JayBo Walkin

I have a test date in Anchorage AK for PD in July. Wow, I would love to live there and serve! Still waiting on my Peace Corps interview to be scheduled as well, my recommendations need to get their butts in gear =P.

I forgot to get more pictures >< a little bit on my mind with my cousin coming back from Basic and selling all my possessions. I had a storage unit with all my stuff in it from my “old” life and have been selling it and preparing for a garage sale. I only want to have my clothes a good book and a backpack with all my belongings.

I also have been helping my family a great deal… my mother and brother are relocating to Nashville and I have been “cleaning house” here helping them get rid of all their stuff so they can make a easy clean move. I don’t know where I will be going yet, the opportunities have not all come full circle yet for me to make my decision. I still think the Peace Corps is the most valuable and would provide me with the most growth and opportunity. It also would supply me with what is needed once I return to finish my adventure.

I have really taken to biking… With the right gear and time to adapt I think I won’t need a car anymore. Between biking, public transit and greyhound I can get anywhere and stay healthy, help out mother nature and save some green. I really need a new seat, and fenders for the rain but I am trying to save all the money I can for these upcoming tests and interviews. Other then that all is well and chugging along. Really need to get more pics, sorry!

I think its time for an update. I have been riding my brother’s bike back and forth from work for a week or more and am experiencing some sore bum. The bike is not a good fit for me at all but it is free so I can’t complain. I am looking at a different seat right now, something a little more shock absorbing. The real problem is the frame size being too small and putting too much pressure on my rear thanks to my legs tiring so fast. It’s only a 5 mile bike to work (10 mile round trip) so I will be fine for now. The real problem lies in coming home at midnight in the pitch black of the bike path. There is no alternative to it except the interstate. I invested in a bright headlight so I can see but its still a little spooky. I am in some major serious training right now as I have testing coming up. I am applying everywhere right now, figure when your fishing catch as many as possible then choose to throw back the smallest.

Some places I have applied to: Vermont State Troopers (Test coming up), Ithaca Fire Department, Anchorage AK Police… as you can see I am just application happy. I will make my efforts to take as many tests as possible given the level of finances I have. My application to the Peace Corps is all submitted, once all my recommendations are in I will be set up with an interview. I really hope that it goes through fine, its my number one. Joining Fire/LE is a young man’s game but being 29 this year I can still afford 2 years and still make the 20 year / age 55 retirement of any department. I must say that out of them all I am really feeling Alaska… so gorgeous. I will be able to reapply to Nashville PD in a few months as well. I am training for these tests and will be in far better shape this time.

Basically I do Qigong twice a week,  cardio six days a week whether its speed walking, running, biking, dancing, w/e, light weight lifting for strength, lots of ab work, and now I may have the opportunity to bike patrol at the mall… MORE CARDIO WOOT! This Tuesday I am going to a fund raiser for Peaceful Acres (http://www.peacefulacreshorses.com/index.php). I am hoping to have sometime to go up there and volunteer sometime to help in the horse rescue. I think what they do are amazing and I want to see if there is anything I can help with.

The camera is a little messed up but I will have some real pics this week up. Take care!

There are some new pictures up on Flickr. The camera takes bad pics but it was free. This is only the beginning, just testing it out. I need to get some kind of memory card for it as it holds only 8 or so pics. I will be taking lots of pics soon for everyone that are interested.

I have no idea how to properly link them into the entry… sorry.

Spring is here !!!! Its so beautiful out, I feel so revitalized from it. Wish I had more hours in the day to really enjoy it out there. I heard back from the local Peace Corps recruiter about them processing my application. Wouldn’t it be cool to travel to Asia or Africa to help others for two years!? I have not lost sight of my goals and am working hard on all of them. I don’t want to give out any information to early and premature so things will have to wait. I am right now planning my return to the journey, it may be awhile but the more planning the better. If I do join the Peace Corps, after the two years they give you funds to return to your life in the states and I would use those to finish the walk while waiting for another assignment. Thats if I enjoy it and want to return. I am talking to some people about keeping a blog up even for my experiences overseas and such. Again a little too early on these things.

