The Minnesota Crossers cross through Stockton once again

“Now that you are seeing the country by car, do you prefer this or walking?” we asked Erin Dietrich, when she and her husband, Chris Rea, stopped in at the Sentinel last Thursday afternoon, making their way home to Minnesota after walking across the United States. Erin didn’t hesitate even a moment to answer: “Walking!” Chris nodded his head in agreement.

This amazing couple, who began walking March 3, 2021 from the Atlantic coast at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, with more determination than a coyote in a chicken house, did exactly what they set out to do by walking across the United States. They stood in the waters of the Pacific Ocean on October 20, with the Golden Gate Bridge faintly visible through thick fog behind them. From the beginning to the end, their experiences and stories could fill a very thick book, perhaps even a two-volume set. Their energy and enthusiasm is still just as contagious as it was on June 25, the day we first visited with them at the Sentinel.

Erin’s mother, Linnea, started out with them and initially planned to walk the first 30 days but kept going for more than 60 days, walking the first 842 miles. Towards the end of the walk, Linnea just couldn’t stay home any longer, and she joined them for the last leg, walking to the Pacific Ocean.

Their fabulous adventure covered a span of eight months, walking nearly 3,600 miles, and everything went even better than planned. They credit their success to all the amazing people they met along the way. Their biggest disappointment occurred near the end of their journey when Erin broke a bone in her foot, just below her ankle. She tried to tough it out and ice it down; but the following morning, they went to an emergency facility where she received a diagnosis of the fracture and came out wearing a boot. And that insult was even on her birthday!

Erin’s brother, Grant, and her mother had planned a big surprise for Erin on her birthday, as she did not know her brother was joining them. As it turned out, being in tremendous pain and getting the broken foot diagnosis that day, Grant used a “soft approach” in surprising Erin, but she was so very happy to see him and have him join in the journey. But if it had to happen, they were all glad they were as close to the “finish line” as they were. Had it happened earlier in the trip, it would have changed the end of the story. But they regrouped, figured out a plan, and became even more determined to finish. And so they did.

Several days after having their feet in the Pacific Ocean, Chris bought a 2003 Subaru Forester, complete with car top carrier, for their trip home. That is how they are traveling now, having left Rooks County Saturday morning after spending two nights with Roger and Gwen Cooper in rural Alton. It was so great to have Chris and Erin stop in as they went through town. We feel as though we traveled the last half of the journey with them, especially considering they passed the halfway point just west of Stockton when they were still walking west. And now, having completed the walk and as they work their way back home to Minnesota, we wish them well and will be anxious to find out “the rest of the story,” answering the most-asked question: “What are you going to do now?”