a white truck stopped at a turnout and rolled down his passenger window. We talked for a bit and he asked if he could pray for me. I'm saving that prayer for tomorrow because I know I'm going to need it. 

Total daily mileage is 10.1 -- getting closer to California/Nevada border and Carson City. 

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°37.4159'
W 120°12.8332'
Elevation: 7,231 ft.
Course: WNW 282 T

Ending:
N 38°42.3590'
W 120°6.2345'
Elevation: 7,959 ft.
Course: N 356 T

Day Seventeen

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

I felt sick the past few days. After I dropped my dad off at his starting point, I climbed in bed in the back of the Chinook and tried to sleep. However, I wasn't tired, the Chinook was parked in a slant, and I was unable to get warm. It felt a lot like waiting out a storm. But my cat, Stuart, snuggled which made me happy. Once the Chinook got toasty and uncomfortable, I climbed out of bed and arranged things so I could begin looking for my dad.
I found him at the ten mile marker and the timing was almost perfect. Still feel ill.

Crossbearer's Log:

My walk started at 8:15 A.M., walked for four and a half hours, eleven miles, and finished at 12:30 P.M. 

The walking was easier today, climbing approximately eight out of the eleven miles. The climbing today, however, was less strenuous than the last few days and three out of the eleven miles were either flat or downhill. 

The first hour and a half was nice and cool and shady. The last three hours were warmer, but there was some shade and a breeze. 

Total climbing was approximately 1,700 feet, and I started to see snow on the side of the road at 5,800 feet. 

My knees are agitated from stepping down and back up on the road to accommodate traffic the last five days. Will ice later on today. 

Just before the ten mile mark, a woman pulled off the road and offered me water, which I graciously accepted. Her name was Jenna from Arkansas and I greatly appreciated her stopping to help me.

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°32.5824'
W 120°20.5646'
Elevation: 5,946 ft.
Course: S 188 T

Ending:
N 38°37.4159'
W 120°12.8332'
Elevation: 7,231 ft.
Course: WNW 282 T

Day Sixteen

Monday, April 23, 2018

Seeing the roads my dad has to walk is terrifying, but I trust that he is in God's care. However, we could not get cell service today so I caught up to him a few times to offer him rest and water. I parked a little ahead and tried to walk with him. I think he was too tired and driven to want to give the cross to me. So I just followed as he heaved his pacing breaths in rhythm with his walking stick.
Window down, read my book, and waited with Stuart.

Crossbearer's Log:

Departed Sacramento at 6:10 A.M., drove to the "spot" thirteen miles northeast of Pine Grove, California, from the day before in Barton, California. Began the day's walk at 9:00 A.M. and continued my climb for the next five hours. Going is slow. No shoulders on the road most of the day, seems like nine of the ten miles were uphill. Got my first glimpse of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. Hopefully, since I am now over 5,000 feet elevation, most of the climbing is over. 

I feel significantly better today because I paced myself slower going over the mountains. My legs are still weary from climbing last week, and I do not want to be drained for tomorrows walk. 

Staying the next three nights in Pioneer, California.

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°30.0366'
W 120°30.1153'
Elevation: 4,118 ft.
Course: SSW 209 T

Ending:
N 38°32.5824'
W 120°20.5646'
Elevation: 5,946 ft.
Course: S 188 T

Days Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen

Friday, April 20, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

For the past ten days, we have been commuting to and from Sacramento to stay with my son, Daniel. Today, we left Sacramento at 9:30 A.M. and drove to Sutter Creek to have breakfast before I began walking. After breakfast, we visited Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Church. Stopping in this Church we've driven past for the last couple days was important because Saint Katharine Drexel started Saint Michael's Mission in the Diocese of Gallup, NM (St. Michael's, AZ). 

At Saint Katharine Drexel's Catholic Church

• Father Collins gave me a blessing

• Visited one of the Knights of Columbus who was preparing for Saturday night's barbeque dinner at the church

• Met two Spanish ladies who wanted a close look at the Lady of Guadalupe Cross I am carrying this week. Maria and Kiki spent about ten minutes with me chatting and admiring the cross. They donated nine dollars to contribute to the purchase of a sonogram machine.

When we arrived in Pine Grove to begin the day where yesterday ended, a couple approached me (Ted and Debbie), chatted, and gave me two dollars. Later, while I was walking, a lady named Amy stopped and handed me a ten dollar bill. 

Didn't get to start walking until 12:50 P.M. and walked until 6:30 P.M. The walk was slow and mostly climbing. Did not feel at all well today. Even though I do not want to take time off, I think it best I rest and recuperate over the weekend. Finished today with thirteen miles, giving me a total of 141.2 miles. 140 miles is not where I was hoping to be after two weeks, but I am on schedule. 

