Judi's Trek Blog

October 22, 2006

It was so cold this morning. The actual temperature gauge in the car read 41 degrees F (5 C), but it sure felt colder. I awakened with the alarm at 6:15 AM. I talked myself into believing it was time to get up then lit the burners on the stove and talked with Mom about a morning plan. She told me she had awakened at 4:30 AM but decided it was too early to start the stove burners. We do not have the burners on the stove burning

while we sleep. Every time I turn them on for warmth while we are awake, I notice the sign that reads “Warning: It is not safe to use cooking appliances for comfort heating.” I routinely acknowledge the warning and decide that while we are awake, the risk of a bad outcome when the burners are on and food is not cooking on the stove is no higher than it would be if we were standing at the stove cooking. It feels even more like we are following the rules when Mom has the coffee pot on the burner to brew coffee, although this morning she didn’t brew coffee. We had decided to drive to the convenience store/service station just down the road from our campsite to get coffee and to wash our faces, etc.

The camper quickly warmed to a comfortable temperature with a burner on. I put some of the items for my foot care routine on our drying rack to the side and above the stove. That warmed them nicely. I was trying to avoid starting the morning walk with my feet cold. I completed my foot care routine as Mom gathered the day’s supplies. She stopped by Gary’s tent to awaken him at 6:45 as she transferred the day’s supplies from the camper to the car. Mom and I drove to the Phillips 66 station near our campsite and took care of our bathroom activities. We got some really hearty coffee. It was a welcome change from some of the less bold coffee selections we have had over the past few weeks. We drove back to the campsite where Gary was finishing his morning routine in his tent. Mom asked Gary if he wanted his coffee in the tent or in the holder in the car. He told her that the holder in the car was best. Gary says his tent is great for sleeping, but I’m thinking it doesn’t have a great place to secure a hot beverage while he rolls up his sleeping bag and mat in the mornings. Mom and went back into the camper to chat and stay warm while Gary took down his tent and completed his morning preparation.

Mom drove us to our starting place to begin our day’s walk. Gary and I walked at our individual paces today. The breeze blew gently on occasion, a sharp contrast to the wind yesterday. The sunrise was very brief and consolidated to a discrete orange strip just under a thick canopy of cotton-ball-like clouds. The clouds were white without any suggestion that rain was on its way. The walk through Friona was pleasant with a number of commuters tooting the horn as a greeting. I speculated that maybe a background “buzz” had made its way through the community alerting folks that visitors would be walking through on Sunday. We stayed in the public RV park for two nights and conversed with a number of folks in town before our actual walk through, so there had been time for the rumor-mill to carry the news through the town (population about 3850). It is worth sharing that the City of Friona didn’t charge a fee for the RV hook-up for the first two nights.

I’m sure it has to be a wise business decision or the city would not make it, but from the perspective of a visitor in town, it feels generous and welcoming. I was impressed. Our 20 mile mark was near Caviness Meat Packing Company a few miles west of Hereford.

When I finished my walk, Mom and I went to Hereford to set up camp.

We stopped into a YMCA to ask about RV Parks. The attendant directed us to an RV Parking area adjacent to the YMCA grounds. It was a gravel area with 5 hook-up sites with electricity and water and a common dumpsite. A sign instructed potential users regarding the rules of use and noted that a donation for upkeep and maintenance would be welcomed by the City to be sent to an address listed. My Mom and I were again impressed by the welcoming gesture the City extended to visitors.

The area next to the RV parking area had a pond, ducks and geese, a blue heron, a walking path and well kept grounds. There was a sign near the pond that read, “Fishing Allowed. Adults Must Be Accompanied By A Child.” We unhooked the trailer at one of the sites then went to the local store to restock supplies. When we returned, we set up the camper. We walked around the park for a while, talked and enjoyed the feeling of community.

Mom called Gary to see how he was doing and to discuss plans for his pick-up at the 20 mile mark. He predicted he would finish the walk at about 5:00 PM. It was about 4:30 PM so Mom drove to the 20 mile mark to wait for Gary. I took a nap. At 6:40 PM I called Mom to see if everything was okay. She didn’t answer, so I called Gary. He was nearing the end of his walk and said that all was well. He had talked with Mom and they had coordinated their logistics. Gary’s weight loss success has been filled with rewards, among which is improvement in his blood pressure. A challenge associated with that reward is the requirement to optimize Gary’s medication regimen. He is working with his cardiologist to adjust his dose of antihypertensive medication over time and he currently is in a transitional period.

As Gary’s health improves and his body adjusts to changes in his medication, his daily pace and his need for rest breaks will change from day to day. It is a welcome outcome and any logistical turbulence it introduces is well worth Gary’s continued improvement. Over the course of the West Coast leg of Gary’s journey, the transition has typically run its course over about a week, then Gary gains greater predictability regarding his body’s performance. That predictability provides the confidence for Gary to continue to meet the challenges he sets for himself as he grows stronger and stronger.

Mom and Gary arrived at the RV Parking area. Gary set-up his tent as Mom prepared our break-fast meal. We enjoyed salmon cakes and fried cabbage. It may sound like a funny combination, but it was really delicious. Mom offered Gary some additional menu choices if he was still hungry, but he said he was full. Gary is now routinely full at the end of his meal and occasionally does not even finish the full portion that he is served. His

relationship with food has been one of the biggest transitions during the time we have all been together. I can’t presume to know what is in Gary’s head, but his words and his actions now strongly suggest that food is a source of nourishment for him. Food provides taste pleasure until his stomach is full, but after that it is not appealing. Gary appears to have a very healthy relationship with food that will serve his continued success as he makes progress toward home.

Mom cleaned dishes while we talked and I intermittently typed into the journal. We settled in for the night after a little visiting time, a few phone calls and some unsuccessful phone call attempts. Gary retired to his tent and talked on the phone to Cheryl. Gary called out from his tent to tell me the outcome of Cheryl’s discussion with his cardiologist. He described the adjustment plan for his medications. It is encouraging to hear that he is continuing to taper off of his medication over time.

Bert and I talked this evening with a great cell phone signal in a quiet setting. That was a rare and delightful treat. He relayed an encouraging message from Hattie in Berlin, Germany. It made me smile and I’ll have to say that I continue to marvel at the degree to which our world is connected, with people from southeast Asia across North America to Europe looking in our unusual journey. I am grateful for the countless opportunities this journey has afforded me to build new relationships and to share our important message. I guess my job at this time is to sleep in preparation for more opportunities tomorrow. I will go to sleep listening to the sound of the wind picking up and the trains singing their somber song. I will listen to my Mom’s quiet breathing and once again feel the maternal love that prompts her to join me for this important journey.

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