Recognizing the top mileage accumulation for the Step 10 Challenge to (and from) Rio.  XXXI Olympiad.  Top 31 mileage accumulators.  Kudos, kudos, kudos!!!


Wee Sabastian  - Gainesville Times 615.83 miles
Hogg Dale  - Great Bend Tribune - 609.16
Jones Sheila  - WCBI-TV - 545.02
Hoisington Mary -  Great Bend Tribune - 504.05
Franklin Kimberly  - WWAY-TV - 471.94
Nesmith Marlin  - Statesboro and Regional - 469.01
Kiewel Daniel  - Great Bend Tribune - 455.55
Purvis Debbie  - Barrow County News - 440.89
Swank Tyler  - Great Bend Tribune - 428.71
Funk Samantha - Great Bend Tribune 411.93
Swank Shonita  - Great Bend Tribune - 409.94
Samuels Jeff  - Savannah Corporate - 359.57
Hestand Jana  - Great Bend Tribune - 356.52
Swendra Mark  - Morris Technology - 340.84
LacyTrostle Diane  - Great Bend Tribune - 335.75
Griffin Heather  - Forsyth and Dawson - 323.67
Audus James  - Great Bend Tribune - 314.18
McCumber Hunter - Statesboro and Regional - 313.42
Newberry Mike  - WDEF-TV - 296.69
Hoisington Matt  - Great Bend Tribune - 295.11
Kurazawa Richard  - Savannah Corporate - 292.66
St. Laurent Melissa  - Morris Technology - 292.52
Leon Patricia  - Coastal Courier - 282.14
Tate, Jr  TJ    - WCBI-TV - 281.52
Puckett Barbara  -  Wisconsin - 280.82
Clark James  - Southern Standard/Smithville Review - 276.24
Lewis Megan  - Gainesville Times - 273.22
Pringle Steve  - Great Bend Tribune - 270.35
Stone Tyler  - Morris Technology - 262.5
Craven Dorothy  - Barrow County News - 260.17
Landon Gloria  - Wisconsin - 257.13

With 1,828 miles, we nearly had enough on the last day to travel from Temple, Texas to Great Bend, Kansas, site of our biggest contribution to  the challenge, and then make it make to virtually any site on the east or west coast with the roughly 1,250 miles remaining.  Great job everyone!

Noteworthy in particular are the following, who logged 30 days or more worth of steps.  Thank you and great, great job!!!

