Jerry & Ellen invited me to join them to their Sunday morning Pentecostal church service. Of all of the cultural and spiritual experiences I’ve had across the miles, I was almost worried that I’d be leaving the South without attending a Pentecostal service. This morning, however, I got my chance. I definitely felt a charisma here beyond comparison to your everyday church– a charisma that brought a smile to my soul

Setting out for today’s 17 miles from Henderson to Warrenton, NC. Leaving Vance County, I reach Warren County today, last of the Carolina Counties before I reach the Virginia border.

Set to leave Henderson’s Cardinal Motel after four hospitable nights with Mike Patel & Family.

Walking the backroads between Henderson and Warrenton.

…Rural Vance County, NC

…

…Rural Vance County, NC

North Carolina Scenic Byway: Highway 1001.

…before long, the trees will be full of leaves.

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…Sweet, smiling passersby stop to say hello and ask about the type of thing they don’t see off to the side of their rural country road every day: a man pushing a modified baby jogger filled with gear and signs: WALKING ACROSS AMERICA !

…Rural Warren County

…Arriving just after sunset

…Arriving to Warrenton

…Jerry & Ellen, owners of the The Ivy Bed & Breakfast, invited me in days ago, and have been awaiting my arrival to Warrenton.

Jerry & Ellen had a most delicious meal ready to go as I walked in the door: Gumbo! Ellen is from Louisiana, and Gumbo is one of her many culinary specialties! May, a guest of theirs (left) joins us.

…A look out the front door of the Ivy Bed & Breakfast’s Sharon Bartholomew Room, where I’m being hosted for multiple nights.

The Ivy Bed & Breakfast’s Sharon Bartholomew Room, where hosts Jerry & Ellen are hosting me for several nights.

ATTITUDE: GREAT GRATITUDE!!

I LOVE it when stereotypes get shattered!!
I’ve received more friendly-as-ever free nights at inns than I can even keep track of by now, and for the first three thousand of miles of the trip, despite the fact that it’s common to find kind immigrant Indian families running small motels, I’d given up hope of ever receiving a complimentary night at a motel run by an Indian family. The Indian families are always incredibly polite; however, I simply assumed that especially since many of them are relegated to running the less-expensive motels upon freshly arriving to the United States, they have to quickly learn to be strong to survive, and are therefore molded into the mindset that everyone must pay. I imagine that they must hear many “stories” from people who want free rooms or extended stays–making it potentially difficult to distinguish my story from a million others. Aside from that, if I am to ask for a room for a night, I only do so via e-mail (no pressure), and most of the small, inexpensive, Indian-run motels have no website. So, across the first three thousand miles, I grew to assume that I’d not be receiving any invitations from Indian-run motels. I never thought of this as a “bad” thing– I simply figured that I had learned to understand their survivalist mindset.
Oh, how I love it when some assumptions are beautifully transformed!!
In Liberty, Texas, my jaw dropped when I arrived to find that the owner/operators of the Luxury Inn & Suites, who’d responded to my e-mail, inviting me in for a night, were the Patel family, from Gujarat, India. They were SO kind, and their teenage daughter interviewed me for a story for her school newspaper. .
Last week, upon setting off from Durham on Monday, prepared to end the day with finding a safe, hidden place to spend the biting cold night outdoors, Rocio & I ended up being invited in by another Patel family for a pair of nights at their Inn at Creedmoor in Creedmoor, NC.
Quickly-emerging Road Angel Faicia Elliott had also placed the ball rolling to find us hosting in Henderson (three days up the road), and having learned of this, Henderson local Marissa Patel contacted her parents, Mike & Val Patel, owners of Henderson’s Cardinal Motel, to insist we have a place to stay in Henderson.
Mike & Val Patel, pictured here with Mike’s mother and their young daughter, invited us to spend Saturday and Sunday with them at the Cardinal Motel. (As it turns out, these Carolina Patels are related!) On Sunday, Sejal Patel (Inn at Creedmoor) kindly drove to Henderson and picked Rocio up to drive her to Durham to catch her bus back to Atlanta.    This generous gesture had given Rocio the ability to spend an extra night with me!
Sunday evening, Mike Patel saw that a storm system was about to pass through the area, and he insisted that I spend extra nights at his Cardinal Motel. He also wanted to look into having me speak to local schools (schools turned out to be on spring break this week).
I head out today, after four nights at the Cardinal Motel. Of all the generous hotel, motel & inn offers, four nights is a new record for me at any hotel, motel or inn. And Mike & Val have invited me to their dinner table each my four nights here. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the family in the process.
I love it when assumptions are happily transformed– this time by a series of Patel families!
Interestingly, for years I’ve been fascinated with Indian culture: spirituality, meditation, food, etc. The Indian state I’ve most been hoping to spend time in is Gujarat. And now, all of these Gujarati families have been leading the way with their hospitality to me in the U.S.
It’s funny how the world works.

Thank You, Patel Families!!!!

Mike & Val Patel, Mike’s mother and their cute little girl. On the right, the younger brother of their soon-to-be son-in-law!

