Beauty in Madison, IN

Madison, is a great place for beauty, history, and some great architecture. History preserved here. I love it!!

My bedroom in Lexington, IN provided by Mike King

On the campus of Englishton Park. An interesting place way out in the country with a great purpose. Look it up! Interesting!

Dave Adams, Madison City Clerk/Treasurer

Was a great help in getting things done in Madison. Thanks Dave!!

Scott at WIKI in Madison, IN, radio interview May 26th

Had a great time at the Station

Norma Tuttle, owner Country Rose B & B, Canaan, IN

cabin in Friendship provided by Gary and Judy at the Old Mill Campground

adding some images Southern IN

Backbreaking backpack almost 40 lbs. Sent a lot of stuff home along the way, 3 shipments, got weight down to 28 lbs. Still too, too much for the old guy.

Sunday May 30th, 2010

I am currently at the Comfort Inn in Scottsburg, IN, waiting for my extraction team to get me home. It is going to be necessary for me to visit with my physician to determine why I have recently developed the shakes and freezing sensations. As well as to determine my condition relative to continuing my walk. Will fill you in when I have found out something. I am looking forward to seeing my wife and family, and of course my friend, Shelly. Have a safe weekend and think about taking a walk.

Mileage

I hit 400 miles at or near Lexington, and am at 410 overall. I think walking is something everyone should do as part of a healthy lifestyle. I started off 5 years ago with only a few blocks and added a little each day until I could walk 15 or 20 miles in a day. A few steps, followed by a few more and soon you will be able to walk a mile and then 2 or 3. Take your heart for a walk, your heart will love you for it!! Peace, John

Saturday, May 29th

Took me about 5 hours to get to Scottsburg and into the Quality INN Motel. Set up by mayor Bill Graham to be comped. Another acquaintance of Richards. Then a much needed shower, had lunch and then an hour plus long interview with a reporter from the Salem, IN newspaper. I tell you all, that my hips and back hurt so bad today that I did not think I would make the 10 or so miles to Scottsburg. Additionally, the backpack is destroying my shoulders. I need to take some time to mend and re equip as the way I am going I will end up only being able to walk from the bed to the bathroom. So I will be off to do just that. Hopefully mending in short order. Oh, and another tick was discovered when I showered at the Hotel. I have never had a tick on me in my life until this trip. They are everywhere. They are like the dogs who run out onto the road after me, they are everywhere.

Friday May 28th

Walked from Madison to Lexington, IN, A walk of about 22 miles. The walk up the hill out of Madison on IN 56, which is several miles, is on a road which is very busy and has no shoulders. You do it and it will scare the hell out of you, I assure you. You need to be a little insane to do it. It is on the ADT route. This road gets you to Hanover, IN and then you cut off the highway and wind around through the countryside for seemingly days to get to Lexington. Lexington is home to famous Leroy's restaurant, hardware, and general store. Had a steak there. Ordered at the meat counter and I asked for medium rare, steak was not on the menu, the girl ask, "Oh, you mean you want it cooked?" Well yes I did want it cooked. Lexington was a town that kept moving. When you thought you were almost to it, it turned out to be another 3 or 4 miles down the road. It did this 2 or 3 times. I was met outside of town by Mike King who is the executive director of the Englishton Park Presbyterian Ministries. He set me up with a place to sleep in his office on the Park Campus. Slept on a exercise mat, which did a number on my hips, etc. etc. But it served the purpose. Out of the weather and out of the ticks, I thought. Had one on my shoulder getting ready to dig in. Had the shakes all night, suffering from too much sun and heat I guess. The heat and the hills take their toll, heavily!

Thursday May 27th

Took the day off and updated things on line. Recuperated and rested. Had lunch with Dave Adams and 2 prespbie ministers in the town square, with a very large beautiful fountain which was in the 1870 0r 80 something worlds fair, orginating in france. Beautiful setting beautiful fountain. No big things happened today.

