Day 22 – “Days of Thunder”

Day 22 – “Days of Thunder”

What a day. The weather was really nice all day, except for one leg. The thought of getting to Chicago really gave me the extra boost I needed to get me through the 8th day on the trot without a rest day.Tomorrow we change crews. I will introduce them all in tomorrow’s blog!

Camels

So, within one or two miles of the start of today, I came across three camels. It was quite extraordinary. Nigel had said when he dropped me off that I would experience something very different in the early stages of the day! I actually was quite shocked. They seemed pretty peaceful and quite content, but as with most animals I have passed they just look at me as though I am mad. They obviously don’t see many walkers!

Time Change

I got a message from Nigel that the time change happened somewhere on leg one. I didn’t want to miss it so I kept looking at my phone, No change, but then I noticed my GPS watch had gone back. I kept looking back at the phone in case it had a different zone. It wasn’t until later in the day I realised my phone wasn’t set to automatically update! What a waste of time. There was one other bizarre thing, as Nigel explained in his tweet earlier today: “Time zones are weird. Dropped Jon off 45 minutes ago at 6.45 and it is now 6.30”. So I have walked through my first time zone, and am currently 6 hrs behind GMT.

Thunder

Thunder and lightning do strange things to people. For me it reminds me of being about 5 years old at Weston Lodge, the house where I grew up, and staring through the single glazed sash windows at a thunderstorm. I remember I thought the condensation was the rain getting in and questioned if we would be safe or not. I still get that feeling of being unsafe and today when I was in the middle of a storm, Nigel drove up and asked if I wanted to get in the RV till the storm blew over, I refused as I wanted to press on, but with every flash and rumble I kind of regretted not taking up the offer. 40 minutes later I walked out the other side unscathed and happier with my decision, but for the length of the thunder storm walk I was 5 years old again trying to distract myself.

I have now walked between 799 & 800 miles! I am quite astounded by it as it doesn’t feel like I have achieved anything, but then as Nigel and I always discuss, it is just about the next 10 miles…One step at a time!

P.S. A big hello to Michael at the Luke fuel stop we stayed opposite tonight, he was making conversation about my sunburn and I am not sure he quite expected the story behind it! Thanks for the good luck wishes.

Jon Beeby
3 Comments
  • vickywilkins
    Posted at 16:32h, 24 May

    800 miles dont dis that I couldnt walk it so Well Done big pat of the back beebs… Love Lots

  • vickywilkins
    Posted at 16:33h, 24 May

    Beebs I think you should be very pround of yourself reaching 800 miles I couldnt and wouldnt want to walk that far in 9 days xx

  • Alicebeeby
    Posted at 02:15h, 10 June

    I love going back in time. I got 9 hours of the same day twice going from Fiji to LA. Love your thunder storm story, good memories!! Xxx