# Tomorrow, you leave it all behind and walk cross country all the way (coast to coast), no money... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832 "2013-03-02T16:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gerund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@gerund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gerund)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/1 "2013-03-02T16:49:13Z")
or help. When you get there, there’s a briefcase with 5 million USD. Do you do it? ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/2 "2013-03-02T16:53:06Z")
If I could survive somehow, I think I might. If it means that I could use the money to replace all I’d left behind, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/3 "2013-03-02T16:59:46Z")
Does hitchhiking count? Can I take a backpack with some basic camping gear, change of clothes, water filter, perhaps a small firearm and adequate ammunition for procuring food? After I retrieve my $5MM do I return to my previous life, my family and friends? If no to any of the above (except the hitchhiking one), then no. Otherwise yes. ---
**Author:** ![gerund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@gerund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gerund)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/4 "2013-03-02T17:04:12Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Does hitchhiking count? Can I take a backpack with some basic camping gear, change of clothes, water filter, perhaps a small firearm and adequate ammunition for procuring food? After I retrieve my $5MM do I return to my previous life, my family and friends? > > If no to any of the above (except the hitchhiking one), then no. Otherwise yes. You may not hitchhike. You may pack and bring one normal-sized backpack only. You may return to your previous life, yes, but must deal with all the consequences of your extended departure (e.g., job loss, etc.). Must leave tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/5 "2013-03-02T17:09:44Z")
I’d go if I could figure out how to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/6 "2013-03-02T17:11:00Z")
Yep, on my way with no hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/7 "2013-03-02T17:24:43Z")
I’d do it. Today, I would only need to buy a good down sleeping bag. I have my old North Face 2-man tent still. It’s now 9:24am here. I’d be packed and ready to go at daybreak. I’d miss my wife, sure, and it’d take the better part of a year assuming a modest average rate of 15-20 miles per day, likely more after a few hundred miles and getting into the rhythm of it. But the $5M would go a long way to securing our retirement. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/8 "2013-03-02T17:24:59Z")
[Been done](http://www.peacepilgrim.org/). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/9 "2013-03-02T17:47:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [Been done](http://www.peacepilgrim.org/). I’m walkin’ for **$5,000,000.00**! I ain’t walking for peace. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/10 "2013-03-02T18:05:15Z")
No. I would never make as far as Reno. (I’m in San Francisco) ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/11 "2013-03-02T18:13:54Z")
> [@gerund](#): > > Tomorrow, you leave it all behind and walk cross country all the way (coast to coast), no money… > or help. When you get there, there’s a briefcase with 5 million USD. > > Do you do it? Fuck yeah – it’s only about 70 miles. If I walked through the night (and why not) I could be there by Monday. Or did you have a specific country in mind? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/12 "2013-03-02T18:24:46Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > Fuck yeah – it’s only about 70 miles. If I walked through the night (and why not) I could be there by Monday. > Or did you have a specific country in mind? Ha, yes, that’s what I was thinking. From the Forth estuary to the Clyde is only a leisurely couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/13 "2013-03-02T18:27:18Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > No. I would never make as far as Reno. (I’m in San Francisco) I live near there, too. I walk south first, then across Tehachapi Pass. $5M, **Foggy** , you can make it! ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/14 "2013-03-02T18:38:01Z")
What do you mean by no help? Does somebody giving you a meal in exchange for two hours of washing dishes count as help? But if all you mean is that you have to walk all the way, absolutely yes. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/15 "2013-03-02T18:42:19Z")
We’re allowed a backpack. In there will be a few clothes, some food, water and survival gear. Sleeping bag and pad will be strapped on top. Oh, and inside the backpack will be money and credit cards. That falls within the constraints of the OP and follow-up post #4. ---
**Author:** ![gerund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@gerund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gerund)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/16 "2013-03-02T18:49:39Z")
> [@echo7tango](#): > > We’re allowed a backpack. In there will be a few clothes, some food, water and survival gear. Sleeping bag and pad will be strapped on top. Oh, and inside the backpack will be money and credit cards. > > That falls within the constraints of the OP and follow-up post #4. no cash (or credit cards) ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/17 "2013-03-02T19:13:28Z")
this was the topic of my all time fav book, “Walk Across America” (followed by “A Walk west”) by peter jenkings [http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Across-America-Peter-Jenkins/dp/006095955X](http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Across-America-Peter-Jenkins/dp/006095955X) Jenkings did just that…walked for New England down the Appalachian Trail, to NOLA…met a cutie, married her, then then next book was about both walking from NOLA to the west coast. Lots of photos…get this book…it was #1 for a long time…NAT GEO (or maybe LIFE) found out about his venture, and gave him a camera to document it. They gave monthly updates to readers of the magazines…it was in the early 1970’s a book you won’t be able to put down at bedtime ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/18 "2013-03-02T19:18:43Z")
Peter jenkings, as i recall, was offered a job in his wealthy dads biz right out of college. but Peter recalled how his dad was a workaholic, few vacations, and never got to explore the real USA. So pete told his dad no thanks, spent several months getting in shape, got the best & lightest backpacking gear, and with just his dog Cooper, they went off over the horizon. Little did jenkings dad know that his son would make far more from the unexpected NY Times best selling book(s). I think he retired after the walk. Any of you remember this what it happened? Reading of it in either Life or Nat Geo? The book on #1 list ? ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/19 "2013-03-02T19:19:30Z")
Sounds like [Grandma Gatewood](http://www.trailtherapy.org/Grandma_Gatewood.html) on the Appalachian Trail. > [@](#): > > She did it in 1955 at the age of 67, wearing Keds sneakers and carrying an army blanket, a raincoat, a plastic shower curtain for shelter, a cup, first aid kit, raincoat, and one change of clothes, all of which she carried in a homemade bag slung over one shoulder. Her hiking diet consisted mainly of dried beef, cheese and nuts, supplemented by wild food she would find along the way. She also walked the Oregon Trail. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832/20 "2013-03-02T19:24:03Z")
jenkings always wanted to know what it was like, living in a poor, rural, black family. one of the most memorable chapters, was him meeting such a mountain family on the App trail. They took him in, pretty much adopted him and Cooper his dog. He stayed for several weeks, sending diary updates with photos. That was the single place on his trip that he really missed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomorrow-you-leave-it-all-behind-and-walk-cross-country-all-the-way-coast-to-coast-no-money/651832.md?page=2)