A couple more milestone in the books: I’ve hit 1 million steps and logged more than 400 miles on my journey to the Statue of Liberty.

Earlier this week, I passed Las Vegas, a place I have visited several times (but never gambled).

A couple of the visits stand out. Many years ago, my wife, son and I went to Vegas for my wife’s conference and checked into the Flamingo (that’s how long ago it was!) at about midnight. After unsuccessfully trying to unlock the door with our key several times, we heard a knock from inside the room. We went racing down the hall, caught the elevator and ran to the front desk, where they confirmed that they indeed doublebooked the room. They were kind enough to put us in a suite for one night, where we enjoyed the amenities until we fell asleep about an hour into it. Later in the trip, we let our son choose between seeing Rick Springfield in EFX or George Carlin’s stand up. He chose EFX, which he regrets to this day.

On another visit, I was hanging out in the pool with my wife and daughter when a nice young man came over to me and asked if my daughters could go to a party that night. Um, only one was my daughter, and the answer was “no.”

By the numbers:

Miles traveled: 415.7

Total steps: 1,013,365

Average daily miles needed to reach Statue of Liberty by 70th birthday (unofficial goal): 6.93

Welcome to Primm, Nevada — finally.

Primm is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 at the Nevada–California border.  So I am finally leaving California on my journey, though it has taken a lot longer than I ever expected.

I’m 69 days, 360 miles and 850,855 steps into my journey to the Statue of Liberty — all of it in California so far. I’m now 44 miles away from Las Vegas.

By the numbers:

Miles walked: 359.3

Steps: 850,855

Average miles needed per day to complete trip by 70th birthday (unofficial goal): 6.76

What does it take to prepare yourself for a cross-country walk from Fresno to the Statue of Liberty, even if it is only monitoring steps and plotting the progress on a map?

Of course, it takes the usual — training, healthy eating and sleep (I have the training part figured out. I’m sort of OK with eating and we can file sleep under “needs improvement.”). But I admit to being unprepared for the mental aspect of this journey.

It takes discipline and good fortune to hit a goal of 6 miles or so per day. I started out strong, but life has gotten in the way over the past few weeks. A trip to DC and Pennsylvania, a particularly busy time at work, and joyful weekends with my three grandchildren have thrown me a bit off schedule. But I also am a bit frustrated that I’ve been at this for 48 days and am still in California — a little bit away from the Nevada border. I know I haven’t taken the “crow flies” route in California, heading south on 99 and then picking up 58 to go toward Barstow and Vegas, so I’m hoping once I get out of California that I will be getting through other states more quickly. I have to remind myself that California is 3.5 times the size of New York and three times the size of Florida and could fit 6.8 West Virginias.

Onward!

By the numbers:

Miles walked: 270.4

Miles to go to reach Statue of Liberty: 2,655

Average miles per day to reach Statue of Liberty by 70th birthday (unofficial goal): 6.63

A little late with this one, but I’ve managed to pass two major milestones in the past week. I’ve walked more than 200 miles and have more than 500,000 steps. I spent some of my time in brutal Washington, D.C., heat, but managed to get close to the White House and Washington Monument on an early morning walk.

Despite hitting the two milestones, I am still in California! I’ve passed Tehachapi and am closing in on Barstow. As I travel on along Highway 58, here are some points of interest in the area:

Mojave Air and Space Port: Located in the town of Mojave, this is a significant aerospace testing and development facility. While not open for public tours, you can often see unique aircraft and retired planes from the highway. The surrounding area is also known as a “plane graveyard” for older aircraft.

Borax Visitor Center (Boron): This visitor center offers an overlook of the largest open-pit borax mine in California, which is one of the world’s richest deposits. It provides a fascinating look into the history and process of borax mining.

Near Barstow:

California Route 66 Museum: Located in Barstow, this museum is a great stop for anyone interested in the history of the “Mother Road.”

Calico Ghost Town: A former silver mining town founded in 1881, Calico has been preserved and is now a county park. It’s a popular tourist attraction that provides a glimpse into California’s mining history.

By the numbers:

Miles traveled: 224.5

Miles to go: 2,700.9

Average miles needed to reach Statue of Liberty by 70th birthday (unofficial goal): 6.55

I just passed the first milestone on my trip, completing 100 miles of my 2,930-mile walk to the Statue of Liberty from my home in Fresno, CA. I’ve spent most of my time walking Highway 99 and am now closing in on Shafter and Bakersfield.

