Rosie

Rosie's around the world run adventure, Welcome to the website of Rosie Swale-Pope. Two thirds around the globe so far, Map

August/September/October 2007 Latest news.         Regular updates every Friday

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2nd of November 2007, have a great update from Rosie, it's quite late here and I am knackered, so I will be posting it up with some photos tomorrow morning. Regards James.

27th of September 2007, hi I hope everyone is well, here is the latest news update from Rosie. Apologies as the guest book overwhelmed again, thank you for your kind messages, I can read them but am unable to post them at the moment. Regards James

Report 16 Rosie Swale Pope

Like everybody else, all my thoughts and prayers this week, are for California. California isn’t far away. It is right here where I am now in Connecticut, as it is everywhere, for it is all that people are talking and struggling in their heads about. Warren Morse, a local forester and trained firefighter is just one of the scores of those trained in specific useful skills, who are dropping everything to head down south to help out.

The rest of us are just willing with all our might for things to get better – hopefully by the time this report goes out, at least the wind will have eased. What gets to me so very much, is that when I set off to run across America, I thought it was a very large and lofty grand nation. But now, to me it is an intimate small country over a wide, wide space and with a giant heart. I think America is a village.

People see it as nothing to drive 15 or 25 hours – to help somebody in need, just as if they are next door. One always reads in the textbooks how one is meant to ‘Aim high’, or ‘’beat the odds to achieve great things... have goals.. That’s nothing. Beyond even the efforts of the finest statemen and the powerful individuals on this earth – is the fact that the ,’ordinary’, very extraordinary people of the world – go way, way over the top all the time in efforts and generosity – not for themselves – but ‘HANG IN’ when there’s trouble and help is needed.

Just while I personally have been running across America, I have observed this many times, during floods, when there were terrible droughts before that, when the bridge in Minnesota collapsed - especially now. It is humbling and very moving. So is the beauty around here. Maybe the anxiety about California is more intense around this part of Connecticut for the reason people have beautiful forests here too, and homes amid trees – and they know how priceless and vulnerable this is – and yet that the beauty also helps one see hope.

That’s all this week. Everything is fine. I had a great reception in Willimantic. I am having to borrow a computer from the friendly Willimantic Whole Food Coop. The Blackberry got wet while I was writing the report in the tent last week. Charlie’s tent has begun leaking badly. Also, not just his tyres, but his wheels ARE WORN OUT, and will have to be replaced.

So all this stuff has to be thought through and fixed. I know it will be OK, but I’ll have to get cracking. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those who keep helping me so much both those such as Catherine and Professor Nedd from day one – to recent kind sponsors and all my allies all along the road. Especially good news is that Sister Dorothy, Princess Polar Bear, my dear friend up in Fairbanks – has messaged that she will be in England early next summer. I can’t wait to see her.

I must close. Telling you about my adventures among the haunted houses in these mountains – will have to wait until NEXT WEEK Rosie.

20th of October 2007, hi everyone, apologies for a slight delay in posting this. Another great report from Rosie. Just a quick word about the guest book, I'm very sorry it has been overwhelmed again. I need to start a new guest book with one of those anti spam things where you have to type in the letters or characters in the picture as you make your post to stop Internet robots automatically posting. If anyone knows about a stand-alone guest book with this facility that I could use, please let me know. Regards James

Subject: Newrpt15

THE RACE FOR BOSTON IS ON It 's 137 miles off now! There could hardly be a more inspiring place than Boston, home of The Boston Athletics Association that organizes the prestigious Boston. Marathon. It has reminded me that the WHOLE of the last 2000 miles to Tenby - is my special marathon to THE FINISH! I need to get going while the weather is still good. Winter in Greenland and Iceland lie ahead!! Most vivid in my head still, are memories of Alaska - when sometimes I managed only half a mile or a few miles a day - through deep drifts - and other 'challenges'!

On occasion, I've had to to make five journeys for every 500 yards as my possessions were too heavy to pull along in the conditions, and had to be carried bit by bit - I sometimes could still see my starting point when I reached my finishing point for the day -NOT A PRETTY SIGHT! . I want to keep time on my side so that I have space to fight like a demon through any difficulties in front of me, if necessary!

All this means- I must do longer strides and shorter sentences! So - I. Want to try to write one good report fortnightly - instead as. The hasty weekly ones, as it will save me precious time, so I hope that will be Ok, Meanwhile, I have to get THIS one off -

What a week it has been! Thank you very much to wonderful Martha Stewart for inviting me onto her TV Show watched by millions, and making all the difference to my effort to raising the Cancer Awareness. I'm so grateful! It was also great fun!. Martha was so considerate and kind to me.

The Martha Show had a warm homely spirit, even though it such a famous hit show. All - a the team were great, Hair stylist Nicole gently very slightly trimmed my wild fringe... Make Up Artist Deborah dabbed the first powder on my nose that's it had for years. They were both very nice - and said it was fine for them to go for 'the natural' look with me - At least it was better and quite a contrast to the natural look I used to have in Alaska with frozen together eyelashes and with icicles in my hair that made me look like an alien, or a punk rocker from the North Pole.

I could hardly believe. It when the produced called me later to say that Martha wanted to invite me to her home in Bedford next Sunday, so see her gardens and be shown around. So I left. Charlie in the care of the police Chief at Westport. Which was as far as I'd got with my run at the time, and took the quick trip by train back to see her.

It was marvelous. It was immediately noticeable that though her place is large, Marhta's personal quarters though elegant are very modest but the stables for beloved Friesian horses, and even the houses for her chickens it all seems to be part of the philosophy that heath organic plants don't only heal the people and animals that eat them, but that because of the lack of pesticides they also have a prefound effect on the surrounding wildlife -it's all part of our precious one WORLD.

I thought about Prince Charles - a particular favorite of mine - ever since he so wrote to encourage me when I had frostbite - and about how he loves his gardens so much too. It was a great day. The next really fantastic highlight was meeting up organizers of Paul Newman's fabulous A HOLE IN THE WALL Gang Camp, that has given pleasure to thousands of desperately ill children.

As Linda. RaPp Director of Annual giving and Tiffney Tanneu Senior Development official graphically told me 'Paul Newman started the camps to give Children coped up in hospital for long stretches for treatment 'the chance to raise a little hell' The cabins they said are beautiful roughly hewed wilderness cabins - but behind the scenes are the most intensive and superb medical facilities - and these are the keys to why the children can come on their.

Linda said 'we can give children chemotherapy if they need it, oxygen and or anything else they may require. Thats why the children CAN handle the camp and have all the fun of the activates - The supervision is 4 dedicated counselors or carers to every 8 children - and can be one to one if it is needed. And the FUN AND LAUGHTER AND THE chance for a child free for awhile to be happy , make the camps one of most joyful places they've seen on earth, Linda and Tiffney told me - there are pony rides of course.and painting, arts and crafts, all the activities.. Canoeing, animals - the chance to see a fox and the squirrels and birds - the chance to look up at the wide blue sky or at the bright stars at dusk.

To hear the calling of owls. and the fireflies dashing in through the air as loving lights or little flames - That's what it all about!!!! A taste of freedom But the Camps are expensive to run. There are many backers and sponsor - including I learn by chance, the wonderful Shaner Hotel group who has been so kind to me on the road. BUT MORE MONEY IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS - IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. It will be absolutely a god send if some of you reading this report - please can consider running in aid of A HOLE IN THE WALL GANG - Linda and Tiffney tell me there's fantastic back up support for 'TEAM HOLE IN THE WALL ATHLETES' - Please. Contact Ken Alberti who organizes Team Hole in the Wall - www.holeinthewallgang.org. I pledge that the first marathon I run after the finish of the world run - will be for them! Rosie. End

13th of October 2007, apologies for the slight delay in posting Rosie's report. It is absolutely fascinating to read. I am very grateful for the kindness Rosie has received in New York. As Rosie says in the end of her news update, she will be writing about her experience on the Martha Stewart show this Friday. Regards James

This wonderful photo of Rosie was kindly sent in by Clifford Feller, many thanks

Also I received this lovely e-mail from Rick.

Hi thought you might like this. I was in New York yesterday and took this the day before. I had no idea who it was but when I got home I checked it out and I was so impressed. What an inspiration to us all. The power of one very determined person. I am back in the UK now and went out for a small jog this evening with the dog!!

My father died young of prostate cancer and my mother of other cancers so I will continue to, and try harder to support these charities.

Keep up the good work. Rick

From Rosie. NEW YORK! NEW YORK!!! Report 14
THANK YOU to EVERYONE in New York for the absolutely fabulous welcome in legendary Times Square last Thursday - It was fantastic. I still can hardly believe the warmth of the people who cheered Charlie and me in to a special MANHATTAN FINISH. A deadline for THE FINISH of the run up to here, and a photocall had been arranged between the kind efforts of Catrin Brace the Welsh Assembly Government's Representative in New York, her right hand Rebecca Jenkins, Andrew Weir, an executive with VISIT BRITAIN, and Jane Ridley, Senior Features Writer for the New York Daily News.
When I'd been told they wanted to have the welcome, I'd been touched, It was great of them. I am always haunted by the fact that I am running around the world with many promises to keep. It is not good enough just to achieve it, unless it helps the Goshen Center for Cancer Care, the Kitezh Community for Children in Russia and other causes I hold special. That's hard to do! So, I was very grateful to Catrin and the others, for having what I felt would be a wonderful small celebration, giving valuable Publicity to the above. BUT EVERYBODY JOINED IN!!!!! It ended up like a huge party.!

The whole jam packed jam jacked effervescent Square suddenly seemed to stop in its tracks to cheer Charlie! All except for those people and cars straight ahead, where the crowds and traffic parted to make a path - as I sprinted in, a few moments before 2pm. It was just such a brilliant, spontaneous celebration that belonged to everybody, and was such fun! Intrepid Photographers Julia and Dan actually went sprawling on the ground to get the best 'eyeball' pictures of Charlie's wheels! - and of the Goshen Cancer Awareness signs.

