Epilogue: Saturday, August 30

After 20 days and 435 miles of walking, several encounters with dogs, a number of days in the rain, a couple of wicked storms, many police checks, several close calls with inattentive drivers, and miles and miles of corn and soybeans, I finally completed my mission of Walk Illinois 2014. It was a very difficult but tremendously gratifying experience. I was absolutely blown away by the group of friends, relatives and neighbors who met me at the border in South Beloit. This walk was something that I have always wanted to do and during the last few days of my walk, I broke the $20,000 plateau in total pledges. I want to thank the hundreds of people who made pledges towards my cause and the hosts and coordinators along my route who so graciously welcomed me into their homes for the night and fed me after a long day of burning calories. My pledgers and my hosts were my inspiration when the road got long and my body got tired. I will contact everyone shortly with instructions  on how to make your donation. This has been the experience of a lifetime and hopefully in a small way, some lesser fortunate Vietnam Veterans will benefit from your donations and generosity.

Day 20: Saturday, August 30th

Just south of US20 to the Wisconsin state line: 20 miles: Left the motel after the rain cleared at 6:30 A.M. Headed north on IL 120 thru Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe and finally thru South Beloit. US 51 finally rejoined IL 251 just south of the border. Continued to the Wisconsin state line, arriving at 1:35 P.M.

I was quite surprised upon arriving at the finish of my walk as a great amount of family, friends, and neighbors were there to greet me. Officer Johnson of the South Beloit police department was nice enough to give me a police escort for the last 1/4 mile of my journey.  435 miles completed... zero miles to go!!! 

A special thanks to everyone who took the time out to be a part of my arrival at the end of my journey. 

Day 19: Friday, August 29th

Rochelle to south Rockford at US20 junction: 21 miles: Dropped off by Guy Bays at 6:05 A.M. Started walking thru Hillcrest, past Holcomb, past Davis Junction, to New Milford where I was met by my good friends Jerry Tax and Phil Mertes and treated to a nice beef sandwich for lunch. After lunch and a visit, I was dropped back off to finish today's walk, stopping near Rockford, just south of the US20 junction at 1:45 P.M. I have a room at a motel for the evening, as my host in Rockford is on vacation at this time. I have now put 415 miles behind me and I have just 20 miles remaining to walk tomorrow to complete my 435 mile trek. It is definitely the light at the end of the tunnel that I am seeing.

 I

Day 18: Thursday, August 28th

Three miles north of the Lee County Line to Rochelle: Dropped off by Dennis Weiler at 6:05 A.M. and started walking north thru Compton, where my name was on the community sign board, walked across highway US 30, to just south of I-88, where I was met by my friend Jerry Blum (a retired teacher who taught with my son Kevin at Buffalo Grove HS), who drove his bike out for a short road trip. Jerry brought burgers, fries and sodas for a roadside lunch. This was literally meals on wheels. After lunch I proceeded across I-88 (again, very tough to do with my three wheel vehicle, as no one will slow down to give you a break) and into Rochelle (in latitude reference, even with the north border of St. Charles), arriving at 1:30 P.M. I was greeted by my host Guy Bays, Commander of VFW Post #3878, the Mayor, Chet Olson, and several members of the VFW post. I have a motel room for the night where I am resting, compliments of the post members. I will be treated to a rib dinner at the post later this evening. Leg is solid, blisters are tolerable. 41 more miles to go.

Day 17: Wednesday, August 27th

Peru to past the Lee County Line: 21 miles: Pushed my three wheel vehicle through the motel property to the highway shoulder and began walking north at 6:00 A.M. Walked past Troy Grove, thru Mendota and stopped for the day at a road intersection three miles north
of the Lee County line (which for reference is at the same latitude as Oswego) at 1:40 P.M. I was picked up by my host, Dennis Weiler, Commander of American Legion Post #657 and brought back to his home in Compton. I will be spending the night in his mother's house next door, as she is presently in a nursing home and have been provided with a bedroom and shower. I will be attending a cook out later this evening with Dennis, his wife Pat and family along with several members of  Legion Post #357. I will be turning in early to rest up for tomorrow's trek to Rochelle.

Rest Day - Peru (August 26th)

I looked over my map and route info as I rested today in Peru, and  to date, I have covered a total of 351 miles in 16 days of walking. I now have approximately 84 more miles to walk to get to the Wisconsin border. I spent a couple of hours this morning having coffee and donuts with the locals at my host Bob Ankiewicz's cafe in downtown Peru. I also had a visit from my wife Marie who made an emergency shoe resupply run. It seems that the couple of rainy day walks where my shoes and I got totally saturated, blew out the side stitching in one of my pairs of shoes. With only four more days remaining to walk, I had her bring out my well traveled old hikers and walkers as replacements. They should provide more give and more room for my somewhat swollen and blistered feet. That now makes two blowouts on this northern phase of my walk; one pair of shoes and one tire (actually just a flat tire) on my three wheel cart, which was repaired using a tube sealer. I had Marie treat me to lunch as a reward for her resupply efforts. I will continue taking it easy today and tonight (at the risk of being labeled a slacker) and will be up and on the road again at dawn. I hope that the light I am seeing at the end of the tunnel is real and not an oncoming train.

