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 – 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 11, 2009 – 2:04 pm
Day 8–July 11, 2009 (rest in McConnellsburg, PA, 0.0 miles) JLG Industries is one of the largest employers in McConnellsburg. The company recently gained a government contract to build armored vehicles, which will mean more jobs in a region that sorely needs them. But while it may bring jobs, it will do nothing towards creating a [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 10, 2009 – 4:56 pm
Day 7–July 10, 2009 (Mercersburg, PA-McConnellsburg, PA, 9.9 miles) More than a few times I have heard comments suggesting that poor people, homeless people, are lazy; that they don’t want to accept a job at McDonalds or take some other minimum wage job; and that they don’t want to work. I don’t know where those people [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 10, 2009 – 3:02 am
Day 6–July 9, 2009 (Hagerstown, MD-Mercersburg, PA, 19.6 miles) Today I realized for the first time just how many people my trip has touched, and how much the support, encouragement and well wishes from those I have met along the way have helped propel me forward on my journey. Walking through Hagerstown on my way [...]
Written by Jennifer Cooper on July 7, 2009 – 7:58 pm
Day 4–July 7, 2009 (Frederick-Greenbrier State Park, 16.5 miles) As I was leaving Frederick today, I passed someone, clearly surprised to see a woman walking through town with a backpack, who shouted out “the Himalayas are that way” and pointed in the direction from which I’d come. Fortunately I am not crossing such a formidable [...]