Catrin and Andrew crowned the moment by symbolically giving me both the Welsh Red Dragon and the Union Jack to fly with pride - making me feel a big lump in my throat - and that I was running for my country. Then - it was over - but the glow stayed with me. Catrin and the others were happy that I'd booked a hotel for the night to have a good rest.. But as it turned out, when I got to the hotel. I couldn't stay there. They were delighted to have me, they said - and a king size bed and long hot bath awaited me, they assured me - BUT - there was nowhere to park Charlie.!!!!!

The interior of the hotel didn't have room - I was learning that in Manhattan, every inch of spare space is worth its weight is pure gold ALSO, the car parks were no good. The distressed Car park managers and attendants told me it would be more than their jobs were worth to take poor Charlie in. I do sympathize very, very greatly with the way that although New Yorkers have such big hearts, and want to do everything for you - they are curtailed by the very necessary extra security rules since 9/11.

Any 'vehicle' left in a car park now has to have both an engine and a license number plate - So! Charlie was OUT! I could not leave my ship! So I said goodbye to the Hotel, we continued a bit. Then, I arrived among the statues and beautiful gracious old trees of Central park where may people were hanging out.. It was still only about 8pm. I was getting tired - I thought - 'I'll just have a little rest for awhile here, then see what to do. I Didn't WAKE UP TILL NEXT MORNING!

The branches of the trees were glowing golden in early morning sunlight Birds were singing. Early runners and joggers were exercising. Dogs joined in the fun - IT WAS A BRAND NEW DAY - THAT HAD ARRIVED SO SUDDENLY - IT HARDLY SEEMED A MOMENT SINCE YESTERDAY - AND THIS TURNED OUT TO BE AN AMAZING DAY TOO, The policeman came up just as I was leaving, and couldn't have been nicer. He just wished me luck and God Speed! He signed my notebook - and kindly said he hoped I'd be back that evening.

He wanted to see me again to give me a NYPD police stripe to add to the lovely one the Jersey City police had given to me.. I never got back to Central Park.! In the extraordinary non stop lively way of life that seems to be in the character and spirit of New York City - I was soon being messaged on my Blackberry by the Daily News.. A reader had called them fearing the kind policeman had been ticketing me! She'd been worried! I said said I was fine and that the policeman had been great to me -

The Newspaper swept me away to do a follow up spread in their pages.. I had to do it especially because I need to put the record straight as to how good the NYPD have been to me. No way despite all this, would the Newspaper's stunningly kind feature write Jane hear of me going back to the Park - instead, she arranged for the Newspaper to store Charlie right inside in the newspaper office - and for them to sponsor me with a night in the 800 dollar a night approx W HOTEL - IN times Square again - and one of Landmarks..

It felt extraordinary! I was on the 43rd I had a quiet night - spending time gazing down in wonder at the bright lights of the entire city spread out below me! And, I couldn't think of myself as Cinderella - for sleeping in Central Park had been such a beautiful and unforgettable experience also. The poignancy of so very many different experiences in this chameleon city of New York kept overwhelming me I was fine, yet the joy and sorrow of life, changing with every mile in the city.- I ran up Madison Avenue. Where thee entire exquisitely dressed staff of Channel. Turned out onto the pavement to greet me, and I was asked in to receive the gift of some Channel no 5, while Charlie, as always, posed for his pictures.

But not so long after that on my way through Harlem, I ran through a part of the where even the rap music had been turned down, as everybody was in mourning for 2 people stabbed by a madman, not far away from me, on that very same day., including a 67 yea r old woman who been just walking her dog at around 11am, now in hospital fighting for her life. A bit further on there dozens of police cars with flashing lights. One of them explained there had been an explosion nearby, many people had got hurt, and the Mayor of New York was there right now, visiting the injured.

I carried on over a bridge on my way north out of Manhattan and through the Bronx. The rap was deafening ly cheerful here, belting out of every doorway and car windows. It was getting dark again. So, I stopped at a small Tire Repair Store and asked the owner if I could park in the forecourt for the night, and slept very well. Next morning, Sunday, while off running through an area that was extremely poor and rundown I dodged a rat that dashed across the pavement. Garbage was everywhere - I watched women carrying heavy bags with the kit - on their way I thought to some very early morning cleaning or factory job, how patient and smiling they were despite everything..

People always ask me ' aren't you afraid to run through the difficult areas.. But it is much worse for those who live there... Anyway - a lively old man rushed up to me and cheered me up - He was shouting, with joy spread over his thoughtful looking, bony face - 'hey! )You're running through The GHETTO girl! How wonderful, that you've come to run through the Ghetto - for us!' .. I think it's true human magic when people who have no reason to smile at life can still bravely smile and joke to encourage others.

I was on the Boston Post Road entering Norwalk when I received an invitation by email, to appear. Thank you Martha and ALL here - it was such an honor and such fun - Eating cake with Martha - was a wonderful contrast to eating spaghetti with bits of grits in it from the melted snow which with I had to cook in places like Siberia -

The story the great Highlight of the Live Martha Show is so special that it will have to wait until my next report as I have to get this off NOW!!!! James's brilliant work on the website - and my deadline for these reports mean everything to me.. Not only because of being able to be in touch - the whole thing is achieved by James with such great, great unselfishness and caring, right in the midst of his hectic life. it means so much to me. I like to tell you all again and again - my Evie, Jim family, dear friends and All those following me on the web - that I love you all and am so very grateful to you. - you are here with me in every important sense - ALWAYS! Rosie END

A huge thank you to Bryan from www.namehog.net for fixing the guest book. www.namehog.net have been kind enough to host Rosie's web site free of charge right from the beginning of her world run, and the service and reliability has been wonderful. Many thanks James

12 of September 2007, hi, Rosie has had the most incredible week, she invited as a guest on the Martha Stewart Show, which was a wonderful experience and he wanted meeting warmly thank Martha and her team for making her feel so welcome. There is loads more news to come, but the report from Rosie was a little delayed and it is now quite late here, so I will be posting it up tomorrow morning like last week. Warmest regards James Swale

I received this lovely e-mail and photos from Dave Atkinson, many thanks James

Hi James

I thought about the phrase "it's an ill wind that blows no good" recently and what happened in your family is a prime example of this. Death has brought about vitality, the will to go around the world spreading a message. I certainly would want to give your mom the Nobel Peace prize. This is real work and a labour of love as opposed to what some others have done recently. In fact I should ask Mr Gore how to recommend your mom for the prize.

All the best and may she be safely returned to you.

David Atkinson

Bronx, NY

6th of October 2007. Hi everyone, Rosie seems to be having more adventures in the last few days than she has had in a long while. I had an amazing chat with her on phone yesterday. I hope you enjoy her report, she did say she last week that she would be making shorter news updates in the future, but she has so much to talk about. Thank you to everyone who has been so kind to her in New York. Regards James
Subject: Report13 From Rosie
HELLO NEW YORK!! Three images will stay in my mind forever - My first sight of the Statue of Liberty for 24 years, sleeping beside the Statue of Liberty - and the sight of Charlie nearly taking a swim!... I was running as fast as I could over a bridge from Newark to Jersey City. Charlie, as so often was too fat to go on the footbridge. Charlie has instead to BE a vehicle, even though his only engines are my legs. I was right amid the traffic as I often have to be.

Giant lorries, known as 'semi', trucks and cars were huge great trucks roared like a great pack around me, inches from Charlie's wheels and my shafts! The nice people of Newark had said they thought the bridge would be for pedestrians, because it is not an Interstate Highway, but they said it would be very dangerous. They had. never known any pedestrian brave it except on that narrow footbridge, where even more definitely Charlie and could not travel - because not being able to fit meant 100 certain failure.

So, the only thing was to try the main thoroughfare on foot. . Somehow pulling a cart one is caught between two worlds, the pedestrian world and the mechanized world. It struck me then how misleading the term 'pedestrian' as something staid. This promised, just like the traffic in places like Moscow..Minneapolis .Chicago - to be an exacting huge and v difficult adventure in itself.. The only way is just to try to be careful - and GO FOR IT! The first miracle was that I just couldn't not believe how kind and patients the motorist were to me .. Nobody seemed angry. The wonderfully clear signs on my cart designed by the Goshen Center for Cancer Care.

That explain my reasons for running, must have made the difference. I was hauling up to the brow of the bridge - head down pulling with all my might -like a dray horse - At the top I took a big breath - looked up - and There. Straight ahead of me - beckoning me on from the distance - was the BEAUTIFUL STATUE OF LIBERTY! It was FANTASTIC! My knees went all shaky, could hardly bear the immense feeling of joy and longing and memories that overwhelmed me

Last time I saw the Statue of Liberty after a huge and solitary journey - had been at the end of my solo voyage in 17ft waterline plywood sailing boat, from Wales to New York in. 1983. The voyage took 70 days, because of storms, and because the boat was so small.. Looking back it such a very strange experience not to see a human face, or tree, or a animal anima for 70 days.. I had run out of food for 5 days, and was light head, but so joyful that my navigation had been accurate enough by sextant to arrive at New York Harbor after 4526 nautical miles, from Hobb's Point in Pembrokeshire. I was met by some children in a fishing boat who called out 'Hey there! - Are you the sailing Annie Oakley?'

Then I was met by some charming customs officers - who presented me with the burgee off their Custom's Launch and welcomed me so warmly.. But history was repeating itself! Wrapped in the above thoughts, I was startled when 2 police cars drove up and stopped to talk to me. I was worried that they were here because I was in trouble for crossing the bridge. But then I+ saw they were cheering an waving.. I was nearly in tears, when 2 of these very lovely Jersey police Officer gave me a JERSEY POLICE STRIPE - Having learnt that about on the 22,000 mile on my run, and that it had so far taken 4 years - and a day!!

