My first positive response!

“I've had a dream, that someday some gear company would fully fund my walk around the country. So I e'mailed/wrote to about 50 random gear/clothing/anything i could think of at the time - manufacturers and companies to try and grab some funding - a sponsorship of some sort. Everything always came back negative :( like, "i'm sorry we can not help out with a trip like this" or "our funds are used up for this year" or "we only help out large organizations" ok, fine.
So a sponsorship was not as easy as i thought it might have been.

So i went on several months, figuring i'd have to pay for the entire trip myself, then i came up with a great plan - well, food is my major expense, and i've worked in fast food for over 2 years, and i kinda know how it works. - a meal here and a meal there doesn't affect the company at all, millions of pounds of food get thrown away every day across the country ensuring fresh food and happy customers. So i took some time and wrote up another email explaining my trip and asking for support in the way of food. i've writtin to about 10 companies - food joints, asking for food along the way. the first few were negative, or sent me phone numbers or addresses that i should contact - which i will get on right away. But today i check, and there's a letter from white castle.

"Sure we would love to help you out! We will send you some coupons that
you
can redeem anywhere in the U.S. Crave on Craver!"

I know it's not much, but it was great to recieve positive feedback for once. :) and free food at least somewhere on this trip.

maybe some other's will help out”

“Very cool, simer190!!! You'll be good in marketing some day, I can see it now. And what, you're only a high school senior??

So do you get to southeast MN ever? I work in Preston, south of Rochester. If ya ever want to do some hiking at Forestville State Park, lemme know. Or if you come down to bike the Root River Trail.”

“Congrats! And if you pass by my area while I'm still living in Jersey, I'll hook you up with some grub. Same applies for when I move to Maine.”

“yeah, i've been down that direction, havent' done much hiking, but i was on the root river trail in july. Good bike trail - stayed in lanesboro 2 nights, did some night riding, had a good time, i'll let ya know next time i'm down that direction.”

“Check your E-mail dude....”

“Same goes for me in Orlando area! What is your prospective route?”

“well sheesh, ya better!! Did you know that each week I grab someone or some people on the trail and do a front page feature in our paper? I'm in Preston and the paper also covers Lanesboro. Am all over that neck of the woods.”

“whiteys!

im not hiking behind you!”

“we don't have WC here....WHEW!”

“Let me know if you're coming through Utah....”

“Yeah man! Scarf down on some of that Free Publicity, LOL

Lizs can do a killer write-up for you... the story gets picked up by a wire service and before you know it the sponsors are breaking down your door!


In any case, what could it hurt? <grin>”

“Just don't mention TTing.”

“Lots of White Castles in Chicago--I could point you to some, though never eaten there!”

“but heck, free food - i guess i'll be eatin there sometime”

“Simer, if you eat at a white castle when you're anywhere within fifty miles of my house, I'll be offended. When you get to do this hike, we'd gladly feed you for a coupla days and let you clean up, etc at our house. We could be a day sponser. =) SE MI.”

“Great idea, Sassafras! Day sponsors. Just like on NPR. Every day sponsor could tattoo a special message on Simer's back.”

“That i believe dunadan was the first to come up with the "day sponsor" idea.

And I'm still psyched about that idea - and i guess now that i've been around for a while it might catch on better.

But it still depends on where everyone is located, and i don't plan on hiking 300 miles out of my way just to visit someone . . . well, maybe ;).

look for the older threads about "walk around america" they have some details.”

“Artex, when are you moving to Maine? I've lived in Maine for a little over a year now; just south of Portland.”

“Congrats on the good news Simer. Keep trying and I'll bet more will come your way. You are welcome to stop through MT and I'll day sponsor you. I think you have a pretty exciting trip planned.

BTW, I talked to that girl about your deal and (as I thought she would) she thought I was crazy. She's normally up for doing kinda' funky stuff, but she was worried about the internet thing. I guess you gotta' be a TTer. LOL! (I admit it took quite awhile to believe that you weren't all ax-murders. Actually, I still kinda' wonder about some people. LOL!)”

“I thought this thread was about a pregnancy test...”

“i'm excited

and UP - we've already been through the fact that i'm not pregnant, so get over it I'm not pregnant ”

“As a business owner, I often contribute to causes. My first question to those that ask for support, donations, sponsorship, etc. is this.....
Why are you doing it? What is your goal? What are you going to give back of yourself, even if you don't succeed? Like, donating photos to a gallery, library, etc. Writing short stories along the way and donate them also. Help others that are striving to be a confident outdoorsman like yourself. (get the picture?)
Now, Mr. Simer..... you have not said why you need money, food, clothing, or gear donated to your trip. Do you have a cause? I know if I received a letter from someone who says "someday some gear company would fully fund my walk around the country"
I know I am one of the newbees here, but, this is something I am interested in. As you have described yourself, all you want to do is bum around the countryside at others expense.
Thanks.”

“Perseverance pays off in the end, youll see that ather potential sponsors will follow!!. Lemme know if you are going to be in So, Ca. Ill give whatever kind of suppoert i can leand. Good luck.”

“Look for White Castle in your grocery freezer section.

