T Minus Ten

Ten days from now we'll set off from Vancouver on our second mission; a six month, 1,700 mile trek to San Diego.  Since my first such - Austin to Boston, I've come to learn that there are three points to every journey: to, from, and for. 

And those points you can't find on a map as they are neither finite nor geographical in nature.   

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Recently I was going through the archives from our first walk that are housed in a storage facility in Memphis to recycle gear and supplies that were donated back then and I came across a box of 2012 calendars.  The one of me carrying Murphy's lifeless body the final few steps.  The one most didn't want.  

They were water stained and moldy and my first thought was toss em. But I couldn't stand the thought of them being in some landfill, dumped and disregarded so I took them out with us camping out last week at Shelby Forest to recycle them as kindling.  

It was a metaphorical moment for me as I watched the calendar burn and I couldn't help but wonder if that's one of the points of this walk.  

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I miss my Murphy and maybe that's my to, from and for.  

THE RIPPLE: Easter 2008

Three weeks away from Vancouver launch, the final countdown begins and I can't help but think of our first Easter on our first walk which was spent at Granger Lake outside of Taylor TX with a haunted bridge and two 12 year old psychic detectives. 

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Easter 2008.  Granger Park

The following excerpt is from a blog a wrote recounting that day...

"There is truth to the saying that a fire warms the soul of a traveler and Easter night, we were fortunate enough to find a site at Taylor Park and have our first campfire. It's a small but pleasant place where we met some endearing characters including a pair of twelve year old paranormal detectives, Alice and Bella.

Hudson and Murphy took to them instantly and we joined them for some sightseeing. One of the most curious sights was Hoxie Bridge, cranky, completely out of place, and yet reputedly haunted by the headless ghost of a murdered convict who helped build it. 

Hudson peed on it."

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I've Seen This Movie Before

Later that Easter Day after our spooky adventures, I made preparations for the following morning then sank into a long, lazy mid afternoon slumber.  My repose was abruptly interrupted however by a flurry of activity: vehicles slowly driving around the campground, searching eyes, whisperings, and accusatory glares. 

It was all a bit unnerving so I sought out the mother of Alice and Bella and asked about all the hubbub.  "Oh", she remarked, "One of the families can't find their eight....." I could already hear the alarm bells clanging around in Yer Big Dog's head, ".... year old son".  

"Damn", I shook my head, "I've seen this movie before and the drifter is always the first guy to get blamed."

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The Journey Continues

With three weeks til launch I find myself filled with excitement with a small side of nerves for the upcoming walk.  But it feels good to take a few and reflect on the stories from the first that made our adventures warm and rich.  

Happy Easter...

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Yer Big Dog's Notes 1:  They found the boy asleep under a tree not long after the search ensued and boy, was I relieved.  

YBD's Notes 2:  Never found out what became of Alice and Bella but they should be 18 now and hopefully on their path to becoming psychic detectives...

YBD's Notes 3:  As part of our final preparations, we're tightening up phraseology and branding henceforth I'm doing away with 'Walk 2' and 'West Coast Walk' as we feel it just doesn't convey the importance of this undertaking.  We're going with 'The Journey Continues'.... And so it does.  

In Memoriam

I like this Latin phrase because it means 'Into Memory'.  Not 'for the' or 'because of'...

It presupposes motion.

This is the reason I've bound Murphy's and Malcolm's ashes together for the necklace I'll wear on Walk 2.  The Mobius Strip has been much on my mind and that's the inspiration. 

The West Coast Walk will not only commemorate but commence with and memorialize our loved ones touched by cancer. Their story is this story.  Like the Austin to Boston Walk, I will wear a Memorial shirt though unlike it there will only be two shirts not six.  

According to Red, 'When you make a $30 donation in honor of or in memory of a person or dog we will recognize your donation to them here on our Memorial Wall, add their name to the Memorial Shirt that Luke will wear on Walk 2.  We will also send you the 2 Million Dogs BLUE pack of Toki Poki Pet Trading Cards includes pets that have had or currently have cancer. The unique packaging includes a topper and heart-shaped confetti that are made of seeded paper. Use them to plant and grow wildflowers in honor or remembrance of someone touched by cancer.'

And if you make that donation by April 23rd, you'll be on my first Memorial Shirt.  

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YBD's Notes 1:  I want to thank all of those on my Memorial shirt in walk 1.  At the time of the final mile I think we had 500 or more.  We walked with angels.  

YBD's Notes 2:  I've now got a Red and an Ed in my life and am awaiting a Fred or a Jed to complete the trifecta.  

Is This Thing On?

Over the course of the next three weeks I'll be road testing some new technologies to incorporate and use to maximize interactivity with Walk 2: The West Coast.

This is our walk, all of our walk, and we'll broadcast it to as many and as loudly we can...
CANCER.TOUCHES.EVERYONE.