They then escorted me royally across a busy intersection after the bridge, then gave me directions to Liberty Park Campsite - close to the Statue of Liberty itself, where I could camp. I curled up in my sleeping bag, leaving the back flap of Charlie's little Tent open - and gazed and gazed and gazed at the Statue of Liberty - till I eventually dozed off. Thinking of the past, and thinking most of all about the countless thousand courageous people who left their homes - and lined up at Ellis Island - for a new life, for the sake of Freedom.

The loneliness of my run around the world was sharp as a knife in Siberia, when I was often completely out of touch. That's nothing compared to what the Ellis Island immigrants faced - I will be home next June. The length of my run will be under 5 years - no longer than some University course - and moat special - Because it's the university of the road! Anyway I am very proud that now - added to my other causes that mean so much to me - I am to be given the chance to promote Great Britain and Wales for the rest of my journey home I would like to thank my dear friend Catherine Addison who who been in touch with the VISIT BRITAIN, and WALES GOVERNMENT ASSEMBLY center in New York.
I am very much indebted to everybody - And right now - I'm going to be in luxury THANKS TO THE wonderful New York Daily News - who are sponsoring me with lovely hotel for the night - then tomorrow, it's off to Boston!   End Rosie.

5th of October 2007. Rosie's new update was a little delayed and now it is very late in England. It is fantastic, I shall be posting up tomorrow morning, thank you very much for this wonderful photo of Rosie that was sent to meet today by Catrin. Many thanks James

2nd of October 2007, Happy birthday dear Rosie, I think you are great, keep up a good work, below is a message from my sister Eve.

Happy Birthday Mum, today is not the simply the anniversary of the date when your great adventure started to run around the world, but also when the great adventure of your life began! In particular with a life such as yours when so many nights have been spent tending the sails as you crossed an ocean or sea, tending the horses as you rode down Chile or simply crawling into your cozy tent as you crossed countries running or walking, I think of all the sunsets and sunrises you have witnessed. What delights of nature your eyes have witnessed and how many steps your feet have taken.

I am sure that those you love you and hold you so dear will hope and wish that your next birthday will be spent in the loving arms of your family and friends who I am sure will join me in promising to spoil you rotten, including your tired feet!!

With love and happiest birthday wishes

Evie, Pete, Michael and Lucy

29 of September 2007, sorry for the slight delay. Great news from Rosie, she has set a date when she will be arriving back home, and that is the first of June 2008. The end of her world run its in sight and her run will have taken her just under five years, it will be nice to have you back mum.

Also Rosie will be running through Manhattan on Wednesday the third of October. So look out for her there. He said he would love anyone who likes running to join her for that stage. Also I hope you enjoy this news report from Rosie. This is really the last in a series of long reports, and future news updates are going to be shorter. This is because she has much less time. Rosie has so many things to organise and sort out and many demands on her attention, when just making the miles with all that running is absolutely exhausting. Enough from me, over to Rosie. Regards James

Subject: Final report (12)

From Rosie

THE DATE AND DEADLINE FOR 'THE GRAND FINISH AND HOMECOMING TO TENBY, WALES' - HAS BEEN SET! -BEEN SET. 1STJUNE 2008!!!! It' s Fantastic! The date is a long time ahead, but it needs to be! Beyond New York next week, and then Boston and Nova Scotia - the wildness and beauty of Greenland in winter, the fury and majesty of the Arctic Ocean Coastline in Iceland and the snowfields and the vast lava deserts of Iceland lie ahead.

It will be an extraordinary adventure, still to come! The magical date of 1st June has been set, because it has to be absolutely definite - 100 per cent. My wonderfully kind friend Ann Rowell in Tenby, tells me she's already making plans and arrangements with the Pembrokeshire Police to close the roads into Tenby on the day - so that everyone can run to the FINISH LINE with me! THAT WILL BE FANTASTIC! E V E R Y O NE IS W ELC O M E!!!!!!!!!

Ann say's she's going to be in charge of the homecoming. I am very delighted, Though Ann is Swedish She's lived in Tenby for very many years and truly is one of Tenby's angels. Ann jokes about herself saying, ', 'I'm just Ann Rowell'., She's charismatic, forthright, bouncy and kind natured. - Actually, Ann always reminds me of TIGGER!!! She's into everything - and seems to be able to make more use out of any single moment of time than most people could ever manage - i.e. bringing up a family of 4, running a very successful hectic small business, competing on the team for our running club -TROT ST CLEARS, , Plus running for Wales as one of the country's best athletes of her age, and having a very full social life.

All on top of being behind so many successes in organizing various renowned events like Tenby Art Festival. I'm very lucky that she's offered to organize THE HOMECOMING. Ann's email is brochuresdirect@btinternet.com - she says please to email her if you'd like to come to Tenby to join in!!!!!!! Or need info? It will definitely be a class act on her part! I can hardly believe that I set off on 2nd October 2003 from my front door in Tenby, after my brother Nicolas engraved my foot on the flagstone. Immortalizing! -THE FIRST STEP!! On 1ST June - HE. MAY BE THERE AGAIN - TO ENGRAVE THE FOOT AGAIN - THE LAST STEP!!!!

It makes me feel both proud and very humble. The events - and budget - in the sad aftermath of Clive's death - dictated a very ordinary, simple circumnavigation of the globe - No heart for approaching sponsors, except those whose kit I already loved and used[ No money for brochures and glossy photos - the savings I had I felt should be used not on advertising myself - but just to get off - to be able to eat etc en route. In some ways of course, It made me happy to start NOT from some Civic Hall, but from my pleasant home in Tenby - I thought - One's own front doorstep is where so many things happen... Nice things, sad, funny.... By turn. Carol singers.. Trick or Treat. birthday . Parcels - and also worries like bills.!

So, front doorsteps logically are VERY important places in every person's life - the place of laughter, fun jokes - and sometimes tears. The place of feelings! But it was a quiet world run I thought that I would do.- Self supporting, no PR, no film crew.. No jeep following me or making arrangements - I slept in the forests with the bears and the foxes.. I sometimes felt I was like the wildlife - in a kind of private, hidden, secret world. I met people along the way, especially in Siberia - who were afraid of others .afraid of life..

Or frightening.. I met murderers, missionaries ... Nuns... Children by the ten thousand... Once or twice I had the blade of a knife pointed at me or a gun. Not often enough to count compared to all the thousands of sweet people I met. GRADUALLY THE SOLITUDE WAS ITSELF THE PATH TO MORE PRECIOUS HUMAN CONTACT THAN I could ever have dreamed Because I just happened to be there. Along the way! I started to meet more settled kinds of people in the USA - but I still made friends with everyone - it's got overwhelming.

People have been so good to me I could cry. It's been such an honor. I hope EVERYONE IN THE WORLD COMES TO TENBY FOR THE FINISH, SO THAT I can thank them. Meanwhile next Wednesday - I'll running proudly through Manhattan - and thank you dead lovely Shaner Hotel Group for support and accommodation to give Charlie a little rest for a night or so as I run to New York today.. I think Wednesday is 3rd October.. The day after my birthday - I love birthdays - I think I'll celebrate for a week as I run through New York and towards Boston.. I think that every day is a birthday - I am so grateful for my life.. Anyway, I'm lucky enough to be very full beans - I've decided that I'm going to be 29!!   Rosie END.

22nd of September 2007, hi everyone, sorry for the delay. Keep an eye on the web site the beginning part of next week. This is because Rosie will let me know when she will be running through New York. And she would be delighted if there are any runners who would like to join her. I have been away for a a few days and the message board is absolutely stuffed with messages of support and sightings of Rosie thank you all very much for these, however I have a huge backlog of spam to sort out so it might take a little while for your message to appear. Also I received a lovely e-mail and photos from a lady called LeAnn, many thanks James.

Subject: Report Eleven
I had a stowaway last night! He was just the latest in quite a list of characters who have fancied sharing my journey. It's not so hard. You can't lock a tent! The fearless little golden forest mice in Siberia, used to gnaw their way in, and if they found that the food had been put out of reach in a tin, they'd nibble my clothes with relish instead. It got so that they trained me to leave a small amount of oatmeal or buckwheat for them OUTSIDE * GOOD DISTANCE AWAY - AS MY RENT!

On another much more recent occasion, when I had parked Charlie in a garage, before heading off on one of my trips to the dentist - a tiny shrew leapt out and rushed off, almost frightening the kind lady who was going to look after Charlie to death. I shall never know how long he'd been riding with me! It was a bit like this now. It was a pitch black moonless night outside. There was no rustling, no squawking. No whistle of wind in the trees.

Even the wind was asleep in this little clearing in the beautiful woods, not far from the New Jersey border. If there are 40 shades of green in Ireland - there are at least 40 shades of silence in the wild woods. The quiet was profound. It was a bit cold, the chilliest September night so far. The condensation in the tent had half frozen into little icy diamonds in the torchlight. You really NOTICE how early autumn comes, when you are sleeping in a tent.

It should have been total peace - yet I had woken very suddenly. I absolutely convinced that I was no longer alone. AND, INDEED I WASN'T ALONE! I was being silently watched by a little snake. He was coiled, very comfortably in a fold of my favorite Peter Hutchinson Design mountain Minimus sleeping bag. This snake had great taste! He also had a little flickering tongue, very bright eyes and was leaf green and a slender three feet..

It was not a dangerous snake, since the only dangerous snakes in this area are the rattlers, but my heart was thudding anyway, IT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE!! Never in the nearly 4 years of my circumnavigation of the globe even though it had been through so much wilderness. Have I seen a snake even in the distance Never mind right here in bed with me! I realize this is because I've mostly been in very cold latitudes - and snakes have more sense - but this was fantastic..

I was concerned that he might have come inside because its colder than usual for autumn, and it could be a young snake - without experience. He definitely couldn't stay - I had to get him to leave and go back to his habitat in the woods - before I pulled the cart back to the road, or he might slither out when it got warmer later and get run over by the traffic. He read my mind I think. He read my mind I think. He had no plans to leave. He'd looked relaxed almost tame - but oh, he disappeared like lightening right down into the depths of the sleeping bag, when I tried to catch him.

