Part 12 - Not Broken Just Damaged - A Walk Across America 2015

So, I've just left the city of Hartford, CT and managed to pull myself together...kinda.

I was planning on spending the night in Thomaston, CT but hadn't arranged anything by this point. Shortly after leaving the city limits of Hartford, I received a Facebook message from a USMC Veteran and a resident of Thomaston, CT, asking when I would be rolling through Thomaston and where I was planning on staying?

I gave him an approximate time for being in Thomaston (although this was to be the worst time appreciation in the history of time appreciations) and told him I had nowhere to stay yet. He immediately offered up his Trailer for me to stay in, which I gratefully accepted.

Now, in the UK, a Trailer is a trailer, so I wasn't really expecting what I eventually experienced...anyway, more on that later.

I'll warn you all now, this article is going to be full of photographs. I've decided to post them all up because the people of Thomaston, CT deserve nothing less....you'll see what I mean as the story unfolds.

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Glanovsky, walking through Farmington, CT on route to Thomaston, CT...one of the very few flat parts of that days route.

Another photo in Farmington, CT, courtesy of Lisa Glanovsky.

It was around this time in my Walk, that I first started to feel a pain in the lower left of my abdomen, just above my groin. It was a niggling pain more than it was a painful pain. I kinda dismissed it as just one of those things that happen but it was to become much worse over the next few days and eventually became a strangulated hernia, which was popping up every few steps and which I was manually pushing back down as I walked.

It didn't really get that bad until I crossed into New York State and by the time I got into Pennsylvania, the pain was excruciating.

By that time I had also developed Cellulitis in my lower leg and a strange fucking injury called Meralgia Parasthetica or Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Syndrome (LFCNS), to give it a more understandable description, which resulted in the loss of all feeling in my upper left thigh.

When it hit, the Cellulitis pain was unbearable; probably the worst leg pain I've ever experienced and by the time I reached Pennsylvania, I was popping pain killers like M&M's and I was so out of it on pain killers, I could barely function. The LFCNS wasn't so bad, in fact I used to get a lot of enjoyment in poking my upper thigh with needles and not feel a fucking thing.

Anyway, that was a few days away yet...right now, I just had this little lump in my lower abdomen that was more an inconvenience than it was painful and I didn't really give it a second thought...I was more concerned about the fucking hills I was hitting between Farmington and Thomaston... Jesus...it was endless.

As I walked, there were so many people who stopped their cars in the road...ran out...hugged me...shook my hand...gave me money...gave me water, gatorade and lots and lots of kindness.

Dave Mercer (left) was one of them.

Dave drove over an hour and a half, just to meet up with me on my route. He brought me Gatorade and other refreshments but the biggest thing he gave me was his smile...his enthusiasm for what I was doing. He walked with me a little ways, pushing his motorbike.

Dave is the kinda guy I admire.

As I walked, I was getting phone calls, from folks, asking when I thought I might be in Thomaston? It was as if they had a party planned or something. I was literally hanging out...the hills were killing me and I told them I'd probably be about 3 hours late getting there.

I was getting closer and closer to Thomaston, CT and I couldn't help but feel there was something going on; folks were getting impatient (in a good way)...they were calling and asking where I was and then a Police Car showed up (right) and the Officer mentioned that people were waiting for me in Thomaston. This was then confirmed when my USMC host, called me and said "...there are a few people waiting for you in town..."

This photo was taken by a lovely lady called Maria Firmo Driscoll, who stopped and assured me I had only one more hill to climb before I reached Thomaston.

As I got closer and closer to Thomaston, more and more people were standing by the side of the road...clapping and cheering, taking photos, handing me money...it was crazy...but crazy GOOD! The name of my USMC Veteran host was Shawn Kennedy. Shawn fought and survived the battle of Fallujah in 2004. Shawn has his demons and with the help of his beautiful wife and children and his amazing parents, family and the people of Thomaston, he has managed those demons...I didn't know all this when he first pulled up in a Thomaston PD black and white, at the Thomaston town limits...all I seen was this larger than life, kind USMC Veteran, get out the vehicle and bound up to me to shake my hand. I'm privileged to say that Shawn and I are still friends.

As I walked into the town limits, Shawn came driving up in a patrol car and walked that last mile into town with me, with the police escort behind....walking through town was one of the most honourable experiences of my journey....people were clapping from beer gardens...behind restaurants...waiting on the roadside...from cars...the manager of Dunkin' Doughnuts was even waving at me from across the street, trying to call me over for something to eat.

