On my way there a car stopped and two nice girls named Ashley Foley and Kimberly Baniewicz recognized me and stopped to talk. They were very excited to meet me and I shared with them a little about my journey. It was a pleasure meeting you folks and thanks for the nice words of encouragement. Once inside I met a couple of very nice guys and I told them about my journey. They were extremely interested about some of my experiences and we talked for a while. Their names are Paul and Jeremy. Paul asked if I would like to pitch my tent in his back yard for the night. It was getting late, so I thought it would be a great idea. We all went to his house and played pool until about midnight. We had a great time. I met Paul's wife Karen and their two kids Brian and Nikki. Thank you guys for taking me in and making me feel like family. I will be looking forward to seeing you guys again. I don't have a picture of Jeremy, but you are a great friend also and I hope to see you again when I return. "Keep on Walking, one foot in front of the other." Journal entry, 7-14-06 This morning I got up at about 7 am. Paul was already up and came out while I put my tent away. I had some coffee with his family and then Paul took me back to where we met. Thanks for everything Paul. I really had a wonderful time. I walked into Buckingham, Pa. It was around 4 pm when I got there and I went into a nice place to eat. I met a very nice couple named Steve Cooper and Tia Foroud. They were very nice folks and we talked for a while. They helped me find a place to pitch my tent for the night. You guys are great and thank you for your time and friendship. You are wonderful good friends. I pitched my tent under some nice trees and it didn't take long to get to sleep. It has been very warn during the evenings and it is sometimes around 11 pm before it gets cool enough to go to sleep. But tonight it is not so bad and I have a wonderful view of the stars. I can also see the lights of New York City in the far distance. I lay there thinking that it won't be long now I will be inside of that very lit up place. It makes me happy knowing that I am almost there. Take care all, Gary, "Keep on Walking, one foot in front of the other." Journal entry, 7-15-06 Today I went to breakfast with Steve and Tia. We had a great time and I really enjoyed their company. They are such nice people and we had so much to talk about. After breakfast I continued on my journey. As I got to New Hope, Pa I met a couple named John & Lupe Summers. Their Dog, Betty Girl was named after his Mother Betty. I was telling them about my bear encounter just as a police officer was writing them a ticket for their parking meter running out of time. I keep holding them to finish my bear story and they were anxious to get to their car. I can say that they got a ticket because of me being long winded telling them about my experience. After they left I ran in to Gordon H Nieburg. He was a very fit and energetic man in his 70's. He is with the Police department and a reporter. After telling him what happened with the Summer family getting a ticket because of me, he said he would get the ticket stopped. I am very happy about that because I feel it was my fault that they got the ticket in the first place. After that I went to the bridge that goes into New Jersey. It was a very emotional moment for me to walk over the bridge. I stopped and looked back at Pa. and got a tear in my eye. I remembered all the wonderful people I have met in Pa. and it makes me sad to be leaving it. I will miss Pa tremendously. "Keep on walking, one foot in front of the other." Gary Journal entry, 7-21-06 I have been staying in New Jersey now for 3 days because I could not afford to stay in the more expensive motels in NYC. I have been waiting to find out when I will be on David Letterman. I received a phone call from the Letterman staff asking if I could appear on their show when I get to NYC. I told them I did not know when I would get there so setting a date would be difficult. They told me to call them when I know I will be there. I called them Wednesday and told them I would be there Friday. They said they were not filming Friday but I should call them back on Friday. So I have been staying in New Jersey at a motel until Friday to find out when I will be on D. Letterman. I called them Friday morning and only got an answer machine. I left them a message and haven't heard back yet. I tried again this afternoon and still only got an answer machine. I will go into NYC now on Monday and set my departure time for Tuesday, unless I find out that D. Letterman will slot me for that time. So that is what is going on. I want to thank those of you that have offered to help me this weekend. I appreciate it more than you could know. It has been raining just about all day. I really hope it doesn't get as hot as it did last week and I will be fine. I will let everyone know what is going on as I find out. Take care all, Gary, "Keep on Walking, one foot in front of the other." Journal entry, 7-24-06 Today I met up with Dr. Judi Herring and Dr. Bert Herring. They drove up to meet me and spent some of the time filming me while I walked. You can watch the film by going to their website: I really enjoyed meeting them. They are very nice and we had a wonderful time. They drove ahead of me a few times filming me in different locations. It was about 6 pm when they left to go back to their family's home where they are visiting. I arrived into NYC and went to the NYC Penn station at around midnight and caught a train to a point close to the airport and took a taxi the rest of the way. I placed my sleeping mat on the floor of the Airport and got some sleep until around 7 am. I was very tired from the long walk into NYC. My flight left at 10 am and I arrived in St. Louis, Mo. at around 2:30 pm. I originally did not plan to stop in St. Louis but Cheryl notified me that if I did not take a continual education class that my real estate license would expire in Sept. So I decided to go home for that. I slipped into NYC without anyone knowing that I was there and I did no interviews. I had waited in New Jersey on the David Letterman show to slot me. I guess it was just too short of a notice for them and they are going to slot me at another time and fly me back for that. I guess that will be alright because it will help bring National Attention to the Obesity problem in America. After arriving back in St. Louis, Cheryl picked me up and we had a wonderful evening together to include dinner. I plan on going to San Diego soon. I will keep you posted. Gary, "Keep on Walking, one foot in front of the other." |