Wednesday May 26th

On the way to Madison Richard called me and gave me the name and number of the Mayor's assistant in Madison. I called and talked with her and a short time later a Mr. Dave Adams called me and stated he was the city clerk-treasurer and that he would help me find a place to stay and set me up with some press options. When I arrived in Madison I went to his office at City Hall and was welcomed by the Mayor's assistant and others. Dave was out to lunch so I stayed in the nice Air Conditioned building waiting for him. When he returned he had already found me a place to stay which was comped (free) and had me set up for a radio interview with WIKI 95.3 FM. He did not have his car at the office so he had another person take me. She took me to the wrong radio station and dropped me off. I went in and asked for Scott and they looked at me like I was nuts. The driver had already left, so I had to call Dave's office and they tried to track her down, but she got all the way back to the office before that was accomplished. So back she came, picked me up and delivered me to the correct radio station. I met Scott and chatted with me while tunes were being played. At about 4:10 he did his interview over the air, with me telling about the benefits of exercise and some of the highlights of my trip, we also touched on the fact that I started with two companions, one who had some serious foot problems, my grandson JJ and my dog Shelly who I am sure was faking a limp so she could go home. All in all it was a good day, despite the fact that I was physically exhausted and was suffering from apparent dehydration, as well as in some serious pain in my shoulders and legs. It was not a pleasant night and I opted to stay in Madison for another day to recuperate and adjust my equipment load. So far in Indiana I have walked 58 1/2 miles if you count the two to get to and from the library to use their computer. Now approaching 400 for the total. I have taken a somewhat modified ADT trail as their routing winds around too much and seems to just add miles for miles sake. I am not interested in that, I am more interested in getting the message before the public. Richard called and will call the next town to try to set up lodging and press related stuff. What a valuable friend! Until another day!!

May 25th, 2010

After walking 14 miles in the hot hot sun and the hills hills hills. I was totally done in. My load was too heavy, I have now mailed 3 shipments of stuff home. I am down to hardly anything in my backpack and it still feels heavy. I found the B & B in the east edge of town, a town of 50 or so residents. Norma had left the door unlocked for me as she knew I would be steamed, was the Air Conditioning a welcome relief? A few minutes after I arrived, Norma knocked on my door and introduced herself. She and her Husband Fred Tuttle own and operate the B & B The Country Rose. She offered to have me eat with them strickly as a friend of the family. Gave me full run of the house. Did my laundry. Fred's sister Chris was there also, we had quite a long conversation on the shady porch. She offered to take me to Madison the next day, or as far as I wanted to go. I found it necessary to decline as I did not want to be cheating on mileage. The next day was once again a long hot hot muggy 14 1/2 miles with some really nasty hills and a few nasty dogs. I am beginning to hate dogs. Why can't people keep them penned, tied or in the house. I just know one is going to get me on this walk. You would find it necessary to go quite a distance to find a family more gracious than the Tuttles. I was made to feel that I was one of the family, rather than a boarder. Chris made breakfast for me prior to the next days journey to Madison.

May 24th

I walked a short 8 miles to Friendship Indiana. Hot Hot and hills hills. Oh my! I was anticipating a meal there, the tavern and restaurant was closed. a lady told me that the grocery store served sandwiches, so I went there. Marietta the lady working there bought my lunch. I ask about a place to stay and she made some calls. I was able to get a cabin which was a converted storage shed made into a bedroom. It was adequate and the owner said he would donate the cost. The next morning I left for Canaan In. A walk of 14 miles. Richard had found me a B & B in Canaan.

May 23rd

Walked around 11 miles and hit the wall. Could not go further. At least 20 dogs thought they wanted a piece of me. It was so so hot and the hills were murder. My load was too heavy. I came upon a house way out in the country where a woman was mowing and her two dogs as well wanted a piece of me. Once she saw my problem she chased the dogs away and offered her porch as a refuge place, she gave me two iced cokes and offered to take me to town. On the way she give me some money and asked if I wanted to go to a motel. I told her yes, whereupon she took me to one and paid the bill. Additionally she offered to do my laundry and have it brought back to the hotel. Her husband brought it back later that evening. What a good Samaritan Melinda and Vince Moore are very kind people. Had dinner with Richard again, we went to Rising Sun and ate at a really nice place called the Courtyard, which is in an old set of row houses facing the Ohio River. It is owned by one of Indiana's great basketball players from the class of 1956: Monte Denbo. I think he played guard. Went on to play at Montana State I believe.

