By Troy Fedderson
Staff Reporter

WAVERLY – A retired East Coast reporter is padding across America one size 10 at a time.

Inspired by his border-to-border reporting assignment across Connecticut, Joe Hurley is walking U.S. Highway 6 from Cape Cod, Mass. to Long Beach, Calif. The 59-year-old’s mission is to discover America foot-by-foot, searching for, “the heartbeat of the nation.”

Four pairs of shoes and over 1,800 miles later, the sojourn ushered Hurley into Waverly last Wednesday for a brief rest to enjoy a red, white and bomb pop.

“For the last 30 years I worked as a news reporter at the Danbury News-Times in Connecticut,” Hurley said. “I realized five years ago that the west side (of Connecticut) did not know much about the east side, and the east did not know about the west.”

Inspired, Hurley conceived a simple resolution pairing a reporter and photographer to traverse the state seeking out unique community tales.

The six-day experience along the Connecticut stretch of Route 6 was well received by News-Times readers. The success of the series led Hurley to ponder what other adventures (and stories) could be found along the coast-to-coast highway.

“It really turned out to be a good thing,” Hurley said. “And, I thought it would be a neat idea to walk across the nation on Route 6 and meet people.”

Forging agreements with 12 newspapers nationwide to run his stories, Hurley kicked off his cross-country journey at Cape Cod on March 26.

Taking two days off a week – for rest, write and seek out stories just off the highway – Hurley walks an average of 20 miles daily. Waverly was mile 19 in the July 28 stroll as Hurley headed to meet his chase car at the Interstate 80/Highway 6 interchange.

“My legs still get tired every day,” Hurley said. “Usually, it’s right around mile number 17 I start to wonder why I’m doing this.”

While he has logged a few close encounters with vehicles and too many views of road kill, the journey remains upbeat for Hurley. His inspiration is fueled by two facts – that he has crossed his own halfway point (the border between Iowa and Nebraska) and that he gets to meet a host of compelling souls.

“I’ve met a lot of good, interesting people,” Hurley said. “There are a lot more stories than I thought there would be out here.”

When he started out, Hurley hoped to fill 30 inches of copy with each story. His first one covered double that, and since Hurley has had trouble paring down his tales.

Some of the encounters featured on Hurley’s web page (www.route6walk.com) include a theater manager in Newton, Mass., a cross-country hitchhiker in Middleton, N.Y., and a blonde produce saleswoman in Napoleon, Ohio.

In the few days leading into Waverly, Hurley has added to his interactions. While hoofing it through Council Bluffs, Hurley stopped to talk with a homeless woman and her husband (who live under a bridge) and, while in Omaha, he took a tour of Boys Town.

“I’m going to try and feature both in my column next week,” Hurley said. “Right now, I have so much to write about that we are about a week behind.”

The journey itself is about a day ahead of schedule. Hurley was to arrive in Waverly last Thursday, but he is pushing to clear the Rocky Mountains by the end of September and before the first snow flies.

While he marveled at – and sometimes cursed – the hills of the allegedly flat expanse that is Iowa, Hurley has been dazzled by Nebraska’s color.

“Basically, between here and Gretna, I can’t believe how green everything is,” Hurley said. “And, you have so many trees.”

Carrying the majority of his needs in a simple pack – including a plastic parka, which has withstood a few stormy jaunts – Hurley finds he often gets some strange looks when he explains his mission. Still, those same people are quick to point out just how lucky Hurley is.

“A lot of people I talk to envy me,” Hurley said. “They say I’m living a dream. But, that’s probably because they don’t have to walk with me.”

Anyone is welcome to accompany Hurley on his journey. But, other than a few steps with people here and there, Hurley has yet to draw the same kind of following as Forrest Gumps’ mythical runs crisscrossing the states.

And, unlike the movie character, don’t expect Hurley to simply turn around and start over when he reaches the California coast.

“This is a one time deal,” Hurley said. “It’s more like the end of first Rocky film. They didn’t want a rematch and neither do I.”