I can’t believe how different my life is after doing something to change everything.  You know how much time I wasted on things like video games before I left?!!??! I use to play 5 hours plus a day, it was crazy. Now I only pick them up for maybe an hour or two for a week! And thats just to pass short periods of time while waiting for a ride or something. Looking back it is no wonder why I was that heavy and still gaining, and no wonder why I remained depressed. I blamed my environment and what happened to me, but really I was the one keeping me down. It wasn’t that there was nothing to do, it wasn’t the small town I lived in. I was the one keeping myself from not going out the door. I am the one that made the dark environment. That song “My Own Prison” pretty much sums it up.

By the way, Harriet’s comments somehow are marked as spam now… The spam filter keeps picking them up. I don’t know if its because she posted too many at once or what. I have read them and think I can report them to the software as non spam and have them posted. If you all really want to see what she is saying I will try and put them up, otherwise I’ll just let the filter keep the boards clean. I could care either way really.

I went to my uncle’s softball practice and wow was that fun. I am thinking of asking to switch my hours so I can play, looking for anything at all to do outside and socially. Well, thats all I am afraid. Just trying to stay active, keep learning and planning my next step. Wish things moved a little faster, seemed like so much happened when I was on the road in a few months. Things are much slower in everyday life here… need more to fill my time.

Hello everyone! I will be sending out a test email to everyone that wanted to be on the mailing list for future updates. Everything is well after being back at work after the surgery. I want to thank everyone for their wishes.

I have a unique opportunity coming up! My cousin right now is finishing up his Basic training in GA for the US Army and comes home at the beginning of May. Given the situation (if it doesn’t change) I purchased tickets for him and me (two others are joining us) to travel to see Nightwish live in upstate NY! Nightwish is one of my favorite bands and to see them live is just unreal.

I updated my Myspace, Facebook and created a Yahoo360 page for those interested. I will provide links for them in my next post. I can’t access them at this computer, they are blocked so will have to wait till I can get on my bro’s comp.

The sad truth that I can’t continue is really setting in with the weather change. I am still working on all my options but it looks dim and uncertain still when I can continue. Right now I am working on my life goals by writing, studying, fitness, and saving as much money as possible for the future. Since I am here I am looking into EMT class to get my certificate which will help me in my pursuit for a FD/LE career. After all I have done I just can’t sit still, I want to do everything and running out of room on my “goal list”. Guess that is my new hurtle, to try and be reasonable on what is possible to accomplish given life’s short span.

Well, look forward to that email. Trying to get everything set up for when I can continue.

Jaybo

PS I have a camera, look for some pics soon!

So this being my first surgery I didn’t know what to expect. I am still recovering and everything seems to be in good working condition now. I had thought I was having gas pains while on the walk but it was all my gall bladder. I remember them starting sometime after Knoxville and thought I was having some gas issues with the MREs and such, but apparently that huge rapid weight loss in those first two months made something fail (probably coupled with my extremely unhealthy eating prior to starting). I feel much better other then letting these muscles heal up and can’t wait to get up and out again.

I want to thank people for the get well emails lol. I do want to take this time to explain that I will continue with this goal on my own when I can and much more prepared. Some people feel that I have “used” them and sorry for that. If you feel that you have truly given me something and I abused it let me know, maybe we can make amends for this. The whole lesson in this is how I am responsible for myself and need to work my way out of anything no matter how hard. So, if you met me on my travels and have given to my cause and feel betrayed in anyways just drop me a line and I will work this out. And no not for reading my site. If you took the time to follow this progress you did so for entertainment and I hope I was able to entertain you.

If you are one of those people that I truly inspired to loss weight, do something you thought you couldn’t, seek religious truth in yourself, whatever please contact me through the site. To those I apologize I can’t inspire you more at this time on that scale but I would love the opportunity to talk with you and maybe provide you support in the ways my friends have for me. I still have this goal to walk the country and I believe it will be there always until fulfilled. I just need to get my life in order (something I should of done for years but didn’t realize it) and plan it out.

