Just as I was about to leave our family-owned Della's  Deli – where I sometimes help with the lunch rush – a young woman came in. With the hydraulics on the double glass doors not working quite right, she had a little trouble fitting through with all her gear – a pair of trekking poles and a massive 45-pound backpack. I knew right off the bat she was a hiker, but to be honest, what I most noticed were her sparkling eyes and big smile. She wanted a sandwich and we talked her into a bowl of hot soup – and a sitting stool – too. What started out as lunch turned into a lengthy conversation which included a string of afternoon customers. Amanda was walking the American Discovery Trail – from Cape Henlopen, Delaware clear to San Francisco. We were intrigued to say the least. So what makes a Texas-born 22-year-old with a kinesiology degree set out by herself to walk 5,000 miles across 13 states?

 

Yes, she is raising some funds for a non-profit, Youth World Dallas Learning Center, which offers youth development programs for at-risk kids. She has personally worked with like programs in the past, leading wilderness trips and rock climbing adventures, drawing a paycheck which she banked for her passion project by sleeping in her van.

 

But Amanda is also on a discovery mission. Having started with the Atlantic Ocean waves lapping on the shore behind her, she eventually crossed Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge and C & O Canal, venturing into the Mountain State where she trekked across Dolly Sods all by her lonesome in a snowstorm. She experienced the wonder of Canaan Valley and various rural – and as she noted very mountainous - areas of West Virginia. Amanda has yet to experience adventures in Ohio and southernmost Indiana and Illinois, potential tornadoes in Missouri and Kansas and the raw beauty of the west, including Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and the rocks, ridges and dessert lands of Utah and Nevada, ultimately crossing into California and ending her journey at the Pacific Ocean.

 

It’s funny because looking at her turn-by-turn trail map – which definitely does not take her directly from point A to point B – we were trying to tell her about short-cuts, so to speak. But saving time – or getting her journey completed as quickly as possible – isn’t part of her mission. Rather, she wants to see each state’s signature scenic spots through which the trail has been routed.

 

Though her eyes light up about the adventure before her, it’s certainly not just about the diverse terrain, climates and extreme elevations she’s literally walking through. Heightening her senses is also an important part of her journey as she pays close attention to everything she sees, smells, tastes and feels. In a very big way, this journey is about the human connections she makes along the way. I found this all very ironic and eye opening because as a rule, it seems the human race is geared toward accomplishing as much as possible in a day’s time; sometimes even finding human interaction getting in the way. Yet, those connections are part of her mission of self-discovery.

 

Amanda wound up spending a couple days with us and a couple nights in one of our spare beds. She taught us so much. Though she has traveled 500 miles on foot, already encountering some amazing experiences and memories, she loved just listening to our family conversations, silly antics and stories. She was excited about meeting a bunch of family members and friends. She’s a patient listener and genuinely appreciates everything. No one owes her anything, she said, so anything extended to her – whether it be a slice of pizza, hot shower or warm blanket – is a generous gift.

 

What I considered a hectic, cluttered house was “lovely” to Amanda. A tattered bath towel was as good as a plush one and there was no need to dirty a dessert dish when she had already used a plate for her pasta. She’s a non-nonsense gal, utilizing only what she needs and when her needs are met, she’s very happy. Wow, why aren’t we all more like that?

 

I could go on and on about our family’s new friend; her bravery, sense of adventure and resourcefulness. I mean a gal who is thrilled to sleep in a wooden outhouse in the mountains or in her tent set up in someone’s front yard – having to warm up her body with jumping jacks before slipping into her sleeping bag for the night - certainly has a contagious spirit.

 

But I’ll leave it at this: As she left Bridgeport Sunday to journey her next 20 miles before sunset, she left behind a tearful temporary family who will now be checking on her every stretch of the way. But among things she took with her is a deeper appreciation for small town, USA. She learned a little about the history and Italian heritage of our area, ate Twin Oaks’ famous pizza and experienced the spirited rivalry and tight teamwork of the Bridgeport High School/Robert C. Byrd basketball game. She was touched that a hometown store would make special closing arrangements to accommodate a customer and that most everyone around here is connected – or even related - in some way.

 

The sense of community of Bridgeport, Clarksburg and surrounding areas made a lasting impression on this cross-country traveler, who left quite an imprint on our hearts and lives. And she also gave a thumbs up to our pepperoni rolls – the very first this little rock-climbing, country dancing Texan and American Discovery Trail “dirt dancer” had ever tasted.

 

As they say, it’s about the journey; not the destination. I truly never let that sink in so literally before. Thank you Amanda.

 

Learn more about Amanda and keep up with her journey at dancingwiththedirt.com, dedicated to the dreamers, the non-traditional way of living, and to liberating oneself from the constrictions of fear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And keep your eyes open for more cross-country hikers as the American Discovery Trail leads its adventurers right along Bridgeport's Main Street. 

 

Read WDTV's story about Amanda HERE.

 

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200 ext. 2, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter.

More "It's Happening" HERE.