THE ADVENTURE OFFICIALLY ENDS

1/4/21

This is one of the last journal entries in relation to my walk to Texas. With all the family here, there has not been time to write until now. I may have a post or two in the coming days as news coverage links become available. I will share those as they come in.

I am officially in Paige’s car and we’re driving home now.

Today Paige and I were traveling on roads that I walked on. Seems like a long time ago already! Like a time warp. Like it wasn’t really me doing it even. It is the weirdest feeling being immersed in such a physical, emotional and spiritual adventure for so long, and then for it to come to an end.

I couldn’t sleep the night before my last day of walking. Especially had trouble falling asleep. I guess the anticipation for the day and all my family arriving had me a little anxious and excited!

My drop off person for my final day was Paige. It was absolutely perfect. We did a photo op of my stretching, Ruben being there to kick it off, and selfies of us. It was wonderful hearing her words of wisdom and love before my first steps of the last day. We had a theme song months before my departure that carried us to this day. It’s by the singer songwriter Luka Bloom and called “See You Soon”. It’s a beautiful song, I recommend giving it a listen!

I walked a total of 11.5 miles on my final day. My sister Annie and brother Greg rode the ferry, walking up to join me for the mile before the ferry crossing and rode the ferry back across to Port Aransas with me. As we walked, we approached a line of stopped cars waiting to board the ferry, and one of them happened to be honking with fervor! It was my oldest brother Mike, his wife Candy, with their grandson Jayden! We ran up to their car!!! It was so much fun!

Annie, Greg and I then walked onto the next ferry. It was especially wonderful crossing together as we had three white long stemmed roses to toss in the water in memory our mother, as we had done 25 years ago. We then walked to our lunch spot at Fins. There the group got larger as I was welcomed by my brother Steven, Annie’s husband Craig, their daughter Ellie, Paige, Mike, Candy and Jayden.

After lunch, joining me for the last 3 miles was Mike, Candy, Jayden, and Steven. Annie, Ellie and Joan stepped in at the mile mark. How special having a larger family contingency along for my last stretch!

At the quarter mile mark, the real emotion began. My step mom Lois, who was carrying the precious cargo of my dad’s ashes, and her daughter Deb were escorted there from the airport by Greg and Craig. I was also greeted by Paige who was standing by with two TV station reporters and two reporters from the local papers.

The entire family entourage proceeded with me walking the last quarter mile to the gulf waters of Port Aransas where my mother’s ashes were scattered 25 years ago. Words cannot describe the feelings we all had when we reached the beach!! Tears were shed that’s for sure!

The next day brought my brother Paul, wife Dee and 2 of their children and their families. The reunion was now complete.

The next several days were spent sharing meals, riding the golf cart buggy that Paige rented either on the beach or tooling around the town, and hanging out in siblings rooms at the Aransas Princess Condos. This amazing place was right on the beach and where my mom and dad shared many days together and special moments before my mom‘s passing.

On January 1st, the entire family gathered on the same gulf shore my mom’s ashes were scattered to do the same with my dads ashes. We then proceeded to the ferry and adjacent park area where each family member placed a white long stemmed rose in the gulf for mom, and a red long stemmed rose for dad.

I have a lot of people to thank who helped me make my dream come true. First and foremost Joan and Clarence Dold. I could not have done any of this without them. Their friendship, service, love and partnership carried me every step of the way. Equally, my wife Paige who was there every step of the way, many in person and most from far away. Without her blessing I could not have done this. In my absence, and with Paige working, our two precious pets needed extra helping and loving hands. Thank goodness for great neighbors, Jan Green and Judy Greene. We owe both of them a huge debt of gratitude.

I had several surprise visitors who brightened my spirits and walked with me. Paige’s brother Sean flew in all the way from Anchorage Alaska. Joan and Clarence‘s daughter Jessica and son Trey flew in from California. My twin brother Greg and sister Annie surprised me for my birthday. My brother Mike and his wife Candy surprised me for an afternoon lunch. Vern and Larry, great friends from Wisconsin, came to visit twice. Two other great friends from Wisconsin, Dori and John came to visit when we were in Dori’s hometown of Polo Wisconsin. My twin brother Greg returned in Texarkana to welcome us crossing the border into Texas. He also joined me for the last 2 1/2 weeks of my journey.

To all my other virtual supporters. I can’t tell you how much everyone who texted, emailed, sent videos, and called meant to me. There were many days I had doubt or was exhausted. Your supportive words of encouragement pushed me through.

A standing ovation goes to everyone who made a donation. Your generosity matters!Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

My fundraising partner was the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. To everyone who worked with me from the foundation, I could not thank you more.

Lastly, I want to thank my parents. Their love and guidance got me where I am today. It is the love for my mother that inspired me to take this journey. I walked to honor her legacy. I hope I made her proud! And my final shout out goes to my biggest cheerleader; my dad. His constant belief in me, his ideas to make a bigger impact, and his never ending encouragement got me to the finish line. I will carry his loving kindness with me for the rest of my life.