Virginia / Washington DC
Nov 2, 2010 - Dec 18, 2010
(state #10)
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Bristol, VA Fire Department. I sure appreciated their wonderful greeting.Shawn, Rick, Stacy (back) Candy and Peg from the Bristol, VA Fire Department. They are a fun bunch!Stacy, Shawn, Rick and me.
What a great welcome to Bristol...
Lori Hughes, from Johnson City, TN walked with me from Bristol to Abingdon today. I like having a walking partner!Lori and I are having dinner at the Crooked Road General Store. Lauri and Marla are cooking. Marla called me yesterday to invite me for a meal after seeing me on the news.Abingdon
Looks like Abingdon was expecting me, doesn't it?Welcome signs made by 7th and 8th Grade Chorus students from Damascus Middle School.How sweet!Sue's students made the posters. Here she is with Kim Akers, from the Copper Lantern Inn.
Bristol to Abingdon
...and another one in Abingdon!
3800 miles!!
The Copper Lantern Inn, Abingdon
The Copper Lantern Inn was my home for 3 nights.  I was given the "royal treatment" by owners Kim and Betty Akers.  Please read my journal entry dated  11/7/10
A day of pampering at Mane Street Salon and Day Spa. Massage, manicure, pedicure, hair and make-up...all done by Prentiss, Becky, Amber and Heather. What a wonderful gift.Farmers Market every Tues, 3 to 6, and every Sat 10 to 2 through Christmas...starts up again in April. I'm chatting with folks about the walk and joining the Be The Match Registry. They have wonderful local products; veggies, baked goods, fruits, handmade Jewelry, clothing...George from CMB Woodcrafters makes softball and baseball bats. He is a wonderful craftsman. The bats are beautiful! For more info call 423 914-1784Doris has lovely produce at the Abingdon Farmers Market. She saw me walking with Lori the other day leaving Bristol and then later in the day in Abingdon. She is a very sweet woman. It was my pleasure to meet her!
Abingdon's Farmer's Market
A birthday celebration!
Abingdon sky on theatre nightBarter TheatreStage for Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily at Barter TheatreWhile I was at the Copper Lantern Inn, I read a book about the local history. I am recognizing many of the landmarks, in Southwest Virginia, that were mentioned as I walk toward Marion
Melanie, Sam and Angie at Smyth County Community Hospital. Melanie is from Boothe Chiropractic Clinic. She and Angie are planning a Marrow Donor Drive for the Jada Bascom Foundation.Visiting with Mayor David P. Helms of Marion. Mayor Helms will propose a proclamation for a Bone Marrow Donor Awareness Day for the City of Marion.
Marion  Nov 8th
Theatre night in Abingdon
This is where the Appalachian Trail crosses Hwy 11My thanks to Angie Osborne for all of her help while I was in Marion and beyond! Patti and Bernie Pizinger owners of the Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast. I had a beautiful stay!Wytheville to PulaskiWhat a beautiful tree between Wytheville and Pulaski
Pulaski  Nov 12th.....only 500 miles to New York!!!
Wytheville to Pulaski  Nov 11-12
Between Pulaski and DublinNewbernNewbernBetween Dublin and Radford
Pulaski to Dublin to Radford
Ron and Kay Kline, Pulaski
Ron and Kay Kline, Pulaski
I love all the interesting buildings
Christiansburg to Salem . . .
WSLS interview at Hales in Shawsville.
Deborah with the Town of Christiansburg, dropped me on my route this morning. I'm on my way to Salem.Ashlee Reynolds (Verizon Store in Salem). I stopped by to thank them for sponsoring the Steps To-Marrow project. My blackberry is my lifeline! Senior Citizens (SKY) of the First United Methodist Church in Salem, invited me to join them for lunch as I was walking by. I was able to share Jada's story with them. They are a beautiful example of Americans in service to their community.Debbie & Judy from the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce. They were very helpful. We are talking about how to share information about how to join the Be The Match Registry with their membership.I met Glen today at the Bank of America in Roanoke. Glen's daughter, Casey, was diagnosed with Leukemia in March of 2001. Casey is in remission now and will be celebrating her 13th birthday soon!I am talking with Kellie in the PR Dept at the Roanoke School District. Kellie is going to help get the word out to school district employees about how easy it is to join the Be The Match Registry. And she's connecting me with lots of other folks in Roanoke. She is a great networker!
