A Connecticut newspaper reporter is hoofing it through Iowa this week. Joe Hurley left Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on March 26th with the goal of walking across America on Route 6. Hurley passed through Poweshiek County over the weekend and should arrive in the Des Moines area late Wednesday. He explains his motivations.
After 30 years as a reporter in Danbury, Connecticut, he said he was struck that one side of the state didn’t know the other side so he walked across it on Route 6, but noticed that road also went all across the U.S. and decided to attempt the long trek. He’s able to walk about 20 miles a day and so far has gone between 14-and-15-hundred miles, or four-million steps. Hurley says there’s been a lot of rain and a lot of friendly folks on his journey. In Pennsylvania a kid brought Hurley a bananna and a dollar to aid his journey.
Hurley says he’s been all alone on the coast-to-coast hike and he’s been joined by throngs of people. Hurley says he usually walks by himself but occasionally people join him. In Pennsylvania Hurley says hundreds lined the streets to greet him.
Hurley was asked what he thought of the Hawkeye State, since he’s never traveled here before. He says he’s surprised by the hills and the beauty, and says he couldn’t ask for a better place to be.
Hurley hopes to complete the trip in late November or early December in Long Beach, California. He’s writing about his adventure for a dozen newspapers which helps to offset the cost of the trip. When he gets done, he plans to write a book about his escapade. For more information or to keep up with Hurley’s progress, visit “www.route6walk.com”.
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