Arrived back in Sacramento at 9:00 P.M. and intend to spend the weekend resting.

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°24.6424'
W 120°39.1522'
Elevation: 2,507 ft
Course: E 84 T

Ending:
N 38°30.0366'
W 120°30.1153'
Elevation: 4,118 ft.
Course: SSW 209 T


Saturday, April 21, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:
Rest and recovery.

Today's Coordinates:
N 38°30.0366'
W 120°30.1153'
Elevation: 4,118 ft.
Course: SSW 209 T



Sunday, April 22, 2018

Crossbearer's Log:

Rest.

Attended Mass at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Sacramento with my son and grandchildren. Watched granddaughter, Sophia, play soccer.

Today's Coordinates:
N 38°30.0366'
W 120°30.1153'
Elevation: 4,118 ft.
Course: SSW 209 T

Day Twelve

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Crossbearer's Log

Today, I walked from Sutter Creek, past Jackson heading north east on Highway 88, took a shortcut down Irishtown Road for two miles, arriving and finishing the day in Pine Grove, California. Total time on the road for the day was approximately five and a half hours. 

Walking was slow today due to the lack of shoulders on the road. 

The five mile walk from Sutter Creek to Jackson went quickly seeing that it was mostly downhill. Once I turned onto Highway 88, however, the climbing began. It looks like I will be climbing up hills for the next seven to eight days of this walk.  

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°21.5106'
W 120°49.4744'
Elevation: 1,307 ft.
Course: Stationary

Ending:
N 38°24.6424'
W 120°39.1522'
Elevation: 2,507 ft
Courses: E 84 T

Day Eleven

Wednesday, April 18, 2019
Feast of Saint Calocerus

Crossbearer's Log

Rest

Today's Coordinates:

N 38°21.5106'
W 120°49.4744'
Elevation: 1307 ft.
Coordinates: Stationary

Day Ten

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 
Feast of Saint Apollonius the Apologist

Beautiful day for me as I sat in a Starbucks and worked on the blog all mid-day (thank goodness for WiFi accessibility). After dad's walk, we went back to my brother's house and spent time with the kids. Dad mostly slept. 

Crossbearer's Log

10:50 A.M. at the corner of Liberty Street and Highway 88. Goal for today is to walk five hours, and I walked five hours and ten minutes, finishing in Sutter Creek at the Paul Bunyan statue. I felt great for the first two and a half hours, but things started falling apart towards the end. for the second half of today's walk, I experienced aching and cramping muscles, headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, blurred vision. These problems slowed my twenty minute miles to thirty-five minute miles.

This portion of the walk was a continual climb, mostly steady, but steep in places. Not much to write home about. Today was one of those days where you just have to finish. 

At this time, I do not feel well. May stay home tomorrow for recovery.  

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°14.1512'
W 121°3.0114'
Elevation: 141 ft.
Coordinates: Stationary

Ending:
N 38°21.5106'
W 120°49.4744'
Elevation: 1307 ft.
Coordinates: Stationary

Day Nine

Monday, April 16, 2018
Feast of Saint Bernadette

Today was peaceful for me aside from dropping him off at the last location and running to get him breakfast and then driving back to him and deliver it before going back to the truck stop to park and wait. Everything feels like a chore when your vehicle is too big for you. But I'm happy I get to help, and it gives me something to offer up.
For the rest of today's allotted five hours, the windows were cracked in the Chinook while I snuggled with my cat, Stuart, and read my book with the fresh rain scent drifting in and cooling the RV.  I loved looking up from my book and seeing rain spots on the window, but I felt bad for dad whose day was much more...riveting.

Crossbearer's Log

7:32 A.M. at the corner of Highway 99 and Peltier Road. My goal for today was to walk fifteen miles, finishing the day at the corner of Liberty Street and Highway 88. The forecast for today called for rain, so I tried to set a good pace at the beginning so as to limit my time in the cold rain. 

Three hours into my walk, the dark clouds that had been building up and following me all morning had caught up to me. For the last two hours, I walked in the hail and rain. No matter my pace, I could not get ward and my hands were consistently freezing. 

However, since I got to rest on Sunday, I felt fresh and good the entire fifteen miles. Eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's walk. Viva Cristo Rey. 

At about two and a half hours into the walk, a husband and wife, Barney and Cruz (Cross) respectively, stopped and talked to me. After talking, we joined hands and said a prayer. They were in the Cursillo group and Barney was a Brother Knight. When they handed me a ten dollar bill, I explained that it would be donated to funding a sonogram machine for a pro-life clinic. 

