Frank Intro

May 29, 2001 A modern Odysseus travels America By Matt Milner--Record Editor What could possibly possess a 60-year-old Englishman to walk across a continent? Curiosity, according to Frank Buykx. Buykx (pronounced bikes) said the trip from the White House to the Golden Gate Bridge is a lark, more or less. "It's for the heck of it," he said. You wouldn't pick this thin man with a salt-and-pepper beard and blue jogging suit as a candidate for a countrywide jaunt, but after two months of walking Buykx is nearing the halfway point of his journey. The idea took root four years ago as Buykx, a student of American history, began pondering if there was any way he could recreate the experience of westward expansion. He travelled from his home in Norwich on the east coast of England to the United States, beginning his trek on March 27. He said the majority of reactions from his British neighbors were about the risk involved. A number of people asked him if the trip would be dangerous. "The exact opposite is true," Buykx said, explaining that common sense, such as not walking through downtown St. Louis at 2 a.m. to use his example, makes for a comfortable trip. "I've never felt concerned," he said. The trip has been far from monotonous, Buykx said. He explained that he tries to let one memorable thing happen each day. The thing isn't, as he stated, something that someone can make happen. As an example Buykx cites an incident in West Virginia. Buykx got off the road and back into the woods before setting up camp. In the morning he walked to a gas station to get some provisions for the day. He explained what he was doing and where he had stayed to the cashier, who responded by asking if he knew about the 400 pound bear who lived in the vicinity. Buykx said he moved out of the woods rather more quickly than usual when he got back to camp. "You can't make these things happen," he quipped. In Boonville Buykx said he faced a choice. He had been following the American Discovery trail, which would take him towards Kansas City, but the Katy Trail offered another option. The Katy also offered the lure of avoiding Kansas City's traffic, something Buykx was inclined to do. The decision didn't come easily. Buykx decided to delay his decision. "I said 'What the hell, I'll stay two nights,' " said Buykx. The next morning Buykx ran across a copy of the Boonville Daily News visitor's guide. He said that cinched it, and plans on following the Katy Trail for the time being. Travelling on foot across nearly half of the continent has afforded Buykx some unique insights. He said he has been struck by the number of small towns in which he sees no one out of their cars as he travels through. "So many of the towns are dead," he said. Boonville, according to Buykx, is not. He said the number of people out and active in the downtown area was unlike many other towns he has visited. And that is a lesson he hopes to impart to his radio audience via the BBC broadcast he does about his trip. Buykx said it is important that his countrymen keep their cities alive and vital, using some American examples as warnings. Buykx said he has a plane ticket home from San Francisco at the end of October. His trip can be followed at www.buykx.com.