Day 1: So This is Decatur

The first day of any adventure tends to be the most difficult, and it turns out that The Wish Walk is no exception.

By the time we pulled into Fort Wayne last night, it was 11:00. Not to worry, though; we had the address of an RV campground and figured we were all set. Alas, it turns out that the internet is not foolproof, and our alleged campground was nothing more than an elementary school in a residential neighborhood. Knowing nobody in the neighborhood, and having had my fill of elementary school some years ago, we opted for Plan B. Scott the RV Driver – who volunteered his services at the last minute to save us from an unforeseen crisis involving our original driver – cleverly navigated the streets of Fort Wayne and planted us in the parking lot of a local Wal Mart. Turns out Wal Marts are open 24/7 and welcome truckers, RV drivers, and their ilk to use the parking lot to their hearts content. Now you might think that a Wal Mart offers less than idyllic conditions, but the Wal Mart clientele in the wee hours offers some choice people watching opportunities. Not the best, maybe – it’s awfully hard to beat any neighborhood Steak and Shake under similar circumstances – but still pretty good. And in any event, this was far from the worst place I’ve ever stayed. That standard was set on one of my previous summer escapades, when I spend three months broadcasting games with the Rookie level afilliate of the Cincinnati Reds and picked up a nasty case of bed bugs in a hotel in Idaho Falls.

But that’s a story for another time.

After a good night’s rest, we rolled into the police training center in Fort Wayne. I did a couple of television interviews, met Michelle, our highway escort, and hit the road. The bulk of Tuesday’s journey was spent on county road 27, an efficient but relatively boring stretch of road that offered little in the way of sight seeing. It did, however, offer a near continuous chance to inhale the invigorating aroma of cow manure. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, I’ll grant you, but I’m looking forward to experiencing all of the things I never get to experience on the NBA trail, and this definitely qualifies. Though, in fairness, it should be mentioned that I’ve noticed a similar smell emanating from the bowels (no pun intended) of the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

I stopped for lunch about nine miles in, then trekked the last six or so and am now in Decatur. Interesting place. There’s a drive in called Arnold’s here, complete with an old car that appears to be from the 1950′s on the roof, and I’m sitting in a place called The Double Eagle as I type this. It’s a combination restauraunt, bar, and golf course, and I’m told that this is the place to get a taste of the local culture. We’ll see how long they’ll tolerate me.

Tomorrow, we’re off to Berne. Dave Nathan, the News Director at WZBD in Berne will walk the route with me, and says he wants to do a live interview along the way. I wonder how wheezing and coughing comes across on FM? Also, I met a young lady at the gas station here, and she’s a cancer survivor that says she might join us, too.

One glitch so far. I forgot to bring the Super Duper Camera that has mystical capabilities that allow me to automatically post photos and videos on this site. Consequently, until I rendezvous with said camera at some point soon, I’ll be forced to use my old (already obsolete) 3G iPhone to post photos on my Facebook website. You’ll find those on my Mark Boyle (public figure) page.

Wednesday’s Journey: Decatur to Berne

Miles: 13.2 (23,232 steps. Not that I’m counting)

On the iPod: Beyonce’s I am…Sasha Fierce CD, NPR’s Talk of the Nation.