We completed Trey's Trek from Dearborn to Mackinaw City, MI!

Standing under "Big Mac" after 20 days of Trey's Trek!

Dearborn, MI to Mackinaw, MI!!!  What an experience!  What a trial!  What a trip!  What a difference walking makes!  


My physical target was the farthermost point North in the Lower Peninsular of Michigan where a person could walk to...  


Yesterday, I walked into and through the town of Mackinaw City and made my way North to the bridge that crosses over to the "U.P.!" (Upper Peninsular of Michigan).  For those of you who don't know, it is a 5 mile-long suspension bridge that connects the 'Lower' and 'Upper' Peninsulas of Michigan.  


As I reached the water's edge, I walked out to about the 4 foot depth and I stood right in the middle of the bridge where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet!  One leg in each lake!  I guess that now I am an official "Troll" since I am "under the bridge" and "in the water!"  


The night before, friends from "down state" came up. They spent the night and were ready to tackle the last 16 miles of the Trek with me yesterday.  I have to tell you that it was an awesome encouragement to me to finish up with such faithful friends!

Mark, Jason, Me, John, Josh, Ashley

Facing the Finish Line!

About 5 miles out from Mackinaw City I spotted "Big Mac" (the bridge) for the first time!  It was a sight to see!  That massive structure which is one of the world's longest suspension bridges was my finish line in this 300 mile trek.  


As I got closer I could feel my stomach tightening like I was getting ready for the kickoff of a football game that I would have played in as a starter or getting ready to step out onto a wrestling mat after spending a couple of months getting ready for the contest!  So, I walked on toward my goal!  The closer I got the larger the structure seemed to get.  


Then as I entered the park just under the bridge I began to slow down a bit and really ponder what was actually happening here!  Besides actually walking 300 miles!; besides pushing day after day to make it in 20 days;  besides all of the hurts and pains associated with walking 'marathon length' days; I was approaching more than just a finish line!  This trek was primarily in response to the command to "walk"!  If nothing else mattered this did!  If there was no apparent reason or explanation for this event-- being obedient was enough for me!  So I did!  I walked!  And now I am standing at the water's edge, knowing that I did what I was supposed to do!  "It is finished!"  I thought to myself!

Pondering Trey's Trek to Mackinaw...

Making the Goal...mine!

Now it was time to not just reach the 'finish line' but to cross it...to gain the full victory!  So I set out to do just that!  I wanted to go the distance and in my heart--really 'get into it!'  So I did!  I got in it!

Standing in Obedience and Victory!

As I made my way out into the water, I stopped and removed my hat and thanked Jesus for the strength, the endurance, the stamina, the courage and the patience it took to get me to this point at this time in my life!  There was so much to be thankful for!  

I  guess I will not fully know the extent of what this was all about-- but I do know that every step that we took getting here was worth it and right!  Anytime that you place your feet in the steps of Jesus and walk...it is the best place for you to be! 

We made it to Mackinaw!  We all won!

   We did it!  We actually did it!  We walked to Mackinaw, MI from Dearborn, MI.  I asked them to come and they came!  I was the only one asked to 'go the distance' but my friends along the way, at different legs of the trek, joined me to make this journey doable!  Without their help and encouragement it would have 'beat me like a gub'ment mule'!  (Tony Lawson used to say that! Bless his heart!)  So every person who actually walked with me shares in the victory, shares in the joy, and has experienced the satisfaction that WE WON!  WE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE even though it hurt!  We did it!  Are we boasting?  You bet!  WE DID IT!  We finished the race!  We ran (or walked) the course!   We were out there!  