saturday May 22nd addition

I walked a mere 9 miles to Aurora IN and as luck would have it I knocked on the right door merely by accident. Looking for a B & B I saw a little sign on a house Sycamore Inn. A young gentleman by the name of Richard Ullrich came to the door. He told me the B & B was just around the corner. They had no rooms. Richard came around to the B & B and said he would get me a place. He did, we had dinner and had a lot to talk about. He knew people in Plymouth. People that I knew as well. We had breakfast at the hotel the next morning and he took me to the starting spot to get back on the trail. He knew the Probst family, Ernie lived across the street from me. The Probst family owned and operated the Aurora Dairy. With the help of people like Richard the walk is made worthwhile and possible.

May 23rd

Walked about 10 or 11 miles today ending short of my goal, but all was for the best. What that was will come later.

May 23rd

Walked about 10 or 11 miles today ending short of my goal, but all was for the best. What that was will come later.

May 22 nd

Walked 9 miles ending in
Aurora In a lot happened and will be posted soon.

Saturday May 22nd

Picking up the ADT Trail (modified) in Southern Indiana. Had to take dog and grandson home. Will be walking states one by one rather than continuously. Wish me luck. Will be walking without the aid of my dog and grandson. Have logged 319.75 miles so far. Hope to pick up the pace, but if I don't I don't expect any penalty.

Relaxing with a Bud at Bill's and JJ in Oldtown High School Restaurant May 2010

At one of the locks, lock house in background and typical trail view May 2010

A WISE OWL AND AND OLD AQUEDUCT MAY 2010 C & O CANAL TRAIL

Allison tells a story

Bridgeville, DE Allison's family shared their home with us while Shelly was on the mend. Here she is telling me a story about a fox hunter, in great detail. This was taken on April 30, 2010

Wednesday, May 19th

Walked the 11 miles left on the towpath into Cumberland MD. A beautiful city of many large church spires. At least it was beautiful until they ran Interstate 68 right through the middle of it with very confusing entrances and exits. Of course it is elevated to obstruct the view of the city. Shutting the walk down for a few days for some much needed rest and maintenance. Will post as soon as it is continued. Thanks to everyone for their support.

Tuesday May 18th

Walked 18 1/2 miles still on the towpath. Crossed into W Va on a low water toll bridge. The bridge is privately owned and you cannot cross it during high water as it is under water. The toll taker sticks out a tin can mounted on a stick to collect the money. 50 cents one way or 1.00 round trip. We did not think we would come back so we opted for the one way. After deciding not to follow the ADT on through W. Va. we did come back and the lady said, I though you were not coming back. I told her we like it better on the MD side, which made her happy.

Monday May 17th

I think I forgot to mention walking 10 and one half miles yesterday. Walked 17 today, still on the towpath. Had breakfast at Bill's. Met a biker from Tucson, who works for the USDA. Knew all the trails I walk when in Tucson. He was biking (peddle bike) from Pittsburgh to DC. Which you can do without ever getting on a road, utilizing the Great Allegheny Passage and the C & O towpath, These two meet in Cumberland, MD. Went through the Paw Paw Tunnel, which is a tunnel chipped through a mountain to run the canal through. It is about 3100 feet long and is lined with brick. I did not have a flashlight so I use my walking stick as a blind person would, feeling my way through, hoping to not fall into the canal which at that point has water in it. Considering the canal ground breaking was performed by John Quincy Adams in 1828 and the canal finished in 1850 it is quite a big deal. 184.5 miles long ending in Georgetown, MD or DC I am not sure. It has 74 locks to lift or lower boats and quite a few aqueducts over rivers and streams for the boats to pass over. It runs along the east bank of the Potomac River at 25 to 30 + feet higher than the river. Walked on to Old Town and had lunch at the High School, which appears to have been closed after graduating 10 or 12 in 2000. Someone has converted it to a restaurant and the gym to a antique auto repair shop.

