Monday, June 14th

This will be our last blog of Phase II. This morning, we all walked the final 6.8 miles of our "Coast to Coast Walk". We crossed the Red River on highway 70 and entered Oklahoma. We have now walked across California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. We walked a total of 1,310 miles, 800 on Phase I and 510 on Phase II.

There are two remarkable events that I need to address. The first is John Goodmans amazing recovery after emergency surgery and the infection after that surgery. John was very sick and weak. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital in Ruidoso, NM. And yet, after all he went through, he was able to gain his strength back and resumed walking when we got to Portales, NM. At first he didn't walk very far, but he didn't give up and this past Saturday, walked the entire 11 miles, our daily quota for Phase II.

The second event that took place involved Ruth and Carol. They took John's place when John was so very sick and weak. They both did an outstanding job out on the highway. They kept me going. So, I congratulate my walking partners, way to go, John, Ruth and Carol !!!

But this walk is not about Dick or John or Ruth or Carol. This walk is about putting a qualified, low income family, presently living in substandard housing, into a new Habitat for Humanity house in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This walk was about raising awareness and money for Habitat for Humanity. Money to build that house for that low income family in Hot Springs. So, one last plea. If you are reading this blog, please make a contrition to our "Coast to Coast Walk". All contributions will be greatly appreciated regardless of amount. All contribution are tax deductible. Checks can be made out to Garland Co. Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 171, Hot Springs, AR 71902. Please write "Coast to Coast Walk" in the memo section.

We have met some wonderful people along the way. Thanks to the state troopers for being courteous and nice. Thanks to the people who prayed for our safety. Thanks to Roman, who gave us water and breakfast burritos. Thanks to the bread salesman who offered us a loaf of bread and the lady who gave us 2 dollars. And thanks to the dozens of people who asked us if we needed any help along the highway. And thanks to the dogs who didn't bite us. We didn't use our pepper spray one time, in part, thanks to good fences.

We found $5.90 along the way, all going to Habitat. And on our last day we did find something that we were very surprised to find. Seventeen bags of Senor Tom's Wheat Snacks (Con Chile y Limon). Yum-O  Phase III ???

Stay tuned .......

Sunday, June 13th

We attended Fain Presbyterian Church in Witchita Falls, Texas today. The pastor is Rhodes Stipp and Rhodes was  pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs several years ago. I had the opportunity to say a few words about our walk and the church had a special offering for Garland Co. HFH. It was a pleasure to see Rhodes and Susan again. They invited the Mattsons and Goodmans to have a delicious lunch with them at their home and we had fun talking about old times. Thank you Fain Presbyterian and thank you Rhodes and Susan.