My friends Chris and Bryan are ecstatic about what we have done, I didn’t use them in anyway. They will be repaid by having their dear friend of decades and I will be there for them always, whenever they call upon me. As for Harriet and her comments, its fine to have your opinion but you are attacking others including myself. Whatever you want to say does not bother me in the bit but if you keep it unprofessional I will block your comments till the site comes down. I don’t need my brother reading about himself from your words or my mother getting worked up by unproductive comments. Just rephrase them to be less directly insulting. Thanks

I took a bus out to visit Chris and Bryan and to discuss my future and the future of the site. The hard fact is that the rest of the trip will be my own, there is no longer going to be funds for what I am doing other then what I can afford. I started this trip with nothing and that hasn’t changed given what money I saved up. The total so far for gear, food, lodging, etc etc for Jaybowalkin is about seven grand. Going into a whole new environment I will need all new gear and so the costs continue. I don’t know if hikers have these costs but they didn’t have the all included Helio, the site, the support team for five months. The truth, at this time I can’t afford it, I will have to work and save more before continuing. I am looking at a few options here, working across the rest of the country, doing parts of the country one to a few months at a time and returning to my present job (they would let me take extended leave), or focusing on my career and life now planning on going back and finishing. Whatever happens this is turning more into a long term goal.

I am not one for sitting ideal at all… well now I am lol. I have an application for the Peace Corps, test dates for police, etc. etc… If the walk can continue soon then I just won’t accept them. Bryan and Chris happen to think the Peace Corps is a great idea, and I agree. I still feel the need to “ruff” it and help others. I would love two years volunteering in Africa or where ever. Right now the only things I know is I need to always be pushing to grow and I must finish my journey. There is so much more I need to write to update you on how I am doing and feeling. Really I don’t even know how to express it. As it stands now I can’t resume now because of funding but need to plan on when and how I resume because I am not stopping like this. Even if this is a life long goal I want to do it. Not because I need to, I have already turned my life around but because quite frankly… I want to see it, walk it and live it. I can’t imagine what the Rockies are like and want to do it.

Please post comments in a discussion style, I want to discuss the following post in detail as it may be nearing the end of the site. Like I said I do not own it and it may be going down as it costs more to keep it up then what it takes in. When I do resume more then likely it will be a pencil and notebook I carry, not a six hundred dollar phone.

I have lots and lots and lots of new information for you pertaining to this adventure. The problem is I have very limited access to this site. I use someone else’s computer to write this and the admin portion of the site is blocked at work. However, I can access my personal email and if anyone at all wants that just post saying email address please and I will drop you an email from my personal one. We can all communicate through that. I will be able to update the site once a week now on my day off… Monday or Tuesday as my time fluctuates on those days.

I don’t want to go into specifics on what material I am talking about because I have a meeting this Monday about the future of this. All I can say is that all costs associated with this from now on are mine. I don’t even own this website so whatever happens to it is out of my hands. I am trying to set up a financial means to the rest of this so I can continue. So far the cost of the entire trip (gear, food, the early hotels, etc etc) nears 8 thousand dollars. Maintaining this website through the Helio alone is more then I want to spend myself as I have no money. If I am correct and my sponsors are pulled out because of the lack of actual interest from big name sponsors then I won’t be able to afford much and that includes my brother joining me. I may find myself working myself across with just a pen and notebook.

This is all premature so more will come after my meeting. Also I may have a used camera for pictures of work and my job. Thanks Jeff BTW for the advice on Yoga… I think that will help me out a lot. There is much behind the scenes chat via email as I said I don’t have much access to the actual site. Just drop a post and I will share my email.

I am sorry how this is going for those that I really have interested. As far as negative comments I really don’t care. I am struggling with so much right now in my life that I just don’t have time for it. This is the hardest turn I have had to make yet. For the first time the limiting factor on my continuing is not controlled by me and I find it incredibly frustrating. If I fail that is one thing that I will just live with, not being as strong as others that have done amazing things. Or deciding to stop for this reason or that is fine. But wanting to continue and can’t is hard to deal with.

I have no problem just walking and stopping and working then continuing again as a long term goal. Again, I don’t know this is all before the fact. Let me see what I can do. Also, I do love my job and going to approach them with the possibility of just taking unpaid time and returning between walks. It would save me lots of unpaid time per the 100 or so bucks to fly. I will keep you all posted and try my hardest to get some picks.

As for my location, I didn’t post it because I find it irrelevant. But if you must know, I flew back to NY for the holidays with family and ended up staying helping them out. I got a job offer here that was ideal… no rent (saves me lots of money), job is on a bike path from home about 6 miles round trip so I don’t need a car (although its covered in snow right now!), and I am helping my family with a few troubles they are going through that are of a personal nature. I sleep on a floor as I have no bed or room really but its luxurious compared to what I have done. All my stuff is in that barn down south waiting for me to continue.