. . . . . and on to Roanoke   Nov 16th - 19th
John & Cindy at Smith's store in Blue Ridge (Hwy 460) You have to stop by for a freshly baked folded Apple Pie. Yum! Roanoke to MontvaleRoanoke to MontvaleRoanoke to Montvale
Billy Altman, Deputy Chief of the Roanoke Fire-EMS Dept., gave me essential support while I was in the Roanoke area, received my winter boots arranged for and provided rides to & from my route. Mike Kopec (owner of the Garden Inn B & B in Monterey, TN) and his wife, Mirtha, stop to see me in Roanoke on their way home from New York!EMT Sonja and Captain Tiffaney from Bedford Life Saving Crew.
from Blue Ridge . . . .
. . . . . to Bedford
Jennifer from Lynchburg Fire Department. Fill The Boot Campaign for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)Jason, Maurice, Captain Rice & Cary from Lynchburg Fire Department, Station 8 my hosts.Mike, Ed, Jimmy, Mike, Jack, Aaron and kneeling Ricky from the Lynchburg Fire Department. Mike prepared delicious omelets for breakfast. He is a wonderful chef! Carla, Kenny and Mark my hosts at the Lynchburg Fire Department Station 8.
my days with the Lynchburg Fire Department
Nov 23 & 24
College Lake Spill WayWalking through LynchburgThe James RiverLynchburg to Amherst
Lynchburg sites . . . . .
. . . then towards Amherst
Thanksgiving Day I reach the 4000 mile mark, just outside of Amherst..........whew!!
4000 miles!!
I shared Thanksgiving dinner with Derik, Chris and Bryan at Station 8, Lynchburg Fire Department. Prime rib, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs and buttermilk pie! HOST Derik and Chris, Station 8, Lynchburg Fire Department, prepping the trucks.
Amherst to LovingstonChristina and Sal, owners of Vito's Ristorante Italiano & Pizzeria, in Lovingston, seriously great cuisine! My gratitude to Sal and Christina for lunch and respite from my walking. Lovingston - 146 miles to DC!
Lovingston to CovesvilleLovingston to Covesville
What a variety of roads between
Lovingston and Covesville!!
Tom & Erika from the Mark Addy Inn,
in Nellysford  (Nov 30th)
Painted on the door to my room at the Charlottesville Fire Department.Timmy's cookin' tonight at the Charlottesville Fire Department. I am so grateful for all of their support. Menu Hot Ham and Cheese with Chips.Melinda from Preston Suds Laundromat in Charlottesville did my laundry for me. What a beautiful gift! Love my clean laundry.Larry, Patrick, Chris, Sam, Craig, Chuck and Pete, A shift, with the Charlottesville Fire Department. They are still taking good care of me.Joseph Hughes - Fire Captain/Accreditation Manager for the Charlottesville Fire Department. Joe is going to contact his daughter in NYC and see if she wants to walk with me. Roger from the Charlottesville Fire Department. Roger drove me all around Charlottlottesville to get the word out about joining the Be The Match Registry. Thank you Roger!
My time in Charlottesville,  Dec 1st - 3rd
Laura from Patient and Guest Services at University Hospital, Charlottesville. She was very helpful in connecting me with the right people to spread the word about how to join the Be The Match Registry.Laura, Tim and Ann with the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce responded very positively to my message re: joining the Registry. Tim had a bone marrow transplant. He and Laura are working on ways to help me get the word out to the businesses here in Charlottesville. Battalion Chief Rich Jones from the Charlottesville Fire Department. I can not express the depth of my gratitude for all of the care they gave me.Interview with Rick and Jane, Radio 1070 WINA, at the Toy Lift.I also met Pam Garrison from 99.7 Hit Kicker Radio at the Toy Lift in Charlottesville. What a great effort by this community to share the joy of the Christmas Season with all.