It almost seemed impossible!  At times it felt impossible as the road stretched out into miles in front of us and off into the horizon into what seemed like nothing!  BUT we put one foot in front of the other and WALKED!  And because we did not stop or quit we crossed the finish line and WE WON!  We reached our goal!  So if by any one's standards this seems like boasting... well take it for what it is worth! We were there! We won! We have the satisfaction that although it was challenging and sometimes hurtful, we put one foot in front of the other and crossed the finish line!  And with that said!  Whoever is reading this... You can cross that finish line too!  Just don't quit!  Don't quit asking question!  Don't stop trying!  Don't listen to folks who tell you that you are sorry and can't accomplish anything!  Of course there are hindrences that keep a person from accomplishing goals and 'finishing up' things you have had your heart set on.  So if that is the case, gather your courage and get back to what you know is right!  I just want to tell you, that I know for the most part... what keeps folks from doing what they are supposed to do, is sin!  I don't want to be preachy here but if the oil in your engine 'ain't' been changed since you first started out... you ain't goin' far from where you are!  Go see the Technician and get a tune up!  Get your oil changed,  your battery charged!   Let Him lube your joints and air up your tires! Some of you are a wreck... waiting to happen!  Don't be stupid!  Get to the shop and take care of things before you end up in the junk yard!  

Now... To be real about this, let Jesus, like the Master Mechanic He is, work on you and get you into shape!   So you won't end up in some junk yard of life!  Why wait until you are "an ole' junker", before you let The Manufacturer get you up to snuff!  Who likes an ugly, beat up, raggedy ole car anyway?  Let Jesus restore you to mint condition!  Why wait!  You have the key... get the 'thang' started! 

With my "sore" feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

P.S.  now that the Dearborn to Mackinaw Trek is finished, I will have time to go back and fill in the gaps!  So look for more of Trey's Trek in the coming days!  

Fog moving in and covering 'Big Mac...'

As we were leaving we were pulling out and looked out across the lake to St. Ignace and saw this scene.  The fog rolled in and covered the whole bridge.  It was really beautiful because the sky was cloudless and so blue!  This fog eventually moved in over the Northern end of the State and covered everything!  

A hurtful interruption!

On the Road to Grayling...

I am very sad to have to inform you that my very good friend and mentor Pastor Steve Byrd, of Charlotte, NC, who was my Youth Pastor in the mid 70's and later an Associate in Winston-Salem, NC at First Assembly of God in the early to mid 80's has gone to be with Jesus... 

I am stopping the walk North to travel to North Carolina to be a part of the funeral services.  I will resume my trek North to Mackinaw on Friday from Grayling, MI.  

Trey

Day NINE (out of order) September 14th! Trey's Trek continued...

Kalim, ROBIN and Ralph

I know it has been a coon's age since I have written! 

And in reality... tonight, it has been no difference!   But I have to post something to let you know that we are still alive!  Today we walked past the 150 mile mark for the Trek as we entered Beaverton, MI.  I am still amazed that I am this far North without the help of a single car, bus, truck, bike, trike, or even an airplane! 

On our way out of Albright Shores which is a "suburb" of Beaverton, (LOL) we turned onto one of the corners and saw an awesome fruit and vegetable stand at Shock Road and Knox.  The items that were on display were gorgeous!  So the Brother's from North Carolina who drove up 16 hours, just to walk with me the last two days stopped and talked to Robin who was the person working the business and another man who was there!

We shared with her what we were doing and asked her if we could pray for her!  I told here that we have been praying for people as we have been walking to Mackinaw City.  That we would like to pray for her business... that The Lord Jesus would bless her work.  I asked her if I could post her photo on this blog and ask people to pray for her too!  So here she is!  

Oh, before we started off on our way... she gave us some fruit to take with us while we walked!  Plums that would make your tongue just jump up there and slap you up side your head because they were so good!   I have never eaten such sweet fruit!  Really... It was awesome!  So those of  you who are in the area where she is working between Beaverton and Albright Shores; you better just treat yourself and get on over there and buy up all that she has before it all goes bad!  Everything that she was selling looked really good!  Thanks Robin for providing such a good product for such a great price!  God bless your business, your family and your life!  May Jesus' touch be experienced in everything you do!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

  

Day TWO, Tuesday September 6th! Trey's Trek continues...