I had a job lined up but this one was more advantageous to my situation. So taking one job over another is wrong? I really don’t understand your logic. If you are trying to get arise out of me that won’t work. I feel I am above anger… it is anti-productive in every way. This site has been so censored during my progress its not even funny. So much happened behind the scenes that only my family and friends know about as I called them in tears. I have come close to what I perceived as death multiple times, the anger that overtook me at negative people, the embarrassment of being covered in feces and trying to find a place to wash. I look back and am thankful it was all censored. The things I yelled alone should never had been said. The things that happened I don’t want random people to know. The site was my sponsors idea anyhow, so was the publicity. They wanted a return on investment. I don’t need any of that, this is about me and Him, not you. If I do continue on my own without backers then rest assured you can read all about what I choose to tell you after I have done it. I will never take back the people I have met through my travels thanks to this site and papers, radio, TV… it has been a huge blessing but I don’t need that anymore. As for inspiration, I went from being 400 pounds, unemployed, suicidal, alcoholic, etc to completely changing my life in 4-5 months. I was at the brink of hell and stepped back. No matter how bad everything is you can get up and walk it off! That alone should inspire. My dreams and goals and pure positive attitude was obtained by what I did. The rest is my deal and I won’t have people distracting me from what I want to do.

Again, I would love to keep in personal contact with anyone… just let me know.

I wanted to respond to some of the comments that my friends have made. First, mountain lions better watch out for me! I am no joke lol. Actually I doubt they will be aggressive with me and my brother together on the road. Gene, I don’t need those old shoes and thanks for the generous offer about helping with the bike but with me stopping and working I would like to accomplish that. But thank you as always bro.

Hey Jeff, I read so much man… its a huge pastime of mine. Thanks for those recommendations I am going to see if I can find them at the library or bookstore. Always keep things like that coming, I am just addicted to reading. How is your brother and the whole crew?  Emailing the Helio/site address will fail as I don’t have it activated at this time, minimum wage and all lol. I will email you from a personal email address.

Greg, yes I am keeping my eye open for fire departments in areas I want to live to be accepting applications. The moment I see one open up I will jump on it, its still my dream. As for biking, there are many reasons. Do I think it will be easier? Not really just faster. It will still be a full day of physical and mental challenge but just less of them. The new”ness” of it will be awesome, I have never biked any distance due to my size since I was a kid. Mainly its about my safety. Walking alone in the east was one thing, walking alone through NM, AR, etc with extremely sparse population and phone service is not a smart decision. Back before the walk when I was depressed and had no goals I probably wouldn’t of cared about my safety, like when I started I just didn’t care. But over my walk I have developed a solid appreciation for myself and am concerned about my well being. My brother will not walk the whole way… he understands what I have already gone through and just knows how that would be too hard and he would fail. He is willing to “taste” it before changing up. I am also wondering if others would join me if I was to bike a portion, that would be awesome. The more the safer especially that my 17 year old bro will be on this trip. It raises the responsibility and the concern.

It will be extremely hard to get back to it… sometimes I wonder if I should have stopped. I have only been working my job a short time but just absolutely love it. I would work 80 hours if I could… I find “home” life a little slow and boring anyhow lol. Its just mall security but helping a child find a lost parent, providing service to people in general is just my calling. I can tell you FD/PD is just where I need to go to get the satisfaction in my life I need. I just love helping people and this job. Its on a bike path, if the weather was a little better I would bike the 4 miles round trip to and from work. And the job itself is just tons of walking… I absolutely love it. If only the mall was really a wildlife refuge filled with people lol. Well more to come (I think I always say that :))

First off, my bro and I have been talking for sometime now about what is coming up. Our planned route is still up in the air after Dallas but we will be getting on bikes in the Dallas area. After walking the additional 400 miles to Dallas we will switch it up and travel the rest by bike, money of course is going to be a little shaky on getting two bikes road worthy for such a trek. I am working as a mall security guard (second shift arg!) but with rent, gas and other expenses it will be tight. I do have access to one, possibly two bikes that we can just modify. Either way, that is the plan.

