Did I mention it was HOT?!?!!?!

Sarah and I made it through the last rest stop with minutes to spare.  The staff had determined it was too hot and for safety reasons would be closing the route.  Anyone still at the rest stop in 5 minutes would be bussed in.  With only 2 miles to camp we quickly filled our water bottles and hustled out of there.

Compared to the day before it was chilly! We were happy to finish the rest of the day and get to walk into camp, an experience that a lot of Boston walkers missed this year.  We arrived at camp and visited the Bank of America massage tent.  Massage chairs with leg/foot massagers YES PLEASE! Five minutes never passed so quickly.

Our tent had been cooking in the sun all day.  We quickly grabbed our shower stuff to clean up.  Everything was like lava!!!  As soon as I opened my face wash it poured out like water and was SO DARN HOT!   I couldn’t help but laugh.  The moisture strip on my razor was completely melted off and all over everything.  The kicker? My deodorant was melted into the cap and I had to scoop it out – better than some others that to scoop it off the floor HA!  (note to self – bring a back up of these it’s kinda important!) The adventures of the walk – never a dull moment.

Uhhh..where did it go?

My best investment for the walk this year was a battery powered fan.  Sure it took 8D batteries but I couldn’t imagine this year without it.  Although it was hot and we had our bumps along the way I had an absolute blast.  I only got one blister and my joints didn’t bother me half as much as they did last year.

900 Miles Closer to a Cure

At dinner on Day 2 the speaker asked all of those walking alone to stand up.  I was surprised to see so many people stand.  This is such a task – and to go into it alone?   Now don’t get me wrong, with 1300 walkers you are rarely alone but there’s something about having a friend nearby even if you’re not talking to them. 

Day 3 we met one of these brave souls that was walking it alone, his name was Jim.  Jim told us he was from California, in fact right after he finished his 20 miles for the day he would be heading straight to the airport to get on a flight home and going to work the next day!   I was impressed.

<- Jim

Later he told us how he signed up to walk all 15 cities this year – that’s 900 miles – 60 miles over consecutive weekends. One walk was cancelled so now it’s down to 840 mile – but that just doesn’t have the same ring.  I’m walking next to him trying to wrap my head around the logistics.  Travel time, costs, time off from work – and not to mention raising all the money and walking all that way.  How many pair of sneakers would he walk through?!

Jim told us how he lost his mom to breast cancer and that’s why he walks.  That’s why he’s walking in all of these cities.  To date Jim has raised over $27,000. His goal is $50,000 but he needs to raise a minimum of $32,200 to be eligible to walk in all cities.  I have no doubt he will reach him minimum. 

So I’m making a donation and spreading his message.  He’s also looking for people to host him the evening before the events or assist with transportation to and from the airport. For more info visit his site.  He has loads of pictures and stories – that’s where I snagged the shot of me below J