Manifest Destiny: America from the Bottom Up - Kickstarter Campaign

Hi Folks!

Just wanted to remind people that the Kickstarted campaign is nearly halfway through and is funded to about 6% of the goal. More people are beginning to pledge and that's very encouraging!

Please remember that if you pledge $10 or more when the project is fully funded, you will receive a free eBook; $50 or more you get the eBook AND a T-shirt, and any amount pledged is returned to you if the project fails to get funded.

People who donated to this blog through PayPal more than $30 during the journey (or you can still donate now here at iwallk.blogspot.com) will get a copy of the printed book when the Kickstarter is funded.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this effort with money or morally! Getting this book published will open up the opportunity for me to do more things like this.

Here is the Kickstarter link...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1970149460/book-manifest-destiny-america-from-the-bottom-up

With Much Appreciation!

Alex

Manifest Destiny: America from the Bottom Up - Summary Thoughts

I want to start out saying that there was never a set plan for this journey. I just wanted to escape the winter in Maine - since I would have been homeless there - and go west and south, hopefully getting to California. I did plan to blog about the things that happened as a way to earn money.

But the whole thing turned into something that I really did not expect. For me personally it was surely a spiritual growth spurt. I discovered a power I never would have known about if I hadn't been traveling in this way. I also realized that no day is average or mediocre. There were certainly ups and downs. It was mostly ups. I had a constant feeling that I was doing something Real. It might not have been important in a historical way, but I do feel that I was led to the places and the people I met if that means anything.

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Missouri stand out as places where I met the most people. And mind you, I had a rule for featuring people in a blog post: They had to have asked me what I am doing. Yet, this often came with free food and drink. That was something I never expected. Even before they knew my  story many of the people in these states simply offered, coffee, water, breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was astounded. We are led to believe that the world is a hostile place outside of the safety of home. It isn't.

If you'd like to read about the New England part of this journey please see days 1 through 8 in this "Manifest Destiny" series here at the blog.

I walked all the way through Boston, West Bridgeport, Providence, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. I didn't expect trouble from people and I didn't get any. None. These walks were late on Saturday nights. If something was going to happen it would have happened then. The people I passed - even the rough looking folks - left me alone. I saw no crime at all.

Another revelation was sleeping outside in the towns I got to. I expected some kind of run in with wild animals. But in over 30 times of camping off roadsides, I was never in contact with any wild animals besides deer.

Granted there may be many reasons for both the peace of city walking at night and camping. I looked different from other people, with the large backpack and the walking stick. I could look like a beggar, a disabled person, a tough guy, a mentally ill guy... I could walk with a swagger or a stagger depending upon the circumstances. I looked poor to the middle class people and rich to the homeless. I would say ambiguity is strong defense mechanism.

I got the chance to see the bad parts of where humans live. West Bridgeport, CT, in particular, was surprisingly run down and its people were desperate. Providence and Philadelphia tied for second place. But these second place cities had a difference. There was still hope showing in the worst neighborhoods. There were volunteer neighborhood projects to try to add a measure of light into the darkness of poverty. A tiny city house in Philadelphia was falling apart but the owner had painted all the bricks on the front wall different colors and had potted flowers on the front steps.

It seemed that people wanted to express joy even when they only rarely received it from the world. In Tucson, Arizona I found the most prevalent use of positive public thinking. Tucson may not have the crime that these eastern cities supposedly have, but it is very poor. The city has constructed 4 x 8 x 3 foot boxes where the homeless can sleep. Others construct tents of all sorts, using stolen shopping carts, blankets and tarps. I saw a mother, father, little boy and their dog living in a blanket tent.

I had the experience many times of not having any money and having to get around cities, and sleep in some kind of peace. I was stared at everyday people and told it was "time to move on" by the police. I was pitied and reviled. And the people I met when I was among the very bottom of society's social scales were good, honest and very worthy people. They just needed some kind of help to get the chain back on the sprocket. This was especially true with families and single mothers. They were not drunk, or on "drugs." They were genuinely ashamed of themselves and how they appeared to the outside "normal" world. It was a sad day indeed when I watched a man's tears roll down after telling me his dreams for his little girl. What all of this reinforced for me was that people are valuable. To ignore that they are in terrible circumstances makes them disappear for us. But they ARE still here. Surely there must be some better way for them and us?

Leaving Pittsburgh for St. Louis was great journey by train. And I was met an hour late by my patient host, RhonnaLeigh MacKnight. This would turn into a very relaxing and fun week and a half. We went out to eat, drank a bit of wine in the evenings, RhonnaLeigh made delicious meals (and breakfasts!). I got to ride around in her truck. I didn't walk much at all during that time. I got my first impressions of Missouri and its people. She introduced me to people; many of whom I could have done essays on, but it seemed like I needed to really let my hair down and enjoy myself, so no writing got done either, perhaps regrettably.