Beckwith Dan - Gainesville Times
Benton Annette - Covington/Mike's
BOOTH JENNIFER - WWAY-TV
Burgamy Debbie - Barrow County News
Clark James - MNC of Tennessee
Clark Devona - MNC of Tennessee
Dan Jim - Forsyth/Dawson
Daniels Michael - WTVQ-TV
Eng Jeffrey - WWAY-TV
Fletcher Hosanna - Covington/Mike's
Fox Kathryn - Coastal Courier
Franklin Kimberly - WWAY-TV
French Amy - Forsyth/Dawson
Girard Andrew - WXXV-TV
Griffin Heather - Forsyth/Dawson
Griffith Ira - Gainesville Times
Henderson Brenda - WWAY-TV
Henderson Makenzi - WWAY-TV
Hestand Jana - Great Bend Tribune
Hoisington Mary - Great Bend Tribune
Ingram Walt - WXXV-TV
Ingram Donna - WXXV-TV
Ivie Kerri - Gainesville Times
Johnson Loretta - Statesboro and Regional
Jones Sheila - WCBI-TV
Kiewel Daniel - Great Bend Tribune
Kurazawa Kathy - Savannah Corporate
Kurazawa Richard - Savannah Corporate
Lacy-Trostle Diane - Great Bend Tribune
Leroy Jeff - Great Bend Tribune
Lewis Megan - Gainesville Times
McCumber Hunter - Statesboro and Regional
McQueen Charlene - WXXV-TV
Merritt Carole - WWAY-TV
Miller Leslie - Coastal Courier
Mischner Mike - Camden Media Company
Patterson Shana - Forsyth/Dawson
Preusser Charley - Wisconsin
Pringle Steve - Great Bend Tribune
Puckett Barbara - Wisconsin
Purvis Debbie - Barrow County News
Rogers Derek - WCBI-TV
Samuels Jeff - Savannah Corporate
Sanchez Mario - Gainesville Times
Spears James - WXXV-TV
St. Laurent Melissa - Morris Technology
Starling Foss Jenny - Statesboro and Regional
Sullivan Joe - WXXV-TV
Swank Shonita - Great Bend Tribune
Swank Tyler - Great Bend Tribune
Swendra Mark - Morris Technology
Tate, Jr TJ - WCBI-TV
Thacker Susan - Great Bend Tribune
Vanatta Phyllis - MNC of Tennessee
Wagner Tim - WTVQ-TV
Wee Sabastian - Gainesville Times
Wermers Jason - Coastal Courier
Byers Karma - Great Bend Tribune
Coons Veronica - Great Bend Tribune
Craven Dorothy - Barrow County News
Devine J.K. - Gainesville Times
Ellington Amanda - Covington/Mike's
Grajko Susan - Covington/Mike's
Greenway Betsy - Camden Media Company
Hardeman Erica - Covington/Mike's
Hoisington Matt - Great Bend Tribune
Jackson Glenda - WXXV-TV
Leon Patricia - Coastal Courier
Lisa Sanchez - Coastal Courier
Nesmith Marlin - Statesboro and Regional
O'Halloran Gary - WWAY-TV
Parson Denise - Gainesville Times
Smothers Jalee - WXXV-TV
Sparks Don - WTVQ-TV
Stone Tyler - Morris Technology
Walker Sharon - WXXV-TV
Welch Steven - Gainesville Times
Audus James - Great Bend Tribune
Burke Eric - WTVQ-TV
Byers LeeAnnn - Great Bend Tribune
Keller Joshua - Great Bend Tribune
Knight Rob - WXXV-TV
Patrick Hannah - WWAY-TV
Pringle Linda - Great Bend Tribune
Dawes Grant - Great Bend Tribune
Funk Samantha - Great Bend Tribune
Helton Kevin - WWAY-TV
Melton Jan - Statesboro and Regional
MORRIS, Sr. Charles  H. - Savannah Corporate
Whitworth Scott - Gainesville Times
Kiewel Staci - Great Bend Tribune
Pensinger Christina - WTVQ-TV
Stambaugh Caleb - WDEF-TV
Funk Ray  - Great Bend Tribune
Gonzalez Hugo - Great Bend Tribune
Landon Gloria - Wisconsin
Mayer Jimmy - WDEF-TV
Newberry Mike - WDEF-TV
Taylor Will - Savannah Corporate
Weber Dori - Ellsworth
Albertson Debbie - Camden Media Company
Aldridge Chris - WTVQ-TV
George Harold - Turlock Journal/Ceres Courier
Smith Cindy - WTVQ-TV
Copus Heather - Wisconsin
Edwards Bobby - WXXV-TV
Hogg Dale - Great Bend Tribune
Jones Sherrie - Gainesville Times
Prescott Chris - WXXV-TV
Russell Loretta - Great Bend Tribune
  

Here is a tentative recap of the top mileage properties as we Step 10'd to Rio over the 35 days, tentatively through 6/19...we shall refer to this as the "1,000 mile club:"

Great Bend - 6,875 miles
Gainesville - 2,602
WWAY - 2,010
WXXV - 1,767
Corporate - 1,630
Morris Technology - 1,488
WCBI - 1,310
Statesboro - 1,280
WTVQ - 1,239
Hinesville - 1,132
Wisconsin - 1,100

Miles Per Person Participating:
Barrow County - 248 miles
WCBI - 218
Great Bend - 215
Morris Technology - 213
Wisconsin - 183
WDEF - 166
Hinesville - 162
Corporate - 148
Statesboro - 142
WTVQ - 138

Terrific results to all!

Departing the Bay of Campeche, the wellness stepping horde heads west then north-ish on route 145D until connecting to route 180, hugging the Gulf of Mexico on our right through Veracruz, Ozulama and then the state of Tamaulipas before, at mile #805, reaching Brownsville, Texas, back in the USA with one day to spare.   Celebrations abound.  An amazing trip and a terrific, dedicated group to do it with.

Onward we trek through Texas on US 77 to around the Corpus Christi area, then north/northwest on I-37 to the riverwalk city of San Antonio, some great food to sustain us, then north/northeast on I-35 through the capital in Austin before ending our 1,237 miles trek for the day in Temple, Texas, a stone's throw from Waco. 

Awesome job by the group - the following are the top 18 for the seven days ending on June 18:

Sebastian Wee - Gainesville - 154  miles
Samantha Funk - Great Bend - 108 miles
Heather Griffin - Forsyth County - 107 miles
Mary Hoisington - Great Bend - 106 miles
Marlin Nesmith - Statesboro - 100 miles
Sheila Jones - WCBI - 99 miles
Daniel Kiewel - Great Bend - 95 miles
Debbie Purvis - Barrow Co. - 88 miles
Shonita Swank - Great Bend - 83 miles
Tyler Swank - Great Bend - 80 miles
Jana Hestand - Great Bend - 74 miles
James Audus - Great Bend - 73 miles
Mark Swendra - Morris Technology - 72 miles
Tyler Stone - Morris Technology - 69 miles
Jeff Samuels - Corporate - 69 miles
Hunter McCumber - Statesboro - 63 miles
Diane Lacy-Trostle - Great Bend - 62 miles
Patricia Leon - Hinesville - 57 miles

Next stop - Great Bend, Kansas - woohoo!

