Day 24

Day 24 was a day I would take completely off to heal my feet. I am now about 10 miles east of crestview and in the country. And maybe 50 miles from alabama state line.
     When I woke up I sat up and wiped the ants off of me. I looked around to make sure I didn't see anyone around. I got up and peeked around the corners and the houses seemed to be empty again like the residents went back to work.
      I stood up and my feet were very sore. Not as painful as the last day, but more of a next day sore. I put my shoes on and went around to the front to plug my stuff in as they were dead again. I walked gingerly again today to aid the pain in my feet.
     When I came to the front there were a few cars there. They were inside the church doing something but I plugged my things in anyway. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later they came out. They asked if I knew someone there or something? I told them I was just passing through and was trying to get a charge. They said there was a deck across the street that was part of the church and that I could go over there and use the outlets. I said thanks. They also asked If I was hungry. I told them if they had a snack to spare I would definetly take it and appreciate it. A lady said she would grab a few things from the pantry. She came out with a bag. Inside was a can of Mac n beef, and 2 cup of noodles. I thanked them and headed to get my stuff and go to the deck.
       It was a covered deck and had a few things on it like old church benches and fold up chairs. It was perfect. It was a good hidden place for me to spend a day to recover. I plugged in, threw my sleeping bag down and laid back. There was a slight infestation of bees and wasps, but I could deal with it. I had to use my hat here and there when they would come at me and fly around my head. But it didn't bother me much.
        I basically sat there all day and stayed off my feet. I decided to eat the Mac n beef but it wasn't a pop top. So I used my screwdriver to stab a bunch of holes in the top, then pryed the holes to meet eachother eventually making an opening big enough to stick a plastic spoon I had into it and eat. I felt like a big hobo doing that, but I got to eat it so it was ok.
        I sat there and used Internet and talked with friends and family. It was nice to have a day where I could relax and do things online to catch up on the life outside of my semi-isolated world.
       I decided also I would take a shower that night with the hose at the church. I waited til it was pretty late so the homes around would likely be asleep. I snuck across the street to the church with another set of clothes and a mini conditioner bottle.
       I showered behind a bush where it was dark with the hose. I was in dirt so it was pretty tough. I tried to sit on the coiled up hose to avoid the dirt/mud now that it was wet. (as I'm writing this in bed, a huge flying beetle bug just landed on my leg! Gross!) so after I showered and washed my hair and beard I also used the conditioner to wash the clothes I had on before. It wasn't very good but enough to make them not stink as much and get some of the dirt and sweat out.
      I felt very clean. Even if it wasn't up to my usual showering standards, I felt really fresh. I headed back and draped my wet clothes over the railings. I laid down, covered up and went to bed.
     

Day 23

Day 23 started off as a bummer. I woke up in the woods off the highway in my tent. I could feel right away that my feet were worse and in pain. I sat up in my tent and put my feet down. It was painful and I knew I needed to rest them. I laid back down and fell back asleep. It was around 8:30.
        When I woke again it was around 11. I didn't really know what the right thing to do was? My feet needed rest for sure. But my iPod was dead and I had no way to contact anyone to let them know where I was and that I would rest. I didn't give a heads up either that I might be offline as I didn't plan on stopping short of the church the night before. I stopped suddenly since my feet were wrecked.
        So after I sat there a while I decided to just tough it out and walk the 8 miles to the church, and hope that maybe I would find one earlier along the way. Not probable but I hoped anyway.
      I packed up and got ready. I started to walk and it was instantly hurting. I looked like a 90 year old man and was trying to walk gingerly. But it was painful anyways. I walked very slow and just hoped to see somewhere I could stop for a day...
      About 2 hours went by and I was still trekking. Pain was getting worse even after I took a bunch of Advil. I could barely convince myself to keep going... But I did. I could feel each step in my foot and any slight bump or slope in the surface was painful. I pushed and pushed and finally got to the church.
       It wasn't a well hidden spot and there were houses all around it. It was old and dirty around the outside with tons of ant burrows. I knew either way, that's where I was staying as I could hardly stay on my feet any longer.
       I plugged my things in and sat down. It felt so good to be off my feet. I still wasn't sure where I would sleep to be out of sight. But I needed to sit there a while to relax. After about 15 minutes I walked around the church and found one corner out of sight of the houses. It was literally the only spot to stay unnoticed. I went and grab my cart and rolled it there. It was very dirty and sandy with bugs all over, but it would have to do.
       I made my bed and sat down again. My feet hurt so bad that the bugs crawling on me didn't bother me. I had ants, spiders, and a few other types of bugs constantly on my skin.
       A bit later I decided to go back to the front and grab my electronics. When I got up I almost fell back down. It was a mission just to walk to the front and grab my iPod. I probably looked wasted drunk which wasn't good. I grabbed my stuff and figured that was the last time I would leave from my spot to stay out of sight as the people in the homes would likely be home from work or whatever soon. I hoped I already hadn't been seen but it didn't look like anyone was home, so I figured I might be ok.
         I laid down and took a nap. I woke up maybe an hour later and the bugs were getting heavier and mesquitos were beginning to bite me. It honestly made me feel a little crazy to wake up with bugs all over me and not even flinch. I just laid there feeling them on my skin and knew I could swipe and slap them all night but they would still come back. And if I wanted sleep I was just gonna have to deal with it. Really sucked and was maybe the most uncomfortable and irritated I've ever been.
      Before I went to sleep I loaded up on repellant hoping to keep some of the bugs off me. And then I laid down and covered myself pretty good in my sleeping bag to limit my exposure. I wish the spot was big enough for my tent. But it was only able to barely fit me and my cart hidden.
      I slept on and off all night. I had ants and spiders constantly crawling on me. I even woke up when a centipede was crawling on my sleeping bag and I thought it was a little snake. At one point something was crawling by my ear and was loud, so I sat up and it was a huge spider! It was about the size of a Pringle chip!! I grabbed my shoe and smashed it! It was a pretty miserable night to be homeless and immobile.