Today's Coordinates:

Beginning:

N 38°11.3909'
W 121°15.6564'
Elevation: 28 ft.
Course: Stationary

Ending:
N 38°14.1512'
W 121°3.0114'
Elevation: 141 ft.
Coordinates: Stationary

Day Eight

Sunday, April 15, 2018 
Feast of Saint Paterus of Wales

Dad and I went, with Daniel's little family, to Daniel's parish for Sunday Mass. We wanted to take a trip up to the Capuchin Monastery in Vina, California for Mass, but Sophia's soccer game fell too close in time to make the trip, and visiting my brother and his children was a higher priority. On the way to mass, my four-year-old nephew, Jett, said he didn't like going because, and I quote, "I can't talk or breathe in there." But he behaved surprisingly well, although asking for a blessing during communion scared him somewhat. Sophia was full of questions, as she always is, which was super endearing.
And getting to spend the rest of the day with them was rewarding too. Soccer, dinner, and playgrounds in beautiful California weather. It was a nice rest day.

Crossbearer's Log

I took this Sunday to rest. Went to Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church of Portugal in downtown Sacramento. Since St. Elizabeth's feast day falls on July fourth when most of its parishioners are out of town, they decided to set this Sunday aside to celebrate their patron saint. Afterwards, we all went to watch Sophia's soccer game.  

Today's Coordinates:

N 38°11.3909'
W 121°15.6564'
Elevation: 28 ft.
Course: Stationary

Day Seven

Saturday, April 14, 2018
Feast of Saint Lydwine of Holland

Airenne, my college roommate and dearest friend, drove to Sacramento to spend time with me and my family! I am always so thankful for her friendship, but especially on this weekend when I had the children. She was great with them, loving towards them, and calmed some of my anxiety about being responsible for them. We sat at a Starbucks and fed them club sandwiches, cake pops, and hot chocolate. Airenne played games with Sophia the whole time while Jett sat on my lap and we mostly watched them. I bought them a fingerprint painting book, and they had fun using that too! The time flew by so quickly.
As we were leaving, Jett asked me to carry him. I stepped off the curb and onto a parking block I did not see. My toes scraped the parking block and I fell, doing my best to make sure Jett didn't get hurt. He didn't, but he sure could scream. I could feel several cuts on my body throbbing and I sat in that parking lot for a minute while Airenne, thankfully, took the kids to the RV. I hadn't scraped up my knee in fifteen years or something ridiculous. I hate the blood. I hate the puss, especially. And I hate the bits of gravel embedded into my skin. I became a little self-absorbed that day because children have an uncanny ability to find your injuries and accidentally hit them. Repeatedly. I tried to reign in my dramatic and offer it up, but I'm not sure I did a good job of it.
We went to retrieve Dad and Daniel, and spent the rest of the day playing with the kids. That night, Airenne and I invited Sophia to a sleepover in the RV where we read a beautiful pop up version of The Wizard of Oz, played catch, and Sophia talked until she fell asleep.

Crossbearer's Log:

Today, finally, was an easy six mile walk. Daniel walked with me and carried the cross so as to save my shoulders some burden. Sophia walked the first two miles before deciding she had had enough. We stopped when we crossed the overpass for Highway 99. 

Exhausted from the last six days of walking. Week one involved ninety-three miles. 

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°11.3604'
W 121°23.4429'
Elevation: -14 ft.
Course: N O T

Ending:
N 38°11.3909'
W 121°15.6564'
Elevation: 28 ft.
Course: Stationary

Day Six

Friday, April 13, 2018
Feast of Saint Martin I (Last Pope to be martyred)

There were a solid five minutes where I hated this day. You can read about why in the Crossbearer's Log below. However, because of this incident, I got to walk five miles with my dad. I wish I could walk with my dad more often, but he needs a driver. Thus making this walk a happy incident. We walked down Thornton Street where there wasn't a shoulder, but the weedy surface on the side of the road was flat. Dad and I waved to everybody who moved over for us, and we counted the waves we got back! It was over half, in case you were wondering.
The walk was gorgeous, lined with vineyards, but I had two distinctive happy moment on this walk. The first was passing a small yellow house with a bright red rosebush in front. And a single calla lily plant. The image of that house in the vineyards is painted onto the inside of my eyelids. I just had to stop and take it in before running to catch up with my dad.
The second was walking past a yard full of cows and they all walked to the fence and watched us. I wanted to say hi so badly, but there was a small ditch separating me from happiness! But an extension of that experience was their calves in what looked like oversized dog crates. There must have been about twelve dozen lined up. As we walked, all the calves came ut of their crates and watched us. I loved them! The crates were lined up back- to-back, so some of the calves were sticking their faces out of a hole in the back of the crate as we approached, and they ran to the front when we passed. My heart longed, still longs, to play with them.

