Still having trouble getting posts to post….technology, AAARGH!!!!!

Quick updates

• I’m in Bowling Green Virginia tonight.
• Making my way to see Matt Fine….hopefully before next Wednesday.
• Matt’s trying to set up some press in Virginia Beach.
• Maria from the MS Society is working on some publicity options also.
• My cousin Sally is also working to help coordinate public relations.
• I am focusing on surviving Virginia!

….never gets old, just the politicians do.

After a less than spectacular 40 mile trek from beltway to beltway, I was happy to cross Maryland off my list! 

Not that Maryland is a bad place, just that the roads I needed to travel throughout the state were NOT pedestrian friendly.

But Washington

After not getting a call back from the Baltimore Sun, and not getting much positivity from Under Armour, I tried to salvage an otherwise wasted day with a trip to Shake Shack on the Inner Harbor….and it did not disappoint. While chomping on my burger I set plans for Washington with Tom Morgan. With a new destination in hand I set out for what is looking like a two day trip to Tom (and Jake Kaplin’s) place in DC and passed some lankmarks on the way out of town.

Gypsy campsite tonight….and maybe tomorrow too, but a run on the national mall is within sight….almost☺

En route to Baltimore I had a couple issues that I have yet to encounter on my journey.

First, the only place pedestrians can cross the Susquehanna River in Maryland is on Route 1 across the Conowingo Dam. The Hydroelectric Dam was built in 1928…and it shows. Route 1 is a two lane road across the dam with about 6″ of shoulder on each side, and its under construction. So a s I approached the Dam it became clear to me that this was going to be an event. And what do you do at events? Why take pictures of course! About midway across the Dam I hopped over the road barrier to the “Hydro” part that was under construction and began walking among the construction workers and taking pictures as I went. That was not a good idea. Before long I was told that I had to leave the “construction area” and return to the roadway. I replied that the construction area was clearly a safer place for pedestrians than the roadway, and that I should be allowed to finish crossing the Dam through their work area. After consultation among the bosses they decided that I was already halfway and might as well just hurry up and finish crossing….but they gave me an “escort” for the last couple hundred meters just to be “safe”.

After finishing the crossing I took A few more pics and headed up the road happy that my experience at the Conowingo Dam was over….until I heard the sirens and saw the SUV pass me and then turn around with lights a blazzin’ and stopped directly in my path. A uniformed officer exited the vehicle and approached me with one hand on his gun holster…

“Did you just cross the Dam?” he asked. “Yes” I replied. “Did you take any pictures while on or near the Dam?”. Why yes I did. It is a beautiful Dam. Is that not allowed? “we at homeland security take these sorts of things very seriously, so I’m going to have to ask you some more questions and see some ID.”

Over the next few minutes I told the very nice homeland security officer about my journey, and what I do for a living. He explained that while I didn’t “look like a terrorist” to him, their department has to look into these sorts of events regardless.

As I headed up the road after my brief detention, I couldn’t help but think that there is now another page in my NSA/Homeland Security file. I’m going to end up in Guantanamo for sure, it’s only a matter of time.

Second, to add injury to insult, the condition of Route 1 in Maryland is the worst I have seen so far. Not that the road itself is bad, just that the shoulders of the road are nonexistent in parts (like the dam), and piled up with debris in others. So in my attempt to negotiate a very bad stretch of roadway later the next day, I stepped on a nail. Thankfully, Laurie forced me to carry Neosporin in my pack and it appears that all is well now.

I finally made it to Baltimore and have lived to tell the tale. Lot’s more pics of life on the road have been taken (including the not allowed ones) and I am still working on how to get them all uploaded to the site.

Headed to Under Armour world HQ now….will post about that experience soon.

For the 2nd time on my trip a Five Guys restaurant has gone out of their way to be accommodating. Thanks Bel Air Md Five Guys!