21.6 miles (34.8387 km's)...43,287 steps...$0.52 (1 quarter, 2 dimes and 7 pennies)...went from Inverness to Bushnell, ended on route 48 just east of I-75 across the street from Lickity Splits...The Walk today was dedicated to Virginia Cunningham currently battling cancer and Beth Ohaus who recently lost her fight against cancer. Best wishes to you Virginia and Beth, may you rest in peace. These people came to me as a result of the New York Times article about people walking across America in which The Walk of Life was mentioned.
Weather was perfect for walking, sunshine, clear skies, a wee bit brisk and a very nice tail-wind. We started on route 41 next to the Whispering Pines Park in Inverness. Just as I was about to start walking a gentleman in the park called me over. Eddie Bevil was in the Army during Viet Nam and spent a career in law enforcement. He also spent some time in the Middle East as a civilian employee. Glad your health has improved. Eddie is one of the many reasons I am out on this Walk. To honor veterans and also to meet "regular folks". Thank you, Eddie, for your service and thank you for sharing your story. My very best wishes to you. Shortly thereafter I walked into the Citrus County Hospice thrift store. I applaud hospice workers wherever they are found. We never know what we are capable of until we are called. My hat goes off to ALL hospice workers. A little further down the road I stopped at the Wassabi Smoke Shop and had a pleasant conversation with "Kurt". His name made me chuckle as I have been referred to from time to time as a rather "curt" individual. On an on down the road with a stop with some bikers, a stop with a couple of people putting gas in their cars. Along the way I found about a dozen live .22 rounds which I put in my sticky sandwich bag and handed it over to a sheriff's deputy for appropriate disposal. Just as we ended the day and were about to take off a couple of young (teenaged) girls came over to the car and asked what we were doing. I never met a chance to talk about me that I didn't like! After my short "elevator" speech they indicated that they worked across the street at Lickity Splits, an ice cream shop and eatery, and that the proprietor of the establishment wanted to buy us some ice cream. Who am I to turn down the giver of a gift!?!? Thank you, Ron Kurtz for your kindness as we ate your ice cream and pestered your customers with cards and a quick story as to what we were doing. Thank you Vicky and Darrell Vann for your conversation, sharing of Darrell's dream to do some serious biking (make it happen, follow your dream!!!) and for your contribution. Dr. Dave Okubo will find a good use for it. I got to shake hands with a retired Navy man and thank him for his service. Before leaving the two girls, Shelayne Henderson and Reanna Chisephall handed me a sizable bill indicating tat it was "from all of us". Thank you for your generosity and your kindness. Camp UTADA will put the funds to good use, thank you so very much for your generosity.
Thanks to all those that I encountered today. Tomorrow e finish up with route 48 and move on down to route 301...see ya'll down the road...CHEERS!!!