Crossbearer's Log

Today began with an approximate eleven miles on Highway 12 from Interstate 5. I crossed two bridges and walked roughly seventeen minute miles for sixteen and a half miles. The first nine miles were on dirt and gravel surfaces. I have grown tired of the heavy traffic and walked as quickly as I could to get off of Highway 12.

Met Laura at the Flying J on Highway 12 and Thornton Street in Lodi, California. Put the cross in the Chinook for a bathroom and refreshment break and locked it up. Laura dropped the keys in the toilet and they were automatically flushed into Lodi's sewer system. [Editor's Note: This was a bad moment for Laura as she flushed the most perfect pineapple keychain]. This resulted in us calling my son, Daniel, to bring my set of keys from his house in Sacramento [ Editor's Note: Whose fault is it we were locked out? Laura's or Dad's?]. Daniel graciously took the rest of the day off work and came to our aide. 

While we were keyless, I headed North on Thornton Street for five miles and East on Peltier Street for one half a mile until Daniel picked me up. These last five and a half miles for the day were sadly carried without the cross.

Overall, this day was pretty magical.

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°7.6612'
W 121°35.0588'
Elevation: -23 ft.
Course: Stationary

Ending:
N 38°11.3604'
W 121°23.4429'
Elevation: -14 ft.
Course: N O T

Day Five

Thursday, April 12, 2018
Feast of Saint Sabbas

I got to spend time with my niece and nephew, Sophia and Jett, today! They're so much fun, and I enjoy every second I get to spend with them. Super active kids, and I got to watch Sophia play soccer, the sport that has my heart. She is better than I am and she's seven.

Crossbearer's Log

I continued my walk from yesterday's ending point on Highway 160 before turning onto Highway 12, but I stopped short of a long bridge due to road construction stretching for the next five miles. I decided to stop at that point because I knew the next five miles would be slow.

Today's surfaces were the most flat I have seen thus far, but they were asphalt and extremely hard on my legs. I walked the nine and a half miles at a twenty minute pace, but most of the walk up to this point has been at approximately a twenty-five to thirty minute pace. I seem to be getting stronger.

My son, Daniel, picked up my granddaughter, Sophia. When he told her that Grandpa was at their house, Sophia's reply was, "Did Grandpa quit already?"

*Sabba' is Arabic for "Old Man" so he's a saint I have something in common with.  

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°5.9300'
W 121°42.3512'
Elevation: -15 ft.
Course: N O T

Ending:
N 38°7.6612'
W 121°35.0588'
Elevation: -23 ft.
Course: Stationary

Day Four

Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Feast of Saint Leo the Great 

I followed Dad a couple miles at a time. It was a joyous day for me for no reason other than the sun was shining and I was driving with my tone-deaf voice drifting out the open windows. Stuart, my cat, is always napping on the bed in the RV, and there is something expressly joyful in that too. Life is good.

When I got to the toll before the Antioch Bridge, however, my jaw dropped. It felt like a roller coaster and the RV just kept clicking up the hill. I tried to take a picture, but the hill was so steep, all you could see in the camera was road. "Walking this must have been terrifying," was my only thought as I drove an eternity over that bridge. 

Crossbearer's Log

I started my day in Antioch, California and walked several miles over the very tall Antioch Bridge which spans the San Juan River. The Antioch Bridge climbed for approximately 3/4 of a mile with approximately a half mile descent. 

It was incredibly daunting, with no protected pedestrian crossing, that I seriously considered calling Laura so she could drive me over the bridge. Instead, I kept repeating the mantra to myself, "Do not be afraid," and spent the next thirty minutes walking across that bridge with my life in God's care. 

The Antioch Bridge connected me to Highway 160 (The River Road) which runs alongside of the San Juan River. The beauty of the river gave me something to take my mind off of the long, arduous walk. 

Started at 9:50 A.M. and finished at 3:10 P.M. 

Slow walking day.

Legs and shoulders in pain. 

Dad made it, though. He always makes it. And we drove back to my brother's house in Sacramento along a levee road. Needless to say, my dad was terrified of the edge the entire drive, vowing never to take the levy road again. We had to create a new route for him after driving the levee roads because, and I quote, "I now understand what they mean when they talk about levees. 'I drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry. This'll be the day that I die.'" He's dramatic. Just kidding. Everyone knows I'm the dramatic one. He added approximately nine miles to his route that day.