Luke and I getting started... Day Two

I have to tell you that last night I did not sleep very well!  You would think that after walking almost 24 miles that a person would be tired as 'rip'; but I just laid there... staring at the ceiling and watched the clock roll around to 2:00 AM.  That was the last I remember.


Then the alarm on my phone went off at 6:00 AM which is very irritating!  It does it's job!  I awoke knowing that I would start out on the second leg of my trek to Mackinaw!  My good friend Matt took us to Einstein's Bagels and we got some breakfast and then took me back to the drop off point so we could continue on.  My son in law Luke, who was to meet us there just before 9:00 AM, was true to his word and we did leave at 9 AM sharp!   We set out for the next destination which was just North of Milford, MI. 

I had calculated the total distance (considerably shorter than yesterday's leg) to be 14.5 miles!  In my mind it would help with the mental sting of miscalculating the distance we were supposed to have walked yesterday!

We stretched a bit and asked Jesus for help then looked North!  

 

Starting out on Beck Road near 7 Mile



The weather was a carbon copy of yesterday but just a bit warmer.  It was magnificent weather to walk in...cool, overcast and with low humidity!  

Usually when I walk  I look for interesting things along the route.  I try to keep my heart and mind open to anything that might help me in general, understand life during the day while I trek.  I have seen too many times before that the Lord would speak something to my heart as I would walk along.  I look forward to these simple realizations!  There are all kinds of interesting things that are 'just there' that get my attention!  This morning would be no different! 

The first thing that we came to that was kind of interesting was the first bridge that the side walk connected to.  It was well constructed.  It seemed to have good quality workmanship.  Someone had really thought this one out because it was beautiful!  But... the other end was blocked off!  It went no where! 



Beautiful bridge to...?

In fact, on Beck Road going North, there are a couple of these bridges that actually go no where!  You can start out on them and in the beginning everything looks OK but when you get close to the end you begin to recognize that the bridge has taken you to absolutely 'no where!'  At that point the path is blocked!  DEAD END! 

I just wonder how many of us start off on a path in life like this and find out that this bridge will not get you to where you think you want to go!  Interesting thought! 

There is a concept that I think about here that would help a person get out of that particular situation.  The idea is to... "Put it in Reverse!"  Go back the other direction!  Get off that bridge!  It's only redeeming value, in reality, is that for a bit... you can stroll at your leisure then when you get to the end-- your way is blocked!  Party over baby!  Now for those who like to think in "religious terms" I am pretty sure that this is what the idea of 'repentence' is all about!  For those of us who have traveled on some sort of bridge and finds out that the path we were on leads to no where... don't just stand there feeling hopeless and tired and deceived!  You can actually do something about this!  Turn your self around and go back to where you got on that thing and get on the path that takes you somewhere!  Don't just stand there like 'a calf looking longingly at the feeder' waiting for the door to open and just moooooing to be fed!  Get off that bridge 'to no where!'  ...You stand there long enough and the place will be full of cow manure!  Then it starts affecting your feet and your standing and specifically your aroma!  Then if you stay there long enough you don't really notice it any more!  It is sad... but you get used to the surroundings and the smell and in reality you are in a mess!

Anyway... this was the first thing that got my attention starting out this morning!  Come to think about it, there seemed to be a theme that would re-appear during our Trek to Mackinaw this day!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey





Day One (again) Monday September 5th! Trey's Trek begins...

The Launch Crew for Trey's Trek!

What a day!  In my life I have never walked... for all practical purposes in any given day, 24 miles!  I did not even walk this far when I was practicing this Summer!  To be exact, the distance was 23.75.  We didn't walk 1/4 mile more because we saw our destination and when we reached it, we just fell down on the ground and groaned and laughed!  For us... we "made it!"  "We did it!"  "We went the distance!"  We were tired! We were worn out!  We were elated because we walked the whole stinkin' way!  But...I mis-calculated the distance to be walked and we ended up finding out that information at the end of the walk!  Oh, was that hard to deal with!  I felt like a real heel!  But we couldn't just stand there and look all mad and disappointed we had to finish the walk...


