I'm not covering many miles yet, only about 25 miles from El Centro. I have been preparing myself for the heat of Southern California's desert country. In El Centro I purchased material to build a little porch of such, and attached it to my sign so as to keep thee sun directly off me. I met a wonderful and life loving young lady Tuesday, Kim Vincent. A very inspiring individual. Also on Tuesday, stopped at Imperial Pipe Supply Company and asked for water. I told everyone in their office my story, thanked them for the water and stepped outside and was face to face with a huge camera lens! Behind it was Joselito Villero, staff photographer for the Imperial Valley Press. everyone came out of the office and all became involved in the interview... it was wonderful! A beautiful young Hispanic girl stopped and handed me a fresh donut and asked that God bless me. Pitched my tent just up the road, sat on a log and checked my email! Isn't Broadband simply marvelous!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009. After walking through Brawley, CA. I stopped for a break under the rare find of a shade tree. While sitting there enjoying the freedom from the sun and my way too heavy backpack, a gentleman named Mark pulled up in his truck, "Hey, I saw you in the paper today... brought you a fresh bottle of water." I thanked him and we talked of my cause, etc. I explained to him that I didn't have any Mylar to put on my little homemade porch I had attached to my backpack for protection from the sun and had to use just aluminum tape.  Mark informed me of a Mylar cover which was made for water heaters and how he had purchased the same material by the foot and used it as sleeping mat while on hunting trips. I asked the price, the weight, etc. and told him I would probably purchase some to cover my porch with. About an hour later, a horn blows, I turn around and Mark is on a side road and motions me over. There he stands with a wonderful smile, a new roll if Mylar, a new cold bottle of water and a Subway sandwich! While we were standing there, a gentleman named Bill pulls up and greets his friend Mark and then says to me, "I saw you in the paper."  He then handed me a very small copy of the Christian New Testament and said there's a couple dollars in there for a taco or somethin'." I had decided not to carry any books this time.... but hey.... you should have seen the sincerity in his face! If it gets too heavy I'll pass it on.
It was getting late and I knew there would not be much in the way of camping spots ahead of me in the land of irrigation ditches, lettuce, and carrot fields. I was walking by an Americas Best  Value Inn and thought, "What the hell, no harm in tryin'." It was really nice inside and so my hopes of being able to afford it were dimming. I walked up to the counter and introduced myself to the lovely young clerk, Britannia, and asked for the best possible price she could give me... and she did... and I grabbed it!! Whoopee!! Another night in a motel room! I am about to enter a stretch where there will be no motels in the range of one who travels by foot. My dilemma now, to make it out of the desert country before it gets way too hot, I figure I have about three more weeks before it gets unbearable. If I do not get past the Majove Desert in time, I will be forced to take a ride instead of walk, I just am unable to carry enough water.