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!!!