Day 22

I woke up and felt the sunshine warming up my sleeping bag. I was behind a dumpster at a church just on the east edge of the town crestview. My feet were in a lot of pain. I slowly got up and looked around. There were some cars there but I needed to fill my waters and charge so I packed up and went around the church. I found a faucet and an outlet on the side of the church.
       I plugged in and filled up. As I waited for my things to charge I decided to wash my feet and let my blisters get some air. As I was washing them with the water and using conditioner, a man opened a side door and walked out. I was a bit startled. He asked how I was doing. I told him good, I let him know I was charging my gps and was just traveling through. He was really nice. He said to take my time and it was no problem. I told him thanks and that I was battling blisters. That's why I was washing my feet. He said good luck and to stay as long as I needed.
      He ended up coming back out and bringing me some bandages and Neosporin. He said maybe they would help with my feet. I was so grateful and said I was just thinking about maybe picking some up. I put them in my bag. He had some questions about my journey and we ended up talking a while. Eventually it was time to head out so I shook his hand and said thanks. And I headed off at about 11.
        As I walked through the town it was mostly uphill. It was hot but the breeze made it a little cooler for me. I walked until I reached the end of Crestview. I stopped there and made sure I was ready to leave the town as it was a long stretch before another town or anything for that matter. I checked everything and I was good to go. I headed out of town and down the highway.
         I made my way out of town a few miles where a man came up walking behind me. He was a young white guy and had a tough look. I took out my headphones and said hi. He was walking to his girlfriend's house down the highway and asked where I was going. After telling him he said he had lived homeless for a year or so once and traveled. He was giving me pointers to survive but his methods were a little more aggressive then I'd like. He said to ask churches to put me up in hotels, ask for free food at Denny's and Waffle Houses, and to stop at police stations and tell them you have no money so you can get arrested for a while and have a place to stay and food. He had just got out of prison a few months before. For some reason that didn't surprise me. I did take some of his survival tips but left most of them. All in all it was nice to have company for a few miles. We parted when we past his girlfriend's house. Interesting encounter.
          I walked along and decided to take a brake at a gas station I came to at an intersection of a road that went to the 10. I stopped there and pulled my shoes and socks off to check my feet. They were pretty beat up and tender. As I was sitting there a young guy, maybe younger than me came up from his truck as he stopped there, and asked if I was homeless. I said I actually was and was traveling. He gave me about a dollar in change and also gave me his lunch for that day that he didn't eat! I was pumped! It was crackers and peanut butter and a can of beef soup. He shook my hand and said god bless. It was pretty unexpected, especially since I had my socks off and my stinky ass feet were out. He made my day.
          I got ready to go a bit later and continued. My feet were killing me again and I was walking funny trying to compensate for parts of my feet that hurt. I decided I was gonna have to stop short that day and rest them.
         I ended up pulling off the highway just after the sunset about 18 miles east of Crestview. I was bummed since my charge was low and my iPod was about to die. I made my tent back in the trees a bit and laid down. It was around 8:30 and my iPod died. There wasn't anything to do but sit in my tent and think. I laid there a while just reflecting a bit on the journey do far. Then I passed out around 9 or so.

