Judi's Trek Blog
October 24, 2006
Fast-5 LLC 904-685-5117 888-352-8439 P.O. Box 5671, Jacksonville FL 32216 info@fast-5.com
We finally all settled in together in a booth at the Subway with two piping hot cups of coffee and a diet coke. Kelly Miller generously offered to provide us with a complimentary meal for break-fast. We debated it for a few minutes then gratefully accepted his kind offer. He had his staff make three delicious salads with chicken and a variety of vegetables. It was clear that he worked to serve a healthy meal for us. We thanked him and ate it with vigor. The server who prepared our meals stopped by the table before she left for home and chatted for a few minutes. She congratulated Gary on his efforts and his success. We thanked her for her effort in preparing our salads and let her know that they really hit the spot.
We finished our team meeting. We developed a consensus plan about our approach to the remainder
The night was quiet until the alarm sounded its unwelcome wake-up call at 6:15. Little did I know how much the early morning rise would offer in the way of beauty and hope. Mom and I performed our initial wake-up routine. Mom lit the stove burners and I feigned the need to stay snuggled in my sleeping bag until the flames warmed the camper. The reality is that it just didn’t feel as cold as it has on other mornings. I could have comfortably crawled out of the bunk immediately if I hadn’t wanted a few extra minutes of shut-eye. It was warm enough that Mom suggested that I turn off two of the burners when I finally committed to emerging from my bunk. I turned off the burners, completed my initial morning activities then wrote a note requesting Gary to call us when he awakened and was ready to drive to the starting spot for our day’s walk. I taped the note to the front passenger side window of the car where Gary typically rides then Mom and I went to the bath house via the main gathering place in the RV Park office.
We greeted the RV Park owners who were well into the day’s activities then went into the bathroom and prepared for our day. We returned to the main gathering area and poured some coffee. We talked with the owners for a few minutes about our day’s plan, their grandchildren and schools and the coming winter with predictions of a harsh one. One of the owners said, “Now you will see the best part of the day.” He gestured to the sunrise outside of the window. We thanked him for sharing his insight that we should hurry out to seize the moment of beauty. We quickly said our goodbyes then went outside. A rich splash of colors filled the horizon and we paused to appreciate it and to acknowledge that some pleasures in life are free for the taking. Mother Nature is very generous with visual pleasure if one is willing to pause occasionally to observe the beauty of our world.
The RV Park is on the west rim of Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in the United States. We walked to the edge of the canyon to take some pictures and to embrace the opportunity to start the day with a hopeful perspective. It was well worth the effort. We returned to the camper and gathered our things for the day’s trek. Gary had awakened and was prepared to leave. Mom and I finalized our preparations for the day. We all climbed into the car and drove to the place we were to begin our walk. On the way we discussed the day’s logistics including a plan to go the Walmart so that Gary could refill one of his medications. Mom dropped us off then went to have a tire changed on the car. I received a phone call from Sarah Davidson, a reporter from Channel 7 news out of Amarillo to arrange for an interview. We agreed to meet at the Walmart at 11:00 AM to take advantage of a designated meeting place that would coincide with Gary’s medication refill drop-off. I called Mom to arrange for the transportation. She finished the tire change business then picked up Gary and me and drove us to Walmart. Gary tended to his business then talked to an obese woman while we awaited the arrival of the Channel 7 news crew.
In the interim, Karla Abernathy-Thetford, the Lifestyles Editor/Reporter for The Canyon News called to arrange for an interview and a staff member from News Channel 10 out of Amarillo called to arrange for an interview. The News Channel 10 staff member asked me to call when we were available and back on Highway 60 walking. I’m pleased to say that we were privileged to share our important message today more widely than usual. We completed the interview with Karla (The Canyon News) before leaving the Walmart area. We thanked her for her time and interest then drove to the Palo Duro Canyon to meet Sarah Davidson and Clay Oates.
Sarah and Clay filmed the story of Gary’s journey and the Fast-5 lifestyle for a Channel 7 news report. The Channel 7 interview was rewarding for a number of reasons. Sarah and Clay worked well together as a team. I was happy to participate in such a constructive effort. The setting in the canyon was a
special treat. While Gary answered questions and told his story, Mom and I walked around in the canyon a bit and took pictures. It was a beautiful place. I longed to have more time to hike some of the trails and to connect with the environment there. Gary finished his part then I participated in the interview. The news team seemed to be genuinely interested in the project and in conveying the essence of our mission on this journey. We appreciated their sincerity and their professionalism. We finished the segment, thanked them for their work, offered mutual well wishes then said our goodbyes. Mom drove us back to our walking spot. Gary is very anxious about heights, so he carefully shielded his eyes from the view as we drove into and out of the canyon.
