Day minus 12 – Civic Involvement

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Volunteerism is on the rise in the United States, as reported by the National Service Corporation.  That’s not the good news one might think.  For while many types of community and educational service is on the rise, civic involvement went from an already low 13% in 1989 to just over 6% recently.

In other words, people are seeking to help others in need in greater numbers while declining to roll up their sleeves and work with others to make their local communities better.  Volunteerism can increase because of bigger hearts, or because of greater disparities.  Perhaps the former is true, but the latter has been on the rise for the past 40 years.  This is symptomatic of a top-down, centralized society as a whole.

Don’t get me wrong, we have a responsibility to help those in need, for reasons best dealt with in another post.  Yet pause for a second to consider what constitutes a better society:  One in which people are ready to provide charity and service for the less fortunate?  Or a society in which there are no “less fortunate” because people live according to merit, wisdom and harmony rather than greed, efficiency and idolatry?

I am not walking across the country to promote volunteerism in general, but specifically to address our disdain for civic involvement.

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Day minus 13 Countdown – The Library

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Today I prepared a library of books to bring along in the support vehicle.  I have books for research and writing, books for discovering the Discovery Trail and books for hobbies and enjoyment.

In the “old” days I would pack multiple books for my enjoyment, a few guidebooks for the trail and nature and at least one for enjoyment.  During the Continental Divide hike I read War and Peace, actually reading and walking at the same time when the trail was on roads!

I’ll probably limit the books I carry to one at a time, now that I’m old and decrepit.  Some of the books are still pretty heavy, but that is OK.  My philosophy on weight is a little different than the prevalent movement to go ultralite.

Then again, I’m wondering if I’ll have enough time to read much.  If I was just hiking, sure, no problem.  Meeting up with Lions Clubs and frequently going through towns may curb the available time a bit, which would be perfectly fine with me.

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Day minus 14 Countdown – Am I Excited?

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Today I got asked, as is often the case when I run into people around town, if I’m excited yet.  The answer has been generally no, I’m too busy with all the planning details to be excited.  Still, that “am I really doing this” feeling is starting to sink in.  Two weeks from now Cindy and I will be hiking towards the Golden Gate.  Wow!

If it was just hiking this sense of disbelief would not be pervasive.  After all, hiking thousands of miles at a time is nothing new for us.  Neither, for that matter, is interacting with local people along the trail.  Indeed, the magic that occurs between nomad and local is one of the most special parts of long distance hiking.

Yet we are doing more than just “running into” locals.  I’m giving presentations across the country.  I’m interviewing humanitarian doers.  I’m interviewing humanitarian thinkers.  If the need arises I’ll set up at a local park and just start playing my backpacker’s guitar and see what happens.  Despite planning this for a year it’s just hard to believe that all that is going to happen.

This week, it’s a state of disbelief.  Next week, perhaps, is when the full blown excitement hits.

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Day minus 15 Countdown – Web Talk Radio Interview

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Took care of a variety of errands today, from switching phone service to getting more buisness cards printed.  I have this long list of items still to do.

I’ve yet to put up an interview I did a week ago with Dresser after Dark, a web talk radio show.

Interview on web talk radio, Dresser After Dark (5/2/11)

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Day minus 16 Countdown – Iris Weaver

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Iris Weaver, a former high school classmate of mine, is an herbalist.  She graciously sent me some salves for skin care to use during the hike, and they arrived today.  Here’s a shout out and thanks.  You can check out her web site from the sponsors links.

Long distance backpackers are prone to a variety of unpleasant skin afflictions.  Blisters or hot spots on the feet are most common.  Almost as annoying are crotch rot and screamers, in hiker’s lingo.  Crotch rot is chafing in the indicated area; screamers is much the same area only more internal.  Chafing can occur in other areas as well, particularly where pack meets skin.

Towards the end of a long hike some flaking of the skin can occur if one’s nutrition has not been as good as it should be — with too many pop tarts and not enough vegetables.  I hope to avoid this last problem this time around, being so much wiser now (that snicker in the background would be from my kids).  Iris’s herbal salves will come in handy for the other afflictions I mentioned.  Thanks, Iris.