Sunday May 16th

Did not walk much this day as we got lost off the towpath. Found another private campground at Little Orleans, MD practically on the towpath. We camped and then went to Bill's which is about 100 feet off the canal and met many local people. We were treated extremely well, with some folks buying us a few beers. Bill is an 86 year old man who has had the business for many years and is an interesting guy who knows a lot about the canal, then and now. Food was great, almost home made as it is cooked by Bill's 60 year old daughter.A lot of hikers and bikers stop here.

Saturday May 15

Walked 21 miles on the C & O Camped at a private campground at Hancock, MD. A young lady there gave me a check for the AHA. More ticks. I got up in the middle of the night to go to the men's room and got lost going back to the campsite. Always take a flashlight when it is dark!!! It was raining a little as well.

Friday May 14th

Williamsport, MD overnight for some repairs. Walked 16 1/2 miles on the C & O towpath. Ask the National park ranger about the ticks, he said he did not know of the problem as he has not been out in the woods. Wouldn't you think a park ranger would occasionally be in the woods? JJ got sold on the Waffle House Restaurant here. More ticks to pick.

Thursday, May 13th

Walked 12 miles on the C&O towpath from Shepherdstown, WV towards Williamsport, MD. Had to take a detour at dam #4 on the Potomac River due to flood. Walked 4 miles on roads. Didn't quite make it to Williamsport, but made total progress of 16 miles. Picked 5 more ticks off Shelly. I would sugges that anyone who walks this area to immerse themselves completely in deet before they enter the woods!

Wednesday, May 12

I walked 19 miles on the towpath, from Brunswick, MD to Shepardstown, WV, passing through Harper's Ferry and the Antietam Battlefield. Ended up at Shepardstown just a few minutes before the Potomac River turned upside down and fell from the sky (it was coming down in torrents!).
Tomorrow I intend to be back on the towpath. The towpath runs from Georgetown (DC) 184 1/2 miles NW - it's northern terminus is Cumberland, MD. I will be getting off of it before then!

I decided to get off the ADT for a little while due to the traffic on the roads, the noise and the fumes. A lot of the routing along this area is hazardous and not recommended! You'd have to have no fear of death to walk the ADT in this area!

Tuesday, May 11

I walked from the Monocacy Aqueduct to the city of Brunswick, MD, on the towpath, which was 13.5 miles. I got rained out for about 3 hours during the middle of the day.

Monday, May 10th

I dug another tick out of my inner thigh, and picked a dozen off of Shelly. I would not recommend anyone camp in the state of Maryland at this time! I walked 16.5 miles, ending up at the Monocacy Aqueduct on the C&O towpath.

sunday

walked 18 miles on roads off the adt trail. too much traffic and danger on roads picked for the trail.

Friday

Walked 20.56 miles on the trail, walked thru some country north of Greenbelt, MD, all US Government ground, roads closing at 6 pm to 6 am, gunshots in the woods all around us. Greenbelt is a town built in the 1930"s by the Government as a Green community, and you had to be a particular type of person, pass a test to live there. It ain't much today except confusing curved streets that are hard to find your way around on. All around it is government land, on which they are doing what, I don't know. We stayed in Greenbelt Park last night and had ticks enbeding themselves in us, the dog. Still finding them in our stuff. In addition to the mileage walked on the trail it was 2 miles to the campground from the park entrance, and then I walked 4 miles round trip to get food. Needless to say after a terrible night we did not feel up to walking a lot today, so found a motel that for the low price of 25 dollars,plus our 100 bucks, would let my dog stay, we took it. One place wanted 100 bucks for the dog, non refundable. JJ and I and the dog went to a pizza place across the road in College Park and had some pizza and beer. They let Shelly in and she behaved very well. To any one who wants to do this walk across the county, I would say: IT AIN'T EASY! Better be prepared for a lot of adversity and hard, hard work.

Thursday

Walked an additional 14 miles on trail, ending at river on Governors Bridge Road. Off again today with the whole crew and will head toward DC. Hope it cools a bid. The heat has been wearing me down.