Day 21

I woke up on day 21 from no other cause then that I was just done sleeping. When I woke up at first I couldn't remember where I was. Then the reality of this journey set in. I'm in the middle of nowhere in Florida in a tiny little town sleeping on the dirt behind a church. I sat up and for a second thought about the journey and how much the odds are against me. I'm just an average blue collar joe blow who has nothing but an idea. And the idea of making across the country is pretty far fetched, starting with nothing and no preparation either.
       I sat up and dragged myself out of my bag to pack my gear up. As I packed I just kept sort of laughing. I'm not even really too much of an adventurous guy. Hiking and camping like this has never been something I have been crazy about. I do like camping but usually out of a motor home or trailer. I honestly don't even really like going for walks. Why this idea popped into my head and why I'm going for it is beyond me. I just know this entire experience is pretty far out of my element and comfort zone. Why am I even out here in the first place? I'm not 100% sure why I decided this? But here I am and so far it has been pretty eye opening for me.
       I finished packing my things and washing up and took off. I just wonder as I walk down the highway what people think of a dirty man hauling a cart with canned food and water, with long hair and a dirty beard. I wish I could be in their minds to know. Each passing car, I want to see just how far off they are. Little do they know just a month ago I was a clean shaved and well dressed in my peacoat eating out at dinner at a nice place with a model as my date. It's funny how putting myself out here like this can change other people's perception so fast. It's like I'm living in another person's eyes where I get to see the real side of people. I have had some good people approach me on this journey, really good. And have also had people who seemed to look at me and put a judgement on me by who they "think" I am. Which in all reality right now I am homeless and poor, but inside I am much more. It gives me a sense of knowing who people really are.
       I walked down the highway and through the town of Defuniak Springs. It was small and pretty plain and simple. The walk from the east side of town to the west was uphill. As I reached the edge of town and nothing but trees ahead were in sight.
        There was one one last restaurant before the end of the town and it was Mexican food, my favorite. It smelled so good but I needed to keep tight and live off what I have. So I looked straight ahead. Just then I heard a truck door shut and a man yells "hey how many miles to the gallon does that cart get?" and I said "about 300 so far" he laughed. He immediately after that said, "you hungry?" I told him ya I was pretty hungry and laughed. He said "c'mon in here, 'I'll buy you lunch!" I was shocked. Was this real or am I day dreaming? And to let you guys know, I havn't had the "food" sign on my back for about a week now. Since I had been stocked up I took it off and trashed it, that's why it had slowed down for a while. So he invited my to lunch even without that!
        I left my cart on the side of the building and went in with him. His name was John and he was maybe 60 or so. He was a friendly and happy guy who joked with everyone. The waitresses or the people next to us, ect. He was bubbly. He asked about my journey and called me nuts! He said good luck and that I'm gonna need it. I told him "ya, I know". He asked where I was headed to today and I told him Crestview, which was 27 miles away. He laughed and said "you won't make it there by tonight!" I felt like saying "oh ya I will" but instead I said "ya maybe not, if I don't I'll pitch a tent wherever I can't go on anymore". And for some reason him saying that stuck with me.
            We sat there and laughed and had a good time. I ate about 3 baskets of chips and salsa and then absolutely devoured my meal of a taco and echiladas with rice and beans. It was so good and probably the best Mexican food has ever tasted simply because I was starving! He was a cool dude, but he seemed to not really have faith that the trip was possible. I understood as I know it's a risk and long shot, but I still have faith it can be done with God's help. So he was nice, yet challenged the thoughts I had at the same time. Either way I was very appreciative for the meal and for sharing some laughs.
       He was on a schedule and when we were done didn't have much to say but good luck. It was a weird encounter but really interesting. I took off walking and of course what he said about me not making it was on my mind. So I put my headphones in and set off down the highway.
         I walked all day. I drank water lightly and kept moving. By the time I left from eating with John it was already 12, so 27 miles would take me well past dark if I wanted to make it.
       My feet started to hurt a little around 4. They were cramping up and getting tender. I just thought that maybe I had to push through the pain for my feet to callus up eventually. So I kept going.
       At around 7 the little hurt turned into moderate pain. My feet were hurting on certain spots so I tried switching how I put weight down and stay off those parts.
      At about 9pm they were hurting really badly. I could barely walk straight and was wincing. I had about 5 miles left and wanted to make it there badly. I pushed through. Every step really hurt and it seemed like time slowed down. The last few miles was by far the hardest the trip has been so far. My feet were so jacked up I knew I shouldn't have pushed it. Damn my pride! The only reason I kept going through the pain was because John told me I couldn't and my pride wanted to prove to myself he was wrong and I could.
       I got to the church that was my destination. I made it 27 miles to Crestview. I was hurting so bad I literally went straight to a fenced area around some dumpsters where I would be out of sight in the morning, made my bed really fast and laid down to pass out. I was annoyed with myself and how bad my feet hurt. I went to sleep a little agitated.

