After the death of his 96-year-old father, a World War II veteran,
Robert Schoen set off on a coast-to-coast journey. On a beautiful
Southern California day in April 2017, 70-year-old Schoen waded
knee-deep into the Pacific. He then walked back to shore, put on his
shoes and socks, and began walking toward the Atlantic. Although he'd
never walked more than seven miles in a row and was anything but an
outdoors fanatic, he did possess certain qualities necessary to complete
such a journey--an undaunted spirit, determination, and a willingness to
accept whatever might come his way.
During his journey he walked east through homeless tent communities, the
Mojave Desert, ghost towns, and cities large and small. He experienced
extremes of weather, a near-death encounter, and many obstacles and
challenges. But 2,644 miles and 14 states later, Robert Schoen finally
waded into the Atlantic Ocean, with renewed faith in the goodness and
generosity of his fellow Americans.