Getting into the sleeping bag's bottom was a mistake from the snake's point of view. Because I closed the top of the bag. So I had him! I found a nice box in which someone had given me vegetables the day before. I emptied it, and made a little nest with an old tee-shirt and some paper napkins. Then + just let him gently fall from the sleeping bag into the box, and Then I shut it, and tied it down as fast as I could. I set off into the woods with the box and my torch...

Stumbling over ferns and bushes and deep patches of moss. - I used to go to the woods with my four donkeys. Seven goats, my pet cow and dog. These days and nights instead it it into the woods with all the mice, and sweet white tailed deer - and, and sometimes a bear, and in Alaska, the unforgettable timber wolves - and now the SNAKE! My grandmother used to encourage me to try to write a book about the animals who brought me up. ,to much has changed, I thought as + carried the snake for about a mile in the dark.

I made a little shelter out of sticks and leaves, like the fairy houses', I used to build in County limerick, and made a sturdy shelter, popped the cardboard box in there and then opened the lid he stayed where he was. But when I came back to check on the snake later - he'd gone. I was informed by local people the the snake was probably a garden snake, and the wood is like a great big wild garden - with plenty of worms and slugs for my little friend to eat. It was a brilliant distraction, because I can hardly bear the excitement right now.

I am at the New Jersey border - I AM SURE I CAN SMELL THE BEAUTIFUL SEA AIR.. IN MY NEXT REPORT - I'LL HAVE THE JOY OF GIVING AN ETA FOR MY RUN THROUGH NEW YORK CITY! I hope that everyone who can, WILL come out and find me, and run with me. I am going to give details of my route in the next report too! IT WILL BE A HUGE CELEBRATION!     END.

James,

I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Rosie yesterday. Sept. 16. She was trekking up a real steep road into Freeland, Pa. I stopped, offered her a Gatorade and invited her to my bar/restaurant for a stopover. I was thrilled that she took me up on my offer. She turned a boring Sunday afternoon into a delightful, informative and even a bit humorous time. The crowd at THE OTHER SIDE will not soon forget ROSIE. She stole our hearts with her stories of her travels. We are so happy to have met her and all our thoughts and prayers go with her. I have included a few photos. Please give her a big hug for us when she returns............................LeAnn

21st of September 2007, hi, sorry but the Web update is going to be tomorrow. I am having bit of a problem with an attachment that Rosie has sent of her news update. Regards James.

12th of September 2007. Hi everyone, the Friday News update is a few days early this week as I will be away from my computer for a few days. A big thank you to all those who have sent me e-mails and photos. I have included most of them of this update. I hope you enjoy this week's update. Regards James.
REPORT 10 from Rosie
I just want to say A VERY, VERY BIG GROUP HUG AND THANK YOU TO YOU ALL AGAIN... I am so very excited to learn that over 1000 comments have been sent to the Guest Book I love your sweet comments - and they inspired so much not only with running but in trying to do the writing that has to be done too!

It is GREAT news that Sutton Publishing/NPI wish to publish my book as soon as possible, after I get home. Thank you so very much to everyone for all the encouragement with my writing. It's in I am determined that my book will do honour to all. the fabulous people, animals, birds, that are my life everywhere. in the forests, mountain, snowscapes and tundra... In the cities like Gary Indiana. and in the tiny villages Once, on my way across Canada - I arrived at a village - where only ONE person still lived...

One of the little nearly ghost village I've been to in Russia as well as on the wide Prairies... At this village - a very old thin but somehow very elegant lady canary thin but elegant old lady... came out of the roadside to be 'welcoming Committee'! - - and said she was the only inhabitant, so she had to do the welcomes! 'She told me her name was Lily, and graciously invited me into her tumbledown, but spotless house - for tea!!!-..

She had the kind of face that has smiled a lot at herself and others, and seemed happy with many memories - and a roomful of rather fat sleek cats! She told she had been educated in a one room school on the prairie - 80 years ago. She really liked Charlie!! It touches me so much. I run day after day along roadside like a stray puppy - or like Lassie Come Home -and somehow everyone who stops even for a little chat - becomes part of all that's happening. Today I'm just off to run the l to Danville, known as being a very pretty town about two thirds the way through Pennsylvania..

It will be fun to get there Rain dripping through a little leak in the tent, that I had been about to mend with Duct Tape!. I have lovingly wiped the BlackBerry praying it will keep working, even though it is a bit damp.. - Tonight I'll be sleeping in a bed! And having a wonderful bath... I am very grateful to the owners of Pine Barn Inn in Danville for hospitality tonight - It will be marvelous. Also grateful thanks to the Associates and staff of The holiday Inn Express, State College for sponsoring. The joy of a bath with bath oil. And bubbles!!! The softness of a bed - the bed may be larger than the whole of my home in Charlie.... - will be amazing!.

Charlie is still home most of the time - staying in Charlie most times, is the only way I can really as many miles done. I am very used to life in Charlie - next report will reveal my 'house keeping' tricks exactly. It is important to stay focused and organized Charlie is the only way I can do watches as at sea - four hours running. four hours of sleep and so on. Buying a new Bike Computer at State College + but the gift of a very bright rear light from a kind man called Stan in State College helps the night work. Anyway, It's raining harder now as I get ready to go the rain is just the rain.! beating down......

But that's Ok.... I'.M OFF!!!! I have good jacket. and -. I NEED to get the miles done!! As Friday as the deadline approaches -The scene around Charlie gets a bit strange! I run a mile or so.. Then had a thought about the writing and have to stop and disappear headfirst into Charlie to get the words down on the Blackberry - usually with my feet with shoes laced on but just ticking out the back of the cart... can look rather lifeless - or just funny,! On occasion, the Blackberry seizes up so it takes longer..

At times like this, people tend to stop and very anxiously remark -- You haven't gone very far today, have you? So, it's REALLY great news that the kind publisher hasn' t forgotten me and is keen to bring out the book...soon.. after THE FINISH - BACK IN TENBY, PEMBROKESHIRE - THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TOWN IN WALES!!!!'. The kind patience of Sutton Publishing/NPI - and of the most wonderful and wise Mandy Little Director of Watson Little Authors' Agents in London - is a miracle! I've even heard rumors that the publisher is going to run down the length of Great Britain. WITH Charlie!! I have never heard of a publisher doing anything like THAT before! So! - the publishing of my book will be in accomplished hands! ! - - All I have to do is write it and MAKE IT THE VERY BEST I CAN.!. - It will be written with love anyway... It is for you all.

Rosie

Hello James,

My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting your incredible mother this afternoon along State Route 45 in Union County, Pa. Not only is she an amazing lady with a lot of stamina, but she is also a very friendly and outgoing person who maintains a positive spirit and always had a smile on her face. While my wife and I were stopped along the busy highway in the Bald Eagle State Forest, a Forest Ranger by the name of Tilghman Smith stopped to see if we needed any assistance. Rosie was tickled to have met Ranger Smith, and was eager to have her photograph taken with him. I took several photographs of Rosie and Tilghman so if you would like to post one you are more than welcome to do so.

Thanks, Tony & Janice Shively

Hi James

It was only yesterday ( 9-8-2007), that I met Rosie. You see, my brother David and I were on a motorcycle trip from Syracuse NY to West Virginia. We wanted to "see small town America, ride the great motorcycle roads we had heard of, and also keep the brotherly bond tight. We were actually one day from home, traveling east on rt 45 in Pennsylvania, just east of State College, when I spotted a rather unusual site. A woman, harnessed to a trailer, in a way similar to that of a horse. I had to check this out. So I pulled over further up the road, and we waited for this site to approach us. We watched as she came over the hill, and crossed the road to check this out further when she got near.

Rosie stopped to speak with us. She told us of her run across the world, which I have to admit, seemed so impossible, and made my trip seem like a walk to the corner store for milk. But here she was, and already with most of her trip behind her. I wanted to ask her so many questions. Where had she been; what were her experiences with people around the world; but most of all,,, why. She said it was to raise cancer awareness. She stood to have her picture taken with me, and I must say, I felt as though I was standing next to a giant of a person. I stumbled with my words, trying to say something encouraging (like a woman with this much dedication and perseverance could be encouraged by anything I might say). And then she went on her way, and I on mine. And as I was driving away that day and lost in thought about my meeting with Rosie, I said to myself "I WILL schedule that dam colo-rectal screening exam that I’ve been putting off."

It was an honor to meet Rosie. Please pass this email on to Rosie and let her know that I wish her well.

Norm.

I encountered your mother as she and I were heading east on Route 45 just west of Centre Hall, PA. I pulled my Red Cross vehicle off the road and waited for her to ask her about her travels. I took these 3 shots of her, then proceeded east through Penns Valley down Route 45 to the Amish area of Millheim, pursuing my work as a Red Cross recruiter of blood donors. I told everyone I met to be on the lookout for this amazing person who was heading their way, including the Amish bishop, Elam Beiler, who runs a vegetable stand at the Millheim Farmers Market. I explained to Bishop Beiler and others about Rosie and her mission, and showed them the business card she had given me and the photos in my digital camera. The Amish and "English" communities of this area of rural Central Pennsylvania are highly supportive of blood drives, especially those in honor, or in memory of, local residents who have needed blood in the course of their treatments for leukemia, cancer, anemia, organ transplants, etc. The Amish community also holds charitable auctions of household and farm goods (including stud fees for carriage horses!) to collect funds to cover medical bills for members of their community. I hope Rosie encountered some Amish folk in their buggies in the course of her travels through our area - they were certainly on the lookout for her! Photos are attached.

James-

Attached are some picture of you amazing Mom during her stay with us at the Holiday Inn Express in State College, PA USA 9/6 to 9/7/07.

Here spirit was inspiring!! We wish her the best of luck in her journey!!!

