A report from marcher Athena Ford:

I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of a group of people than I was of our marchers’ today. 
 
Reverend Gillette greeted us this morning with home made omelets, baskets of fresh fruit, bagels, donuts and coffee – kicking our day off to a great start. 
 
What’s more exciting to marchers than a fabulous home-cooked breakfast?  Or warm bath? Clear Sidewalks!
 
We had cleared 3.5 miles easy before any of us realized we’d been walking.  Exchanging stories, jokes and anecdotes along the way, time just flew.
 
It was the kind of day we’d been hoping for, the kind we had earned.  But, as the mid-morning approached so, too, did the difficult and dangerous terrain. 

The road ahead, Route 2, was very busy and had plenty of curves for cars to whip around at 50+ mph.  The sidewalks were completely impassable and the shoulder nonexistent.  There was, however, a wide median and we saw that as our only option.
 
Then, the median got smaller and angled so our footing grew sketchier.  During our lunch we began to discuss how we as a team would meet the challenges ahead.
 
What came next was just an incredible demonstration of  teamwork and perseverance.  When we had to trudge threw snow we did it single file and those with the best shoes went first to pat down the snow and ice.  Without being asked, the marchers bringing up the rear would step up and take over for the leaders.   Scouts would run ahead and report on the terrain to come so we could figure out how to approach it.  Jim, the SEIU RV driver we couldn’t live without, called me more than once to warn of impassable bridges ahead.  Dave secured us reflective gear and Amy kept our spirits up w/lots of chants and cheer. One marcher would fall, two would help them up and three would say “you’re doing great.” 
 
Finally, when I couldn’t be more impressed with all I had seen, we arrived at Newark, DE chanting our way into the shopping center just in time for a rally.  Who met us there but Reverend Gillette w/my socks I had left 15 miles back at his church!  It was getting dark, but we just couldn’t pass up the fabulously cleared sidewalks of Newark, so we continued on ’till sundown.
 
The blog post was written with the help of Antoinette Kraus and Roxie Road Rage – one of the 2 dogs, 4 cats, 3 horses, and some number of chickens that belong to the wonderful family hosting us tonight.