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... 

Getting in Shape... Day 30!!!!!

New Life from what was violently cut down!!! 

300!
This morning I did it!
I crossed the finish line!  
I reached my goal of actually walking 300 miles 'in practice' to be able to walk the 300 miles to Mackinaw starting next Monday September 5th, 2011! 


For those of you who are planning on beginning this trek to Mackinaw with me next Monday the 5th of September, "Labor Day"... please be at the office no later than 9:00am so we can prep you about the route and any particulars for the walk on that day and ask Jesus for His help!  


Our target time to leave Dearborn will be 9:30AM.    For any particular questions you may have about the Trek, please e-mail me at  thancock56@gmail.com  and I will respond ASAP with any particulars needed.  


This morning when I started out, I walked a different route than I usually walk, although I have been this way before.  For me, it is hard to actually go this way because of memories associated with the neighborhood.  


As I worked my way down Horger Street from Ford Road, I came to Colson.  I crossed that intersection and just looked across the empty lots that were there.  Just South of that intersection there is a stump between the road and the sidewalk.  The stump is evidence of an elm tree that was there!  It was the only tree on Horger near the church that was on this property.  It had been cut down because it was 'in the way' of those taking down the building.  This structure was one of Dearborn's most useful and beautiful historic structures.  It all ended up in a dumpster!


All that remains of a place that was once a center of life and activity for the neighborhood and Dearborn in general, is a flat grassy lot and one stump!  One stump!  That is all that is visible from what remains!  


But today as I walked by, I noticed something that I had not seen before!  In the photo above, you can see it for yourself!  It is a shoot for a new tree coming out of the old stump!  I stopped and looked at that with amazement!  I thought to my self....'they can cut it down but they can't make it go away!'  What a thought!  I have to tell you that this really encouraged me!  Like a friend of mine that usually says "Jesus gets what Jesus wants!"  Look out ya'll!


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey

Getting in Shape... Day 28 and 29

It happened... I was there!  I saw it with my own eyes!  

These legs are tired but looking forward to trekking NORTH!

The 20 miles that I had determined weeks ago to walk after actually walking 18 miles... at one time, on one day, was realized!


Now I know that I can walk 20 miles!  I can because I really did it!  


Granted, my brother Britt and I did stop at a Subway on Ford Road on the way back and eat lunch... we actually walked 20 plus miles!  20 MILES! Our legs carried us that far!  WOOO!  


That all happened yesterday!  


So Afterwards... we picked up Becky from the Airport after she flew in from Finland.   We all crashed relatively early (10:30 pm or so-after having some ice cream!).  So this morning, I thought that I would just stretch my legs a bit and I set out for the office.  Surprisingly enough, I was not too sore!   The short 4.6 miles that I walked this AM pushed up my personal total mileage for the 'practice walk' to 293 miles!  As I have written before, I had determined for myself to actually 'do' 300 miles before we set out for Mackinaw City, MI beginning on September 5th which is Labor Day 2011!  I think that I am going to reach my goal and some!  


I am excited to see how many folks are going to come and walk that first day with us!  


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey


p.s. Becky is home!  Halleluia!