Walking to Hanshill

Brad loves to joke around with his students. This year on Earth Day he and one of his students got into a discussion about environmental consciousness and doing things to save energy. Brad teased the student about riding to school every day in a car driven by a parent so the parent makes two round-trip drives each day. He suggested the student might consider riding her bike to school instead --- you know, put your money where your mouth is. Even riding a school bus might be more environmentally sound.

So he and this student went round and round back and forth. Finally they came up with a challenge/agreement. If the student would ride her bike to school, then Brad would walk home from school.  The challenge was accepted, on both sides.

So yesterday, Monday June 4, was the day. Sure enough the student rode her bike. She left home at 5:45 a.m. and arrived at E. C. Glass at 6:52. I don't know the exact number of miles she rode but it was at least ten miles. The bike then sat in Brad's classroom for the day.

Here she's at Boonsboro Road and 501.

In the parking lot at E. C. Glass --- she made it!

   Ta da!  This exceptional young woman's name is Hope Wright!

At 11:47 a.m. Brad struck out on his hike to get home, heading down Memorial Avenue and Fifth Street. In the first hour he made it downtown, across the bridge, and about a half mile up River Road. When he got to Red and Dot's, he stopped and had two Gatorades. He sat on the porch and chatted with the proprietors.  Here he is walking along River Road maybe a half mile before Red  Dot's.

In this next shot he had made it up the long, arduous hill on King's Road and he is on a flat spot just before the house that has the cows.

He said the worst part of the walk, going up King's Road, was made immeasurably easier by a phone call he got as he was starting up the hill. The coach of the Glass lacrosse team, Coach Ranuska, called Brad to give him advance notice of something very exciting. He had just learned that two of our seniors had been chosen as All American lacrosse players from the state of Virginia. The players are Jimbo Moore and Joe Vincent. In addition Joe was chosen as the Regional player of the year. Brad said talking to Coach Ranuska and hearing this fabulous news made the walk a breeze -- he scarcely knew he was walking up that steep hill.

In this next shot he's on Elon Road with the railroad bridge off in the distance ahead.

Now I'm waiting at the Leftwich Road intersection --- he has just crossed the railroad bridge.

 FINALLY, he had made the turn onto Leftwich Road -- I'm sitting next to the mailboxes. Thank heavens nobody ran him over out there on the highway.

 Coming through our gate and onto our driveway.

Faith was barking about the person walking down our road toward the house. Finally she figured out that the person was a friendly face.  HOME AT LAST. The 7.4 mile trip was completed in two hours and 50 minutes. Good for you, Mr. Barth!!

This effort was not environmentally friendly, since the student's mom drove more miles than on a normal school day, and ditto for the Barths. I drove Brad to school in the morning, then went out three different times to check his progress on his walk. However, we hope that this was a memorable day for the student. At least it says something about Mr. Barth's word.  Go, old man!!