Nick Walks America: November 2008

Day 154 Tuesday 18th Nov - Finish!!!

Well folks, that's it, my adventure has come to an end. After 154 days, 12 States, 4 time zones, 3 pairs of shoes and 3,100 miles I've reached Santa Monica. No more early mornings, early nights, barkings dogs, crap drivers, camping in ditches, rubbish food or having to translate my Australian accent. Then again there's no more adventures, once in a lifetime experiences, sunsets and star-filled skies or the meeting of random amazing people. A very beautiful woman i met on my travels told me something that has stuck with me-laughter makes the soul prosper. So i hope I've brought a little bit of cheer into your lives and at the same time you've learned a little bit more about American from an unbiased british perspective, albeit a slightly crazy and twisted one who uses words that dont exist. Unlike Forrest Gump who was a mentalist, i will now be flying back to Atlanta after the finishing party on Wednesday, then going back to Blighty on the 1st December. A massive thanks to my kit sponsors Coleman Exponent and my bro Jez along with his wife Lacey, without whom i'd probably be panhandling in Kansas about now. In the next few days I'll upload the last few photos and let you know i survived the finishing party. Thanks for your support and keep in touch all, I might be emailing you to star in 'nickwalksamerica-the panto'.

Day 153 Monday 17th Nov

Its been a pretty fantastico first 24 hours in LA and not a gun-battle in sight. I've been looked after and mothered by the fabulous Erika, a producer for Mix Magazine who made for great company and made me try carrot juice-the verdict's out. The frozen yogurt was a winner. In the afternoon Canadian Courtney and I had a front row seat at the Jay Leno show and we were in spitting distance of Keifer Sutherland no less. Barry Manilo was at his awful best and i was amazed how his suit managed to stay attached to his lifeless-rake of a body. He was entertaining to watch/laugh at though as were his slightly crazy fans. In the evening i was hosted by the lovely Jess, another producer although this time in the film industry. How to make a man feel small or what. After a stop up a big hill to gaze at the awesome city night-scene below we fulfilled another true American past time-eating at the Cheesecake Factory like fat bastards. All in all it's been a pretty darn good penultimate day, tomorrow should be a blinder.

contacting me...

if you've been trying to get a hold of me on my crappy AT&T cellphone, i can unfortunately only send/recieve texts, NO CALLS. I know, no talking, in America? Crazy. So drop me a text instead or if you have fat thumbs send me an email and I'll try my best to get back to you. Thanks! My number is 404 433 5899.

I've also uploaded more photo's into the Arizona folder and final California folder.

Day 152 Sunday 16th Nov

The Angeles Forest is an amazingly scenic place with its windey roads, canyons, high cliffs and mountains. It would have been the perfect place to happily meander if it were not for the traffic. It was bumper to bumper 'i learnt how to drive by watching Noddy' LA traffic, and with a shoulder the size of Victoria Beckham's brain i'm surprised i made it through alive. On the good side the views were spectacular and my injured foot did me proud. Nearing LA the forest fires became visible in the distance leaving a lingering brown cloud across the horizon(pictured), luckily my route was fire-free. My last couple of nights sleeping under the stars were trying ones. The wind battered my tent Friday night and i was left dusty and looking like i'd just been rescued from a mine. Last night i was too excited to sleep, for today is the big day. A 6am i walked over a crest and finally i could see the city below in all its glory. Actually all i saw was smog, smoke from the forest fires and a couple skyscrapers but after 5 months it was enough for me. Coming down the mountain the smog rolling into the valley signalled my arrival-I've reached the city. After 152 days on the road i could think of only one thing-where's the nearest toilet? i'm busting for a whizz. Tomorrow it's on to Beverley Hills, just because i now look like a tramp it doesn't mean i have to keep living like one.