A few thoughts on the initial part of this project:

• It’s good to be an early riser. I generally start my walks at about 4:30 a.m. Much different from walking in Fresno’s 100-degree heat during other parts of the day.
• It’s also nice to work in an air-conditioned library. Makes the noon walk much more tolerable than going outside, though I love seeing incoming students on campus during Dog Days.
• I’m hitting my unofficial goal of walking 6.5 miles per day, though it is tougher on weekends when three grandchildren have other ideas for my time. (Which I love!)
• Audiobooks and podcasts are essential. With my retirement looming, I just finished listening to “Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life,” by Bill Perkins. It certainly has given me plenty to think about. True crime podcasts up next, though I have to wait until the sun comes up to listen to them. Sigh.

My trip by the numbers:

Miles walked: 102.5

Miles to go: 2,827.5

Days to 70th birthday (unofficial goal to complete): 433

Average miles needed per day to reach goal: 6.53

It’s hard to pass by Delano, a city of about 51,000 in Kern County, California, at this pivotal time in American history without thinking about the city’s historic role in the farmworker movement. As temperatures in Delano reached 100-plus in the summer, it only increases my respect for the grit and determination of the farmworkers who work to feed the region, state, nation and the world.

The Delano Grape Strike of 1965 is recognized as a pivotal moment in the fight for farmworkers’ rights in the U.S. Here is a brief description of the strike, as provided by my AI friends:

Filipino farmworkers, organized under the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), initiated the strike, and were soon joined by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) – a mostly Latino union – in solidarity. This historic collaboration marked the first major instance of Filipino and Mexican farmworkers uniting for a common cause. The strike, which lasted five years, was characterized by nonviolent tactics like boycotts and marches, and resulted in significant victories for farmworkers, including improved wages and working conditions. 

You can read more about it here — https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/workers-united-the-delano-grape-strike-and-boycott.htm

I’ve had the honor of interacting with Dolores Huerta on several occasions, and you will not find a more energetic, fiesty and compelling figure for someone who is 95 years young. A California State University book honoring her (pictured above) sits on my desk.

Fresno State has honored Cesar Chavez with a statue (pictured above) in its Peace Garden in March 1996. The nine-foot bronze and granite monument consists of a life-size, full-figure of Cesar E. Chavez poised at the top of a pedestal, designed to symbolize his life and work. 

My trip by the numbers:

Miles walked: 86.2

Miles remaining: 2,843.8

Average daily miles needed to reach Statue of Liberty by 70th birthday (unofficial goal): 6.5

The initial part of my journey will take me through the central and southern parts of California’s San Joaquin Valley, a region that represents the heart of California’s agricultural powerhouse and plays a vital role in feeding the nation and the world.

My family moved from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, to Fresno, California, 22 years ago, and I immediately fell in love with this area, even though we pulled into our apartment’s parking lot in 112-degree heat in July. We were welcomed immediately and never looked back. The people are friendly and hard-working. People toss around the word “grit” rather freely these days, and never is it more appropriate than when describing the people of the San Joaquin Valley.

Then-Gov. Schwarzenegger constantly referred to the San Joaquin Valley as “the abs of California.” It is the core that helps make the rest of the state stronger.

My route will take me through Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Here are a few interesting (at least to me) facts about the region (hat tip to my AI helpers!):

Fresno County

• Population (estimated 2025): Over 1 million, making it the 10th largest county in California.
• History: Formed in 1856 from parts of Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare counties. “Fresno” is Spanish for “ash tree,” named for the abundance of these trees along the San Joaquin River. The county has a history rooted in the Yokuts and Mono peoples, followed by Spanish exploration and American settlement. Agriculture and oil discovery (near Coalinga) played a significant role in its development.
• Agriculture: Fresno County is often called the “most agriculturally rich county in the United States,” producing an incredible diversity of crops. Fresno County is home to 1.88 million acres of the world’s most productive farmland, with agricultural operations covering nearly half of the county’s entire land base of 3.84 million acres. 

Major Cities in Fresno County:

• Fresno: The fifth-most populous city in California. This is a surprise to most people. Only LA, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco have larger populations. It’s the economic and cultural hub of the Central Valley.
• Clovis: Known for its western heritage and popular downtown area, often seen as a more affluent suburb of Fresno.
• Reedley: Known as the “Fruit Basket of the World” due to its extensive fruit packing industry.
• Selma: Often called the “Raisin Capital of the World” due to its proximity to raisin grape vineyards and processing facilities.

