YES, E...SAM & ME ARE REALLY WALKING TO KEY WEST

BIRCH BAY MALL - SAM & ME'S STARTING POINT

SAM AT THE PEACE ARCH...IT'S RAINING HARD, FOLKS SAM AT U.S. PORT OF ENTRY

SAM & SPIA...I-5 IN THE BACKGROUND

SAM ENTERING BLAINE, WASHINGTON...PEACE ARCH 4 MILES AHEAD...

IT WAS RAINING AND VERY COLD...SAM IS SUCH A JEWEL...

SAM ON US 99...YES, SAM'S FRONT DRIVE WHEEL PULLED HER THROUGH ALL THAT SNOW !!!!! (When cars came by, SAM & ME got off the pavement).

SAM ABOUT TO ENTER PEACE ARCH PARK...It's raining folks...

SAM LEAVING THE PEACE ARCH, US - CANADA BORDER

SAM & ME AT THE PEACE ARCH, JANUARY 13, 2011

Before daybreak yesterday, Thursday, January 13, 2011, SPIA delivered SAM & ME to the Mall on Interstate 5 South of BLAINE, WASHINGTON.

SAM was off-loaded, checked out and found to be NOT wanting.

At 9:30 AM, SAM & ME Walked & Rolled up old US 99, arriving at the Peace Arch two hours later in a torrential down-pour. A kind sole, George - returning from the "Men's Room" - while waiting in line to clear US Customs from Canada, kindly offered to photograph SAM & ME standing under the Peace Arch.

SAM nearly became stuck in the rain-soaked turf. Glad she has a motor driven front wheel...she nicely pulled her buried wheels back to the Park Trail...but Oh, the Volts consumed to do so...

Last Spring, SAM & ME were sent on our way from the Peace Arch by a large group of friends, media, and video.

This time...just SAM & ME - and George. Plus, about 200 cars looking on while waiting in line to clear Customs.

Our Walk and Roll was unique for two reasons: First; US 99 has NO berm. The grass pull off area was saturated with snow and water. Not to hold up traffic, SAM moved off the concrete / macadam onto the gooey sides, becoming nearly buried. Took lots of extra battery power for SAM to pull herself along as a more-than-normal amount of traffic slowly passed by in the heavy downpour. (SAM is built to be nearly waterproof. So far, rain has NOT effected her performance...wish could say the same about ME.)

Also unique in that: KIM...a petite plus-60 bouncing bundle of woman met SAM & ME walking along US 99. Recently immigrated from INCHON, KOREA (near where I was stationed 60 years ago), Kim says she is bored and looking for something exciting. Immediately, Kim volunteered to be SPIA's driver. All well and good, but I doubt Kim could see over the steering wheel. Kim walked for 20 minutes with SAM & ME...at a snail pace. Said we must get on our way..."No problem...I catch you on your way back...then I come with you..."

Did not meet Kim on the way back, but fully expect her to catch up with SAM & ME as her parting words were..."you have not seen the last of me...I will find you..."

Oh, Me, Oh, My...

Kim did not allow a picture..."I don't want my friends in Inchon to see me..." she said.

PROGRESS REPORT: Walked & Rolled 24 miles...count only 12 miles.

SEE YOUR IMPACT: Credit 12 miles @ $0.02 / mile = $0.24 for the day.

(interested in my association with See Your Impact?...go to SeeYourImpact.org...Ask for Shari Goetsch.)