Day 149 Thursday 13th Nov

I'm finally out of the desert and back in the real world, although from what I've seen of it so far all i want to do is turn around and go back. A few days ago i was in Erin Brokevick(?) Territory, a place where everyone knows everyone, people wave and generally live happy peaceful lives on their quiet ranches. Here at Antelope Centre you pay for a soda through bullet-proof glass, people throw their trash anywhere but in the bin and crazy people wander the streets. One guy hassled me wanting to look in my backpack, i thoroughly confused the mentallist by demanding to look into his bag first. He soon swaggered off confused. If you ever get hassled by strange people just act stranger, it works every time. The good news is that tomorrow i leave Scumsville behind and make my way into the Angeles Forest for a few days of contemplation before entering big bad LA Sunday afternoon. Tuesday is my confirmed finish date, in 74 miles it will all be over. If you haven't yet donated please please do, it's unfortunate that I've timed my walk in such uncertain and hard times but it's all the more reason to make sure that our wounded troops and their families are given the support they deserve.

Day 147 Tuesday 11th Nov

The last couple days i've made slow progress due to mr fankle. Luckily I've plenty of time so am taking it slow and enjoying myself. I spend much of yesterday walking on the dry Mohave river as route 66 is no fun anymore. The desert is a barren and dangerous place, so as not to disappoint today(after waking up to frost on my sleeping bag again) i came off the roads at Helendale and walked straight across it all afternoon. It was a pretty relaxing place, and after early embarrassment i had great enjoyment shouting out words like bananas, kamquat and man-alive. It's dark by 5.30 now so i camped early and watched a spectacular sunset over the Los Angeles Forest in the distance. Beyond there is LA...

Final days

As another day closes there is anticipation in the air. With the help of basecamp bro I've decided on my final route to LA. In 143 miles it will all be over. Even better news is that i now aim to finish on the 16th/17th November depending on how my ankle holds up. If anyone happens to be in Santa Monica on the evening of the 19th there will be a finishing party at the Daily Pint pub(thanks for sorting that Dave!). The owners have kindly offered to donate a buck to my charities for every pint sold that evening so whoever said drinking doesn't pay can jog-on. So pop down, the more the merrier and it should be a good laugh!

Day 145

Breakfast was at the world famous Bagdad Cafe, setting for the 1988 film 'Bagdad Cafe' strangely enough. The movie is in the top 50 'movie love scenes of all time', i hope they wiped down the tables afterwards. The wind has really picked up which is not helping my balance or ankle at all, and i'm covered in dust and sand. It even rained at 3am this morning which is not funny when you're sleeping under the stars. Rain, in the desert, in California, i didn't see that coming. Ironically i was prepared-i'd bought myself an umbrella for shade in the desert from the intense sun, turns out it's also good for rain too. By afternoon i was knackered and was none too happy about the huge army base blocking my path into Barstow. I wasn't in the mood for barbed-wire fences and 'government property' signs, i wont say how i made it through but they really should upgrade their security. My evening was spent in the fabulous company of Sandy & friends at a very old ranch, it was great eating real food and having fun company for a change. Tonight i decide on the final route for my last few days, the end is in sight...

Day 144

It's not graffiti it's art. If i dont keep myself occupied I'll go mad(der). The long and winding road(damn that song) is starting to affect me as i couldn't even work out what month it was on my last post. Route 66 is now following the I-40 and i'm starting to see life. People were searching for something around a random big hole in the desert, obviously a UFO crash site. I met a guy with more beard than clothing called Fred who was being pulled along on his tricycle by a dog. Really. Me being an athiest he in no uncertain terms told me 'I've a hellova shock coming'. He didn't tell me when or if it would be a good shock which has left me a bit confuzzled, so I'll make doubly sure i dont pee on any electric fences. I walked on a lava flow. No it wasn't hot. I saw a train overtake another train and felt sorry for the slow driver as i bet his mates are now giving him loads of stick for being so slow. Throw in a load of walking and it's been one crazy day. It's already dark however tonight i can go wild and stay up until at least 7pm as I've reached a Texaco gas station with seats, lights and everything.

