Today began the guy’s longest state-Texas. Day one in Texas greeted them with overcast skies and a chance of rain. Though it was not the best weather, it was by far better than the snow that they encountered a few days ago.
They ate a continental breakfast at the Marriott, where they stayed last night. Andy proudly told me that he had five mini muffins, cereal, a Danish and a bagel. Mike and Berry-two guys from the running club they ran with yesterday picked them up and brought them back to the state line to begin their day.
At 8:45 they packed the joggers with the rain tarp over them, said their goodbyes to Mike and Berry and began to run. The guys usually don’t like to run in town because of traffic and sidewalks and today was no different. They walked for about an hour and made an unplanned trip to a Sonic. Andy was still full from breakfast, but Ken and Matt were gladly willing to eat again. They both got-as Durkin was yelling in the background while Andy was talking to me, a ‘BALLN’ breakfast burrito. They got going again and about a half hour later stopped again at a Dollar General store for Gatorade supplies-Durkin’s favorite.
They didn’t get more than a half-mile down the road when they noticed that one of the joggers had another flat. Andy was frustrated and patched the tire-they are just going to let it ride until it goes flat again. After the flat was fixed they began moving only to be stopped yet again by a news station. Finally after all of the delays they really began their day. Having already traveled 4 miles they had about left in the day.
Matt’s eagle eyes spotted two more Texas license plates, making the total count 4. He joked at this pace he would have 42 by Texas’s end.
Today a train track paralleled the route they ‘raced’ a train the entire day. Andy said he waved to the unimpressed train conductor about 5 or 6 times. I guess the train had to keep stopping to switch the tracks, and sometimes it even backed up-seems like an efficient way to transport 20 army tanks across the country.
They arrived in New Boston around 2PM. They made very good timing-covering about 20 miles in 4 hours after they got going without any interruptions. Their first stop was at a post office to get rid of some gear they didn’t need anymore. Ken is also keeping all of his sneakers and he sent that home as well. Another Texarkana news station interviewed them, as well as the New Boston paper.
After the interviews they went to DQ for a late lunch where Ken ordered a burger so big that he had to use both of his hands, he boasted. They are staying at a Samaritan House-almost like a hostel, but much nicer. Edna Walker is the caretaker of the house and set them up with a three-bedroom house, fully equipped-even a princess bed for Ken. There is no cable there, so tonight they are watching Bushwhacked. There is a 7/11 across the street and that may be where they get dinner tonight. Ken, to my surprise has never been to a 7/11 in his entire life! I found that amazing.
Before I got off the phone with Ken we joked about their ‘looks.’ As their hair gets longer and their beards get scruffy-well Ken’s beard at least, they become less and less presentable. We joked that there would be a point where they become unacceptable in society and no one will offer them a place to stay. Hopefully people will still open their arms long after they begin to look like street bums.
Thanks for checking in!
Dan
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