OK... Let's don't get the cart before the horse!  I need to tell this story in a time progression so that you will be able to follow our day!  


So we gathered at the office around 9:00 AM.  I wanted to leave after communicating some needed details about the route, the weather, the breaks, etc...  So about 9:45AM we finally got going after asking the Lord to help us and we started out!   We walked West on Michigan Avenue over to U of M Dearborn and back through the woods to Edward Hines Drive.  

Pastor Bret Abdullah leading the way...

So after trekking for about 5 miles and going up Hines Drive we came to Helms Haven and  saw some of our good friends who were getting ready for a Labor Day Pick Nic and we took a break and chatted with them for a bit before continuing on!  

Bekkah, Ashley and Sarah getting ready to cross the Rouge River

It was 5 miles more before we stopped again as were walked up Hines Drive.  This time we found a Pic Nic Table on the North side of the road just about a mile just short of Nankin Mills and communicated with some of the ladies of the church who were kind enough to bring us all some lunch!  That was nice!  


Our Lunch break was for about 45 minutes.  It was enough time for all of us to fuel up and rest and talk and get ready for the last half of the trip today!

The Lady Trekkers, Sarah, Grace and Ashley

 



Walking is way too much fun!

 

Oh, I don't want to leave you hangin'!  This is what it looked like at the end of the day!  I told you that we just fell down on the ground and laughed!  Well!  This is what folks had to endure who drove by!   Lord Help us! 

I want to express a heart felt thanks to all of you who have come and walked these last 4 days with me!  It has been such a real encouragement!  I have not been alone!     

Oh... I am so fired up!  I heard that a whole car load of Brothers from North Carolina are coming up to walk with me the beginning of next week!  That is awesome!  I hope that they can run faster than me when the bears show up!  LOL!

With my "sore" feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

p.s.  there is so much more to write about that happened today... but it is almost mid night here in Grand Blanc and I need to get some rest for tomorrow's 17 miles leg of Trey's Trek!  I am hoping that some of you who walked with me on this day will write your own stories about walking this day!  Sound off ya'll!

We had an awesome time of prayer tonight with some folks who came up from Fenton and Dearborn.  We prayed for our City, our people and the church in our town!



As we lay on the grass, this was what was over our heads to the West!  An awesome view at the end of the day!





Day One! Trey's Trek begins in Dearborn.

It is now late in the evening!  To date... in my entire life, I have never walked so far in a single day!  I mis-calculated the distance of our first leg by 2 full miles.  So we ended up walking a tatal distance today of 23.75 miles.  Britt, my brother thinks that Google Maps was figuring the 'straight route' while 'winding' around Hines Drive foot track added the distance that we trekked today!  Either way it was a mental struggle at the end to find out that we had 2 more miles that what was originally stated!  I really felt bad but we could not just stop! 

But I want to thank all of those who started out with me this morning.  It was a real encouragment to be walking with your friends, real friends!  But I have to tell you... right now I am so tired!  I need to get some rest!  So I will work on this later!  I am counting on 17 miles tomorrow.  It will be considerably shorter than today!  We will talk later!  But I am really on my way to Mackinaw City, MI!  What a thought!  JESUS!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

The clock is ticking! 10 more hours before we start....

Who, what, when, where, how & why!


These are some question that need addressing since we are starting out on a journey of 300 miles North!


WHO?... Trey Hancock and anyone who is interested in walking with him toward Mackinaw City, MI


WHAT?... "Trey's Trek" is an event that is designed to help raise resources for the Dearborn Assembly Revitalization Project in Dearborn, MI to be able to complete the building project that is presently in progress. 


WHEN?... September 5th - September 25th, 2011


WHERE?... Dearborn, Michigan to Mackinaw City, Michigan  (Start location... is 15000 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI to the finish line... at the bridge in Mackinaw City, MI under 'Big Mac at the water!')


HOW?... "Walking!"


