Day 26, Tuesday
April 26, 2005

I think I only snoozed twice today. I need to be out the door by 5:30 at the latest. I did not make contact with Joe Hailey, tonight’s host, but it will all work out. I left him a message. I’ve got everything ready to go before 5:30. Walker and I are outside,lights on, and out the gate on time for a change.

I can clearly see the outskirts of Coleman now but I’m nowhere close to crowding the city. I haven’t seen any of the sure signs – city limits or reduced speed. I’m still at least a couple of miles away, maybe more. My point of reference is the turnoff to Silver Valley and Lawn. It’s about the halfway point for the day.

Now there are more and more businesses but no homes. The loop continues to be well to the right of town. Still no definite signs or landmarks regarding the halfway point. The phone rings. It’s Joe Hailey. He tells me about his schedule: funeral with out of town burial. He expects to be back by 1:30. I hope to be finished between 1 and 2. He wants to know where I am now and I try to explain. He tells me about a restaurant ahead and also a convenience store. He makes it sound like it’s not far, which is encouraging, but none of what he describes is anywhere in view. I would soon discover that although I was ‘in’ Coleman, I was still three miles from the point I determined to be about halfway for the day. I was not in trouble as far as time goes, it just gets so frustrating thinking you are closer than you are. As I past the trees, I could see the restaurant. There were apartments behind that and what looked like it might be the motel near the apartments. Then the Pizza Hut sign became clear. I thought I could see what looked like a convenience store beyond that. Soon it was clear and before long I was in the convenience store parking lot.

The store faced east and there was not shade except under the gas canopy or around back. I set my pack down so Walker could be in the shade. I gave him some water but he wasn’t very interested. I went in the store, used the restroom and looked over their selections. I really wanted some Gatorade, and I’ve become partial to Starburst. The had some typical convenience store prepared foods. I looked at the chicken nuggets and decided we could use some of those. The two boiled eggs and two pieces of delicious homemade pound cake I had eaten earlier were long gone. The girls behind the counter wanted to know why I was walking to Denver.
Sometimes I am not a very good promoter. I was tired and wanted a little rest. I did the best I could and suggested they visit the website. Outside, I shared the nuggets and an apple pie with Walker, drank my Gatorade, and decided an ice cream sandwich would be good, too. I went back in for ice cream. I didn’t share the ice cream or the Gatorade. I am maybe halfway…maybe. Pack on, Walker up. The phone rings and it’s Bill Casselberry. He owns the old abandoned store building in Silver Valley, where I’m headed. Joe has alerted him that he might have to pick me up if Joe is delayed. He tells me Silver Valley is 13 miles from Coleman. This does not help and in fact confuses and discourages me because I am thinking I am a little over 10 miles away. I told Bill I thought I would be in Silver Valley about 2 PM. It was now about 10. It had taken nearly an hour and a half to travel the distance that Joe described as ‘not far.’ We had been idle for nearly half an hour. We headed north for a short distance then Highway 84 took off west. This road was pretty straight but had lots of ups and downs. My leg was not hurting exactly, but it didn’t feel ‘right.’

About noon, I started looking for a place to rest. Once again, not much shade between the fences. We topped a hill about ten after and dropped under a mesquite tree. I gave Walker water and he laid down virtually right up against a cactus. I took off shoes and socks again and let everything dry and cool. Little toe on left boot is blistering some. It’s very odd. Some days it is perfectly OK and some days it rubs against toe #4 and blisters. It was 12:20. I got everything packed back up, shoes on, and Walker up. We were walking. Within about 15 minutes. A blue pickup stopped. This was the first stop of the day. It was Bill Casselberry. He brought good news. He said it was about three miles to Silver Valley. “I thought I was still further than that.” “Well, you’re right actually, it’s probably about three and a half.” I estimated it to still be about four-plus. It was after 12:30. “It’ll be another hour and ten at least.” “I’ll head on up there and wait for you, then.” There are many things that I enjoy – the birds, the livestock, the scenery, the geology exposed in the cuts. The water, when it runs in creeks we pass – the sound is soothing. One of the things I enjoy most is the occasional silence when there is no traffic. Occasionally, I pull out my little envelope of laminated pictures – Cheeto, Seven, Creature, Melòn, Jesus, Buttercup, Red, Nicholi, Robbie, Matt, Nikki, Echo, Baby Rachel, Savannah, Serenity, Black, and all the others. My days can be hard, but at least I know my purpose and I know who cares for me and what He can do, and, I know where I am going, I know who wins, and I know which side I am on. Sing. Praise. Pray. Bless. Quote. Change. But don’t fret.

Walker has taken to the fence row in search of shade. It’s been an hour. The first sign of approaching Silver Valley will be that the railroad tracks that have been distant to the left will once again come alongside and parallel the highway. I think I see a building up on the right. It’s the first building I’ve seen along the road in at least ten miles. There’s also a green sign that I cannot read. And, there’s a truck parked in front of the building. In a minute or two, I can tell that the sign reads, “Silver Valley.” Hallelujah. This will have been a twenty three mile day. That’s the second or third longest so far and close to the hottest by now. Walker is still hanging in the shade of the trees. I tell him we’re almost done. A little bit closer and we’ll cross the road. Here we go. A hundred yard and we’re at the truck, Bill is there to greet us. He delivers me to the church, gets me inside and introduced.

Joe is ready to go. WE drove around to his office and picked up the pack that Gary Absher had delivered earlier – thanks Gary. Then, we went back for the pack I had carried, my fanny pack and Walker. Joe had pet carrier in the back of his Suburban for Walker. We were all loaded up now and off to Joe’s house. Joe’s fence was being rebuilt so we decided to let Walker stay in the Garage. I put my stuff in the designated bedroom and got Walker food and water. He tried to make friends with their cat but the cat was a little standoffish. I wonder why. In a little while I got called for dinner. It seemed as though we had just finished lunch. Joe, his wife Debbie, and daughter Sarah, and I had a very good meal. Sarah had been working hard on getting everything finished for dinner since we had arrived. The food was really good. Debbie wanted to watch the video. Once again, the package we had sent had not been seen. We all sat down to watch. They had a few questions afterwards, then we prayed together and headed for bed. It was after 10. No shower, not enough writing done.