Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 21, 2009 – 4:47 pm
Day 18–July 21 (rest in Latrobe, PA, 0.0 miles) For the second day since I injured my ankle I decided it was too painful to walk. Yet, while I have the luxury to stay and rest, many people do not. One woman I met a few days ago told me of her battle with Crohn’s [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 20, 2009 – 9:36 pm
Day 17–July 20 (Ligonier, PA-Latrobe, PA, 9.2 miles) Five years ago tomorrow my father-in-law died after after bravely battling repeated strokes that robbed him of his mobility but not of his humor and wit. I did not have the good fortune of spending much time with Martin before he became ill, but I always admired [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 19, 2009 – 7:15 pm
Day 16–July 19 (Laurel Mountain, PA-Ligonier, PA, 7.7 miles) “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” –Mark Twain Only an [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 18, 2009 – 11:53 pm
Day 15–July 18 (Kantner, PA-Laurel Mountain, PA, 12.1 miles) Little did I know when I got up this morning that I was about to become a Shaggy Dog. Pushing through the pain of my throbbing ankle I climbed Laurel Mountain on Route 30 and, when I reached the top, walked into Walat’s bar looking for [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 17, 2009 – 6:40 pm
Day 14–July 17 (Indian Lake, PA-Kantner, PA, 7.9 miles) The small downtown of Stoystown, Pa., has no restaurants or grocery stores. Even the vending machine in the center of town is out of order. At one time the town supported numerous shops including the small Stoystown Market. Now just a few businesses remain. When I [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 16, 2009 – 4:02 pm
Day 13–July 16 (Reels Corner, PA-Indian Lake, PA, 3 miles) For more than an hour I sat at the Subway shop at the intersection of Routes 30 and 160 in Reels Corner debating whether to rest a day or push on. At some point during my walk yesterday I injured my ankle. But despite the [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 16, 2009 – 11:37 am
Day 12–July 15 (Bedford, PA-Reels Corner, PA, 18.3 miles) If there is one thing I hope to accomplish on my walk, it is to inspire people to look within their own community and make it a better place to live. One such example is the fund-raising golf tournament at the Northwinds Golf Course on Indian [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 14, 2009 – 6:45 pm
Day 11–July 14 (Everett, PA-Bedford, PA 10.3 miles) It should be a simple question: Do you consider yourself to be homeless? But it is a question that I find I cannot easily answer. I have a post office box. I have an apartment in Virginia that is being subleased. I have the means to provide [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 13, 2009 – 6:35 pm
Day 10–July 13 (Breezewood, PA-Everett, PA, 8.2 miles) Route 30 as it heads east from Breezewood is no place to be walking. Large trucks whiz by; the shoulder of the road is miniscule; and in the heat of the sun it is miserable. Slathered in sunscreen and breathing in car exhaust I couldn’t help but [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 12, 2009 – 11:38 pm
Day 9–July 12 (McConnellsburg, PA-Breezewood, PA, 18 miles) I would not have thought it was possible to be worried about water while still walking on the east coast. The day started with three water bottles, plenty to last the day. But it was hot outside, and I drank most of one water bottle before I [...]