WHY?...To raise awareness, support and resources to continue the Dearborn Assembly Revitalization Project. 

One more Day to wait!! Then we START!

Tomorrow is the day we begin Trey's Trek!  It is like some sort of dream!  

I am not sure who is going to begin this journey with me but there is a good anticipation building!  Folks have told me that they will come!  We'll see...

Roughly the last two months of this Summer 2011, have been used to prepare myself for the 300 mile trek to Mackinaw.  Now...I know that I can actually walk 300 miles because I walked 311 miles in preparation to be able to walk the 300, when the time comes!   

This 300 mile journey that will take me to the northern most city in the Lower Peninuslar of Michigan is the fartherest point North in the Lower Peninsular that you can walk to.  I did originally want to walk across the bridge ("Big Mac" - a 5 mile suspension bridge connecting the Lower Peninsular with the Upper Peninsular) and had scheduled my Trek to end up in Mackinaw City on the 5th of September, 2011... to be able to walk across that bridge with thousands of others who do that every year!  But... Becky said because I was so old and rickity and that I would just croak if I started out in August in the heat, walking... So I changed it to begin on September 5th!  Just kidding!  She didn't say "croaked!"  But if I tell you what she did say, you would think that she really did love her ole' husband!  She loves me so much that she is even going to do some of the route with me but not the whole thing, somebody has to work!!!  

Becky, (flower) and Trey

So...32 'walking' days, since June the 30th, have been partially used for training, sweatting, working through pain, enduring the heat, walking through the blisters and handling tired muscles and joints along with enduring sore feet and watching what I eat... just to be able to know that when the start date arrives, that I still have the ability and the confidence to actually 'git from here to thare' without 'fallin' out!'  Ain't nuttin' uglier than an old athlete who thinks he can still run faster and jump higher and leap farther than the stories that people embelished about him when he looked like Hercules, in his "Hey Day!"  LOL!

Scripture does talk about a crown that we get for running a race!  And that physical exercise does have some merit!  But in the long run the fame and seeming glory of such events and athletic events are like melting ice under the hot sun!  It don't take long and it's all gone!  In reality, the only thing that lasts is what all the training and the endurance pointed to.  And if those who submitted themselves to such riggers, do not pay attention to what is being communicated, verbally and by example, they will totally miss the boat in regards to why they are paying such a price for only a leafy crown, a shiney metal and one year of fame!  

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

p.s. War Eagle!  & Go Army!

'Now'...Staying in Shape... Day 32!!!!

Becky and Trey Hancock

Today is Saturday!  It is the first day of College Football Season.  Yes, I did watch the last 3 minutes of Auburn University getting beat by some team out West... Then they remembered who they were supposed to be and picked up the pace and pulled the cat out of the bag!  It was good to see the field that I used to play on over 30 years ago.  The same grass, the same uniforms but the stadium was a bit bigger!  Brings back a bunch of memories!

Luke my Son in Law decided to walk with me this morning as we made our way over to the office where we will be starting out toward Mackinaw City just two days from now on Monday the 5th of September, Labor Day, 2011!  We rested for a bit and then headed back home.  It was hot!  Over 90*F today!  The sweat shirt that I was wearing was soaked!  It was good to get the exercise as we walked 7 plus miles today.  This will be the last day of walking before we start on Monday.  I have trekked a total of 311 miles in practice, getting ready to make this walk to Mackinaw!  Sometimes I can't believe it but I was there for every step and I attest to the fact that it actually happened!  So no matter what my feelings say about this being impossible... I know better!  I am going to walk to Mackinaw City, MI... Lord willing!  But I am ready!

Trash? 

Almost every day that I walk, I see something or someone that is unusual or catches my attention.  As I walk I usually pray and as I talk to Jesus, I listen and anticipate... either answers or responses to my prayer!  Sometimes while I am in that mode, I see, I notice what is around me.   Some things are unusual and some things are just ordinary or common but nothing is just 'there' by accident or hap-instance!  Even what seems like trash on the ground has significance.  At least today it did for me!

