I should really start off by thanking Tommy and Vicky Lewis for all the help they gave the guys over the past few days. As I talked to Durkin tonight, I realized how fortunate they were to have met people like them. Without them, the guys would not be in the same place they are tonight! Thank you so much for all your help and continuous support!
Last night the guys went with Lauren and Mary Beth to a Jazz club to enjoy some of the Paris night life. They were introduced to most everyone there, and talked to everyone about their journey. People were genuinely excited to talk to the team, and were buying them some drinks. Durkin said that they had so much fun, and it was the perfect night to just relax with good company.
The next morning, the guys awoke to an incredible breakfast prepared by Vicky. Durkin said that it really helped to get their spirits high and ready for the day's travel. The planned stop was in Randolph, TX after about 25 miles of travel. However, the guys had been told that there was not a lot in Randolph, and that a different route might be better. So after finishing the morning feast, the team headed out on the road. They stopped to grab some Gatorade and other supplies at a store before traveling to Leonard, TX. Travel was quite easy again, with relatively no traffic. Not too long into the run, the guys were on back roads again, courtesy of their handy GPS. At one point, there was a sign that said "WARNING! MUD ROAD" and this thrilled the guys. They love the adventure that comes with not knowing exactly where a road might lead, or what they might encounter on these back unidentified roads. After traveling for a little while, the trio came upon a bridge. Allow me to set the scene:
The bridge is about 10 feet or so above the water. The water, at this point, is of unknown depth. The bridge has no guardrails to speak of. And to top it off, you have Ken looking over the edge with a huge grin on his face.
Some of you may be guessing what Ken was thinking about. Others know EXACTLY what he was thinking about. He took one look at Durkin and Andy and said," Oh yeah! I'M DOIN' THIS!" He then took off his sneakers and socks and jumped in without hesitation. Durkin said that he and Andy then knew they would not be able to miss out on this opportunity. Andy was the next to jump, while Durkin filmed his leap. They came to find out, that this body of water was not very deep after all. It was about 3 feet deep according to Matt. Andy had landed on his bottom pretty good, and did not enjoy the pain that came with it. Durkin did not know if he still wanted to try it, and thought about it for a couple minutes. Now, I know Matt pretty well and he does tend to worry about things. He admitted this to me, and decided this was something he wanted to change. Durkin also shed his sneakers and socks and took the plunge. He landed in the water without a problem, and said it was such a rush!
The trio dried off and headed back down the dirt road. They made it on to a paved road soon, and were met by the KXII News Team from Sherman, TX. They talked with the reporter for some time, and Durkin said she was really into what the guys were trying to accomplish. We will be on the lookout for the link, and get it on the site as soon as we find it. After the interview, they were back on the road again. With about 10 miles to go, one of the joggers got another flat. This is not the most fun thing to happen to the team, so they make jokes and lighten the situation. A little while later, they were right back at it. Durkin said that Ken made a prediction today. Ken said,"In 10 years, we will have inspired 10 people to run across the country." A bold statement, but he might be right!
The guys made a stop at yet another Sonic, but really made their presence known this time. After some grub, they moved on and finished in Leonard, TX. They talked with some folks only to find out that camping outside was recently outlawed in the town. They stopped by a couple churches, and finally came to The Church of Christ. Stephen Medford, the pastor, was very kind and excited about the journey. He offered to pay for the motel down the road so the guys could spend the night. Thank you! The guys were able to meet some of the congregation, and many people made very generous donations to the PFC Philip Diaferio Scholarship Fund. I know that Andy's family is very grateful to you all, thank you for all of your support.
My conversation ended tonight talking with Durkin about when I will get the chance to go out there. As if you can't tell from these blogs, I cannot wait until I get the chance to find out what a couple days on the road with 3 of my best friends is like. This journey has been absolutely incredible, and I hope that you all get the same joy reading about their encounters as I do writing about them. Thanks for reading, and KEEP MOVIN'!
-Rick
No comments:
Post a Comment