Simmer, I hope you got coupons for the frozen foods division. If not, I guess I could buy you a hamburger.”

“Perseverance pays off... If you'd gotten a part time job and spent as much time on that, you'd have more than a few burgers worth of cash.

Duh.”

“I know if I received a letter from someone who says "someday some gear company would fully fund my walk around the country"

what the hell does that mean?”

“That is the way Mr. Simer started off his post. He wants a buncha folks to all chip in and pay for his hike across the Nation.....
I only asked what was his goals or causes were other than trekking around on free food and gear. (and, donated $$$$) This was big back in the 60s. If I had not been in the Navy at the age of 18 in 1967 right out of high school, I probably would have joined the hippie movement, done Woodstock and got me an old VW bus and mooched as much as I could. (but, a horrible thing called Viet Nam changed all that for me)
I am in no way slamming the young man. I just asked some questions. It is up to him how he chooses to make the most out of such a hike. If he approaches it in a positive manner that others could benifit from, I think I could send something his way. But, just to pay someone to wander around the countryside to "find themselves" is a different story.
I was just interested in the young mans ambitions.
Does that clear myself up for you ??”

“all i was asking is what that seemingly unfinished statement was supposed to mean.”

“"Perseverance pays off... If you'd gotten a part time job and spent as much time on that, you'd have more than a few burgers worth of cash.

Duh."
Is this meant for me?, lemme know so i can have the proper response.”

“I have always had a dream to take my kids to Disney World and that all the nice folks on TT would send me cash to make this dream come true.

Trekker John is right here, get a cause, or get a job.”

“I wish i could say I had a great cause - but in the end, i'm mostly doing this for myself.

Sure, i'll take pictures along the way, and would gladly donate them somewhere - for magazines or wherever. And I was actually thinking of taking up something like writing, either descriptions of things i've learned, adventures i've had, the life i've lived. Where that would end up, i don't know.

The way it is, besides hiking this summer, i've held down 2 jobs, working 8-14 hours a day, in the end i was planning on paying the whole way for this trip.

If you'd still be interested, i'll gladly send you more information - on why i'm doing this, where i'm going, etc.

One thing i think i'm benefitting it tters - right? i've offered you all to join me on sections, listen to my stories, and post pictures of everyone i meet. my first few weeks on this board, the idea was proposed, by dunadan, that i stop by everyone's house, take pictures and post a site for tt. after consideration, i decided that would not be likely, but offered that everyone come to me, and hike for a while.

feel free to e'mail me with any questions, or if you're still interested, i'll gladly provide more information.

thank you - and i'll get back to you”

“i think the kids just playin it smart. companies give money for this kind of thing. why not try to get some. he didn't come on here asking you all to fund his trip, or did he? if he did, i missed it. from what i saw he played a chance and it paid off. i really don't get the impression he's trying to mooch his way around the country.”

“some people would actually view doing this for himself as a worthy cause.”

“"I've had a dream, that someday some gear company would fully fund my walk around the country"

"then i came up with a great plan - well, food is my major expense, and i've worked in fast food for over 2 years, and i kinda know how it works. - a meal here and a meal there doesn't affect the company at all"

"So i took some time and wrote up another email explaining my trip and asking for support in the way of food. "

And, now, hitting your fellow TTers up for day sponsors.

Okay, , , I really don't have anymore time or energy to invest in this, Duct. . . .. I'm packing my bag for the trails next weekend (locally) then up to Mammoth Cave, KY the 10th for 4 days there.
ya'll have a great day.”

“"Well, I wish i could say I had a great cause - but in the end, i'm mostly doing this for myself".

Oh, BTW, I want to visit Key West the first week of Nov.... could ya'll front me some KFC coupons ?”

“simer,

surely you feel strongly about one cause or another. One that you could embrace. Hike across the country to bring attention to your cause. Do a little PR work with local media stations along the way. Sponsers will jump on the band wagon. This way your doing a public service and fulfilling your dream. Whatever your cause, your heart has to be in it, and you should have knowlege of it, along with how folks can help the main cause and second (least important help you obtain your personal goal)”

“Check your E-mail.
If your in Middle Tennessee you got food, shelter, & shower here!”

“don't leave your sleeping bag stuffed up all week. you'll ruin it.”

“Thanks. . . . (it always hangs in my closet upside down).
I have to reduce my 300 pound traveling car camper stuff down to fit into a 40 pound bag. I sure am gonna miss my 25 pound cast iron skillet!!! One note, that little Peak1 400 is pretty awesome, if you ask me!! I will miss my big 3 burner propane "woofer", too. And, that 50 pound box of oak firewood.
But, this is what I have a passion for,,,, outdoors in the Fall. Whether it be boating up and down the small rivers, trekking our National and State parks or just riding around in my big extended body Dodge Ram van people hauler, I was born to be outside.....not cooped up here in my shop all day. Welp, work calls...
Happy Monday to us all, and to all, a good week !!!”

“Dear Matt,
We would like to help you with your journey. Please forward your mailing address to me so we can send you certificates ASAP.

Itallian this time, Sbarro”

“COOL!!!
FREE PIZZA!!!!”