Day 12. Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty to Howard Park, South Bend: Heart

Friday, August 25

Walk: 17.9 miles

Ox Cart: 0

? Degrees (I am beyond behind and losing more of the info each day--it's become a tumble of memories.)

It seemed strange to walk through neighborhoods and on city streets. But it was cool to see the folks who came out to watch us go by. Some watched from porches and waved. Others waited at the curb to shake hands, take photos, cheer us on. School children lined the sidewalk to high-five with us.

I felt pretty much myself but my feet had reached that point--like on the Camino--where they felt like blocks of wood. Lift, plod. Lift, plod. So I didn't really push myself. . .until I reached the rest stop that wasn't a stop. We could grab a drink or use the toilets on the go. People wanted to just finish.

The remaing distance was 1.5 miles. As I continued past, I was seized by the fact that, having traveled over 300 miles, 1.5 was close enough to taste the goal. Sure, we still had 3 miles to walk the next day, but that was celebratory. Today concluded the hard. And, oh boy!, did I want to be done with the hard.

So I imposed my will over my body one more time, stepped up my pace. I had no idea where I was in the pack when I pushed, but I was within sight of the leaders by the time the park was slso in sight. Producers and pilgrims who had already arrived crowded at the entrance, lined up left and right to cheer and greet new arrivals. The feeling was euphoric relief.

It wasn't right, though--finishing alone. I turned away from the festivities and walked back to find Jim. We started this journey together; we would finish it together. And so we did.

After Mass at the Basilica, the core pilgrims met in the Lady Chapel. There the Producers had a collection of hand-carved walking sticks. We each chose one and Father Jenkins blessed them to use for the walk the next day.

Dinner was in the Rasmus Family Club of the newly renovated football stadium, where we gathered with Mike and Emma, Bill, Bob, Kathy and Mom J to start enjoying the beginning of the end.