STONEWALK 2004: BOSTON, MA to NEW YORK, NY.

August 16th
By Daniel Jones

August 16 – Today we had to pull from Northford to New Haven. It is about 10 miles straight through, but we were re-routed and actually went over 11 miles. Lewis was back, and several people who were at the event last night came, too. We had a huge crew. The rain that we avoided by not pulling Sunday took Sunday off, too. It came down in buckets today. This made the size of our detail even more impressive. After about 3 miles of the rain getting steadily heavier, we stopped at St. Teresa where my friends Janyce and Bob were married 8 years ago. Whilst we waited, the rain came heavier and heavier. We decided to keep pushing since we weren’t going to dry off any time soon. It was an amazing experience to see everyone stick with it, not just the stonewalkers, but regular people, too.

At one point the police advised us that we could not pass the route we were taking. There was a flood on Rt. 17. While we were discussing the new route, Janyce pulled up with a “Box of Joe” from Dunkin Donuts. We gratefully warmed up with hot coffee. When we shoved off again, we went through a residential neighborhood on our way to an alternate route. The rain eased up considerably. People were so appreciative of what we were doing. We had been on the local Fox channel the night before and in the New Haven Register that morning, so most folks new who we were when they saw us. The re-route worked much better than our original plan.

At the end of the day, Cat spoke at the DNC2RNC speak out. She talked beautifully about the suffering inherent in this task. The choice of putting herself through that brings to mind and body those who have no choice but suffer because they are in the way of the wars.

Tomorrow is a day off. We all decided to go home for the day off. We parked the caisson at Bob and Janyce’s house. Anna (their daughter) asked repeatedly for Bronagh. I better have her with me next time I visit. After three weeks away, I look forward to a day at home.

Today was an incredible experience pulling through the miserable, heavy rain with folks who refused to have enough sense to get out of the rain. Again I have to thank Eric for getting me through, and by example of choosing to be joyful, helping all of us continue. As Lewis and I headed to the bar for the after pull ceremonial beer, I said to him, “This was a good stonewalk day.”