Brandon, Marissa Patel, their baby daughter, Rocio & George in the adjacent Patel home (formerly a restaurant).

For all the speaking I do of the Road Angels who’ve swooped in to assist me from all angles, I’d now like to share the story of my younger brother, Ryan Throop, who very well may have saved my life with his just-in-time advice in October 2009, just over a hundred miles and half a month after beginning the Walk.

It was Sunday morning, October 4th. I was preparing to leave the Cottage Grove home of host Adam Tull, when Ryan & Aunt Maurice suddenly called and said they were driving two hours down the highway to meet up with me. They arrived later that morning, meeting Adam and family before taking me to brunch.

Ryan and Maurice walked six miles out of Cottage Grove with me, each of them taking turns pulling their truck forward. We reached the point where over 100 miles of north-to-south state highways, which I’d been walking since Day 1, ran out. I had no other reliable way through the surrounding hills– especially as dirt mountain logging roads (my only option)– were notoriously dangerous and confusing, especially without a GPS at the time). Walking Interstate freeways is illegal, and I did not envision Oregon State Police tolerating me doing so. I therefore was ready to walk the train tracks, which ran parallel to I-5.

Ryan gave me a very, very clear warning: “stay off the train tracks!” Ryan explained to me that anytime that rail crews work the tracks, they always have spotters watching out for any trains which may potentially be coming. Ryan informed me that workers cannot hear a train coming– especially when the tracks are located next to a busy highway. Added to this, I-5 and the adjacent train tracks in southern Oregon are filled with visual obstructions: curves, hills and more amid frequently misty weather. In such conditions, there’s no guarantee that any locomotive engineer would see the sudden surprise of a man walking the tracks in time to sound the train’s horn.

I listened to Ryan’s warning, and his wise words very well may have saved my life. Through the many miles ahead, I would later learn that walking busy roads next to train tracks translates to almost never hearing any train coming. As massive as these trains are, sometimes two miles in length, I of course simply figured that the ginormous diesel engines powering the 2-mile long locomotive would be easy to hear. Not so. At least not always. Monster roadside trains have since snuck up aside me countless times across the states.

Thank You, Ryan and Maurice, for swooping in at the perfect time to steer me clear of imminent danger. Thank all of you Road Angels for descending at the ideal time to guide, host, feed and inspire me so well across the thousands of miles…

Ryan & Maurice

It gets harder every time I have to say goodbye to her.

On her breaks from teaching math full time, Rocio has caught up to me in numerous places since I left on foot from her Atlanta home, and our relationship has blossomed beautifully as we’ve spent ample time with one another across the miles.
She just spent nine wonderful days of her spring break with me, walking with me from Durham to Henderson. She has class tomorrow, so she had to go back to Atlanta today.

Had it not been for Road Angel Sejal Patel (driver seat), Rocio would have had to return yesterday. Sejal and her husband hosted us for a pair of nights at their inn in Creedmoor, and she offered to pick Rocio up this morning and drive her to Durham, to catch the first of her two buses back to Georgia. The extra day was so valuable to us!!

I cherish every moment with Rocio, and taking pictures when she left actually helped minimize the tears in my eyes, as I partially put myself into “work” mode, documenting the goodbye, instead of feeling the full ripping sensations of the separation.

I ♥ U, Rocío Sotomayor!!!

“But it’s probably OK if we walk through early enough, don’t ya think?” I asked.

Especially when told “stay away from that part of town,” and it appears I have to walk through anyway, I shop for the answers I need. Rocio & I were warned to stay away from Andrews Avenue, in Henderson– told of all sorts of violent crimes that happen there. That said, given that there was no easy way around, and given that ironically I seem to be most fascinated by the idea of spending time in such areas, I seek a window of opportunity to make it through anyway. And for Andrews Avenue, I found it!

“Go early– don’t be caught there after 2 PM. Go early, don’t get off the main road, and you should be fine.”
We followed the advice we were given, and though we definitely did find some painful small-city urban scars on our 2-mile stretch of Andrews Avenue, we also met some friendly locals, in a part of town which can use extra smiles.
Mission accomplished.

More to come…

I spent a very busy day speaking to groups of sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Mary Potter Middle School in Oxford, NC. Rocio & I walked three miles to connect the steps to downtown Oxford. I was plucked off the route to speak to the Girls on The Run group (grades 3-5) in nearby Stovall, and at the end of the day, I spoke to a group of pre-teens at Oxford’s Boys and Girls Club. Busy day– somewhat exhausting– but ironically, empowering as well– I love it!!

The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage

Breakfast is served at The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage

Eddie & Pam Dalton, owners of The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage, are treating Rocio & me to a pair of nights at their FABULOUS inn– delicious breakfast included!!!

Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School

Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School

Well, I can’t expect them all to like it!
I eat a lot of different trail mixes on the road, leaning heavily toward raw, and without any added sugars or salts.
This afternoon, when the sixth-graders at Oxford’s Mary Potter Middle School asked me what I eat, in the interest of satisfying all senses, I decided to go ahead and allow them to pass around, open, examine and smell a unique packet of trail mix I was carrying. The combo of goldenberries, goji mulberries and cacao nibs were quite foreign to them– and I LOVED the reactions they gave me!!

