7/1/2015
I peeked out of the trailer and found the rain had left pools of water everywhere. The loud thumps against the protective shell of the trailer weren’t going to stop. This meant one thing. It meant I would close my eyes and rest my tired and weary body. We were fortunate that the office of the Brookside Beach RV resort called to tell us we could remain in our spot.
The non-stop rain lightened the next day. I threw on a blue plastic poncho and hit the road. The impermeable was not so impermeable. My clothes grew wet and heavy from the inside. The rain drenched my socks and shoes. The sloshing of my feet was a nuisance. The sound irritated me like a pesky bug. I eventually removed the damp socks. It surprised me that they smelled like a wet dog. We moved swiftly through the day. I found myself at the NY/PA state line with a break of sunshine.
While I ran towards Erie, Crystal had been busy on the phone. I met back up with her a few miles down the road. Evidently she had been busy making phone calls and I was to be interviewed four miles down the road. They would meet me next to Applebee’s and shoot footage of me on my route. Everything came together as if my stars had been aligned. I gave my interview and we received a donation from the restaurant. Jamie the manager of Applebee’s was delighted to help us continue our expedition. We ran to our destination nine more miles to the other end of Erie. We were greeted by a magnificent fiery sky.
I didn’t have a chance to watch the interview the previous evening. But when I began my journey towards the Pennsylvania/Ohio state line, it became evident that the residents of the town had seen the report. On the road several motorists honked and waved to me. It was possible that the people in that area were friendly but the encouragement struck me as just a bit more impassioned than usual. My energy levels were high and I cruised to the state line. Crystal and I hadn’t stepped foot in a new state for quite some time. My heart pounded with excitement at this mini milestone. We had learned to draw inspiration from every small victory.
My feet carried me to the small town of Conneaut. Crystal found the best little Mexican restaurant in the area. We hadn’t had a tasty Mexican meal for a long while. I knew we had found a great place just after they brought out our chips and salsa. The owner of El Canelo was more than happy to donate two plates for our dinner. I ordered a plate which included a bean burrito, a cheese enchilada, and a tostada. The sauce on my enchilada had a wonderful smoky and spicy taste. I devoured my entire plate, the chips and salsa, and some of Crystal’s dish.
I had to hit the road to stay on my schedule. The quantity of food in my tummy did little to stop me from running. Just as I reached my first bridge in Ohio another car honked at me and yelled, “Keep doing what you’re doing. We just saw you on the news. God Bless!” I ran strong for another mile and ran into a dark skinned man who stopped me in the street. He wanted a picture with me. He explained, “Hi, my name is Andre and I’m not the media or anything. I’m in the military and I just wanted to shake your hand. Do you mind if I get a picture with you?”
I knew the day had a different vibe in the air. I was very happy to stop and chat with people. I had only wished I had some stickers on me to give away. They seemed content to just talk with me for a moment. I had to admit, my smile muscles could not be suppressed. I must have put in a dozen more miles to Kingsville, Ohio. The sky was once again pink and the summer night was cool. Crystal parked at a church in the tiny town and there we rested. It was a quiet spot in a quiet town. The silence helped me unwind. I laid down and read. Shortly after my eyes began to droop. I felt my body give into the sleep and the lights went out. 
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