Patti Wenrick

7th of September 2007. Hi everyone, I have some more great writing from Rosie here. Also a nice little article written about Rosie at centredaily.com http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/story/197747.html . Thank you Sarah Fuller for let me know about that one. I am having bit of a photograph drought at the moment, so if anyone spots Rosie and send me a picture or two I would be hugely grateful. Regards James
From Rosie Report9
I keep thinking - 'I'M GETTING CLOSE TO NEW YORK!.... ..-. I think about it SO much!... Sometimes the hope seems to have been a loan - that I have to pay back with interest - when there's a steep hill ahead! Then, New York can feel a very long way off again! AND I WORRY AND THINK - ' OH NO!! - getting there soon -it's still just a dream!'

But an amazing thing happened when I was faced with climbing Clearfield Mountain, the highest point east of the Mississippi, a few days ago - THE MOUNTAIN DISAPPEARED.. I had not been looking forward to the climb - as Charlie seems to be putting on weight! Everyone said how long the climb would be. When the sun is shining, and everything is fundamentally quite Ok and life much, much easier than it has often been - that's the Black Dog, as my grandmother used to put it, can climb into your mind for awhile - for no real good reason, and from nowhere really..

I thought, 'This part of the world run was meant to be so easy, but I'm SO SLOW.'... I worry about letting my family and friends down! Then, this feeling past from me, as I set to work - and hauled away.. All I had to do was do my BEST!!!! . There were fabulous things to distract me all along the way. - A kind man, who turned out to be a snowmobile champion - rushed out from his Mountain Extreme Center office with a bottle of homemade raspberry wine in sympathy.

He also brought an energy drink. He said he thought I'd like a glass of wine that evening - once I'd made it up the hill. What a carrot!... Then, almost immediate I saw no more black dog of the mind - but instead the very real and beautiful black bear once again. His ears and black face peered out of the bushes - He seemed to be just a bit curious! I've been told that bears here are much less dangerous than those in Alaska, and rarely attack people.. He wandered off...after making me smile! Then, only a few yards further a pretty place - that could have been the home of the bears that was visited by Goldilocks appeared in front of me - but this was a roadside restaurant Lounge! - and they served roast beef not porridge! I said to the nice people inside - this beef and salad will give plenty of strength to get up the hill!' You mean - to get down the hill? It's a long way down...they said....

Somehow, thinking about what happened - I'd climbed the hill - and had not even noticed - the road had gone up, but I'd believed that the big hill was still in front of me!! BUT - I HAD CLIMBED IT!!!!. AND THE PUB IS EVEN CALLED - 'THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN!! I but it will always be remembered by as a miracle by me!

There 's so much to write - I wrote a long report yesterday - and here's another - just for fun! No more writing now until next week - I've got to RUN...RUN - AND R U N!!!!!

Part two

The leaves are turning crimson and golden already. Birds have been migrating - and the bear looked sleepy when I spotted him again yesterday.. It's getting chilly at night. I can hardly believe that the FOURTH anniversary of setting off on the run is just a month away! It seems like a whole life.

So very much has happened. I won't forget the man with the axe in the Siberian forest at 1am, or the raging, bridgeless rivers along the Road of Bones., On one occasion,, I was knocked unconscious by a floating log -and luckily came to tangled with a half sunken tree.. Even harder, was were events in wilderness Alaska at -62.....When there's frightening silence, because nothing moves from the hole or nest where it is somehow sheltering. Not even a mouse. Not even the hungry birds.

Yet it is the happy, funny things that twist your heart and change your life. I was at a school in an Athabascan Indian village, where life is especially hard. The teachers said - 'Don't expect any questions or much attention - These are very tough kids.' But they ALL asked me questions...... One little boy who I was later told had hardly spoken at all for years and was very withdrawn - suddenly piped up - 'DID THE WILD DOGS BITE YOUR BOTTOM, MISS?' There was a stunned silence in the School Assembly Hall. Someone got the boy by the ear and marched him out.... But a smile like pure sunshine spread across the face of one of the nicest of the teachers...

Apparently, this was just about the FIRST question the little boy had ever asked.. , It had in been a very good question too! Th wild dogs in Russia that surrounded me growling and snarling one day - HAD been trying to bite me - until I got the idea of giving them all the bread I had - so that they could bite bread - instead of my legs...!

It had worked! They'd left with wagging tails...- but some of the dogs had actually come back to sleep with me in return for - a little breakfast next morning!! I'd heard snoring - outside the tent, and was the dogs! I later heard that the Athabascan boy has seldom stopped talking since his bold question made him famous among his mates - He did better at his schoolwork too! So, I thank the wild dogs of Russia for that - if only they knew!! I think the animals and people everywhere, don't just make the journey.....

They ARE the journey..!. It was true in Siberia..Alaska..Canada.. North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin..illinois, Indiana.. Ohio, and also in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania.. You can never know what will happen next.. The most charming encounters can end up startling you.....Awhile ago in Franklin I met Gwen, a sweet faced serious looking lady with grey pretty hair, who told me she's 71, though she certainly looks younger. She had invited me to the downstairs of her home where she keeps a little 'shop' of the Shaklee natural food products she sells.

She had generously said she wanted to sponsor me with some. to help me along the road.. Gwen was chatting about this, I turned away for a moment to check out the products she recommended l looked back just a moment later - and there she was-HANGING UPSIDE-DOWN FROM HER FEET. - APPARENTLY - LIKE A BAT.! She was still talking to me in an ordinary way. As if being upside-down was ordinary....... .. I thought 'ROSIE - YOU'VE. LOST IT' YOU NEED A DOCTOR!!...- YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH SUN.!'.

It turned out she was actually suspended from a long plank with attachments holding her feet. She said it's called an 'inversion table or plank' - You lean against it, then your weight turns the plank with you strapped to it upsidedown. - It had done wonders for her back and knees, she said!!. Gwen and her husband Bill were lovely to me - They even drove through the night to get off the bus when it reached Pittsburgh at 1.30am en route back from the trip to Cincinnati., a couple of weeks ago. They had then taken to their home for a sleep. - and in the morning had driven to to .Clarion, where I'd stopped the run for the 2 days I'd been away,.

Charlie was being beautifully aired and looked after by Homer and Mary Lou Watson in their spacious garage. All my clothes had been carefully hung up, to air in the garage too! . Also, before I left Clarion, Homer and Mary Lou and their sons, who all work in the family printing business,, had made me some fine new Cancer Awareness signs for the cart, that even have Charlie's picture on them! Also, they'd designed some great new cards with 'Early Cancer Screening Saves Lives', to hand out and website details printed on them, to hand out. I can only say AGAIN AND AGAIN - AND AGAIN with all my heart - THANK YOU! -

I am overwhelmed by how everyone looks out for me and helps me succeed. From Day One - there was the wonderful Ann Rowell, one of the liveliest and most golden heart of people along with Kath Garner, brilliant Catherine and her very beautiful and academic black cat Professor Nedd, Steven Seaton, Geoff Hall the marvelous sponsors of my exceptional equipment such as PHD -and above all, Evie and James my beloved daughter and son and family.. Without whom I could never even have set off. To make such a tremendous difference, then into my life and run came Bob Collins, Nancy and Victor Rodriquez.,. Patty, Rich, Kevin and Diana and all the clan - and and my Armish friends Backin Shipshewana, and Lila and Rick Philbrook who always are also moving heaven and earth to help me - other very, special people from far and wide.

Now it seems as if I'm being blessed by having the whole world willing me on... . I thank everyone so much for supporting me. . You are ALL my heroes - It's the old song...... Over and over again - l long for everybody to KNOW how much all the caring means to me. ....I must make my feet say the thank you.! . I'm off into the night now to run under the bright stars again. I hope to be through the town of State College tonight, and over the hills on the rest of my route through east Pennsylvania, by the time you all read this . THE END. Rosie

31st of August 2007, hi I hope everyone is healthy and well. These written updates from Rosie are going down very well, I have had loads of great feedback about them. I feel much closer to her running experience, and it is a lot of fun chatting with her about what he is going to put into it. I'm going for a short break and needed the report from her early, and he was kind enough to stay up till 4 AM to finish it off. I think she has done a great job. Also thanks everyone for the lovely e-mails I been sent about Rosie. Regards James

Report Eight, Rosie Swale Pope
'DON'T SHOOT'! Says one of my favorite signs on the back of Charlie... The sign REALLY reads 'Don't shoot owls, eagles, hawks and vultures'. It was a gift to me from the caring falconers of South Bend some time ago - But DON'T SHOOT - is all motorists can make out in their car headlights after dark. I've been assured..!... I've made a bunch of new friends along the way who are those who have stopped to enquire if I'm really OK???...... Maybe thinking - 'Here's a British woman who has DEFINITELY seen far too many cowboy movies.....'!!

The sign is fun, and I'm proud of it. Shooting hawks, owls and eagles is illegal, but the falconers gave it to me for the reason that wildlife always needs respect and protection - in very many different ways. All this was being discussed by Bill and Mary Fitzsimmons and their grandson Joel in Roseville, Pennsylvania - as they checked me out for visibility - and prepared to launch me off to run at midnight yesterday. I'll never get over how people everywhere not only are so kind - but are anxious to help me continue - full tilt as much as I can. It is still so much easier to run in the cool of the night.

Bill had been good enough to stop his car that afternoon - and to tell me that he and his wife wanted to invite me to stay the night at their home in the next village.. When I had explained that I needed to keep going, as my progress during the heat of the day had been so poor. - he was undeterred.. 'My wife and I will be out waiting for you when you pass our home anyway!' He declared. So it was! I saw them waiting in the garden for me as darkness began to fall. They dragged me in - Within moments, I'd been led into the house - bestowed with a cool drink and coffee and a delicious home made egg and cheese burger..

