Manifest Destiny: America from the Bottom Up - Day 22 - Sadsburyville, PA to Gap, PA - First Communion with the Spark

I woke before my watch alarm again. In the last few weeks I watched most sunrises from the road. This morning would be no exception. The difference today was that I would actually see the sun rise. Within 2 miles I'd reached another little shopping center in the middle of nowhere. This one had a bit of everything; a McDonald's, a bank, an Arby's, a Dunkin Donuts, Home Depot and a Walmart. I wanted to visit Walmart to window shop for supplies. I didn't have enough money to buy anything at this point, but I needed to get some prices to budget for whatever new funds might come in.

I skipped McDonald's and went straight to my favorite place, Dunkin Donuts, just as sunlight was penetrating the sky.

I checked my wallet for cash before heading in. The cashier and cook here, upon seeing my arrival as I stood outside, told me after entering that they had agreed to pay for my breakfast. Though this was extraordinarily generous, it does go a ways toward proving just what appearances can project about a person. When I entered, the normal questions about my hike and story were asked and we hit it off. And, when I went to pay for my meal and heard it was on the house, I was amazed that once again people were helping me without even knowing my story. I was handed a breakfast sandwich, an extra donut, and a large coffee--much more than I had ordered.

This pre-planning on their part - and offering to do good without any other reason than to make someone else's life easier for a short time - is the new American Spirit that I was finding all over the place.

Often (but not always) the 1% to 5%-ers are too "busy" to help their fellow men and women. Their self-important agendas are far too complicated for simply taking the time to care about others. Yes, they may give to charities which is admittedly a good way to get some money out of their sticky fingers and into places that might know how to use it, but it is largely for show and to eliminate their own conscientious deficits in other area. Perhaps some generalization on my part. But I have yet to meet even one of them who gives in the way the hardworking staffs of these street-level businesses do. These minimum wage workers know what a struggle life can be. Perhaps they are positioned more appropriately to empathize. I do stress that it is empathy, not sympathy--pity. They allowed me to retain my dignity. And, after speaking with them, I think they also saw that this book was not able to be judged by his cover.

I worked for quite some time there and then about mid morning left to check out Walmart, thanking each employee, and especially the manager. They allowed me to take this picture before leaving...

Left to Right: Owen Small, Bill Russell, Dava Collins (behind),

Julie Upchurch, Justin Korenkiewicz, and Sandy Wright.

When I'd gone about halfway across the parking lot, I heard a voice behind me yell out, "Hey, Iwallk guy?!" I turned around and saw Owen Small running up. He handed me a Bison rope emergency bracelet. I shook his hand and accepted it gratefully. (I would still be wearing that gift two years into the future.)

I went into Walmart and walked around for about a half hour making mental notes about the prices of items I might need. Before leaving I decided to stop by Subway and pick up a sandwich for later. I also bought another drink and sat at a table there to get one last look at the route before continuing on my hike toward Lancaster. as I wrote down notes and made screen shots a lady walked up and sat down in front of me...

We spoke for a little while as I packed up to leave. I explained what I was doing and she said, "You're crazy!" I had to stop and laugh. I told her just how rich I would be if I had a dollar for each time I'd heard that. I wrote down my name and the blog website, but as I walked out the door, I realized - in my selfish haste - that I never even asked her name! It was too late by the time I reached the road to go back. I hoped she would forgive me and friend me on Facebook, so I could at least apologize. she never did.

I was on my way to Gap. It was quite a walk. Nearly all straight, with a lot of up and down hills. The day was warm and relatively sunny. It was a really nice change. I stopped and made a video as I entered Gap...

Once in Gap, I stopped into the McDonald's there. I was tired. My only priority at this point was to find someplace to spend the night. Checking Google Earth, I saw quite a few woodsy spots around and figured it wouldn't be too difficult.

Right at sunset I left the restaurant, but made a classic error, by turning sharply onto Route 41, when I'd meant to just continue up Route 30. Without a sun in the sky, I didn't even suspect that I'd made a mistake. After I'd walked about 3 miles I saw a nice cliff up on my left side. Climbing up, I had to push my way through some pricker bushes, but ended up in a clear and pine needle-padded place. It was peaceful there. The stars were even more prominent that the night before.

I set up my little sleeping bag arrangement. I hadn't used the tarp in quite a while, but decided to lay it down first. This made for a smooth surface for the sleeping bag. I walked around in the dark just thinking. this would be the first of many more meditative-pacing moments to come. I guess perhaps it it might be surprising that after all of the walking I do each day, I still want to wander around while I think. I intentionally attempted to speak to the Spark exclusively. After about a half hour of this one way conversation, I looked up and asked whether I was doing well or not. The air was silent, but a shiver flowed down my spine. In the months and years to come, I would discover that this was always an affirmation.

At that very moment, I turned and faced into the blackness of the deeper woods, away from the road, and I distinctly felt a presence on my left side. I knew not to look directly there, but I was quite aware that a "man" stood next to me, and between my shoulderblades was a gentle pat of friendship. The touch greatly strengthened me. I was instantly reassured and knew it was time for sleep. When I crawled into the sleeping bag, and pulled the rolled-up blanket under my head, I heard a faint voice within me say, "Keep walking forward.........."    

Gap Sleeping Place.