Sarah Davidson and Clay Oates in the canyon with Gary
Karla Abernathy-Thetford interviewing Gary
On the way to resume our walk, I called the contact at News Channel 10 to arrange for the interview. Rubin Flores met us at our starting place and conducted the interview and filmed us walking. He was capable and professional and again we felt privileged to have the opportunity to share our important message. We gave a copy of the Fast-5 book to each of the reporters today and invited then to call if there were questions. Bert and I are eager to answer any questions that emerge as the nation learns about the Fast-5 short term fasting lifestyle. I try to convey as sincerely as I can that we are accessible and that we welcome questions and skepticism and discussion about the lifestyle.
When the News Channel 10 interview was done, we exchanged well wishes with Rubin then drove with Mom back to Walmart to pick up Gary’s medication. Our day was pretty segmented including walking between media events and an ongoing team meeting to address some issues of logistics and
strategy so we elected to take a break in the Subway Restaurant adjacent to the Walmart to finally finish the team meeting. We each completed some separate business before settling in – notably Gary’s business included a discussion with an obese man at a bank and Mom’s business included a discussion with Kelly Miller, the Subway franchise owner about medicine, Fast-5, Gary’s journey, etc. I first encountered Gary and he asked me to please give a book to the man in the bank. I went to the car then delivered the book. I went into the Subway and Mom asked me to please get a book for Kelly Miller. I went to the car then delivered the book. I was feeling pretty energized by the team activity as these two were sharing the Fast-5 message.
Rubin Flores with Gary
Kelly Miller and Gary
in the peaceful surrounding for a few moments. I have to think that I will return some day with Bert and the kids. It is a beautiful place worth visiting. It’s a funny thing that I felt closer to home for the few minutes I was looking at the canyon because Bert had walked there as a youngster. We humans are funny creatures.
Mom and I walked back to the RV Park. Mom went to shower and I talked with Gary for a few minutes. Mom returned then I went to shower. Man oh man, the shower felt great. This has been a day for appreciating simple pleasures. It has been a productive day on many levels. We said goodnight to Gary. Mom and I settled into the camper and visited for a little while then Mom retired to her bunk. She quickly fell into that breathing pattern of sleep. She was tired. She works very hard to move this project forward and I am so grateful for her effort and her support.
Palo Duro Canyon behind me in the evening
of our journey further reinforcing our group cohesion. Our discussion had its usual blend of humor mixed with focused, mutually respectful debate and a generous helping of creative brainstorming. One thing that is especially clear to me during the times the team has required a strategy session is that each team member (the three of us here with feet/wheels on the pavement and the spouse/family network holding down the forts at home) is passionately driven to invite this nation to learn about the healthy short-term fasting lifestyle that Fast-5 offers.
We finished our walking day shortly before dark with a 21.5 mile finish. The walk was more piecemeal than we would ever have predicted, but we are dedicated to reaching our milestones each day. We returned to the RV Park and Mom and I took a quick hike just inside of the Palo Duro Canyon State Park entrance to take some pictures and to wrap ourselves
I talked with Bert and he again offered me encouraging news from some who care to follow our journey. I can’t begin to express the degree to which it matters to me that our humble effort here is beginning to translate to a wider communication network. I believe our important message will continue to travel from friend to friend and family member to family member until it impacts our culture in a measurable way. As it is now, I get pretty excited when I hear of a “skip” that suggests that our little “Johnny Appleseed”
effort to pass on this information has actually taken root and may have possibly sprouted and sent out a shoot to another location.
I hear coyotes howling. There are long periods of silence interrupted by a single howl followed by a cacophony of responses. It makes me wonder what message the originator of the first sound and the group share. Are they hunting for food and a scout tells the group of a find? Are they sharing casual “conversation” about predators or imminent danger or strategizing for survival? It is a welcome change of sleepy time sounds from the train whistles and 18-wheeler engines. The wind is moderate. The flapping of the canvas on our camper adds to the feeling that we are our here with nature away from the complexity of truck stops and city life. It invites me to sleep and to prepare for tomorrow’s walk as we continue to carry our important message to those who would hear it.
Mom at the canyon