Kern County

• Location: Southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, extending into the Tehachapi Mountains and Mojave Desert.
• Population (estimated 2025): Around 908,000, the 11th largest county in California.
• History: Formed in 1866 from parts of Los Angeles and Tulare counties. Its history is deeply tied to agriculture and, most notably, the oil industry.
• Economy: Kern County is a major producer of oil in California and the U.S. It also has a significant agricultural sector.
• Notes:
  • Bakersfield is the birthplace of the “Bakersfield Sound,” a subgenre of country music popularized by artists like Buck Owens and Merle Haggard in the 1950s.
  • Grimmway Farms, headquartered in Bakersfield, is the largest grower, producer, and shipper of carrots in the world.
  • Bakersfield: The largest city in the county and a major center for agriculture, oil, and transportation.
  • Delano: Known for its agricultural roots and its historical significance in the farm labor movement.

Kings County

• Location: West-central San Joaquin Valley.
• County Seat: Hanford
• Population: Over 150,000 residents.
• History: Formed in 1893 from a portion of northern Tulare County. It was named after the Kings River. Early settlers included cattlemen, gold miners, and farmers. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1877 spurred significant growth.
• Agriculture: Like its neighbors, Kings County is primarily agricultural, covering 84% farmland and known for a diverse range of produce.
• Notes:
  • Kings County is home to Naval Air Station Lemoore (NAS Lemoore), the largest Master Jet Base in the U.S. Navy. This base is a major economic driver for the county.
  • Famed aviator Amelia Earhart lived in Hanford for a period in the 1930s, teaching flying lessons.
• Hanford: The county seat is known for its historic downtown and its proximity to NAS Lemoore.
• Lemoore: The closest city to NAS Lemoore, experiencing growth due to the base.
• Corcoran: Known for the California State Prison, Corcoran.

Tulare County

Location: Southeastern San Joaquin Valley, extending into the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

County Seat: Visalia

Population (estimated 2023): Around 476,000.

History: Formed in 1852 from a division of Mariposa County, making it one of the original counties. It was named for Tulare Lake, once a vast freshwater lake that was later drained for agriculture. The first European written record of the area was by Pedro Fages in 1722.

Agriculture: Tulare County is a top producer of agricultural commodities in the United States, especially known for its dairy and citrus industries.

Notes:

• Visalia, the county seat, is often called the “Gateway to Sequoia National Park,” home to the giant sequoia trees.
• Tulare County hosts the World Ag Expo in the city of Tulare, the largest annual outdoor agricultural exhibition in the world.
• The county’s eastern portion is dominated by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, including parts of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
• Visalia: The county seat and largest city serves as a regional hub for commerce and services.
• Tulare: Home to the World Ag Expo and a major agricultural processing center.

My trip by the numbers:

Miles walked: 38.4

Miles to go: 2891.6

Days until my 70th birthday (unofficial goal for completion): 440

Average daily miles needed to reach goal: 6.57

Today’s walk took me past Fresno City Hall, where I was honored to serve as press secretary for Mayor Ashley Swearengin. My time there provided me with four of the most rewarding and fulfilling years of my professional life — too bad I was there for five years! Sigh.

I’m a state government guy (I spent 17 years in state government in Pennsylvania), but I enjoyed working in local government with some extremely talented and dedicated people. We worked hard, had fun, and accomplished some important goals that helped move Fresno forward.

One of my most infamous “accomplishments” involved a security effort where staff members could be safely escorted to their cars in the winter months when it turned dark before most people left the building. I enthusiastically sent out a city-wide email with the subject: “After Dark Escort Service.”

Oops! Not the most artful description of this effort, and it didn’t take long to hear from dozens of city employees about the name. We changed the name, and I kept my job – but I still hear about it from some of my colleagues to this day even though it happened more than 10 years ago.

I also named the mayor’s car “Hair Force One.” If you know, you know.

Standing with the late, great Fresno Bee reporter George Hostetter outside Fresno City Hall.

By the numbers:

Miles walked: 15.3

Miles to go: 2,914.7

Days until my 70th birthday (unofficial goal for completion): 444

Average daily miles needed to reach goal: 6.56