Day 20

I woke up in my tent at around 9:30. I had slept well and was relaxed when I woke up. The ground was hard and it was still no mattress quality sleep, but it was better than concrete. I rolled out of bed to roll up my sleeping bag, pack the tent, brush me teeth and then head out.
        I left the meadow and walked the pathway out of the trees on to the 90 west towards Defuniak Springs. It was about 24 miles away so it would be a bit of a test to see if my body could handle it. I started down the highway.
        It was a nice day and the weather was cool with a breeze. It makes it a lot easier not having to deal with the heat. I walked for about 10 miles. I felt pretty good and was staying hydrated and drinking water every time I even thought about it.
         I came up to a little fishing town of Caryville. I stopped at a bait and fuel station before the river to fill up my waters and get a charge. I sat there for about 20 minutes drinking water. A man came up and said he saw me the day before and asked where I was going. He was real supportive and thought it was a good way to grow as a young man. He shook my hand and said it was an honor to meet me. That was awesome and things like that give me confidence. He got in his big new truck hauling a nice fishing boat and headed down the road honking and waving as he rolled away.
          I headed down the highway again. As I crossed the river I looked over the bridge. I always hope to see something cool. I've seen plenty of turtles and snakes, and as bad as I don't want to see a gator, at the same time I do. But nothing there. I continued on.
        I got to the next town around 3 and took my break there. I had my first meal of the day where I ate 3 slices of wheat bread out of my backpack. It was pretty bland but I needed some calories. The man working there took a cigarette break and chatted with me a while. He was cool and told me stories of when he used to hitchhike. There wasn't an outlet outside so I asked him if there were any free in the store. He took me in and I plugged my things in. He was a cool dude and had some good info on what I was headed to in the next few towns.
           So after an hour I headed out of there. I was fully charged and again fully stocked with water. I walked towards Defuniak Springs for the last little trek out the day. It was around 9 miles. It went well and I arrived to the church just as the sun was setting. I stopped at a gas station just across from the church and Skyped with some friends and family back at home. Skype drains my batteries fast so I usually only want to do it when I'm plugged in, plus it was light up there so they could see me.
        After skyping for a couple hours I headed over to the church and made my bed in a little corner where I was pretty hidden in the back. It was pretty chilly actually so I bundled up and went to bed around 11.

