Day 61: My New Friend Justine

Picture: Hotel Roanoke, beautiful building and ammenities.

Our day off in Roanoke was a busy one seeing that we had two friendship visits and a team meeting. Morning breakfast was the very selective buffet at the hotel sponsored by Larry and Betty Heaton whose son rode Trans a few years ago. We then left the hotel to Camp Virginia Jaycees, a camp for people living with disabilities. The camp had all the typical camp stuff like fishing, arts and crafts, swimming, and horseback riding. There I got to do crafts with Justine, Rose, and Elize. Elize was about 9 years old and in a wheelchair, she did not have any mouth control so her and I communicated with eye contact and pointing. Rose was an extremely cognitive girl who loved beating me in arm wrestling, she would get the biggest smile and laugh forever after beating me; and then, as if it weren’t embarrassing enough she would tell everyone all about how she beat “the world champion of arm wrestling.” Justine was my buddy for the day, she made sure that her and I sat together for lunch. She would continually have me reassure her that we were friends and loved to yell my name from across the room and point. She would get a little shy and red in the face after we laughed about something, very cute. I asked her to draw me a picture so she drew one of me and wrote both of our names on it, I’m sure it’s a picture Ill have for a long time so I can remember her and that visit. After eating lunch at the camp we headed back to the hotel for some down time.

Picture: Cameron gets to know one of the girls at the art area.

It was back in the vans at 4:45 so we could head to Easter Seals Virginia, another camp for families of people with disabilities. This camp had rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, and other fun activities that families would come with their children with disabilities for a week of fun and relaxation. After taking a tour of the camp grounds we got to meet about five families that had just arrived for their six day stay. After talking with some of the parents over dinner I found that many of the families their come this time every year to get together and reunite with the same families, only one family was new this year. It was neat to interact with the parents of the kids with disabilities because we get to see a different side and perspective as to what it is like to have someone in the family living with a disability.

Picture: Rose beats me once again in the arm wrestling championships.

This evening we had our last team meeting while on the road together, we promised our final one would be in DC after the awards banquet. It is amazing coming to the realization that we are in Virginia and only have 5 days left. Its also sad that it has to come to an end. At pass the water bottle tonight everyone homed on the fact that this amazing Journey is at its end and to soak up every last mile and friendship visit in these last five days. I just can’t believe it, words can’t describe the amazing experience this has been, I know there are going to be a lot of tears from everyone when we hit DC.

Picture: Justine and I are best of friends now. Here is her portrait she drew of me, see a resemblance?

Later Matt, Dan, and I once again took advantage of the fitness gym at the hotel to workout some upper body, I know my arms have definitely shrunk since the trip started. Afterwards everyone was glued to the TV to watch the Olympics. Tonight we witnessed Michael Phelps continue to dominate as well as the US and China compete in gymnastics. Tomorrow we have a 100 mile day to Farmsville, VA, our final century day.

Picture: Cameron and I in the vans on our way to a friendship visit!