Margaret Feinberg

My dear friend Carol has been telling me about Troy of Drum Hike fame. A Iraq veteran, he’s committed to walk 7,000 miles across America (and back). Today, I went out with Carol and her hubby Marty to walk a mile along side of Troy. (Not sideways–that’s just the pic so the shadow looks upright!) One mile rolled into two and into three. By the end of the day, we had hiked 11.2 miles from Bailey, Colorado, to Grant, Colorado. We had the privilege of cross the 2,000 mile marker with Troy today (you go!).

I listened to Troy share passionately about the troops who come home and face financial ruin when they discover their jobs aren’t available and the PTSD takes its toll. Troy is raising hundreds of thousands of dollars  in conjunction with the Soldiers Angels foundation that serves the needs of military families. He says one of the highlights of the journey has been handing one family a check that wiped out their debt. One hundred, yep, 100% of the proceeds go to military families in need.

A few lessons from the road today:

-Walking across America is dangerous. No one ever talks about that aspect, but when only a foot of pavement and a white painted line separate you and a string of traffic including semis and campers pushing 70 miles per hour, well, I got a little nervous. Stopped. And stood sideways. (As if that would make a huge difference!)

-Walking across America is loud. I had no idea how loud traffic is until I listened to it whiz by for nearly four hours today. I couldn’t help but worry about Troy’s hearing and celebrate the days he takes the road less travelled.

-Walking across America is filled with sights and smells that exceed all expectations. I expected the heat and I had a hunch the beauty of the mountains would take my breath away (both of which are true!). But I didn’t think about all the smells–from fields of wildflowers to the deer carcass on the side of the road.

The biggest lesson I learned is that walking across America isn’t for the faith of heart. Around mile 9, Troy said, “You guys are something. Most people wait for a break and then find an excuse to peel off, but you’re still with me.”

I thought, “Buddy, you served in Iraq and you’re giving up two years of your life for a noble cause. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’d like to invite you to join in helping Troy. How can you make a difference?

-Visit Drumhike.com. Check out Troy’s route under Maps. Right now he’s headed on 285 toward Buena Vista and then toward Grand Junction through Moab, Utah, and toward Las Vegas before heading to Los Angeles. Are you on his route or know someone who is? If you know someone who can offer a free meal or free hotel stay or free camping along the way, please contact them. Please note that their team receives many contacts and sometimes struggles to keep up, but send an email!

-Make a donation on the website. Even $5.00 can make a big difference! Today, we took a break in Suwanne, Colorado, at a tiny tea house. When others in the restaurant discovered what Troy is doing, they pulled out money to donate. Every dollar makes a difference!

-Do you have unused points or miles or gift certificates for hotels? Troy and his team are extraordinary. I came home to a hot shower. They headed to camp site and won’t see a shower for another day or two. A hotel room that offers his team privacy and a shower makes a huge difference when you’re literally living on the road.

-Become a fan on Facebook. One click does make a difference! Click “Like” on Facebook. When troy reaches 125,000 fans, he’ll shave–which at this point would be a good idea! You can also follow him on Twitter @drumhike.