Traveling through the Midwest brought more unexpected experiences. The hundreds of miles of farmland, cows as far as the eye could see. Hay fields and barns, pickup trucks and tractors. None of these things were a surprise but the warmth of the people was. Every person goes into a new area with assumptions about the citizens. I thought they would be stoic and silent. They were instead inviting and talkative. They really wanted to help each other, and others. I felt like every one of the people I met wanted to do something for me. I think faith had some role in this attitude. I noticed that some folks were simply trying to appear kind, while others practiced what they were preached.

The dog (we named "Phoenix Wallker") incident in Houston, Missouri, leading me to meeting Glenn and Rita Romines there, and then also finding the New Life community was the most active I've been in a community for years, maybe. It all happened in the space of three days. There is nothing in the world that could convince me those three days were an accident.

After Houston I knew there was some kind of outside "Intention" added to the journey.

I got sick in Arkansas, and never met any new friends there. I know I could have. The people are nice enough. But the cold or flu or whatever it was that I had, plus running out of my blood pressure medication, rain and that constant overcast Ozark-like winter sky was telling me it was time to head to the Southwest as soon as possible.

I spent a 36 hour bus and train ride right over Christmas Eve and Christmas getting to Gallup and Ramah, New Mexico. I appreciated the fact that when people are in close contact (multi-state trains are like moving hostels) they tend to form, in order: neighbor, friend and then family bonds. I met quite a number of people on trains and buses who I became temporary friends with. I've tried to locate them but have been unsuccessful, or lost their names. Maybe they will run across my blog somehow.

New Mexico felt like a frontier state. The vast stretches of desert and the recent snow storm upon it was strange to behold. I'd come hoping I might camp in the desert. But that was impossible there.

I also ran into someone who developed a kind of separation anxiety when I had to leave, People often offered to have me stay or tried to convince me to, which was always tempting. But this Gallup experience took things to the extreme. The situation was partially resolved. Still I had a lot of productive time in the state, especially in Ramah, with the Giannangelos. I got to see the stars in a pure black sky.

Then it was on to Arizona. Flagstaff was a beautiful place to stay until I could go southward. I walked halfway to Sedona from there and took a ride for the other half. Stupendous landscapes, New Age culture to the max, very high prices for everything. Through a stroke of good fortune I was able to take a shuttle bus all the way down to Phoenix from Sedona.

In Phoenix I reunited with a high school friend and got to meet an online friend in person at the same time. I also met a great and wise man and had some deep talks with all of these people. I had a great time in Phoenix; very productive and satisfying. It was easy to get a bus to Tucson from Phoenix.

Tucson seemed to be my final testing place. It was a test of personal resolve, a test of spiritual discernment and a test of physical hardship. After Tucson I truly felt that I had experienced the very bottom. And, as I explained above, many other people there simply thought the bottom was home. After my days in Tucson, I found California to be like a reward, and also a new challenge. The challenge is this: Build a new life from the bottom up. The bottom up concept works on so many levels for me.

Manifest Destiny: America from the Bottom Up - 96 - San Francisco, CA - Bay of Liberty

The first full day I was in Livermore I decide to check out the transportation system around the Bay area and go into San Francisco. My host, Steve Powell, was an expert on traveling around and gave me great tips. Now I just had to get used to it on my own. It is the best way for me to really learn.

I walked into Livermore and ventured down First Street (the major center of the town) until I got to E Stanley Blvd. I ventured west until I found a bus stop at Wall St. Seemed an appropriate place to catch a bus to the Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) station in Pleasanton/Dublin. That would be my connection to a train ride into San Francisco. Bus number 10 showed up at 12:23 pm and I paid the $2.00 for the ride to BART. It is well worth it, since I was going to walk the 10 mile distance, but I thought to myself, "Self, wouldn't paying $2.00 be worth saving over two hours of walking?" And my Self answered back "Why yes, Self, it certainly would!" I didn't have much money, but a deal is a deal.

The bus ride over was relaxing and only two other people were on board. We arrived in Pleasanton and I deboarded at the BART station. The system for buying tickets is super easy. You look up the rate on a chart for where you're going. Then you step over to the ticket kiosk (there are a dozen to accommodate many people at once). The machine has you insert your cash (debit and credit cards welcome too). You can ask for cash back if you put too much in, even down to the nickle. But don't worry, if you are short at the other end of the line, since the station won't let you leave until you've paid for the complete fare, there are "Add Value" machines were you insert your ticket (a paper card with a data strip) for the amount you owe. Just have at least that much handy.

I wanted to go to 16th Street in San Francisco. I messed up and used the 24th Street value on the chart in Pleasanton, which read $4.25. When I got off the train at the 16th Street Station I went to leave and was told to add money. The actual cost was $6.00, so I went to the Add Value machine, inserted my card and added $1.75. As I approached the gate to leave I inserted my card and the gate kept it and let me through since the exact amount had now been paid. It's very efficient.

