Sandy Hook, New Jersey
June 9, 2007
Took a ferry from Manhattan to the Jersey shore. Camped illegally in national park with Kelly, just over the dunes from the ocean and wind. Kelly said goodbye to Nathan the following day.
Manasquan, New Jersey
June 10, 2007
Slept in an abandoned and overgrown municipal park that Nathan said "looked like it was slated for some kind of revival."
Toms River, New Jersey
June 11, 2007
Bedded down just before reaching center of town. Slept on county land that's being auctioned off to become a subdivision, right behind a high school.
Mayetta, New Jersey
June 12, 2007
Slept in a small national wildlife refuge next to a church.
Beesleys Point, New Jersey
June 13-14, 2007
Crashed at the home of Wayne Barrett, New York City reporter.
Nummy Island, New Jersey
June 15, 2007
Slept on a floating dock. Had to wake early and leave before the tide rose again.
Snug Harbor, Maryland
June 17, 2007
"There's a main road. And off that road is a little road, and then the spot where I am. On one side of me is a construction site. On the other side is a big piece of land with a soccer field. Maybe it's a school. There are markers for each site -- wooden stakes with orange bits on them. I'm in between what each set of stakes marks out. So I think I'm legit. But that dog over there might mean someone is coming 6to say hello. We'll see."
"For the first time I'm like, 'Why am I doing this? Can I really finish?'"
Total miles so far: 180
Snow Hill, Maryland
June 18, 2007
Took a night swim in the river and had a night's rest at the nearby state park.
Virginia Welcome Center
June 19, 2007
Just south of the Maryland-Virginia border, off of Highway 13.
Metompkin, Virginia
June 20, 2007
Edge of a field. "It was glorious. There was corn on one side of me, a little narrow lane on another side, and forest on the other side."
Exmore, Virginia
June 21, 2007
"The woman at the racist gas station had warned me that this town was full of dope peddlers. She said not to camp there. So I camped there, at the edge of a guy's field across from a cemetery."
Kiptopeke State Park, Virginia
June 22, 2007
At a legitimate campground. Lulled the semi-gullable camp host into letting Nathan sleep next to his truck. Did laundrey.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
June 23, 2007
Room 274 at the Econolodge. With Ma and Pa McEvers, his first visitors.
Back Bay, Virginia
June 24, 2007
In between two fields. Could see someone's barn. "But it clearly wasn't going to be a problem."
Maple, North Carolina
June 25, 2007
In a stand of trees next to a pond across from the bay. Could hear people carousing across the pond until 8 p.m.
Mamie, North Carolina
June 26, 2007
Industrial property at the end of a lane. Visited by large mammal during the night.
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
June 29, 2007
Pine trees and fireflies in an ignored patch of land bounded by highways. Accompanied by Mac Black.
Avon, North Carolina
July 1, 2007
On the private path from a family house to the beach, after being disinvited from the carpeted floor of the house's living room. Still accompanied by Mac Black. Four beers in each belly.
Salter Path, North Carolina
July 4, 2007
In an abandoned family campground. Surrounded by drunks and amateur fireworks. Accompanied by Mac Black and John Gravois.
Hampstead, North Carolina
July 26, 2007
Stone's throw from an oak tree under which George Washington lunched on his Southern Tour in 1791.
Not far from
Campbell Island, North Carolina
July 27, 2007
Had spent the afternoon walking on the east side of the Cape Fear River, heading south from Wilmington. Slept in a cluster of Oak Trees, a hundred yards away from a secluded beach where he watched lightning strike and heard it sizzle.
Southport, North Carolina
July 28, 2007
Just past the ferry landing, next to a tidal swamp, in a pine bluff, watching the sun go down.
Myrtle Beach State Park, South Carolina
July 31, 2007
Needed a shower, but about a mile into the park, gave up and hiked off the road and slept in a hollow in between some deer tracks, under the pine trees.
Marysville, South Carolina
August 2, 2007
South of Georgetown, just across a bridge, in between two houses on an emtpy lot marked by a "No Dumping" sign.
Whitehall Terrace, South Carolina
August 4, 2007
Near an unoccupied, road-side stand that sells rice-husking baskets -- a design brought to the U.S. by African slaves -- to tourists.
On the west side of Charleston, South Carolina
August 5, 2007
In a cluster of pine trees next to a swamp, at the back entrance of a planned community. The next morning, a stretch limo drove by.
Ravenel, South Carolina
August 6, 2007
Stopped walking early. Heat getting bad. Slept on overgrown ATV trail in the woods.
Ashepoo, South Carolina
August 7, 2007
Woods Brothers campground. Paid to sleep for the first time. Six dollars. Attacked by red ants in the middle of the night. Slept the rest of the night on the floor of the shower room.
Gardens Corner, South Carolina
August 8, 2007
Sat out the heat at a gas station with bullet-proof glass. Camped under power lines on county land.
Shell Point, South Carolina
August 9, 2007
Another day in a gas station. Read six newspapers. Slept under pine trees on a bluff to get a breeze off the Port Royal Sound.
Okatie, South Carolina
August 10, 2007
Yet another day in a gas station. Woman took pity and bought him a drink. Slept next to the station near crab holes.
Cedar Hammock, Georgia
August 11, 2007
During a big rainstorm, laid up in the bushes near bait pools behind a Catholic church.
Midway, Georgia
August 13, 2007
Met John Mangin at a Wendy's, slept under pine trees.
Just south of Lecount, Georgia
August 14, 2007
Swam in a spring-fed clay pit, drank beer, slept alongside the swimming hole. Accompanied by John Mangin.
Ashintilly, Georgia
August 15, 2007
Under oak trees, next to the marsh, between two stately old homes. Accompanied by John Mangin.
New Hope, Georgia
August 16, 2007
Said goodbye to John Mangin. Slept in palmetto bushes with spiders and a heavily breathing armadillo.
Brunswick, Georgia
August 17, 2007
Waiting for the wife in at a hotel that once was a Days Inn. Wife's flight down delayed by many hours. She arrives at five a.m. Checkout's at 11.
On the banks of the Little Satilla River, Georgia
August 18, 2007
After a decent day of walking, bedded down underneath two wizened old live-oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Visited by deer in the night. Wife couldn't sleep.
Brunswick, Georgia
August 19, 2007
Made a trip back here with the wife to pick up the rental car that would take her to the airport. The following morning Nate is driven to where he left off, in Waverly, Georgia.
Gross, Florida
August 20, 2007
On the banks of the St. Mary's River.
St. Augustine, Florida
August 21, 2007
On break and spending a lovely week with grandparents.
Miami, Florida
August 26, 2007
On break and spending a lovely week with parents.