Then, I was shown to a bed upstairs for a quick but extremely restful sleep.. Bill and Mary and their teenage grandson Joel had vowed they'd wake me so that I could continue my run in 2 or 3 hours time. Worrying that their soft hearts might prevent this -, I woke all by myself The house was quiet... I thought - 'maybe they've forgotten about me... I tiptoed downstairs. . A blaze of light overwhelmed me as I opened the door to the kitchen... There the family were! Still all busy on my account. All the clothes I own in the world- had been laundered and were folded into a neat pile, looking like new.. anew!

Mary was putting the final touches to hand drying with a blower my treasured blue spangled light summer shawl that was a present from Diana Collins earlier this year - and is especially loved by me. It's a magical garment that can become - a modesty wrap while I'm changing clothes., or a particularly beautiful mosquito net. It can even be a sparkling little ballgown when one's in the mood to wrap it around oneself as a dress! Now, it was all lovely and clean and fresh. They had charged up my phone, Blackberry and Ipod batteries too. T hey fed me again, poured some very good strong coffee - and off I was away into the night..

Thanks to them, I am able to keep my promise - to get GOING AGAIN!!!!.. What can one ever do to thank people like that? And there have been so many, many of them Running at night by moonlight is like time out of this world... There's a full moon again.... Moon and stars look now down onto fields snuggled between tall forests... The sky is clear. Yet there are bundles of eerie mist visible by moonlight, covering the fields. As if the sky has fallen to earth. There aren't many mosquitoes around now. The 'Mosquito Restaurant sign seems to be saying 'CLOSED' Their place is taken by thousands of sweet. Little moths fluttering in the moonlight. as I climb hill after hill.

What a pleasure it was to see Steven Seaton. It was so very kind and typical of him to come thousands of miles - to check on and encourage me for the last stage of my run. As always, he went way, way over the top in being wonderfully thoughtful. He took photos not only for RUNNER'S WORLD magazine, but for sponsors back at home in the UK - and he'd arrived at Cincinnati Airport burdened a bit like a pit pony - with kit for me - Including 2 beautiful new pairs of Saucony shoes!

It's amazing to think that I've been through 39 pairs on my run so far! The extra pressure when one is pulling a cart is especially hard on them. I've been lucky.. Thanks to. Geoff Hall, Steven Seaton, Nancy Rodriquez, and even my dentist Dr Jay Jorgenson and my friend Natasha in Russia, and help often from the marvelous DHL and others, I've been able to access kit in some unlikely or remote spots, but sometimes it's been impossible.. When, I've had to remember that the art of 'Making Do' - can be a friend too! .

One pair of shoes lasted for 1,500 miles. In eastern Siberia. ..Along the Road of Bones, during that unforgettable summer. I cut shoes open and put bath sponges I managed to get hold of and bits of foam inside to pad them so I could manage the sharp stones... It worked - Then the stones started coming in., so I wrapped the shoes in cloths and wore them like that .. It wasn't a bad result at the time - but I'll NEVER NEVER NEVER take having new shoes for granted again in my whole life !!!- I think new shoes are more precious than jewels...

It feels good to be back on the road again, through wild Pennsylvania... I am running along the classic hywy 322 - which is the old hywy that links the North American Continent's mighty Lakes with the SEA!!! I AM Bound for the Sea!!!!!!!!! THE ATLANTIC I can hardly believe it.. It will be my first sight of the sea since THE BERING SEA! . A lot happens - almost around each corner.. There's a 30 foot chasm in the road recently behind me, past Brookville as the bridge there is out. It would have been impossible to get across it with Charlie, as the little side path was too narrow. He would have plunged down and got broken. The alternatives of the road detour was especially long for me, as I can't go on the Interstates - I would have had to go over do into a labyrinthine way round, adding many miles to my route.

Wonderfully, magnificent local people came to my aid. I met Robert Fisher, president of Brookville Hospital along the road, and he got in touch with BWP HARDWOODS. Then. Terry Stockdale, The President of the Company along with 5 other very strong men - physically picked Charlie up - and carried him round the chasm!! .. They carried 300lb Charlie as if he was a feather - They are the ONLY people who have ever consider Charlie light -Because they are used to dealing with mega ton logs!!! The section beyond the broken bridge was closed too. No sounds of traffic anymore - just birdsong...! I was running along, thinking how lovely and peaceful - when I suddenly nearly jumped out of my skin - The first black bear I've seen since Alaska appeared - and crossed the road right in front of me!!!! I've been told for awhile now that I'm back in bear country - but I never expected this! He paused to sniff at some flowers it seemed, by the road's before carrying along off into the forest.. I didn't know. If I was feeling flattered or unflattered that the bear was taking no no notice of me at all - Or so I thought .

Regards Rosie

25th of August 2007. Hi everyone, thank you all for your patience, spoke to Rosie today, she was swapping a slice of cucumber she found in her sandwich from eye to eye after staying up after night writing her news report, she is taking it very seriously, as she puts her all into everything she does. She says it is really working for her having a deadline on Friday. I have some great photos that have been kindly sent in as well. Regards James

Report Seven Rosie Swale Pope

Tomorrow is a Red Letter Day!
It will be wonderful to meet up with Steven Seaton again. Runner's World have helped me more than I could ever describe. They have helped me through bad moments and good. Steven Seaton, who used to be editor but is now the UK Runner's World Publisher and his staff on the magazine may not know that the greatest gift they ever gave me was long, long before I set off on a round the world run, or did any kind of marathon or race, when such a thing was something I thought I'd never do.

I had dreamed of being a runner when I was young, but thought I was no good. Then, about a dozen years ago, I happened to be at a doctor's surgery, waiting for an inoculation - when I saw an old half torn copy of the running magazine and read it awhile. I thought I can do that - I can do it a BIT! I set off that evening to run around the block - and that has taken me RIGHT HERE! So if anyone reading this is thinking of running their first few steps - YOU'D BETTER WATCH IT! You never know where you'll end up.

I last saw Steven 16 months ago, in the wilds of Alaska after I'd been pulling my sled up the frozen Yukon River in temperatures of -65F. There were times that winter when where I heard nothing at night in the sled, but the thunder of my heart. The Athabascan Indian old timers I met in the tiny village of Nulato on the Yukon, informed me that the heart won't rest when it is as cold as this.. It is nature's way of not letting you sleep - in case you sleep and never wake up.

They taught me how to shove handfuls of dried grass that they had stored from summer down my front for insulation, and to drink gallons of fish oil to keep warm - and just to get on with life! They were all very impressed that Runner's World's publisher arrived by airplane on a very roundabout way all the way from England to check on me. They were tough people. Nulato, far from any roads, has a reputation for wildness and shootings, but they were hospitable to Steven, just as they had been to me when I had arrived a few days before him.

I have many friends there. And if you have an Athabascan Indian for a friend, you are very lucky and privileged, for you have a friend loyal for life. Thousands of miles and a world away as I arrived in Cincinnati for my next meeting with Steven tomorrow, the temperature soared to an amazing 105F, the hottest they said since 1948. It feels even hotter as there is devastating humidity. Schools have been closing early because of the extreme heat.
Contrast is too gentle a word.

Anyway, I've left the Charlie at Clarion which it as far as I reached, quite a long way into Pennsylvania by now. I have stopped the run for a day and a half to make the side trip to Cincinnati, to meet Steven who has a brief stop over here en route to other business in the US, so that we can states writing and photography plans for the final stage of the run.

My run is very easy compared to many people's lives around here. In early summer there was a drought that spoilt the hay crops, and the rains came too late to save it, but recently the rain seldom stopped. There has been more and more on the news about the despair of people losing their homes. 4200 lost their homes in Minnesota alone. 26 people have died in Ohio and much of the area continues to be declared to be in need of emergency help, Many of my favorite places that I have run through like Madison and Toledo have been having a desperately hard time. I am so very sorry for all the people there.

In Charlie, once or twice, I have gone to sleep in a field - and have woken up in a lake.
I get a great many torrential free baths from the sky. Also, I am often running up hills and find I myself 'running against the current" _ as the water is hurtling against my legs, and rushing down at me as I try to climb up.. The only way to stop for a breath is to hang onto trees, or a handy fence when that happens, or one just falls back. But in general everything is going pretty well.

I do feel very close to home now. It seems even closer despite the hills, now that BBC Radio 5 Live have kindly asked me to continue doing my little stories about my adventures for them every few weeks, right until the Finish Line! It is such fun to be actually speaking to people in London and all around Britain already. Most of all I thank James for his fabulous work with the web and say thank you for all the wonderful and exceptional kindness and support you continue to give me through your brilliant letters..

In the Marathon des Sables, which was the first long distance race I ever did carrying a pack, the organizers told us -'You run with your feet, but it is with your head you stay the distance..". I think this is true - but there there is more to it. Most of all you run and climb all the mountains of life that you are passionate about with your heart.. It is not your will or your intellect, it is the love and feeling of caring from all the people who are thinking of you everywhere - that gets you over the top!
Thank you all so very much. Rosie

25th of August 2007

Here are some charming e-mails and photos I have been sent, a very big thank you to you all for sending me these. Regards James.

On Saturday, August 18, my friend, Gwen Grinstead, told me about Rosie and her around the world run for breast cancer awareness. Since I am a breast cancer survivor and since I had my camera with me, we set out to find Rosie on the road. You can see by the attached pictures that we were successful. (Gwen Grinstead and Rosie along Rt 322 in Franklin, Pennsylvan ia, USA)

Thanks to Gwen and her husband, Bill, Rosie enjoyed a nice shower and was given some mosquito netting.

Rosie at Jeanne Boswell's house, Cochranton, Pennsylvania Thursday night August 16th

We were doing peaches on Aug.16th in our shop and saw Rosie going by. She stopped by our pasture to wash her face and I went out and talked with her. She came back and ate peaches in our shop. we very much enjoyed our visit with her....Our children thought doing peaches was hard work but decided that Rosie works harder than them.. :-0

The Schlabachs Joanna , Christopher, Derek, Kaitlyn and Tristan

24th of August 2007. Hi the web site update is going to be a little delayed as Rosie's blackberry crashed after she had finished writing her news about the week. She is sending a new one a bit too late this Friday night. I will be doing the update tomorrow morning, please check back then. Many thanks James

18th of August 2007, Hi everyone, here are some of the photos I was talking about, the photos were sent by Lori Webber who sent me this lovely e-mail. Also are some photos of her strange creatures called alpacas. Which look to me like lambs that have been photos shopped. Regards James.