Day 16: Monday, August 25th

Just north of Lostant to Peru: 21 miles: Dropped of north of Lostant by Jennifer at 6:10 A.M. Walked thru Tonica, past Oglesby, over the Illinois River Bridge and on into Peru. I was met just north of the bridge by Bob Ankiewicz, my host, a Navy Vet and the Commander of American Legion Post #375 in Peru. Bob treated me to a nice lunch, then after lunch, I continued walking north across I-80 (which incidentally is very difficult to cross while pushing a 3 wheel stroller) stopping at the Holiday Inn Express where I am being housed tonight through the efforts of Bob Ankiewicz and all the members of American Legion Post 375. I am relaxing for a while and later this evening Bob and his wife are picking me up to go out for dinner. Tomorrow is a rest day and I really need it because the heat and humidity have been stifling.

Day 15: Sunday, August 24th

Minonk to Lostant: 21 miles: Dropped back off in Minonk and started walking at 6:20 A.M. Walked thru Rutland, thru Wenona and a mile past Lostant, arriving at 1:30 P.M. Picked up again by Jennifer Tooley and brought back to her house in Rutland. It was a very hot and humid day so I am sitting in a lazy boy relaxing and rehydrating. I have been told that I will be having home made lasagna for dinner (I failed to post that yesterday I had delicious home made  tacos for dinner) and will again be sleeping on a very comfortable couch in the family room. The modifying of my northern route to 10 days caused the original stopping town of Rutland to now be between two new stopping points. Jennifer was gracious enough to agree to pick me up and drop me off twice plus allowing me stay at her house for two nights.

Day 14: Saturday, August 23rd

Hudson to Minonk: 22 miles : Dropped off in Hudson by Bob Sears and his red truck. Took off at 6:10 A.M. Walked thru Kappa where I was met by my friends George Miller and his wife Janine. George walked a mile with me, we shared a chocolate donut and they were off and on their way to Georgia to visit relatives. I then continued past El Paso, past Panola where I took shelter in an old barn from a wicked rain torm. The door was open but the residents of the barn were two hound dogs. It took me about 5 minutes to calm them down and for them to allow me to sit out the storm with them. I resumed my walk about 45 minutes later, walking past  Woodford and on into Minonk, arriving at 3:20. I was picked up by my host Jennifer Tooley who lives in and is the village clerk of Rutland.

Day 13: Friday, August 22nd:

Heyworth to Hudson: 21 miles: Took off from Heyworth at 7:00 A.M. as I had to wait for a very intense  lightning storm to pass. Walked in a steady rain all day past Randolph, thru Bloomington, thru Normal and on into Hudson, arriving at 2:15 P.M. Picked up and dropped off at a motel in Normal by Bob Sears, son in law of JoAnn Sweeney, my original host, who is out of town this week expecting the arrival of a new grandchild. Bob will drop me back off in Hudson tomorrow morning. The rain stopped one half hour before I got into Hudson. Everything I have with me is spread out throughout the motel room drying out.

Day 12: Thursday, August 21st:

Maroa to Heyworth: 20 miles: Left from Maroa at 6:20 A.M. Walked thru Clinton, Wapella and on into Heyworth, arriving at 2:15 P.M. Picked up at US 51 and US 136 by my host Gary Simpkins. Gary and his wife Carol are the curators of Simpkins Military History Museum located adjacent to their home. The museum is a truly remarkable collection of military memorabilia from the Civil War to the Afganistan War. I was provided a delicious home cooked meal and a cozy bedroom for the night.

Day 11: Wednesday, August, 20th

Decatur to Maroa:  14 miles: Well, here I go again, heading north from Decatur towards the Wisconsin border. Left downtown Decatur at 11:10 A.M. Walking through the north side of Decatur in a steady rain, thru Forsyth in a light rain and then into Maroa. Arrived in Maroa at 4:15 P.M. Picked up by my host, Mike Miller, and driven back to his house in Forsyth. Leg is fine and feet are feeling very well. Mike and Jane Miller treated me to a very nice dinner and a bed for the night.

Wednesday, August 20th

Resumption of Walk: My son Timothy and I are on our way to Decatur this morning so that I can resume my trek from the spot where I had to suspend my walk three weeks ago. I will now be walking the northern portion utilizing ten walking days and one rest day. I have coordinated my new route and itinerary with my hosts and with their help and cooperation, I should be ready to roll. I would like to personally thank all my hosts and pledgers for all the good wishes and encouragement that I received after being forced to suspend my journey to heal. It is raining quite hard and I will let the thunder and lightning pass before starting out.