I walked up the steep stairway into the sunny and very crowded area of 16th Street and Mission. I was trying to take in all that I saw. But it was a challenge. The diversity of people was overwhelming. All milling about. There were no less than three groups of people out in the open smoking joints or bowls. In fact, marijuana was the first thing I smelled in San Francisco. I had to chuckle. One group offered me a toke but I passed it up (for now), needing all my senses sharp to find my way around.

I checked out the bus routes and map at a bus station and discovered that my goal for the day - the Haigh Ashbury District - was just down 16th, then Market, then Castro, then Haight. I took pictures all along 16th Street...

Mision San Francisco de Asis

Mision San Francisco de Asis

Gas Prices in San Francisco - Ouch!

Nearing Market Street

I took a wrong turn leading me up a hill to...

But it was all good. I found Haight Street and followed it down the rabbit hole to the fabled land of the Summer of Love...

Jammin on Haight

I highlight the above business because the

employee who greeted me was very nice and informative,

even when she realized I wasn't going to buy anything.

All Above - Haight Street

View From Buena Vista Park Hill

On Haight Street I found a Goodwill store and stopped in to browse around. I was very tight on funds but there were a couple of things I needed. I had been wearing the same uniform for three months. One pair of jeans two t-shirts. Today I wanted a button down long sleeve shirt.

Sure enough, a bright blue Indian linen shirt caught my eye. Same color as my ring. Checked the size--just right. Four ninety nine. It was a hard choice but I bought it. Love it. Now I can say I bought my shirt in San Francisco. Ha!

It was the same marvelous eccentric spirit all the way up and then down Haight Street. But the sun was getting low and it was time to head back.

I walked back down Haight and took a right onto Castro, Then I walked back to Market and onto 16th Street...

16th Street as Art

While standing at the mouth of the 16th Street Station I remembered I had the little schedule pamphlet in my pocket for BART. I saw the next train would be there at 5:06 pm. It was 5:00 pm. Why not try to take it? I walked back down the long steep stairs into the station and saw on the LED screen that the Dublin/Pleasanton train would be there in five minutes. Perfect.

I paid the ticket machine, got some change and received my ticket. You insert it into the gate and it spits it out for you. This time I paid the full $6.00 and everything worked out on the other end of the line.

It arrived on time at 16th Street. And I'm glad I was first in line, because the seats were filling up fast. Then as we stopped along our way, all the seats and handrails were taken up. Every single person except one guy and myself was furiously tapping away on their iPhones and Smartphones. There was order where there seemed the likelihood of chaos.

We sped along faster than Amtrak - maybe 70 mph - back through to each station until we reached the terminus at Dublin/Pleasanton. I hopped off the now empty train - having deposited commuter at other stops - and walked out of the gate, through a covered area, toward the food stand out by some seats. There I found a bus schedule. I chose the same bus that brought me to Pleasanton about 6 hours earlier. Good old number 10!

I had walked all day and was a-some tuckid out. So I decided not to walk much further and would instead take the bus all the way into the middle of Livermore (First Street). I did so. Steve's place was only a two mile walk away. It was a short two miles and I was back.

Good Day Sunshine.

I'm not sure I could ever live there. But it would be fun to try. In the coming weeks I should be able to do a lot more in the Bay area. Just trying to save up first.

* * * * * * *

California itself hit me like a blast of orange-sunshine. It was intimidating until I actually arrived there/here. The energy is different than the whole rest of the country. It is accepting in a way I'd never really seen before.

To me, the Southwest, particularly Arizona, was filled with natural beauty and art. New Mexico too, in its own way. It is still kind of unsettled there. But that wild is appealing in its own way. The Midwest was polite and even emotional, great loving people, with a story book landscape. New England was hard, cold, beautiful but ambitious; it is my home and I dearly love her. I know New England. Yet, it will be very strange trying to re-adapt there.

California is a beast unto itself. It seems to integrate all the other aspects of the nation. Anything grows here. Anything goes here. It is no wonder why its trends flow eastward. It is also no wonder why people want to live in the state. It is pricey, but obviously it is worth it to millions of people. I can see why now--though I would have never believed it without seeing it.

One thing that strikes me, as I get to know Livermore and the area around it, is that people here just want to be happy. that's all. They work at things something-like what New Englanders might call "jobs" and they actually try to be happy at them.

But the real happiness comes - it seems - from togetherness. I was at a convenience store and was taking way too much time to put my stuff in a bag and I finally went outside. The woman behind me came right out after her purchase and apologized for rushing me! And she really meant it. I didn't even know she was there. We talked and it seems she's from the Midwest but stayed here in California after seeing it only once. I'm not in New England anymore either, Toto...

There is still a pick-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps work ethic here. But you are left to do it as a self-designed major if you choose. What is it about those mountains that shield California in the east? It feels more like Real Liberty.

I don't know.

But I will do as much as I can to find out. Before I'm done here I will understand it. And that may take awhile...