Hi James –

The most amazing thing happened Saturday evening ( August 11, 2007 ). My husband was taking out the garbage (that’s not the amazing part) and he saw your mom about to pitch her camp in a bed of thorny brush next to a rural highway. My husband, being a marathon runner himself, was inspired by the sight of her. He figured she was some kind of ultra-marathoner and went to introduce himself and say hello – having NO idea who she was or what she was doing. Later we found out that our neighbors had seen her on the news. It took a little coaxing, but she came to visit us, took a shower, ate a tomato sandwich and a few cookies, and then visited the animals on our alpaca farm – before pitching her camp in our yard. She was adamant about getting to sleep, saying that she prefers to run at night and had to travel 50 miles the next day on her way to Boston .

She’s an amazing woman – full of life, bubbly, charming and very inspiring. My husband, our kids (Gabrielle, Barrett, Maya and Kira) and I all feel very honored and lucky to have had the opportunity to have met your mom and learn about her mission to raise awareness about cancer. We wish her all the best!

I’m attaching a few photos – including a couple of our alpacas.

Lori Weber

The 17th of August 2007. Hi, received this wonderful piece of writing from Rosie, I hope you all like it. A big thank you, I have been asked to pass on from Rosie, is to all those people who have left such kind and encouraging messages in a guest book. I have been sent some wonderful photos of Rosie, thank you all so much. I shall be putting them up on the web site tomorrow morning as it is a bit too late tonight. Regards James

From Rosie

A funny thing happened to me recently. I was stopped at a Gas Station in eastern Ohio drinking coffee - when a man came in and exclaimed - 'Hey! You girls are doing a GREAT JOB!' You are really STRIDING OUT!!!!' - WHAT A TEAM!!!!' I thanked him for the support, and for the joke. I said being part of a team with carts would have been fun, but I was on my own. 'OH NO YOU'RE NOT! He insisted. I'VE SEEN 3 OF YOU ALREADY TODAY! . Three tall blondes, all pulling carts - is this some kind of gig?' '

There was the one I saw early who was getting up after sleeping in her cart.. The one I saw running later....who must be far ahead of you on the road by now... And there's - YOU!!' He was a determined sort of man.. I could see.. Used to having his words believed. He left shaking his head in a good humored way at my astonishment, He said he wished me and all my team the best of luck.....

By now the lady behind the counter and I had both become pretty agog with excitement! Maybe some people had decided to join me - and I didn't know about it yet! She bestowed a granola bar upon me as a gift for extra energy - and said - 'You MUST catch the runner in front... It will be great for you to be able to run together.... I ran!!! In my heart I fear that I knew that they were maybe all just me! I had looked different early am, as I was more wrapped up, and nobody else had seen any of the 'other runners' - I was chasing shadows. I was chasing MYSELF... But it fun! -

And it certainly helped me make great progress for awhile! It's the nearest I've got to being cloned! It's been a great week. I left Andover, a pretty and friendly little town - the most easterly town along Hwwy 85 in Ohio - and ran along the causeway across a Lake Pymatuning, into Pennsylvania! Sparkling blue waters led me to first sight of Pennsylvania's lush green hills and forests....

The steep climbs are all worth it!!! The scenery is spectacular.. It is wilder than I expected... I climb the hills enjoying the views - and I keep thinking - about the moment I'll get to the TOP -And be able to run downhill awhile - who said going downhill in life isn't a good idea??? Downhill in Penn is full of hidden valleys and birdsong!

There are small settlements with quaint names like CUSTARD, which I have just been through! And Cochranton, where. I met some marvelous people. Among these, was the town's charming chief librarian Deanna Gray. She She told me her husband is called Earl Gray - like the tea - except that her Grey doesn't have to E! She said she's always wanted to liv e in England!

I also met a young lady called Madelyn who is 7. Madelyn is one of the stars of her school soccer team - I've booked her as my mascot for Pennsylvania, and she's drawn a lovely picture for me, that I'll keep. Very slightly older mascots were Barb a farmer at heart, she says and Jeanne, who rode an ATV like a rough rider, but looks exactly like Marilyn Monroe!!! They were all very interested in my cause for the cancer screening and loved Wild Wings Charlie!

Two ladies, Pat and Loretta, who show dogs, long distance as a hobby, and have to know the best way to go everywhere, have worked out a very good route for me through the countryside - but heading direct for New Jersey - and New York.. 'If in doubt -GO EAST!' THEY WROTE AS P.S. IN THEIR NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS!! From New York of course it is up to Boston - Then to Newfoundland from where I shall take the ferry to GREENLAND!

I'm very conscious of the fact that I am now on the last stage of my run across the North American Continent - and that it has all been very, very special. It's been on my mind that I'd like to dedicate this final USA stretch of the run to my father , Major Ronald Ponsonby Griffin. I didn't know him very well, as he died when I was nine, and I never lived very long with him, as my grandmother took me and raised me - but he was a very remarkable person.

He made a mark on my life forever, even in a short time... My father was an officer in the Royal Engineers for many years - He was an exceptional linguist who spoke 7 languages fluently... He also was the tallest officer in the British Army at 6ft. 11 and a half inches tall.! I've heard that when he was parachuted into Greece during WORLD WAR 2 to fight with the Partisans - he got on better than some, because he didn't have so far to fall!

My dear French step mother, Marianne Griffin, who lives in Co Limerick in Ireland describes how he'd always had to take out the front seat of his cars - and drive from the back seat!!! I admire. Marianne very much also, and got to know her better, after I had grown up. She is about 81 but seems to be becoming younger and livelier - she still drives a car like crazy - or like a racing driver - and teaches French to university entrance standard to her devoted pupils.

It was delightful to see her looking so well at Evie's wonderful wedding in June! I have a precious memory of staying with them for a little while when I was about 5, and they were living in France, and my grandmother had had to go to hospital for a time.. My father took me for a picnic by the edge of a forest...

We roasted potatoes on a fire we made. I can smell the smoke from the wood, and the scent from the beautiful wildflowers all around us- even as I write today...! ' ... 'Rosie -you have a head shaped like pretty cabbage I believe!' ' he'd said to me affectionately, looking at me with his blue charismatic soldier's eyes... 'I think you can do ANYTHING! Anyway, this next part of the run is for him, for Marianne, for the spirit of my brave often maddened, pain racked and crippled grandmother Cara Lilian - who kept to her bed, but taught you CAN reach unafraid to face each day, even when you want move out to the commode alone, or can't walk a step.

And it is for my darling Evie, James, Pete, the kids. The tribe in Ireland, in the Uk in USA..and Siberia - I have had such great people in my life and I still do.. In thinking of my father's history, I want to honor those in the Services - above the bravest of the brave in Alaska Air Guard. I will always love and admire them beyond words. I would not be running the beautiful hill of Pennsylvania if Bob Collins and the Air Guard had not brilliantly and with extreme kindness and tenderness too, helped me when I had frostbite and nearly lost a foot and more in Feb 2006! I run every step feeling thanks to them.

I'll never take being able to run for granted. It is not a right, but a privilege to be able to do this expedition. I thank everyone for making it possible - I am running for you all . Often those I see least of are the most in my heart. Please don't forget Major Haller Christine.. John, Mario and all the other fabulous dedicated people I am so very privileged to know in Alaska's National Air Guard - I'll be back to see you! I want so much to thank you all over again - I'll be there, after I've completed this run .... YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!

Regarding my progress and reasons for running in spreading the message re the cancer check ups - The Meadville Tribune yesterday quoted me as saying - "'It's like Robert Frost said - 'I've got miles to go before I sleep, and promises to keep". Promises with which to keep faith during the world run, and after it! For it will be the start of another journey Life's the journey. love Rosie.

10 of August 2007. Hi everyone, Rosie is a bit flooded out at the moment, there has been a huge amount of rain lately, but he is in very good spirits, though she does get rather stressed out about writing her Friday update, as he is rather a perfectionist. I probably should not tell you this, but she was fretting about how to start and when the deadline was. Her blackberry stopped working and she wrote up her report using the computer in a doctor's reception area that the lady had kindly let her use. Rosie is an excellent writer and I have a morale boosting talk which she seems like. I think she has done a great peace, I hope you like it. Also a big thank you to Lila Philbrook and Joy, Paul and Eme Ertel for the photos and e-mails. regards James

Hi James,

We have had the honor of meeting your Mother this evening. She is a very inspirational person. Energy exudes from every pore of her body. Our daughter received a special education this evening, getting to hear Rosie's story of her travels around the world.

We have the honor, also, of having her stay in our "front yard", which is actually part of Edgewater Park, here in Cleveland, Ohio. She's safe and sound and, hopefully, will get some rest.

We have attached 3 photos, 2 are with our daughter, Eme.

Peace to you and yours,

Joy, Paul & Eme Ertel

Here are a few pictures Rosie wanted me to send to you. Picture 1 is being fitted for her upgraded harness. Picture 2. Sue and Karl from Shipshe Harness, completed the job. Next three Rosie driving the horse and buggy in Shipshewana, Indiana. Dan Glick helping Rosie hitching the first time with her new remake of the harness. Lila helped Rosie get to the harness shop and tour Shipshewana. Rosie is the horse, Rick Philbrook the rider. Enjoy the pictures. I have certainly enjoyed spending time with Rosie, her spirit and attitude are most positive and uplifting. Her journey is so incredible, that I can't even imagine the scope of it. I know she is most anxious to get home.