8th graders at Mary Potter Middle School– they’re AWESOME!!

Across the miles, I’ve learned that K-12 students–especially as they grow older–don’t simply want to be preached to or lectured, they want to be entertained. Entertaining them while simultaneously making the effort to do something educational and inspirational is much easier said than done. That said, I feel like each extra group I speak to, I learn a little bit more, making more progress in the process. As a result, after first speaking to 6th and 7th grades yesterday, I feel 8th grade (shown here), at the end of the day, was the most effective interaction of them all. Especially given that the 8th grade group was about three times the size of the 6th grade group, this made for a perfect progression of yesterday’s appearances at Oxford’s Mary Potter Middle School.

Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School

Coach is a very inspiring man who has been guiding kids well for 30 years now. He’s about to retire on to the next phase of life .

Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School

Wonderful teachers at Mary Potter Middle School– I so enjoyed speaking to all of your classes!

Among a handful of personalized pics with students

Among a handful of personalized pics with students

Among a handful of personalized pics with students

Among a handful of personalized pics with students

Walking through Oxford, NC

Walking through Oxford, NC

The Girls on the Run club of neighboring Stovall.

Students from the Girls on the Run club ask for personalized written messages. I had barely enough time (a couple of hours) to fill out personalized messages (Strength! Peace! Light! Love!) to each of them.

Boys & Girls Club of Oxford

Boys & Girls Club of Oxford

Dinner with Lovely Rocio.
We’re arm wrestling over something– I forget exactly what– LOL!

Mayor Jackie Sergent sits down to dinner with us, after a long day on the road to Oxford, NC. We’re being hosted for a pair of nights at The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage.
A very fun, high-energy woman, Jackie had lots of enthusiastic questions, which led to a very scintillating conversation as innkeepers Eddie & Pam joined us as well. Within quite little time, Jackie has lined up speaking appearances all day at the middle school, in addition to a local running club afterward. I look forward to a fun & busy Oxford experience!!

When Rocio & I awoke yesterday, we faced the prospect of not only sixteen miles to Creedmoor, but also a whole week’s worth of walking and NO invitations anywhere. That was how the day began– as we began accumulating the day’s first miles, however, prospects brightened immediately. Toni Anne Wheeler of the South Granville County Chamber, in Creedmoor, learned of the Walk when she arrived to the Chamber yesterday morning, on what was supposed to be a day off for her. (I’d written a letter of inquiry to the Chamber.)
“I read the e-mail, and just felt I needed to do something,” Toni Anne told me.
Toni Anne did more than “just something.” She contacted the pastor of her First Baptist Church of Creedmoor, and the church provided us with a night’s stay at The Inn at Creedmoor. The Patel family, of India, owners of The Inn at Creedmoor, learned of the story and offered us a second night’s stay. Toni Anne contacted Creedmoor Mayor Darryl Moss, who asked her if we could speak to the community at their Monday night Town Hall meeting, which Rocio & I ended up arriving just in time for. Toni Anne also organized a dinner meeting with the mayor of neighboring community Butner as well.
I met Toni Anne early this afternoon, and she brought along her friend Faicia, who not only ensured we had a place to stay in Oxford (the next town up), she also brought us a “basket of basics,” which included: toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, basic first-aid kit, moisturizing cream, comb, shampoo, mouthwash, deodorant, sanitizer, and more– even a bit of candy! . Faicia then took us out to lunch, which ended up being an abundance of salad + more to last us through dinner as well. Faicia has invited me to speak to her church this weekend, which I’ll be more than happy to do.
When we awoke yesterday, Rocio and I were mentally prepared to spend the week’s worth of cold nights sleeping outside of churches, abandoned buildings, or whatever else to safely make it through the week’s miles together. By day’s end, it appeared unlikely that we’ll spend any frigid night outdoors this week.
I just love the magic of the Road Angels of the Universe!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Though spring is less than 48 hours away, the cold, gray weather had winter written all over it.

…

…

The less traveled the roads, the more beautiful they are, generally

…Mi Amor!

…Forging across Falls Lake

…Despite the cold and gray day, one cannot help but be awed by nature’s boundless beauty!!!

… We’re here! But: still, a handful of miles awaits us…

…Mayor Darryl Moss invites me to speak to the Creedmoor Monday night Town Hall meeting.

…Creedmoor resident Dr. Cheryl Hanly, a local chiropractor, describes a 2,200 mile walk she’s about to embark on, up the entire Appalachian Trail, to broadcast a loud message against bullying. Our encounter was totally unplanned and serendipitous!!! Her website: www.learningtoliveoutloud.com

Meeting Toni Anne & Faicia at The Inn at Creedmoor, Creedmoor, NC.

Here is the map of the day’s walking route:

View Larger Map

From today’s edition of The Chapel Hill News:

Setting an example one step at a time

Today’s miles are a tiny handful. Tomorrow’s miles are expected total at least 14, to Creedmoor.