click here
to see pictures of the Johnson City, TN drive on Dec. 4th
Kathy Chelsen drove down to the Huguenot volunteer Fire Department for a NMDP drive today, Dec 4th.  Her brother, Roy Chelsen, is a NYC fire fighter who responded to the 9/11 call.  He now has Multiple Myeloma.  He had his bone marrow transplant yesterday!  My prayers are with Roy and his family.
click here
to see pictures of the Powhatan drive on Dec. 4th
Photojournalist, Jerry Brown, (WWBT NBC 12 Richmond) joining the registry! He did a great job covering the drive in Powhatan today.Meet Vicki & Kent, friends for many, many years. They drove up from NC to be with me along the road. What a blessing to see them! They outfitted me new winter coat, warm pants & gloves! Now I'm ready for Winter! Vicki walked with me this afternoon.Madison to Reva.Jack Fray, the retired Madison Volunteer Fire Chief, took me to breakfast at the Mountaineer Cafe on Main St. In Madison.....good old country cookin' with friendly service.I met Margie at the Mountaineer Cafe in Madison at breakfast this morning. Margie is a charter member of the Volunteer EMS Services, founded in Oct 1963. She's been with them ever since. Margie said, 'It has been a privilege to have done it." Madison to Culpeper
Madison - Reva - Culpeper
Dec 4th - 7th
BRISTOL, TN and VA!
I was fascinated by these animal shapes scattered on the road between Culpeper and Remington, Dec 8th.
Eric (Remington Fire and Rescue) and I have been in touch all day long as he helped me make arrangements to stay this evening. When I arrived, he also helped me get settled in. One of the EMS providers, Gerald, signed up online as soon as he learned how easy it is to join Be The Match!Shelly, Steve, Katherine and Jessica Wright invited me over for some family time. I had a great time visiting with them. Steve is the President of Remington Volunteer Fire and Rescue.George, Blane, Angelita, Virginia and Gerald from Catlett Volunteer fire and Rescue. They are golden...have taken very good care of me.Butch and Charlie made a fabulous breakfast at the Catlett Fire and Rescue Station; sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, home fried potatoes and toast! That should help me as I'm walking.
Remington and Catlett
Dec 8th - 10th
David, Michele, Jamie and Laura Erekson,
Reston (Centreville)
Michele took me to the LDS Temple to see the Lights, the Nativity scenes and the Christmas Trees.  What a beautiful sight.  Michele just let me wander as I felt prompted.  It was very peaceful.
I met Chris Tanis at the B of A.  He invited me to lunch at Coastal Flats in Fairfax.  Hickory Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Mediterranean orzo salad, goat cheese & oven roasted tomatoes.
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Just had a meeting on "the hill" with NMDP and the a representative from the Senate Health Committee.Meetings on the hill at my Senator's office Maria Cantwell.Folks who came to the Be The Match brown bag information session at the White Oak FDA Center.Juliette Willams and I have to say "Good-Bye"Taken at the Compass House in DCI'm staying at the Compass House and enjoying every minute. Neil is preparing Chicken Curry, a recipe that has been handed down for generations in his family.
Dec 15th & 16th
Lincoln MemorialLincoln MemorialWashington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial.National Christmas TreeTreasury BuildingThe White HouseThe White House
My night walk through Washington, DC  Dec 16th
The small town of Chester, CA, likes to know where their locals are traveling.  I was considered a "local" there about 10 years ago!
Taken at the White House visitor's center. I was not able to arrange a meeting with Human Resources at the white House but I was able to leave my card with a request that they continue to be in touch re: a marrow donor drive in the future at the White House for staff. National Christmas TreeTaken on my way to the meeting with IAFF, Internation Association of Fire Fighters.The White HouseThe White HouseMeeting with IAFF to present Certificate of Appreciation from the Jada Bascom Foundation.
My day walk through Washington, DC  Dec 17th
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