RunAcrossTheUSA.com

[Matt]

As Brandon mentioned, we were surprised by hometown friends last night. Our high school friends, James and Jenny Smith, drove to Lafayette from Illinois. Pika Aderman and Derek Grinsteiner--former Stephenson runners--and Pika's father Lee drove all the way from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Mrs. Conley graciously allowed them to camp in her backyard.

Thank you once again to the Conley and Greives families for their hospitality. Thanks also to Mrs. Severinsen for making these arrangements possible.

This was really a fun day as our friends decided that they wanted to share in our journey. All five of them walked about 8 miles with us today. Later Jenny and James left and returned with delicious pizza, breadsticks, and shakes. Since Jenny has to work on Sunday, they left later in the afternoon.

The two of us did a really dumb thing today. Thanks to our idiocy in forgetting to fill the water bladders and the fact that the towns were about 25 miles apart, we ran out of water with about 15 miles to go. We learned our lesson and are thankful it wasn't hot outside today.

This morning we started out west of Lafayette, IN, and tonight we crossed the IL border. Brandon and I made 35 miles before stopping in Hoopeston, Illinois.

Dinner was at an A&W-style, mom and pop restaurant in Hoopeston called Hennings. A unique feature of the restaurant was that every booth had a phone in it that you used to place your order. The restaurant had really good food for really good prices. We recommend you stop there if you are ever in Hoopeston. Thanks, Mr. Aderman, for the great meal.

The pastor of the Church of God struck up a conversation with us as we were stopped by the roadside near his house. He guessed that we might be walking across the U.S. as he had driven by us earlier in the day. When he realized we were looking for someplace to camp, he offered his backyard. The pastor--Jeremy--and his two adorable children named Josiah and Anna are our hosts tonight. In addition, Mr. Aderman, Pika and Derek are camping with us before heading home tomorrow morning.

Thanks so much to our friends who traveled to see us this weekend.

We wish our fathers a Happy Father's Day on Sunday.