Well here was Jed in Newport News Virginia, sleeping on the beach and getting pumped for the start of the run the next morning. I think he did about 30 miles that day. My next contact came when Jed arrived in Yorktown, then again in Williamsburg. What incredibly rich historical towns he was seeing! The early years of our country in every turn of the trail. Jed loved early American history. His old high school teacher, Larry Kuhlman had instilled a love of early American history in this young man, and he was thrilled to see all the sights of "colonial" America. The tour of Virginia would become exceedingly rich in historical interest for him. The TransAmerica Bike trail that he was following wound through much of our country's early history. As the days passed, the challenge became one of running on unfamiliar footing.....asphalt and hard surface. He was accustomed to running on ground..much softer and easier on the legs and feet.
My next contacts with Jed both worried and saddened me, as I found that he was running daily on badly blistered feet. Still knocking out runs of 20 to 25 miles a day, but done so in great pain. He finally had to sit out for a day and go into town and purchase another pair of shoes and different socks.
Near Lexington, he camped along a river with his blistered feet lying in the swift moving cold water. He said he fell asleep then, his feet soothed and starting to heal some. We both knew this would take quite a long time, and would be a continuously recurring problem.....but for that night, his pain was tempered and I breathed a sigh of relief.
In Mineral, Virginia, he struck up a conversation with a man who was a firefighter in that town. As we have come to realize, firefighters are a brave and compassionate lot, and they invited Jed to stay at the firehouse with all the hospitality included, as well as sorely missed company and conversation. I was touched by their kindness. I could not tell them how grateful I was for them that day.

The run continued, and my next word came as Jed came into Lexington. We were talking on our cell phones, when all of a sudden Jed said "Wow! I am coming up on Stonewall Jackson's tomb!!! I am going to jump off now so I can check this out!"

That was my Jed. His enthusiasm is boundless. That kid lives more IN ONE DAY than most other people I know do in a whole year. It occurs to me that Jed is just plain in love with life. I cannot imagine how empty life would have been if he had not been born. So glad our family was blessed to have him. He has had such an impact on so many lives. He is just plain fun to know.