On another note… I love the Giants. It was such a great game! I can see why Chris told me it would be hard to get back on the road after stopping. I want to get back, normal life is a bit slow and boring but life moves on with you or without you. Coming home to get my huge stack of mail and having just tons of things to do really irritated me. Not to mention the desire to get my life in order. Just some random thoughts… its funny, not much happens when you are doing the “normal” thing. Nothing really exciting happens that is worthy to write about. I don’t have some huge revelations while just doing the day in day out modern life.

Lets try and get this interactive if you would like. Post some questions… I am getting bored

My body apparently is super happy with where its at… no matter what I do my weight stays constant. I workout, I stay 280ish. I feast over the holidays, I stay 280ish. Still a long way from my goal of CA I am sure I will hit my 200 to 220 range but man, it just doesn’t move. Nothing much going on yet, me and my brother are about to have a talk and finalize somethings. It is sorta a meeting between us and I will let you know of anything concrete after said meeting. Other then that, I am growing bored of the regular daily life but it is hard to strive for certain goals like career and such when you know everything is only temporary.

I will have some info soon about progress on my book. I am a weird writer… everything has to be on paper first. Then I type it, print it double space and edit forever. Maybe that’s what everyone does but I can see why they say a writer can never start or finish a book. More to come.

Well, I don’t know what to say. The holidays were amazing! My cousin’s new baby girl is the cutest thing ever! I assure you I am not planning on leaving you all uninformed, there just isn’t much to write walk related during these winter months. LoL, I really don’t want to dive into my home personal life with my brother and family, they don’t want their stuff up on the site I am sure. I did have lots of fun but now it’s back to work, training and studying for the rest of my journey. I am working directly with my brother preparing him mentally and physically. I really want to get him on a program with an exercise bike to get him in shape for that, it’s all about being prepared. If he comes and hates it and leaves that will put such a huge blow to me now that my spirits are high of having him with me.

He is a little cautius about joining me on a bike while I am not. I am not against riding with him, in fact he is super excited about maybe joining the group going to Alaska that was in that post. He thinks that would UNREAL. But I stick behind my decision concerning getting to Dallas. I don’t know what will happen after Dallas like I said, things change but I am planning on walking/running from Hot Springs to Dallas. If things do change and I end up going to Alaska with my bro it will be made clear to me and then to you by me. But I will definitely be walking half the country and making it to the pacific on my own power. Wonder if I can walk from Dallas to Alaska. Think that is possible? lol.

I have a bike that I am going to modify and we are reviewing gear lists and such. I should make enough money minus cost of living to purchase everything I need and some food when I start up again. I will try to keep people posted as much as I can with relevant info on this site. But I am sure you don’t want to hear about my day at work, or the book I am reading… just walk related stuff. As always, to make it interesting comment on anything at all… ask questions and I will answer, about anything really. Thanks.

Jaybo

A small update really quick. I just got a call and I have a job starting right after the holidays. I will be working in a factory repairing and assembling laptops. It is a lot of hours and the overtime will be much appreciated. I am visiting family for the holidays which will be really cool. I will continue my daily routine while the holidays are going on… Running, strength training, Tae Kwon Do, writing both my works, studying my handbooks, meditation, etc. I don’t remember if I mentioned I started to study Biblical Greek just because I had some extra time. After the job I will have to cut back on lots of that… most likely I will scale down to writing only one book at a time, one coursebook, etc. I probably will put learning another language on hold lol. I only got as far as the alphabet, a handful of nouns and verbs with conjugation anyways. I will still be able to update the site through the holidays but not very frequently. I am going to enjoy seeing my family, especially since my mother was the only one that could make Nashville. I hope everyone has a beautiful, loving and wonderful Christmas! It is my favorite holiday!

I am hearing all this “changes his motivation” baloney in the comments. To be frank I don’t know where you are pulling out your information. I sat in a bar in Boston with Chris and Bryan and my motivation has always been the same. Where you there? Did you discuss it with me? When Chris and Bryan return I am sure they can write you a nice post about what we discussed.