With our challenge running through Sunday, June 19, we have to stay focused.  With the lure of Cancun and the Yucatan to our north, and the site of the meteor strike that at a minimum contributed to the demise of the dinosaurs just to our northwest off the Bay of Campeche, not to mention the lure of Belize itself, we stay the course.

Our group follows the northern highway up through Belize until crossing the Mexican border near Chetumal.  Taking Route 186 west through the southern Yucatan and following the rough outline of the Bay of Campeche through Macuspana until arriving at Jaltipan de Morelos, a long stone's throw from the Bay of Campeche.
 
We did 570 miles on this day, and with a strong push on our last two days, the 18th and 19th, we have a shot to take the entire group to the location of by far are biggest mileage property for the duration - Great Bend, Kansas.  Great Bend is fittingly in the approximate center of the country and a good target assuming we can achieve Brownsville on the 18th.

It is hugely appreciated to build up steps in great walking town, village and cities.  It truly is a huge plus when our municipalities have the foresight to include sidewalks and bike trails when implementing growth plans.  It makes a huge difference.

This area of Mexico includes huge areas of farmland and minimal development, so we are staying as close to highways as possible.  It is pretty amazing how close our country is to areas that remain largely undeveloped.  Really makes you appreciate what we have.

On to Brownsville!

As the fearless (and often clueless) guide pulls up the map for 6/16, it becomes evident that we may have headed up the wrong coast in our goal or reaching the U.S.  Not to worry - if we're going rogue, we're doing it with style!

North from Potrerillos, Nicaragua, we reach the Caribbean coast at Puerto Cortes, then on the coastal route until reaching the other side of Montana de Cusuca National Park where we cross the border for our second foray  through Guatemala.  Through Puerto Barrios then southwest (? - many rumblings of where the hades are we going) to Morales, trekking up route 13 until touching the corner of Belize (near Livingston), but following about the only road around through San Luis and near Flores, then east on the western highway, we cross back into Belize and come to a rest in Belize City. 

Belize, the only central American country that does not touch the Pacific Ocean,  is considered one of Mother Nature's best kept secret, largely undeveloped with 450 islands in the Caribbean.  We are very excited until we discover as we're walking essentially through the jungle that it is home to the largest jaguar refuge in the world (not luxury car to the gringo, we're talking the unwary gringo being a little midday snack).

And if we think about violently defending ourselves against the attack of a random jaguar, apparently Belizian folklore tells of a three-foot dwarf (an evil thumbless dwarf, no less) named El Duende (Melissa, here is a photo shop challenge for you!) that punishes children (and gringos-as) who harm animals.    And even better, their own version of Bigfoot who, like the random rogue jaguar, likes to snack on, you guessed it, members of the Step 10 Challenge, among other humans.  You can't make this stuff up folks.  Well at least when we scream for help, English is the official language of Belize. 

But we know we are in the place the wellness gods intended when we discover there are no McDonalds, Burger King or  KFC restaurants in Belize.  That is the good news.  Also no Starbucks...not so good.

392 miles on this 16th of June 2016.   We have three days left - can we make it to the U S of A!  It is our destiny!!!

From Ciudad Cortes, a good portion of our days 527 miles is spent in fabulous Costa Rica. 

The average Costa Rican lives to the age of 77 - one of the longest in the world.  With more than 25% of its land dedicated to national parks, 800 miles of coastline between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, 121 volcanic formations,   12,500 foot mountains and beaches...oh the beaches.  We happen to be in the country in the wet season, and the many rain forests say thank you.  Relatively large numbers of its population speak English, due in large part to its place as a major tourist destination. 

Back along route thirty-four on the coast heading northwest through Puntarenas, and then near Cardenas at the border before re-entering Nicaragua.    Along Cocibolca (Lago or Lake Nicaragua, with Concepcion and Madera volcanos forming islands in the center of the lake - spectacular), on route 2 until switching to route 1 through the states of Granada and Mayasa through Teustepe and Matagalpa until crossing the border into Honduras then coming to a stop at Potrerillos.

The quince muy famoso "human exercise machine" Ticas and Ticos for June 15:

Samantha Funk - Great Bend
Sebastian Wee - Gainesville
Shonita Swank - Great Bend
Marlin Nesmith - Statesboro
Mary Hoisington - Great Bend
Sheila Jones - WCBI
Melissa St. Laurent - Morris Technology
Daniel Kiewel - Great Bend
Dale Hogg - Great Bend
Emily McGuire - Morris Technology

Woohoo!  Give these folks a zip line through the rain forest...or two!!!

