A Rochester, NY woman inspired by a man who walked across America to avoid depression over his mother’s death, is making her own trek across the United States with her dog, Austin. The trek included stops—and assistance from officers in Northeast Ohio including Westlake.
“I decided to walk across America because I have similar problems like I have PTSD, health problem, self esteem, family problems, many things I can't count," the woman, who would not identify herself, said on her Facebook page, Austin Walks Across America. "Walking across America helps me to set my spirit free by meeting good people, making friends, receiving supports and loves, challenging myself mentally, emotionally, and physically to improve myself, then will settle down at California.”
The story begins with a May 10 Facebook posting that the woman is leaving upstate New York by Hamburg and Orchard Park with her dog, Austin. Facebook postings detail the trip, resplendent with stops at Subways and photos of her blistered feet, after walking anywhere from 9 to 30 miles in a given day. Westlake Police stopped her on the evening of May 27 and gave her a ride to the Red Roof Inn.
“Guess what? We are at the hotel!” the woman writes. “The police helped me to get a hotel room without explaination (sic). I don't know if church helps us or police takes care of it for us. What's going on! I am clueless, but many thanks to the polices and gave them my Facebook page!”
According the Facebook page, the Westlake Police aren’t the only ones locally who were checking on her welfare. In addition to Westlake, there are photos of the Avon, Milan, North Ridgeville and Amherst police as well as police in Pennsylvania all providing a helping hand.
Assistance has been abundant on the trip, from police and residents alike, especially on the west side of Cleveland. “I will never forget the most beautiful and friendly cities, which are Westlake and Avon!” she wrote, reporting that on the way to Avon from Westlake she located two Jimmy John’s, a reprieve after weeks of Subway.
The woman said Austin loves to walk, so she is bringing the dog on her trek across America.
“Austin was given away to the shelter two times from previous owners, and I didn't give much attention to Austin at home because of Internet,” the woman posted. “Hence, it is time for Austin and me to walk across America to enjoy his life. Oh and, I am from Rochester, New York.”
The woman said the idea for the walk with Austin, “who loves to walk, came from George Throops whose mother Throops died walked across America from Washington state to DC. She said another person whose son committed suicide as a result of bullying was also an inspiration.
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