I walked passed this piece of paper on the ground on Michigan Avenue just up from the Pantheon ("all gods" club!)  and noticed the titles printed there!  "Limited Warranties", "Disclaimer" and "Remedy and Claim Procedure."

Wow!  I thought..."Warranties!"  "Disclaimer!"  "Remedy and Claim Procedure!"  OK!  my mind starts reeling about what I could say about these words in a message if I were preaching.  But this is not in a church out here!  It is out on the street!  So technically, this is not preaching but just plain good old street language that can communicate truth in a way that takes it's categories from the world we live in!  It just so happens that down by the 'all gods' club where the content shows up, Jesus can speak!  In reality He can show up anywhere, anytime, anyplace without notice and needs no permit, license or permission from any of us here in this town to do or say anything He pretty well pleases!  No place is off limits to Him!

You know?  I want to finish this but I gotta go!  If you are interested just write me... I will get back to this later!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

'Now'...Staying in Shape... Day 31!!!!

This is my friend "Jerome!"

Today, as I got back out and 'stretched my legs' again, I saw my friend "Jerome".  

Today he was on Michigan Avenue just across from Starbucks near Miller Road.  Like always he had all of his belongings with him.  We had met before over on Ford Road near McDonalds about a month ago, early one morning.  I stopped and greeted him again and he remembered me! He remembered the place where we first met.  He remembered the time when we met.  He even remembered that I was going on a walk to Mackinaw.  He remembered that I was the guy with the "walking sticks!"  Jerome has a great memory!  He talked to me about where his home church was and how someone not long ago had given him a Bible and that he has it with his belongings.  In the conversation he even told me how old he was, which he is a bit over 10 years younger than I am and he almost guessed my age to the year!  Jerome is sharp!  There is nothing wrong with his mental capacities!

But there is a problem with Jerome!  He has physical issues.  He did give me permission to ask anyone who reads this blog to consider praying for him.  

Jerome has some form of diabetes that plague his feet and he has a real hard time walking.  He told me that he has lost a considerable amount of weight in the last months, which helps... but he still needs healing for his feet, for his whole being!

So I am writing about my friend Jerome so those of you who read this will pray for him with me.  You know, in my mind, I ask myself sometimes, 'where is Jerome's  family?'  Why is he out here on the street like this?  I can't really answer these questions and they do bug me!  But I know that Jesus said..."the poor, you will have with you always..."  But I can say with confidence that... Jesus knows Jerome and I am sure that Jesus is willing to heal him!  If that is the case, then we should be willing to pray... for him!  

I am sure that there is more to Jerome than meets the eye but he has gotten my attention and I know... like Jesus who notices situation like this; it catches His attention too!  So I want to pray that Jesus heals Jerome!  Please take a minute and pray for him!  I am pretty sure he would appreciate it!

While I am writing this, I remembered the story of the starfish that have been washed up on the shore and the sun had started drying them out.  So this one guy starts throwing them back into the ocean.  Another person noticed that there were tens of thousands of star fish that were on the beach and was amazed that the other person was throwing them back into the ocean.  In his mind it was a useless task because there was so many of them.  So the one man says to the other, 'why are you doing that?  What good will it do to save so few?  It is overwhelming... the amount of star fish that have been washed up on the shore and you cannot, in a lifetime save all of these star fish!!!'

The other person just looked up and said, 'it matters to this one'...as he threw it back into the sea!

"Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost!"  If He is doing that, I think that I want to do that too!  Jesus said that the Father is working!  WOW!  He should know!  So if the Father is working and Jesus is working then I think that I would like to work...like Him!  What an example!  He has the right idea about this kind of thing!  If I take the chance and imitate Him... then I'll bet you, that I will be doing the right thing too!   "What cha thank?"

With my feet on the Ground....

Simply Trey

p.s. I am really looking forward to this walk to Mackinaw!  I got a feeling that there will be some folks just like Jerome along the way!   We will see...