Day 19

I heard a car pull up and park near me. My head was in my sleeping bag and it was a chilly morning. I peeked out and a man was getting out of his car. He went to his trunk and grabbed a couple boxes then walked to the door of the library holding keys in his hand. I hoped he wasn't going to see me but I was right next to him. He took a couple steps toward me and asked "are you ok?"
        I told him I was fine. I said I was just walking through and the rain had stopped me and I crashed there. I said I would get up and go right away. He said very nicely "no, no... Don't worry brother, rest up as long as you like. I'm just dropping something off. It's no problem" he was so rad! I said "oh man, thank you so much. God bless you!" I went from nervous to very relieved and rolled over and ducked back down into my bag. It made me worry less now that I had permission.
      I finally woke up at about 9:30. I was pretty tired and hurting. For some reason I was more sore than normal and was starving. It was a tough morning and my spirits were low. But I packed up anyways and headed out. 
      I threw on the white shirt I bought in Tallahassee since it was clean and it was actually warm. I honestly felt much cooler right away. The black was pretty hot. I began walking. 
      There was a little breeze and it was kind of a nice day. I headed out of Chipley Fl. I made my way about 8 miles to bonifay. I was so hungry but nothing I had sounded appealing. I needed a break from eating bread so I decided I would get a good snack in bonifay. 
      As I walked through the town I kept my eye out for something. I approached a Mexican food restaurant and had an idea. I would go in and order the cheapest thing and just fill up on chips and salsa. So I went in and it was cool in there and felt good. I got looked at pretty weird by the other people eating in there but I didn't care. I sat down and right away they brought me chips and a water. I started pigging out. I looked at the menu and ended up ordering beans and rice for 3 bucks. I felt so spoiled and literally ate until I was rock hard stuffed. I was in a bad food coma. 
      After that I wanted to charge my electronics so I went next door to a laundromat and found an outlet. I sat down and plugged in. As I say there a man asked where I was going. I told him my story and he laughed and said good luck. He asked why I was doing it and I said I wasn't 100% sure but I'm kind of finding answers along the way. And I told him I was just hoping to find my place in life by gods guidance. He really liked that and told me to keep strong and know he is there. He said gods power works directly to your heart and not to worry about anything else but focusing on his love.
        We talked a while about random stuff. Politics, media, and somehow the kardashians were brought up and he said "if Kim kardashian had as many dicks growing out of her as she does going into her she would look like a dam porcupine!!" I died for a few minutes. It was classic. I took off from there after a handshake to Don, and a wish good luck.
      I had ended up talking longer than I had planned so it was a little late. I figured I would just walk until it was dark then find a spot to throw my tent up. So I went down the road. The sun was setting and it was really nice around me. 
      Just as it was getting dark I found a path into the trees that I checked out. It was perfect. There was a small meadow and it was hidden. So I threw my tent up and made my bed. I crawled in and I was really relaxed. It was a nice day and everything sorta went smooth. I laid there a bit and then finally fell asleep around 10.

Day 18

I got up around 8:30. I could hear a dog sound of voices coming from inside the church I slept behind. I had hoped nobody had came to the back and saw me before I woke up. I got up and peeked around the corner and saw a bunch of cars. They must have been in a saturday morning service. I think it just started as I head music begin to play. There was a smell of breakfast in the air too. That was a sweet aroma an it made my mouth water.
        I plugged my stuff into the charger there as I packed up and brushed my teeth. When I was ready I geared up and walked to the highway. There was nobody outside of the church and I was on the road. 
        I walked a way and was making some good ground. It was a bit overcast and cool too so that helped and I wasn't draining my water like usual. I got close to the next town of chipley FL. When I was about 2 miles away it started to lightly rain. It wasn't much and I was keeping dry enough so I continued. But then about 10 minutes later it picked up a bit. It was just hard enough where my packed thing in my cart were getting pretty wet so I pulled of the road and under a tree. The trees branches kept me dry enough under them. I figured I would wait until it slowed down then I would move on. 
      About another 10 minutes passed and it slowed down. So I walked again. Then again, it picked up. So again, I pulled off under a tree. This time though the rain was harder and bigger drops. I was actually starting to get wet under the tree now. I needed to find better cover or I would be soaked. 
        I remembered that jasmines mom had given my a trash bag. So I dug down to the bottom of my backpack and found it! It was pretty big. I tore a hole in the bottom of it and pulled it over my head. It was big enough to also go over my backpack too. I took my jacket and covered my cart the best I could and was ready to go that last mile to get to better cover in chipley FL. 
        So I walked through the heavy rain and was happy as I was staying dry. It was working well and I had a good pace to get there quickly. It was coming down hard enough where the bill of my hat was poring water down. 
        About 20 minutes or so later I got to chipley. I went to the first overhang I saw and was lucky to find an outlet there too. It was a store that was closed down. I sat there for about an hour and watched the downpour while charging my stuff and using the Internet. It worked out well. I also ate a slice of bread and a granola bar given to me a while back. It was past the sell by date so I wanted to eat it before it might spoil.
          After a while the rain slowed. The weather looked like rain most of the day/night. So I wanted to find a place to maybe sleep nearby. I walked across the town and on the other side checked out a public library. It had a cover and was closed Saturday and Sunday. It would have to do. I tucked up under the overhang and took my pack off and sat down. It felt like an unproductive day as far as walking, but I could use the rest and wanted to keep my stuff dry. So that was camp.
          When I got there it was about 5. I sat there and used the Internet and played games most a while. There was a charger there too so it was a good spot. A while later I plugged my things in and made my bed. I laid there and watched the rain thinking about the trip and the way it has affected my thoughts. 
        I sort of just hung around there the rest of the night and goofed off killing time. Eventually I went to bed. I slept in the tanbark in the garden up against the building. I fell asleep around midnight or so.