Day 143 Friday 7th Oct

The picture pretty much says it all, shrubery, rocks and sand. Tuesday involved a difficult walk across the desert following the railway line and interstate before joining route 66 at Goffs gas station. Apart from a few abandoned houses there was absolutely nothing of interest, so from sun up to past sun down i walked and walked. Maybe i am Forrest Gump. My ankle strapping and Ibuprofen are doing their job and although i'm still struggling i'm confident i can make the finish line. I've been lucky with the weather, things have cooled and a nice chilly breeze has helped me along so no issues with lack of water. Boy am i hungry though. Upon reaching civilisation in Ludlow i stuffed my face with cheap food like a real American. I'm dying for some proper food with a nutritional value higher than a piece of wood. I've seen 4 cars in 3 days. None of the drivers waved. I've decided the best name in the world is Sandy Beaches. I'm covered in sand and keep saying to myself 'how did that get there?!' Apologies if you've sent me an email and i haven't replied yet, i will try my best to get back to you once i get internet again. 12 days left, blimmin marvelous.

Day 139

There's a real sense of freedom walking down a mountainside with 25 mile views of the valley below with nothing but rock and sand in sight and a deafening absense of noise. Then i tripped and broke my ankle. It's ok i didnt really, however the dirt track i walked down was pretty rough forcing me to continually watch my footing, not for dog poo like my mother taught me rather big loose volcanic rocks. It's been a big day. I've walked my last mountain range; passed through my final reservation; said goodbye to Arizona and hello my California; entered Pacific time, and i'm now at only 500ft elevation, my lowest since back in June. Tomorrow i start my penultimate challenge- 153 miles of desert to Barstow. I'm couldn't be more prepared-my exact route is plotted (walk west), I'll be in continual contact with myself incase of emergencies, and my underpants are clean. The bonus is I'll be away from the blast zone of Russian nukes if John McCain becomes President tomorrow.

Day 138 Sunday 2nd Nov

Route 66 has so far been slightly disappointing. Most of it has been along mass expanses of flatland with the Mesa and mountains in the distance. However today i would be walking through the mountains to the historical gold mining town of Oatman 23 miles away. After strapping up my foot and swallowing perhaps more ibuprofen than recommended, i was on the road by 5am. The first 12 miles was a boring straight road past abandoned settlements and desert wasteland. Thanks to Greg the cyclist for stopping to chat for a bit. At the base of the mountain i took a break at the famous Cool Springs Cabins. There was a guy outside who must have been in his 80's selling amazing stone artwork he'd produced. I felt ever so sorry for him because there are no tourists to sell to anymore, they're all at home counting what little money they have left, moaning about gas prices and putting up 'Obamacan' posters. From Cool Springs the road became steep as it slowly weaved its way up the valley around giant Mesa. The views were spectacular. Over the top it was more of the same and i could finally glimpse California-my last State. A few miles downhill i finally made it to Oatman, a themed town where you can hold a shotgun wedding, where cowboys gunfight in the street and donkeys roam freely. Thanks to Paul the Legion member who bought me a drink at the bar, i only popped in to use the mushrooms, honest.

Day 137 Saturday 1st Nov

It was foot-rest friday, a hard thing to do when you need both feet for menial tasks such as walking and kicking small children. The evening was spent with my fabulous Kingman host Tanya. Along with the gorgeous Maryanne & Helen we trick-or-treated (i watched as i forgot to pack my fancy dress costume), ate fantastic food and consumed a range of alcoholic beverages all in the name of science. One of the bars was halloween fancy dress only so i went dressed as an Englishman. I pulled it off beautifully. Today i decided on a foot test. After a sad farewell to everyone and a quick stop at Walmart (selling America for less) i slowly made a short 6 mile walk to Crazy Fred's truck stop south of Kingman. The outcome is still inconclusive-i can only make 3rd gear before the pain kicks in, but i can walk. That's enough for me, so tomorrow it's back to business...