Please, post links to anything from this site or articles that show my motivation and how it changed. I do not remember ever saying I wanted to walk across America to isolate myself from humanity and learn to survive off locust and wild honey. My motivation to do this has always been visible on this site, it doesn’t even relate to walking. “I want to do something extraordinary, build self confidence and jump start a healthy lifestyle”. Then you know what I did… I got up and did something to achieve these goals. If you think I have changed my motivation you need to look within yourself and ask if I changed why YOU think I was motivated. This is a weight loss, growth inspired journey that not many people of my initial size accomplish. I think your reading comprehension skills are lacking, to date I have never stated long term goals of HOW I wanted to accomplish this task but WHAT I wanted to accomplish. Your statements are based on assumptions that you are making as if you knew my state of mind when I left June 18th. I never stopped at anyone’s place to visit those initial weeks because I was frightened of people and their opinions of me, not because it hindered my objectives. If you insist on judging my decisions as what would be best for you I ask you to join me and walk your own walk.

Ever decision I have made is based on me accomplishing that wonderful statement I made in Boston to Chris and Bryan. I WILL NOT make it to CA if I hiked the wilderness with no contact of people. I am not that man, if you want to read about that kind of guy you can find plenty of books of people leaving all society and living off the land. I will not make it to CA if I hike through the winter, I again am not that guy knowledgeable about the season to make it safe enough. If you would like to see stuff like that watch Discovery channel. What I AM is a man that was morbidly obese and wanted to change that with an extraordinary journey that would help me grow into the man I want to be. My journey wasn’t the AT, it wasn’t a road trip, it wasn’t what other people may have done. I decided walking across the country was a great way to achieve my goals.

Since I made that goal I have been walking. Since I decided to write I have been writing. Since I decided to take up Martial Arts I have been practising EVERY DAY. Since I decided I wanted to be a firefighter or police officer to help people and serve I have been training and learning what is needed so I can. What decisions have you made that you don’t follow through with. New Years is coming, how many of you are going to make a resolution? I don’t need to make one, no time like the present to do the things you want but don’t have time, don’t have the energy, etc.

I am done ranting about this. I will no longer address comments in this negative way, its highly unproductive. I wish to share my experiences to help people just like me when I was at the end of my rope, but I see now attention is the last thing I ever want from people. I pity anyone famous, I am no one special nor do I want to be in the general public eye. I only want to be special to me, my family and to God. I wish I started this whole thing anonymously. Down to it the only one that need to know my works is God and I am sure he doesn’t miss a thing.

I no longer want what is best for me, I want what is best for everyone else.

Looking for anyone that has done some serious biking in all conditions. I am trying to get my brother’s bike in order for the trip. He has a Trek mountain bike and I think all I need to do is put on some road tires and road handle bars. Will he have problems with hot hot road pavement?

I think we can design a way for him to pull the stroller until steep hills where I can unlatch and push it. I am just looking for any advice out there from experienced biking road warriors on how to prepare him and the bike.

I’ve done some reading on desert hiking and am getting the idea that the most important way to prepare is being able to erect a shelter/shade in the hot part of the day. Also to wear layers of loose breathable clothing and protect eyes and head at all times no matter what. I will be discussing my options with my bro this weekend about post Dallas travel. He may (or may not) want to stop at Dallas, I can’t predict how he will take to the journey. That is why post Dallas strategy is on hold till I have some answers. 

By the way I started learning Tae Kwon Do from the Forces of Tae Kwon Do put out by Grand Master Sell and the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association. I have always wanted to learn and live a martial art, and this one is a great U.S. adapted and Christian Organization. www.uscdka.com.

I got the info from George Lloyd as he is an instructor in it. He will be able to test me for my belts and instruct me. BTW, I am with George here in Nashville where I took the test and I am planning on visiting with family for the holidays. So far I can’t believe what a workout just practising the fundamentals is. I get a sweat going doing my exercises and this will be added to my overall training.

 While visiting my brother I will be able to get him up to speed and prepared for the Spring. I am almost finished studying the Medical First Response Manual and moving onto Ditch Medicine or Wilderness Survival. I found a book that touches on desert survival but would like something a little more in-depth. I am working hard on writing the Jaybowalkin book first chapters and want to have that ready for editing by the 1st.

Ok more to come.

All those sprints didn’t amount to anything. My speed wasn’t an issue at all. The actual course was much shorter then what I trained for and would have had no problem at all making the time. So what happened? The 5 ft wall was much harder then I thought. I practised for the wall by scaling one that allowed you to step off the support and gain a little extra air. The actual test day wall you had to do the solid jump up 5 ft with no additional step. I knew this might be a possibility but I didn’t give up, I trained like I was going to do it.

