"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, Clear the way for the LORD's coming!'"



Many friends and family have asked how they can help support us. If you feel led to give please click the button below.


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Onward we shall tow!











So we have made it 55 miles down the C&O canal towpath. Our first night we met boy scout troop 854 from Oakland, PA that was on their last day of the trail and they just so happened to have some left overs. Some noodles that cook up quickly and are mighty tasty, a few instant oatmeal pouches, and some flavor packets which are wonderful to hide the iron taste of the well water that is along the tow path. They were very friendly and we greatly appreciated their leftovers. One of them asked why we were doing since we weren't going to get anything for it. I told him our treasures are being stored in heaven!! We camped at the first site for 2 nights and then got up and walked to the Great Falls where we met Jim Shaner, a prayer walker who has been walking the ADT since 2002 in pieces. We went into the town of Rockville to see if we could find a wednesday night church service and Jim did not want to take us back to the trail so he graciously treated us to a hotel room! We never found a wednesday night church service. We did get turned away though by 2 different churches because they only had something for the youth and women only. I don't think Jesus would have turned away people wanting to study the word, but many churches have their own agendas these days. So we opted for bible study in the hotel lobby instead! It was nice we read I Peter.
The next day we walked about 5 miles without our packs with Jim, which was nice. It was very hot though and Jim had to leave early because the heat was just too much. We totally understood though, we wanted to go with him!! However God was calling us forward, so forward we marched. So there we were with our packs back on and a few miles ahead of us to get to the next camp grounds. Luckily for our feet, there are campgrounds every 4-6 miles apart. There are also wooden posts that show what mile you are on along the way. The first two days I could have swore that they were longer than a mile apart. Jeff decided to time them so we could figure out how long a mile was taking us, and it really made a difference. Since everything looks the same, 3 minutes seem like 30. We were averaging around a 17-22 minute mile. Our fastest one being 13:30!! Wow!
~Kristin


Ok for the ones who don't know, the C&O Canal was built to haul bulk commodities (non-perishables like coal, lumber, and wheat) from the Ohio valley to D.C. However, the canal only made it as far as Cumberland, MD before the Railroad really started to make huge improvements. So the canal was short lived. It is pretty neat because they used mules to pull the canal boats up and down the 187 miles along a towpath. There are numerous locks which a canal boat gets raised or lowered due to change in elevation. We got to see one work at the Great Falls Visitor Center. It was interesting to see the ingenuity. Another interesting fact about the canal is that it is hardly ever more that a few yards from the mighty Potomac river. The River is the border between Maryland and Virginia and back in the civil war, the confederate troops really wanted to destroy the canal which was used by the union! Some of the war's bloodiest battles occurred over and around this canal. Every 10 miles or so there is a little kiosk to tell you more about it, or what happened there. Also, several of the old Lock Attendant Houses are still there and have been restored. They are pretty neat too! The Lock attendant had to come out and work the lock any time a canal boat came through, day or night, holidays or sundays too. But they made a good living and the canal people gave them their houses to live in! What a deal!! Ok so that's enough history lesson today. If you want to know more look it up -CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL (C&O)

So like Kristin said, we are 55 miles down the trail near Brunswick, MD. I have developed some pretty awesome blisters now too, and our bodies are really starting to feel run down. We need a whole day of rest soon. We are thinking about trying to walk on down the towpath to Harper's Ferry and see if there isn't a place we can stay for a day to recharge. With only dried goods in our backpacks to eat, we can really tell the difference when we get a hot meal! Two days ago we walked by White's Ferry and they had a little diner there. White's ferry is the last operating toll ferry for cars on the Potomac. Anyway, so at the ferry Kristin got eggs sunnyside up and I got an omelet. It's amazing the energy level difference between a breakfast like that and oatmeal and raisins, and we even add protein powder! I think it's mental :) We have met some interesting people along the towpath, but not for a long enough time to really tell anyone our testimony in detail. Yea we are hiking the towpath, but almost EVERYONE is on a bicycle. It's so annoying!! Here we are hobbling along on one good foot collectively, and they come flying by like a formula one race car, and we can't help but be insanely jealous as they disappear around the next bend, which takes us another 15 minutes to even get to. Ugg!!! Things we have learned that we take for granted: Bikes!, recliner, more than one spoon, a shower, a sink, LAUNDRY, a closet full of clothes, fresh socks!!!, pantry, kitchen, etc...... We have really been having a good time through all of this. It's just that whenever we get to a wireless hotspot to update the blog, we are usually in some kind of pain or inconvenience. But today, we are in a nice little family campground that has electricity and actually has wireless internet broadcasting over the campground! It's pretty sweet! It's $28, but it's worth it for just the hot shower alone!!! We are probably going to pack up camp here in a few and make our way into Brunswick for some breakfast at Mommer's Diner. We ate there last night, and it is good!! Then on to Harper's Ferry to find a place to rest for a day or so. The phone calls and text messages from friends and family have been uplifting and heartwarming. Thank you all very much for your support and prayers!! We love you all!

~ Jeff

Jim Shaner and "One Nation Under God - Walk Across America"

No comments:

Post a Comment