May 6th

Walked 5 1/4 miles early this morning. 4 1/4 on trail 1 off. Leaving to cross the Bay bridge in a little while and will walk through Annapolis and to the west a little. Having dinner with Pete and Cathy tonight, they are going to put up with us one more night and then we are back on the trail, all three of us, in earnest, tomorrow. I think I am now over 100 miles.

Kind people

We have met many kind wonderful people along the way. My special thanks to Pete and Cathy for keeping the dog, taking us to the coast,taking us into their home and running us around for special needs. Del and Gail and their 3 children in Bridgeville, DE for taking us in for two days, running us to the vet bringing us food etc etc. And to Allison age 5 for sharing a story about Amos and the foxes. To Haley for returning us to Bridgeville from the vets office. To
Dr. John Dykstra for his care of Shelly and his generosity for reduced fees. The lady private detective who stopped us along the road and guided us to her home and provided us with a meal and food to take along. The man that was cleaning a sign along the road who gave us a little money. Others who provided us with water and directions. The Bridgeville Police Officers who showed great concern and offered aid. The Italian restauranteur who showed great concern for out plight, gave us support in our mission, and ask for a handful of our cards to pass out to his customers so that they might donate to the AHA. All this,and more, tends to restore ones faith in mankind!

May 5, 2010

Pete drove me to Queenstown and I walked back to his home about 10 miles. Calling it quits for the day. May cross the bridge tomorrow to Annapolis. Will have to see how dog and boy are doing. I may do another leg alone. We have covered 86.25 ADT Trail miles and an additional 12.25 off trail miles, total not quite 100 yet, but close. 5 1/2 days walking 1 day off for dog issues, 1/2day off for grandson feet issues, which may extend into 2 days off for him.

May 4,2010

Made it to Queenstown, MD at about3:45, no hotels, one restaurant owned by a young Italian who lives in Dover, DE. JJ had thebiggest medium pizza I have ever seen. Not knowing what else to do, I called a B&B, no answer, I called the Episcopal Church for the priest, no answer. So I talked to a man outside the Post Office and he called a cab so we could get to a hotle about 6 miles away. While in the cab Pete called and said he was planning us to stay at his house one night and that we were only about 10 miles away so we went there instead. Shelly is staying there and is doing much better. JJ has large blisters and could not walk any more, went to the Doctor and got them worked on. Will take a couple of days to heal. Had a great meal with the Nelson's, steak. First real meal in days. Tomorrow I have to backtrack and cover the miles covered by taxi, alone, no grandson, no dog, no pack.

May 3rd

We walked a couple of miles into Denton and had lunch. We had a late start due to rain. We walked 14 miles to Tuckahoe State Park. I got two ticks on me there. We walked through an inhospitable town called Ridgely, where JJ was refused the use of the restroom at a convenience store, the attendant stating that even she couldn't use it. Tomorrow, if its not raining, we hope to do 17 to 18 miles and make it to Queenstown, MD and spend the night in a hotel.

May 2nd

Sunday morning, Pete Nelson, picked Shelly up and he is keeping her until we get to where he lives, about 3 or 4 days down the road. We'll see if she's good enough to continue on the trip or has to be sent home. Del brought us breakfast. Then we left and walked 21 miles. In the afternoon the temperature reached 100 degrees and the tar on the roads was melting! My feet were sticking to it. That night we camped at Matinak State Park on the Choptank River. JJ walked 2 miles to get food while I set up the tent and got the campsite ready. The mosquitoes were disagreeable and hungry there as well!

April 30th

Limped into Bridgeville, DE. No campgrounds and no hotels in the town. Went to the Police Station, they offered to take us to the next town, but we had too much stuff to transport. JJ was outside and a man stopped, talked to him, offered us a place to stay. We stayed in a house that he was remodeling. That's when I discovered Shelly had a limping problem. So, I made the decision to stay there Saturday, May 1st. On that day Del (the person whose house we stayed at) drove us 15 miles to the Veternarian. The vet was John Dykstra. Del coudn't drive us back 15 miles, so we were stranded, until an employee named Hailey drove us back to Bridgeville.

April 29th

Left Lewes, walked through Milton, had lunch in Milton. Logged 20 miles. We ended up spending the night at Redden State Forrest, where the mosquitoes were ravenous and multitudinous.