I made a great jump to get my body up the wall where my chest and half my stomach made it over and my arms where at 90 degrees, but my upper body strength is nil. All that walking and hiking I didn’t train any upper body so when I got the height to pull over like everyone else my arms failed to finish the job. I am really weak upper body and I still can lose much more weight. Maybe if I was a little taller I could of done it, I am 5 ft 10. Anyways, I knew I was weak up top because of my last five months training but gave it all I had and trained for the wall best I could, push-ups everyday until maxed out. I hit around 30 average but it kept decreasing because my arms and chest were sore. I need lots more work.

 Am I bummed? Yea, but I will just keep training for the next time. Still, it hurts a little to know I can’t get over that wall. My training is going to still be running and legs orientated because that is what I need to get to CA. Just a little down in the dumps.

Sorry for no update, been very busy with training for the test, studying and writing. I write lots in a notebook and then type it all up so that is a lot of my time at the computer. My test is tomorrow so wish me luck. I won’t be able to make it to a computer tomorrow after the test so look Sunday for an update. I will also post my new training schedule after the test. I will also reflect on the material I have been studying and my spiritual growth. Thanks for all the support, lets see if I have what it takes to pass the entrance test. =D

I went to the obstacle course today to do a test run to see if I have what it takes to pass. I did well, the 5 foot wall gave me some problems but I should be good. I completed it in 34ish seconds and I need 31 for a 3 out of 5. I will do well on the written so I can do average in the physical to still be put in the “outstanding category”.

Once again I would like to stress that this is a journey and it comes in many forms. I am in the “winter months” part of my journey and am continuing to grow. I plan on taking this test because I can not deny the desire and “convienetly timed opportunity” to do this. I am having lots of fun educating myself in First Response and Wilderness Survival which will help me and my brother on our trek to Dallas. The more I talk to him the more I feel he won’t make the long haul but that is neither here nor there. He is coming and we are going to Dallas and that is all I am planning on right now. I am still studying desert survival because… well… just because its cool but I may find myself there. Who knows I may turn northern after Dallas.

I am preparing well, but I refuse to set these “super goals” that always make me feel crappy after I fall short. I have learned to stop worrying about the future (”can I beat the heat of the desert”) and start living in the moment. You know how much of the walk here I missed out on worrying about the next day? If I wake up and only make a mile because I had a thought I needed to write about all day on the site so be it. This isn’t some physical race I started but an adventure.

Myrtle Beach to Knoxville was all out physical without any personal, social and little spiritual growth. That was my marathon and I needed it, I talked little to people out of shear social anxiety. I pushed through all kinds of things to get my body in-shape even though overweight I am in shape and getting better everyday. Knoxville to Nashville was my physical but also social development. I came out of my box and started talking to people. It was hard for me to do but I met some really nice people that helped me leave my comfort zone. Nashville to Memphis was my first bout against weather and where the social isolation really started to wear on me. Coming from the social environment back to solo shocked me. Memphis to Hot Springs was survival. I hit gear breakdown, a more hostile environment with winds and cold. And now I am in the winter months. I have the time to grow by participating back with society and the time needed to really study scripture and grow spiritually. I won’t let up on my other functions but its just a new focus.

The job situation is really just starting to p*** me off. I am surviving on my own funds left over from the sale of my truck which was supposed to be to relocate with. Called around again today… background check still not in, whats the deal? I am giving to Thursday before I app somewhere that won’t give me 40 hours a week and is a further commute which will cut into my tack home. You just got to do what you gotta do.

I have no way to take and upload pics at the moment, I am working on that. You can put a yurt anywhere that allows for a shed I think. I don’t need water hook up, only electricity but that can just be a grounded shielded cable into the decking of the yurt. I would buy or rent to buy cheap land to put it up on. I know there are problems with the desert and temperature. Especially with my brother it becomes a real concern. That is why I only scheduled my plan up to Dallas in the Spring. I do not know what God has in store for me after that. We might head north to Denver, we may end up biking the desert, we may get to AZ and take more time off till Fall. Things change so I am leaving post Dallas open.

I know you all think this walk is important and yes it is, but my brother is just as important to me. I am not going to change him, only provide the opportunity for the Lord to mold his heart through good old Mother Earth, scripture and time. So I will do whatever it takes to help him. I believe what I have accomplished so far has completely changed my life so I want him to do what I did. I will prepare for desert conditions by studying for the environment but will leave it open to what my brother and I need when we get there.

