Our adventurers left on July 7 in Harper’s Ferry bursting with energy and sense of purpose. Two stalwarts, Larry Gibson and Julian Martin, set forth in all kinds of weather, but mostly hot and dry. They take turns -- one walking carrying a West Virginia flag, and one driving a support van bearing a sign that says in BIG letters "Stop Mountaintop Removal!" Along the route they picked up comments from the citizens, mostly favorable, and even some folks to walk along with them.

On July 20 they were interviewed by that hell-raisin’ progressive Texan, Jim Hightower, for his national radio show (Editor’s aside -- I had thought that "progressive" and "Texan" were oxymoronic until I became acquainted with Jim, and Molly Ivins, two REAL heroes supporting decency and sanity in an insane state and mostly insane nation)

(Is there such a word as "oxymoronic?" Bill Gates & Company say "no.")

Says Sheila, Larry’s wife, on July 19^th – "Larry has met a lot of citizens who have never heard of mountain top removal. This is a very important message for Larry and Julian to deliver to the people in West Virginia....both of them are doing very well. This time they’re on their way to Blackwater Falls. Their average in walking is around 15 miles per day. Larry says for me to tell everyone that things are going well. If you would like to please make a contribution for the walk, send donations to OVEC, PO Box 6753, Huntington, WV 25773."

Says Julian – We’ve been walking through some incredibly beautiful country. People have been very kind to us. They don’t want to see anything happen to their mountains. People have invited us to stay in their homes, fed us and given us words of encouragement. We get thumbs up signs and friendsly honks as we walk – so far only two negative comments.."

By July 28 they had covered 187 miles. Some of the towns to be favored with their enlightened message were Davis, Parsons and Elkins. They continued on to small towns like Enterprise and got some important media coverage in Clarksburg.

On several occasions they were joined on the walk by Denise Giardina, the award-winning novelist and West Virginia native who is also running for governor on the Mountain Party ticket.

On August 6 they held a rally in Fayetteville where Carol Jackson setup her mock graveyard with over 900 "tombstones," each representing a stream which has been destroyed by mountain top removal. Julian left the walk at this time and Sharon Roon took his place for the trek into Beckley.

On Aug. 8 they walked into Beckley in the rain and held a rally at Shoemaker Square. In spite of the rain, there was a good turnout of at least 50 people to greet them. Andrew Caldwell led the assorted throng in singing some well-known folk songs.

On August 10^th, about sixteen citizens walked into Whitesville, a town deep in the heart of the Southern coal fields. Several of the local residents joined them on the walk. The Coal River Mountain Watch held an open house all afternoon where the Earl of Elkview entertained the attendees with his usual repertoire of songs. In the evening the CRMW sponsored a very well attended weenie roast and rally at Judy Bonds’ house in Whitesville. Carol Jackson also had her cemetery set up for this event.

After a day to rest up, from there the walkers went on to Larry’s ancestral home place on Kayford Mountain. After walking through Lincoln County to Huntington and Hurricane, the walk will wind up on August 21 in Charleston at the Capitol.

Ol’ Cece will be out to greet ‘em and give ‘em hugs. Now you must KNOW that this last statement is my attempt at humor!

The walk is organized by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. Other supporting groups include the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, the Coal River Mountain Watch, the West Virginia Environmental Council, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Citizen’s Coal Council, the Monacan Indian Nation, members of the Baha’i faith and Patagonia, Inc.