I also picked up our Believe In Humanity T-shirts today from Stadium Systems.  I bought them at their cost.  Here’s another shout out to Mike Schopp, a colleague of mine on the board of Habitat, along with his family run business.

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Day minus 17 Countdown – Mother’s Day

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

My earliest memories of walking in the woods was with my mother on an old carriage road that now goes through Land Trust property.  We would always stop at this one boulder along the way that seemed mountainous to me when I was young.  Now it takes but two or three steps to stand on top.

Our kids took us out for a combined Mother’s Day/Father’s Day celebration, since we’ll be on the ADT when the actual Father’s Day comes.  I spent at least half the day today not planning or thinking about the long journey!

Back at it tomorrow, though.

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Day minus 18 Countdown – Making Music

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

I spent virutally the whole day today at a sound studio working with our sound engineer to mix and master the CD that I will bring along on the journey for sale, featuring some of the songs I’ll play along the way.  There’s a mix of some of our old songs with new ones, though all feature our new sound with violinist and a year of being together.

Here’s the Playlist:
Independence: 1. Freedom; 2. I’m Working; 3. Curiosity; 4. American Dream
Community: 5. Coming Home; 6. Everyday Harmony; 7. Empathy; 8. We All Belong
Balance: 9. Balance; 10. Seasons; 11. A Boy and a Girl; 12. Humility, Faith, Courage

You can listen to some of these songs from the music player at the bottom of the page.  You can also order these songs as single downloads from CDBaby.  Not all our songs are up there yet, but they will be.

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Day minus 19 Countdown – Sleep Deprived Inspiration

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

There’s something to be said for a little sleep deprivation.  I’ll be giving a presentation called “Believe in Humanity” across the country, but until now I’ve never been entirely satisfied with it.  As a “presentation” it was all about me presenting stories and music, with nothing to give the audience some ownership.

Yesterday, in a semi-awake state, I got the answer.  I’ll ask audiences “Why not believe in humanity?”  From their answers I’ll select the appropiate songs and stories to best respond.  That means no two presentations will be the same in content or order, which I kind of like.  It will keep it fresh for me and provide some ownership for the audience.

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Day minus 20 Countdown – A Day’s Work

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

I’m beginning to write this at 3:00 a.m. in the morning, after trying to force myself since 2:00 a.m. to get some more sleep.  There is much to do, and with that too much to think about.

I’ve organized long distance backpacking expeditions before.  I’ve organized one for groups of 13 – 21 people, where this one involves only three traveling across country.  Still, this far surpasses what I ever have done before in the planning and execution of a major expedition.  Here’s a rundown of what I’ll do just today, if I get to them all.

Plot our route on National Geographic Maps for much of Colorado.
Prepare an email list for long distance hikers.
Prepare an email list for my family and friends.
Prepare an email list for my church community.
Prepare an email list for my colleagues and contacts.
Send press releases to print media in Sacramento
Send press releases to radio media in Sacramento
Send press releases to television media in Sacramento
Contact and confirm Lions engagements in California
Finish a database of media phone numbers
Make some changes to this web site
Make posts to other social media venues
Go through various emails
Create a CD cover design
Call some folks for our going away party
Work a little bit on our newsletter and database
Send a thank you email to a sponsor
Have a conference call with a publicity coach
Rehearse the “Believe in Humanity” presentation
Watch the results show for American Idol

Hey!  Got to throw a little down time in there somewhere!  All in a day’s work!  One that begins at 3:00 a.m.

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Day minus 21 Countdown – Money Management

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Humanity Hiker

Today I hope to wrap up the recording necessary to produce the music CD I want to put out for the trip.

Yesterday I made several purchases for the trip, mostly electronic equipment that will enhance the documentation of the trip – camera, digital recorder, external hard drive, etc.  If the purchase of an external hard drive seems peculiar, consider that we will have periodic access to a support vehicle where we will be able to download pictures, audio, etc.

Easy come, easy go, or at least easy go.  Hopefully you have noticed the DONATE! page listing my causes for Housing Health and Hunger.  On the advice of others I’ve added a Donate button for myself.  I’ve cashed in a retirement account in order to make this journey; total expenses will fall somewhere between $15,000 – $20,000, not including lost income.  If you would be willing to help offset this cost in some small way please check out the DONATE! page again and make a contribution.  Thanks.

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