A Walk Across America

A Walk Across America is a nonfiction travel book first published in 1979. It was the first book written by travel author Peter Jenkins, with support from the National Geographic Society. The book depicts his journey from Alfred, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana. While upon his journey of self-discovery, he surmounted the travails of travel, engaged himself in others' lives, lost his best friend, experienced a religious conversion, and courted a new wife. The book would lead to a sequel, as well as a writing career.

Peter Jenkins was raised in a northern middle-class suburban home in Connecticut. While attending Alfred University, he contracted an early marriage despite his sympathies for the new hippie youth movement and its belief in free love. Feeling stifled by both his environment and his marriage, he graduated on 30 May 1973. After separating from his wife, he cast about for an escape. He decided that despite his dislike of his native land, he would meet its citizens by walking from his college town of Alfred to the Gulf of Mexico before continuing across the United States. On 15 October 1973, he shouldered his pack, whistled up his dog Cooper, and began walking south. He planned to stop and work during his journey whenever he needed money.

Jenkins' trip to the Gulf saw him lay over for the winter in Appalachia before he continued south. He worked at various laboring jobs, such as sawmill hand, as money was needed. As a hippie Damnyankee outsider, Jenkins sometimes met with suspicion and hostility. More often, he was greeted with hospitality from those from whom he least expected it. On occasion, initial hostility from others morphed into good will and friendship. Jenkins was invited to stay in the home of various good samaritans who invited him for a stay, including an Appalachian hermit and an African-American family. On occasion, he lived with his samaritans for considerable lengths of time; his stay with the African-American family lasted several months.

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