Chicago to L.A. — Recap Week 4

Summary

Rasheed Hooda recounts his fourth week of walking the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, detailing the experiences, encounters, and reflections from Virden, Illinois to Ballwin, Missouri.

Abstract

In the fourth week of his journey along Route 66, Rasheed Hooda covers the stretch from Virden, Illinois to Ballwin, Missouri. Despite the road distance being less than 94 miles, Hooda walked over a hundred miles as he explored and searched for rest stops. His week was filled with memorable interactions, including encounters with guardian angels and generous benefactors, and he reflects on the lessons learned from these experiences. Hooda also shares his challenges, such as an asthma attack without medication, and his moments of indulgence, like enjoying steaks and milkshakes. He invites readers to follow his daily posts for more frequent updates and expresses gratitude for the support he has received. The article concludes with links to recaps of previous weeks and a brief introduction to Hooda as an author and contributor to the ILLUMINATION writers' community on Medium.

Opinions

Hooda views his decision to walk Route 66 as an act of following through on a crazy idea that many people might have but rarely pursue.
The author believes in the power of community and support, as evidenced by the assistance he received from individuals he refers to as "guardian angels" and "generous benefactors."
Hooda suggests that networking online can yield better results, emphasizing the importance of speaking up and not assuming anything.
He reflects on the idea that problems come with solutions, as demonstrated by his self-healing experience during an asthma attack without medication.
The journey is seen as both a physical and a spiritual quest, with Hooda learning from students and recognizing that teachers and students are often the same.
Hooda acknowledges the importance of not taking blessings for granted and appreciates the simple pleasures in life, like strolling in paradise.
He maintains a philosophy of balance, as seen in his acceptance of indulging in milkshakes despite a desire for fitness.
The author values reader engagement and offers options for those who prefer weekly recaps or daily updates, showing consideration for his audience's preferences.
Hooda expresses gratitude towards his friends and supporters, tagging them in the article and inviting others to join his readership for updates on his journey.

From Virden, Illinois to Ballwin, Missouri.

Route 66 is America’s most famed highway. People come from all over the world to travel up or down the historic highway.

On July 20th, 2016, I set off to traverse the Historic Route 66 — from Chicago to Santa Monica — on foot.

Yes, it sounds crazy, but haven’t you ever had a crazy idea? Well, I decided to follow through on mine and finish it.

Here is the summary of week 4, from day 22 to Day 28, as I recount the odyssey and reflect on the memories and lessons learned.

Screenshot of GoogleMaps by author.

WALKING ROUTE 66

Chicago to L.A. — Recap Week 4

From Virden, Illinois to Ballwin, Missouri.

The Journey Continues.

Another Guardian Angle.

She Listened to Her Inner Voice — This is What Happened.

A desire to serve creates miracles.

A Generous Benefactor.

Keep On Doing This, He Said. This Is Life

It takes all kinds to make the world go

A Day in Paradise.

This Is How Strolling In The Paradise Must Be

Don’t take your blessings for granted.

Students are Teachers.

When You Look for Inspiration and Purpose

The student, and the teacher, they’re one and the same.

Crossing the Mississippi.

When You Network Online You Get Better Results

Speak up! Don’t assume anything.

A Self-Healing Experience.

When You Have An Asthma Attack With No Meds

You’re never given a problem without a solution.

Steaks and Milkshakes.

I Wanted Fitness I Settled For Milkshake

That’s the way the cookie crumbles.

As always, thank you for reading and responding.

Here are the recaps from previous weeks:

Chicago to L.A. — Recap of Week 1

A walking journey that took 186 days to complete.

Chicago to L.A. — Recap Week 2

From Dwight to Normal, Illinois

Chicago to L.A. — Recap Week 3

From Normal to Virden, Illinois.