More of an update will come later on this day as it has been input and lost twice (that is why there is a "save" button!!!!)

We start in Columbia, make our way up to Medellin on Route 25 and enjoy some time in the Columbian Civil War and Drug War (think Pablo Escobar) capital of the country, though it is also very beautiful.

We continue on the inhospitable northwest of Columbia until about 1/3 of the way through the day, say adios South America.  We have hit all the nations of the continent save for two of the three Guianas and Uruguay - pretty darn impressive.

We emerge in Panama and continue north then west, back over the Panama canal and Panama City while still moving west then northwest.

Panama is the least populated country in Central America, yet is the most industrialized.  Their beaches are overrated and we are seeing plenty of them. 

Panama is the only place in the world where from one place you can see the sun rise in the Atlantic and set in the Pacific.  Priceless...

Then we continue through Panama until crossing the border near Corcovado National park, winding up in Cuidad Cortes, Costa Rica - 928 miles  for the day.

So from May 14 to June 14, I suppose it is fitting to list the top 14 individuals with the most miles stepped:

Dale Hogg - Great Bend - 572 including a bike trek across Kansas - that is worthy of a photoshop by itself: WOOHOO
Sebastian Wee - Gainesville - 525
Sheila Jones - WCBI - 477
Mary Hoisington - Great Bend - 433
Marlin Nesmith - Statesboro - 396
Daniel Kiewel - Great Bend - 383
Debbie Purvis - Barrow Co. - 379
Tyler Swank - Great Bend - 373
Kimberly Franklin - WWAY - 345
Shonita Swank - Great Bend - 342
Samantha Funk - Great Bend - 337
Jeff Samuels - Corporate - 313
Jana Hestand - Great Bend - 305
Mark Swendra - Morris Technology - 294

Based on miles recorded as of 6/16.  WOOHOO!

Some catch up stepping miles on Monday.  The group pulls in just under 918 miles - WOOHOO. 

On Route E25 north by northeast through Machala, with the Pacific ocean in all its glory to our left, venturing back into the northern Andes mountains into the state/province of Chimborazo before connecting to E35.  Through the Andes winding roads with volcanos on either side (inactive Chimborazo on the left, very active Tungurahua on the right), through Ambato. past active volcano Cotopaxi (news alert - our guide has a death wish). 

At this point we once again cross the equator, moving from very late fall to very late spring, and sort of wishing we could walk on water to trek the 700 miles or so to the Galapagos islands, biological laboratory of the world!  But we we trek on to Atuntaqui before crossing the border just north of Tulcan into Columbia.  Past the high Andes towns of Balboa and Cali until arriving at Cartago, Columbia.   We have re-entered areas previously part of the drug cartel universe, though much of that has splintered since the main cartels were splintered in the 1990s. 

Columbia is still a beautiful country with massive biodiversity, from rain forests to the high Andes mountains.  We will be very glad to be at lower elevations as truly this type of hiking would be much tougher at these altitudes. 

The next section will again be tough as we fast approach central America. 

Once again mind melding with current events, the U.S. national soccer team plays Ecuador next on Thursday 6/16 - be there!!!

At 1,531 miles stepped on June 12, we traverse the coastal outline of Peru, including the capital of Lima a little less than half the way up.   The same distance roughly as it is from Miami to Boston, to give you an idea of the length of the country.

Peru is the original home of the potato (there are 3,000 varieties).  It is also the 6th largest producer of gold.  Peru is a surfer's paradise.  It also has over 1,600 varieties of orchids.  Lake Titicaca is South America's largest lake,  and the highest that is navigable in the world. 

From Arequipa on Route 15, through Nazco, Pisco, Lima then transitioning to 1N up through Chimbote and Chiclayo before heading directly north through La Union.  We skirt the Andes mountains on the right as we cross the border into Ecuador.  We stop around Piedras, Ecuador. 

The top 20 over the weekend of June 11-12

Sebastian Wee - Gainesville
Kimberly Franklin - WWAY
Marlin Nesmith - Statesboro
Debbie Purvis - Barrow
Dale Hogg - Great Bend
Patricia Leon - Hinesville
Samantha Funk - Great Bend
James Andus - Great Bend
Caleb Stambaugh - WDEF
Sheila Jones - WCBI
Mary Hoisington - Great Bend
Loretta Russell - Great Bend
Veronica Coons - Great Bend
Joshua Keller - Great Bend
Ray Funk - Great Bend
Richard Kurazawa - Corporate
Mike Mischner - Camden
Devona Clark - MNC of Tennessee
James Clark - MNC of Tennessee
Melissa St. Laurent - Morris Technology

Bravo!!!