Distancing: a walk through the United States

Hi, my name is Clay Ousley and I am raising funds for a walk through the United States. I am walking from Charleston to Los Angeles by a somewhat circuitous route. This is definitely not a speed attempt. I will be 50 years old when I start in April 2022.

I have most of the gear I need. I will be sleeping outside most nights. Funds will pay for food, the occasional hotel room or campground (and that all important shower), laundry, and as many pairs of shoes as it takes to cover about 3300 miles plus lots of side trips.

 

I am taking the word distancing and making it a positive for me, a way forward. During the pandemic, I started taking long walks through my city. It got me away from screens, alleviated my loneliness, and kept my body from completely disintegrating. Now I have a group of friends who go walking every week. It's a way to stay in touch and get outside. As society ramps back up, I want to keep walking. I want to discover my country in the way I discovered my city, at a slightly more than leisurely pace. 

Instead of a dash straight across, I want to visit cities and national parks. I want to take day hikes up mountains, wander through funky neighborhoods, and meet all the people I can. I will pass through South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. I finish up at the iconic Santa Monica Pier.

I can't even express how much your support means to me,  anything you can give. Sometimes this seems insane even to me, but I really need a big adventure before finding a new normal. Like I said, I'll be 50. If I don't go now, I may not be able to go later. 

I'll have an Instagram and TikTok and maybe stream to Twitch from my GoPro, so you can follow my journey. I will strive to be as honest and transparent as possible. You will probably see some really grumpy behavior. Hopefully, you will also see transcendent happiness, beautiful views, and some really interesting folks. Also, I am encouraging people to walk along with me for a bit if they would like.

Thank you for your support!