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 38°0.0724'
W 121°50.6676'
Elevation: 56
Course: Stationary

Ending:
N 38°5.9300'
W 121°42.3512'
Elevation: -15 ft.
Course: N O T

Day Three

Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Feast of Saint Ezekiel

Driving along the route today surprised me tremendously with all the roads dad had to walk along. Most had trails or sidewalks but Bailey Street left me feeling troubled for my dad. It's difficult not to worry when there is no shoulder to walk on and the roads are windy -- creates a situation where it's easy for things to go wrong. I was in awe of that mountain, though. It felt like Ireland...smelled like California.

Crossbearer's Log:

Walked from the Civic Center Park in Walnut Creek, California to Antioch, California from 11 A.M. top 5:40 P.M. totaling 17.2 miles for the day. Felt good today and, thankfully, everything went well; a surprising number of people honked their horns at me in approval today. One lady gave me a twenty dollar bill, so I told her I would get it to the Knights of Columbus as a donation to buy sonogram machines for pro-life clinics. 

Things were easy until I got to Bailey Street. As I was admiring the beautiful mountain before me, I soon realized that stunning view came with a price. The next four miles were steep hill climbs with no shoulder. Every time a car drove by, I had to jump off the road into a shallow dip alongside the road. When the car passed, I jumped back on the road until the next car drove by. Boy, was I grateful to see the end of Bailey Street. 

After Bailey Street, I walked for four more hours through Pittsburg and eventually into Antioch, California. 

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 37°54.2090'
W 122°3.5838'
Elevation: 118 ft.
Course: S 178 T

Ending:
N 38°0.0724'
W 121°50.6676'
Elevation: 56
Course: Stationary

Day Two

Monday, April 9, 2018
Feast of Saint Mary of Cleophas

Today, we got a late start because dad had a rough first day, and he did not want to walk too many miles in a 24 hour time span. So we left my brother's house in Sacramento around noon, and my dad only walked for four hours that day. That day, my dad walked mostly on trails. I stopped at a couple trailheads looking for him, and caught up with him a few times so I could keep him a little company.

Crossbearer's Log: 

Walk today was from 3 P.M. to 7 P.M. and had a few small hills. Started at St. Monica Catholic Church in Moraga, California and ended at the Civic Center Park in Walnut Creek, California. Totaled 12 miles today. 

Today's Coordinates:
Beginning:
N 37°49.6395'
W 122°7.3899'
Elevation: 525 ft.
Course: Stationary

Ending:
N 37°54.2090'
W 122°3.5838'
Elevation: 118 ft.
Course: S 178 T

Companions on the Journey

April 8, 2018: Divine Mercy Sunday
Feast Day of  Saint Julie Billiart

My brother, Daniel, joined the troupe! He's the map guy. We desperately needed a map guy because otherwise it would have been a chaotic journey. Being the map guy meant texting me the directions of dad's route every morning until he could program the route onto the satellite phones. The map needs to be pre-programmed and uploaded onto the phones from a computer, and Daniel had to teach us how to use them! Having Daniel was also nice because I went south a bit to spend time with my dearest friend whilst Daniel followed my dad, kept him nourished, and drove him back to Sacramento at the end of the day.

Crossbearer's Log:

Began walk at 10 A.M. at the Civic Center Plaza in Downtown San Francisco. Walked two miles down Market Street to the Port of San Francisco and six miles on the ferry to the Port of Oakland.  

From the Port of Oakland, I walked twelve miles up steep and grueling hills for the next five and a half hours. Most people in San Francisco and Oakland have seen just about everything. Most people just ignored me, a few got in my face to spew hatred toward Christ, and others were supportive.  

From watching television and talking to people, we all have preconceived notions of different parts of the country and what they, and the people in them, will be like. I expected most people to me indifferent and disrespectful, but I found the walk to be enjoyable and the hills of Oakland extremely trying. 

I was enjoying time with my best friend and her incredible family, but my brother enjoyed following my dad. He sat and read his book at different stops. He walked a couple of miles with my dad, though, when it was an option. I love that we got to begin the journey in Daniel's area because, not only was he unbelievably useful, but it's just a hopeful start to what will be a long, tough nine month trek across the country.


Today's Coordinates:
Beginning
N 37°46.8107'
W 122°25.1874'
Elevation: 137 ft.
Course: NNW 341 T

Ending
N 37°49.6395'
W 122°7.3899'
Elevation: 525 ft.
Course: Stationary