Walk across U.S. becomes challenging for RVC’s Finnegan

The trip is starting to get more challenging, but Rockville Centre native Daniel Finnegan and his companion are still soldiering on as they continue to make their way through Pennsylvania during their walk across the United States.

Finnegan and Abby Bongaarts were in the south central part of the state at press time, but the trip down the historic Lincoln Highway has been tougher than expected with elevations reaching over 2,000 feet in the southern central part of the state.

"The elevation change has been a challenge so far, but I think we've both embraced it because we've just been pushing ourselves through it, playing some music to pump us up," he said.

The pair also began camping outside the past week in places such as Buchanan National Forest, Michaux National Forest, which encompasses over 85,000 acres of land in the South Mountain area of Cumberland, Franklin and Adams counties and Indian Lake Resort.

From there, they will be heading towards Jennerstown after planning to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown.

"[It] will be a really cool experience because we made sure to stop at the 9-11 Memorial before leaving New York," he said.

Residents in the area are recognizing Finnegan and Bongaarts more through social media. In one instance, Finnegan said a woman in a black BMW backed up a hill to say that she recognized them through Facebook, was praying for them, and would donate money to their JOIN charity, which focuses on helping the homeless.

Finnegan has met other unique people in the area as well. He described a woman named Kim as someone who “ran her coffee shop like it was her home” and how she welcomed them with warm coffee and stories. Another man, who was riding a bike, told them that “the war to end all wars” was coming. Finally, a person standing outside of an auto body shop quipped to the pair that “it’s the journey, not the destination.”

Finnegan said he hopes to reach Pittsburgh around April 1.

Those who would like to support Finnegan and Bongaarts on their journey and make a donation to JOIN can visit their Fundly page at https://fundly.com/a-walk-across-america.