With Shawn...going down hill at last.

As I was walking through Thomaston...a gentleman called Scott Lyden came up and told me about his son (Mitch), who is currently in the US Army...he gave me a photo of Mitch with a beautiful message on the back of it and asked me to carry it (for Mitch) all the way to California.

This was a massive honour for me and as I put the photo of Mitch away, it dawned on me how much people were relying on me to finish this walk. It pains me now, 5 years later, as much as it pained me then, a few weeks later, that I didn't manage to get to California...for `Mitch or for any of the other Veterans who I was walking for...that failure has stayed with me for 5 years.

I also spoke with Vietnam veterans who were very emotional when they spoke of their experiences and I have nothing but admiration and respect for THAT generation of Veterans who received such a raw deal when they came home...

For Mitch, these Vietnam Veterans and every other Veteran, both American and British...I feel pretty damn blessed to have even made a small difference.

Waiting for me at the town Green...were about 500 people, who had been waiting for me to arrive for a few hours.

The amount of people...these amazing people, who came up to me to thank me...or share their stories was unbelievable....so many photographs with people...I loved it. Thomaston is one of the friendliest towns I've ever had the privilege of visiting. As Shawn told me as we walked through town:

"...I love this town...I'm never leaving this town..."

Shawn took me up to his house and I met his wonderful family for the first time. Then...he showed me his "Trailer"...it was huge...I was expecting a little caravan (not that I would have minded that...the hospitality was enough) but this was a "rig" of gargantuan proportions.

Later, I went out for dinner with Shawn, his wife and their three beautiful children.

I made a conscious decision, right there, that I would take my first day off the next day and spend some time with these amazing people of Thomaston, CT. I'm not articulate enough to accurately describe the people of Thomaston, CT that would do them justice

What a town!!!

At the Village Green, Thomaston, CT.

With Bethany Brague's beautiful daughter, Abigayle at the Village Green, Thomaston, CT.

With Jenn Stykowski's amazing kids at the Village Green, Thomaston, CT.

With the Thomaston Police Explorers on the Village Green, Thomaston, CT. The Police Explorers Programme is for boys and girls between 14 to 20 years of age and helps to strengthen ties between the community and the Police. The positive interaction between Explorers and Law Enforcement Officers helps young adults see LEO's as fellow human beings and allows greater opportunities to build positive relationships between Law Enforcement and the local community; it's a great programme and these kids were outstanding.

With the Boy Scouts of America at the Green, Thomaston, CT.

This was an article in the local Newspaper.

I always tried to pay my respects to the fallen, at every village, town or city I walked through. For a small American town, Thomaston, CT has paid a heavy price over the decades, which exemplifies the very heart and soul of the town.

The Thomaston Fire Department sign that was waiting for me outside the Fire House.

These next few photos are of the volunteers and townsfolk who make up the Thomaston Fire Department...Shawn took me down and everyone made me feel so welcome; it was like I had known them my entire life.

Shawn showed me around the town that day. He took me to see the Remembrance Display cabinet in the Town Hall, which commemorates and remembers fallen Veterans and Veterans whose families have donated their Medals to the Town, after they passed away. I loved that they did this. I hate to think of sacrifice being forgotten and they certainly do not do this in Thomaston; they remember everyone.

We eventually ended up in the American Legion (hic!) and I wasn't allowed to buy a drink all day/night. The next few photos are of that afternoon, with the Veterans of Thomaston...drinking...doesn't really get much better than this.

When I set off the next morning, I was actually sorry to leave. I now understand, even in a small way, what Shawn had mean when he said he loved this town and was never leaving it; why would anyone leave this town? It was so full of kind, generous, friendly people that I couldn't actually think of anywhere else a person would want to live.

I set off on the next leg of my journey on a beautiful, warm, still morning, with a teensy bit of a hangover...but it was worth it and I knew that in about 10 miles...the hangover would be gone and the other pains would kick in.

I was seen off by John-Paul Oldham, who got up ridiculously early, just to say goodbye...that was Thomaston people through and through.

Another Thomaston resident who braved the fog to get up early and say goodbye

As I walked out of Thomaston, CT, I realised that I had made friends for life in that Town. It was the kinda town that if you needed something, someone would help...nothing was too big or too much trouble...no one judged anyone else...this was community at it's finest...at it's most beautiful.

I love this town to this day...it will forever be etched into my heart...along with this guy...USMC Veteran, Shawn Kennedy...one of the bravest and most humble guys I have ever met in my life...

Semper Fidelis my brother....