By Bob Bumcrot

Filled with a variety of experiences, some harrowing but many uplifting, Cindy and Kirk Sinclair returned to Norfolk on May 24 from their year-long hike across America. 

“It started out as a mission,” said Kirk, who calls himself The Hiking Humanitarian, “but it ended as a pilgrimage. We learned a lot about how kindness and community occurs. We knew kindness would happen, but it happened virtually every day.”

The couple, who in the past have completed a number of other long hikes, this time traversed the entire length of the American Discovery Trail (ADT). Beginning on May 25, 2011, at Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco, their trek ended on May 2, 2012, at Cape Hanlopen State Park in Delaware. They traveled a distance of 4,927 miles.

The hikers were on the trail for 305 of 366 days, averaging over 17 miles per segment. The longest single day was 32 miles in California, a double segment pushed through in order to avoid a predicted deluge, which did occur the following day while they rested. They suffered from heat exhaustion, each on one day, crossing the Utah desert in temperatures as high as 113 degrees with the only shade provided by telephone poles.

On the other extreme, one 15-degree night in the high Rockies had Kirk knocking snow off the tent to avoid it collapsing, as happened to the campers nearby. The only time the determined couple felt they were in danger was along a six-mile stretch of road in Illinois with a very narrow shoulder and a steep drop-off, where huge loaded coal trucks roared past inches away at the rate of one a minute.

The bulk of their 61 days off the ADT were spent meeting people and giving presentations of Kirk’s message of community and kindness. During the year he spoke and sang his own songs, sometimes backed on recording by his Norfolk-based group The Bards of Balance, to approximately 20 churches, 15 Lions Clubs, and 12 schools ranging for elementary to college. All along the route they were offered food and places to sleep.

“We were almost treated as celebrities, especially as the advance publicity grew,” said Cindy.

Throughout their epic journey the Sinclairs were assisted by their liaison supporter Ky Byrne, who accompanied the hikers from California until they connected to the Appalachian Train in New Jersey. She towed her 13 foot by 80 inch camper, transporting food and equipment. Byrne was also tasked with handling advance arrangements for Kirk’s presentations.

“I quit my job and got the chance to do something that not a lot of people would actually do,” said Byrne. “I traveled across mid America at the speed of a covered wagon helping support a cause I believed in. I saw the amazing scenery the USA has and got to meet the most amazing people.”

Now Kirk has begun work on a book, tentatively entitled “Kindness Across America”, outlining what he learned during the journey in regards to advocating kindness and community. He explains the four basic ingredients for success as being: autonomy; provision of benefits for all members, rich and poor; expectation of community benefits by all members; and non-reliance on a single heroic leader, such as a charismatic social reformer.

Both Byrne and the Sinclairs are considering the next phases of their lives. Besides his book project Kirk is planning a “Road Kill Calendar” for 2013, based on his many photographs taken along the way. For more information on their adventures, including maps, logs comments and photos by Kirk and Ky, log on to www.hikinghumanitarian.com.