FROM DA NANG TO HUE

The first few days of the walk have been amazing and exhausting but I sort of expected it. It doesn't seem to matter how many times you visit Vietnam...each time seems hotter than before. In just the last few days, our group, which is now 6, has met with so many families who have children affected by Agent Orange. It's hard to find the right words right now but hopefully the pictures I have posted will give you a glimpse of their life. The most difficult part of this so far is trying to visit with families, seeing their children, whose conditions are worse than any nightmare and then walking-just the physical exhaustion with the emotional impact of what you've just witnessed, is very hard. But it is also very rewarding when you can financially help the family, get the child to smile, just let them know we care and that there are so many people who have not forgotten them. We also met with the director of the VAVA which provides assistance for AO victim's. There were many photographers and journalists present during our meeting and it was a very touching meeting. We were able to go to the school where education is provided to these AO kids. They were so sweet and happy to have visitor's. One girls sang for us. When translated, everyone, including the reporters and photographers, cried. It was a song about being born and having people look upon your life as a tragedy. 

My first day of the walk started in Da Nang and I walked with Doc. We covered 17 miles and I was still breathing, so it was a good start. The scenery was incredible....most of our walk that day was along the China Sea....the water so blue, shrimp boats, mountains ahead of us, lush green rice paddies to our left. Incredible and beautiful. Did I mention heat? We stopped many times along the way, talked to (sort of!) many people in each village we passed through. Most of them seem to know about the walk already because they would point and say "to Ha Noi". Doc is a great sport to keep going with a broken shoulder and some serious stomach problems. He's been to the hospital twice but better now.

More later......have some time off from walking so I'm going to explore. I will write about the Hai Van Pass tonight. Hope everyone is well and happy. I miss everybody and I will never again complain about the heat of an Alabama summer.