I used to live by lists and goals… I think a lot of you know that from the way I planned each walking day. Lists and goals grow and grow and become walls. I think goal setting was holding me back. I have thrown out my goal list and daily list. I have reached a point in my life where I understand a certain principal. I wake up each day and want to grow and better myself. If that’s 10 minutes of reading or 10 minutes of walking that’s all I have today. Some days its 3 hours walking. I want to live in the moment and enjoy more of life. I think back to those days I had set 20 or 15 mile goals and fell short. Instead of enjoying myself I beat myself up by not accomplishing it. Goals are good but can hinder you if you take them too strict. I just want to challenge myself daily, not give it a number.

I am fully immersed into writing the book for Jaybowalkin the First Steps. I have been also BLOWN AWAY with the desire to write a novel that I have been thinking about. I love writing and I think its something I am being called to do. I will have more info on what I am writing and what is happening with my job situation. I am having a much harder time getting something then I thought. Doors were opened and are not getting back to me. I am running low on my own personal reserve of money that is paying for food and rent. Its the background check that places are running on me… what is taking so long for them to get the results?

I am still on a routine for fitness. Lots of push-ups and sit-ups, TKD, stretches, isometrics and calastetics and jogging when I can. I also walk while I read killing two birds with one stone. I found a great hill to climb so I can get more of a workout without adding impact. I am going to do stair climbing too. Still in training for the test on the 15th. I have also taken the time to add a prayer meditation period to my day to help me stay focused. I don’t normally like adding a time like that because the Lord should be in your thoughts all day but I think I need this to stay clear. I will keep you posted.

Update on my training: 60 push-ups and 60 sit-ups throughout the day, stretching and warm-ups (isometrics and calisthenics) twice today. Did some TKD (Tae Kwon Do) moves and forms that I was taught and want to master… I plan on testing sometime this winter for a belt. Martial arts is something I always wanted to get into and I have a book and going to do a lot on my own until life lets me incorporate classroom work. I walked for about an hour and a half and attempted to jog and do short sprints but I am nursing my knees. I don’t have access to weights yet but don’t need them, my muscles are sooooo sore. Walking and “working out” are very different on my body. I hate sitting and reading so I stand / walk while I read which is really nice.

 I had the opportunity to talk to mom and we got into a discussion about Yurts. I looked up different housing options just for fun (I don’t agree with “traditional” housing anymore) and found yurts. They are so cool, after my journey I would live cheap enough for a more temp structure then build a nice big yurt. Take a look at these things they are awesome! I am finished with Into the Wild and find that I agree with some of the thought he had… not to the extreme but enough to relate. The term “plastic people” he uses is a little to judgemental for me but I can see the “plastic life” and mindset that I don’t want.

Needless to say mom’s view on the yurt was a little touchy but really, take down the paneling on your wall and what is there? Just beams and insulation, so what is wrong with wood and insulation covered in dense cloth? The yurt is a sound structure, and so is a tipi but people think they are silly and crude because they are “out of the norm”. Chances are people won’t even consider them without looking into the sound construction just because they are different. You can hook up any modern convenience you want to a yurt. I, however really don’t need running water and plumbing… outhouse/composting toilet would work fine if you know what you are doing and I would just shower everyday at the YMCA after working out. A gravity sink would take care of shaving, brushing etc. Cooking is easy with a grill and Coleman stove in the Summer. Also don’t need anything but a wood burning stove and very limited electricity. I would not live this way because I have to, its because I want to. Even if I had millions of dollars, I would build a yurt and live close to nature with my goats (milk and cheese), chickens (eggs), and garden. I wouldn’t be able to slaughter, I love animals too much (I will eat meat, just can’t slaughter) so I would donate to needy families that would slaughter.

Ok now I am going on about nothing lol. I just don’t see the reason to spend so much money for a residence… ever. Yurts can be constructed next to each other and connected even for more room. Anyways check out the links (first is temp and second is later with more money) and let me know what you think. I am just interested. I would build a tipi right on the ground if I could, they are awesome but no one would visit lol.

 http://www.redskyshelters.com/

http://coloradoyurt.com/yurts/index.php