Blog The Walk
This blog will follow Art's experiences as he walks across America on The Walk of Life. You can share your support for him or talk about your dedications to your loved ones that you have lost or are fighting some illness. Please leave comments and words of encouragement!
walking day #48, Saturday, August 18, 2012...1000 miles!!!
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well we did it!!!, 1000 miles!!!...ONE THOUSAND MILES!!!...I am impressed!!!...as reference point that would be equivalent to Washington, DC to Miami, Seattle to San Luis Obispo (north of LA) or Fargo, ND to Dallas, TX...today I got 21.5 miles with 41,698 steps and stopped at mile post 9 on Montana route 223 just north of Ft Benton, a nice breeze kept the bugs at bay and not a cloud in the sky...several miles into the walk I stopped at a truck that had broken down and had a rather pleasant conversation with a group of Hutterites as they awaited some repairs, we had a few laughs and generally chatted, I would really like to have another conversation with the elder of the group as I thought he was especially funny and seemed to really enjoy life, perhaps it was because I reminded me a bit of my own father, a bright smile, hearty laugh and a quick wit!!!...very hot as the day went on and the water went down like water!!!...a twenty minute nap energized me for the final push, the goal for the day was 21 miles or mile post 9 whichever was farther, poor Mom never knows when I will stop!!!...right as I was descending a long grade and about the time I was shouting about the 1000 mile mark, my Hutterite brother, in the truck I passed earlier in the day, came screaming by with a load of hay cubes and leaned on the horn!!!...WOW!!!...if he ever gets to read this I offer a hearty THANK YOU for adding to the celebration out there on that desolate stretch of road...I do believe this will be a place that I will return to at some point in the future...even though this excursion is to celebrate life today there was an overwhelming feeling and realization of the fragility and randomness of life, along with the beauty and wonder of life comes some significant pain and suffering...Carla, my heart goes out to you and Jeff my hat is off to you, may you both find peace and resolution in the chaos that has beset you and your little family, BLESS YOU...Vic and Pam, I wish I could say something wise and comforting, Mom I admire your resilience, optimism and infinite patience...my WONDERFUL children, Staci, Joey, Jonny (who inspired this excursion so many years ago), Stef, Jay and Jake seize EACH and every moment of your lives, I love you!!!...Richard and Spaff wherever you are...Fred, keep that boat afloat and may you have many more eight-ball breaks!!!...Barbara, Art C, Gerrard and all the rest "in he bag" whether "here" or "there"...perhaps it is time for this walker to dig a wee bit deeper to examine further the words that I SPEAK as I walk and focus on their meaning to translate the words into TOTAL action, DON'T TELL ME SHOW ME!!!...someone told me one time "results don't lie"...soooooooooooo in summary: for the week we did 122 miles even (196.7742 km's), 234,023 steps...for the trek: 1002.5 miles (1616.9355 km's) and 1,887,660 steps over a period of eleven weeks, now a 2 1/2 break to see another part of the world and then head out for the next 3/4 of the adventure...thank you all for your support, however you give it, best wishes to all and I shall see ya'll down the road...cheers!!!
Comments
Congratulations, Arturo, on this fantastic and wonderful milestone!
Looking forward to your next post and, further down the road, your next incredible milestone!
Keep up the great work!! 
HONK!! HONK!!
You folks, out there, who love life and honor it, or who don't and hate it; you have no idea of that exileration of that day. After we had reached the 1000 mark at Lower Marias sign post and pictures, then off he went again, looking for that ellusive Mile nine marker. I might have mentioned "I thought we were finished until after Irelans" but NO,
art was off marching down the road with resolution, determinded to say "I have walked over 1000 miles, and lots of time for thinking" When we reached the mile 9 there was no place to park except to hang off the side of the road in a precarious position. Aafter Art was rumaging in the back of the Jeep for something, then he told me I could drive up to the next cross road and turn around to come back to pick him up. Well I though I was already picking him up but I dutifully drove on up for another few minutes to find another crossroad for this roan was much too narrow and ditches too deep for me to turn around at mile 9. By the time I got back you will see some pictures eventually, when our webmaster gets around to it, of Art down on the highway with two spray cans one red one white a bright red strip clear across the highway, and then in white on his walking side 1000 + and an up arrow pointing to Fort Denton where we will head for some time in early September. It has been a wonderful trip so far and much time for contemplation. and yes, for youi people out there who think I am crazy, at my age, it is my age that makes it so special. What better way to go out of this life than this? Cec always wanted people to know that death was not to be feared, that it was just a journey, a transition if you will, from this life to a much better one. I think I will still be around in this one for awhile yet, and this walk is just making me stronger (well, yah, I just drive, but while I am waiting I still do little exercises around the outside of the car, and knit scarves for the homeless in West Kootenay.
Congratulations on a job well done!