Best Wishes,

Lila Philbrook

From Rosie

This morning began with -'THE DOG WITH NO NAME'! Ohio has been teaching me to expect surprises. Even so, I was stunned about half an hour ago this morning - to see a dog bounding towards me through all the rain puddles, carrying a bottle in his mouth. This turned out to me a bottle full of ice tea - for me! The dog, partly Labrador and partly Heinz, was a shaggy honey colored beautiful fellow.

He dropped the bottle fairly reluctantly, as he wanted me to stop pulling the cart and to play throw or chase with him. He was keen to play - and I won! He was gorgeous, and wanted his tummy rubbed. there was a small note carefully tied to the bottle - 'For Rosie the Runner'! it read. I looked up at all the many apartments in the buildings. I am running past Richmond Heights en route to a little town on Highway 6 called Chardon. I couldn't see who had done this! There was no sign of ANYONE! Except the dog. It was still early in the morning.

So I drank the iced tea, pinned a 'thank you' to the dog's collar - and off he bounded. I never knew his name - just wished I had his energy. This is just one example of the utter sweetness and graciousness of the local inhabitants - 2 and 4 legged. beautiful people and animals are the lifeline of the world - and this is true both right now in Ohio - and most importantly, going back in an exceptional way to day one of my world run.

Much in my mind this week as they ALWAYS are - have been my fantastic Evie, James, the kids and friends, Ann Rowell in Tenby, Catherine and Nedd in London, Kath Garner in North Wales, Steven Seaton the publisher of Runner's World, Saucony shoe company, Peter Hutchinson of PHD Mountain wear, Terra Nova tents, Steven Holland genius buggy designer, Geoff Hall who is always a knight in shining Armour, Melissa Rone and everyone at Goshen Center for Cancer care, Bob Collins who saved my life, or my 9 lives - when I was in Alaska and all the family Nancy, Patty, Kevin and the tribe...Fabulous dentist Jay and his wife Krista, Natasha in Siberia and many others. I have a large and vvvvvspecial family.... that is growing larger right up to yesterday and d today. I love you all....

Even with much, much more than enough to do to contend with the recent very difficult weather conditions, the people in the area of Cleveland have cheered me on in such a kind way. I shall always remember Cleveland as a city of heroes. This is why....! As I write a man pulled up his car - leaned out of the window and said he had seen me on the news -He was very interested in Goshen Center for Cancer Care, which like Cleveland Clinic, is state of the art for cancer treatment.

But he also asked _ 'Did you really run through the rough districts in East Cleveland? Didn’t you have trouble?? You must be joking!!!! I was so very, very privileged to run there. I was often passing men and women whose faces told of a long and desperately hard day at work, many working in the poorer area's sweatshops for a minimal wage. Yesterday, the rain crashed down as solid as a waterfall from the sky, turning the pavements of Cleveland into torrents. These men and woman had to walk knee-deep through the swirling rushing water to the bus stop and wait for the buses that seemed pretty dodgy in the weather too - Hardly the perfect end to a perfect day, but they so often still a kindly wave and a smile for Wild Wings Charlie and for me! as I passed by.

They called out things like - 'GO FOR IT GIRL'! I loved them. there is life and strength in the streets born of all the struggling. I met Wilbur, who said to me 'many of the people who are homeless, don't l LOOK homeless'.. It was true. He was thin, but Wilbur was smartened up as he could be, wearing cleanly washed old pants and windcheater. Wilbur said he hoped to be able to get work soon. Meanwhile, he helps out at a shelter where the homeless can get coffee and some food and access to soap and water. He added that he is going to try to write a book, so that the people in the tall buildings - he pointed to the skyline - can read it and understand his experiences. He did not ask me for money, but I did pass on a little to him, he was so urgently trying to help himself out of his situation.

He thanks me and told me that he was grateful as just now he had not had a single quarter on him, so it would be very useful. I kept going, thinking 'when a man without even a quarter is able to serve others, and stand tall and be so courteous - that is the measure of a great person. Later, I met Police Officer Ed Bonchak. He is a D.A.R.E. Instructor for the Juvenile Unit of Euclid Police Dept. He is a very dedicated officer, who for 16 years has organized the DARE Drug Abuse Resistance Education in the city - he has he told me 'graduated' 1000 young people a years - 16,000 altogether through the program. Love Rosie.

The 3rd of August 2007. Hi, I hope everyone is well. I have just received the wonderful report from Rosie I hope you all enjoy it. Regards James

The photos were kindly thinking by Annie and Philip, thank you so much.

From Rosie

The moon in Ohio is something special, I've been trying to run by moonlight to dodge daytime temperatures of about 97F with 102F predicted for today, but there's very much more to it than that! The nights are a joy. As always, I have to battle with my decadent nature... It is so tempting at 3am to wake up, admire the beautiful moonlight very much....put on one shoe - then fall fast asleep again......! Trying to make it, means pretending to the legs - and to the brain! - that it isn't happening - until it is too late., One is harnessed up and actually running!!!

The moonlight and bright stars shining down on the sweet corn crops as I ran along highway 19,, made the leaves and tops of the corn look like surreal and beautiful silver flames in the night breeze, stretching as far as the eye could see. The moon made the fields clearly visible. Yet so totally different, as if I had wandered into a different story!!! This is all thanks to a little detour! Maybe, it is not just running, but DETOURS, with their fun and beauty, as well as all their struggles, that are the true metaphor for life.

I am extremely grateful for the very kind advice of Deputy Sheriff Kevin Meek and to Trooper S R Zehnde of Ottawa County for saving me a huge amount of backtracking. The only way across from Port Clinton towards Cleveland, is on freeways inaccessible to pedestrians. I'd have been stuck were it not for their thoughtfulness and extra maps, .The southern route I am now following is along hywy 19., then east and by way of hywy 20 through Fremont, and along hywy 113 to the village of Milan, birthplace of Thomas A Edison. From here I can head for Cleveland and New York. .

It turned out that part of hywy 19 was closed for repairs and barricaded - That was no problem!! Even though I got to the closed section very late at night some of the wonderful local farmers and Highway Engineers who had heard of my adventures, had stayed up late to move the barricades apart specially for me! Along this road for a long while Charlie and I were the only vehicle!! But I was far from alone!! I saw three large barn owls, hovering above the corn, seeking for mice.

A bit later, a pretty fox came out along the verges to stare at me. Foxes often seem very interested in my cart!! Plus, there were hundreds of little bats whirring about.... All very entertaining company... A few days ago, I stocked up on some delicious potatoes and jam and cucumbers at one of the local roadside stalls. I had also purchased some organic garlic that was on sale -.thinking of my cuisine! 'Just as well,' remarked the stall owner lady, 'It's coming up to full moon... There will be the vampires about!' I saw no vampires!

The only unwelcome visitors are of course the mosquitoes. and other little bugs which took my blood anyway. They weren't as bad as the ones in Siberia and Alaska - or Canada.. In Canada, the campsites all sell tee-shirts saying things like - 'YOU NEVER SEE A SINGLE MOSQUITO HERE - They are all married with. VERY large families' It doesn't' t do to wear your 'head torch' on your head in these circumstances - you have to hold it in your hand instead - or the bugs fly straight into your mouth and give you unwanted protein for dinner... There's more to come ..

Meanwhile I just want to say that I send all my sympathies to the people of Minneapolis for their loss and disaster, and may God be with their families.. It really set me thinking about how much I worry about my friends everywhere. I've been thinking a lot recently about my friend Sister Dorothy in Fairbanks, Alaska.. She worked at a Mission in the Alaskan wilderness for years, and is known affectionately as Princess Polar Bear, because of her love of the wildlife.

Most of these thoughts have been on how very much I owe her a letter - but she got in first! It was fabulous to read her email on my web and to learn the very happy news that she has been back to her hospital for more checks - and has now been completely free of her breast cancer for a full three years - Many congratulations Sister Dorothy - it's fantastic.!

I can only manage the reasonable amount of progress that I ABSOLUTELY have to make, If I don't get tempted to stop a lot to write letters.. But THOUGHTS are the letters too - and I CAN and do send these to all of you Well - this report has grown - like a long letter HOME, It's appropriate! HOME is everywhere!!! Home which I love very much, is of course Tenby and all my dear family/ friends in the Uk -.and HOME is in the forests with the birds singing at dawn, and home is the villages I run through...

Home are the unique memories that are given me to keep and treasure every day Home is the little patch of lawn on I'm camped right now,, half way across Ohio! I continue to meet astounding and generous people everywhere. Among the very, very many are. - Sandy Wohlever, daughter Danielle, grand daughter Ashley, grandson Travis, baby Chase - their 2 dogs and 9 cats.! They invited me in last night, got me a fantastic shower, washed all my clothes - and offered me a bed, but understood why I wanted to stay camped in Charlie, parked on their lawn - mostly because I needed to stay up at night to write this and didn't wish to disturb anyone.

Among all the others who make such a difference was Dan Markley and his family who among much other kindness gave me a blanket with the Statue of Liberty on it! This brought a lump to my throat. Taking me back to my solo transatlantic voyage from Wales to New York in 1983, to the Statue of Liberty. I've decided that when I finish running to New York - I will run all the way from The Bronx to Manhattan and then go out to Staten Island where I landed then. It will be the meeting point of the ocean voyage and the voyage on 2 feet 2 I am engaged on now.! l began thinking about how when I'd run of food on the ocean, and had been battling with storms 1000 miles from land - something miraculous happened. A sweet yellow land bird, that looked something like a finch, though I wasn't sure what it was - arrived on my little boat exhausted...

He lived with me for days taking a rest. Maybe he'd been blown out to sea in the gales, or maybe he was on a migration.. Anyway, eventually he took off looking fine again - and went on his way. This inspired me and gave courage and faith to make it.. I remember thinking - whatever happens - at least the voyage has helped this bird......

While I was actually thinking back to all this about 5 days ago just before turning off hywy 2 for hywy 19 - I arrived at a small cafe called