Walk across America: complete

After 175 days, about 3,400 miles and at least 10 pairs of shoes, Kent Treptow’s walk across America finished with fanfare in Huntington Beach on Saturday.

Treptow, a former staff photographer for the Coastline Pilot and its sister papers, began his on-foot, cross-country journey June 12 in Maine. From the road, he regularly blogged detailed accounts of his adventure and the people he met along the way.

He carried only a backpack and, for part of the way, used a baby jogging stroller to carry some of the load. When it came to finding a place to sleep, he relied on the kindness of strangers, a network of friends across the country, motel rooms and, most often, just setting up his tent wherever he could find a suitable spot.

He arrived in Laguna Beach on Dec. 1, two days away from his eventual goal: the Talbert Channel on the border of Huntington and Newport Beach.

A crowd of well-wishers, which included former co-workers and family, were there to welcome him back with high-fives, signs and a trophy. After greeting everyone and saying a few words about his accomplishment, all he wanted to do was take a splash in the Pacific Ocean. Who could blame him?

Congratulations, Kent!

To read more about his adventure, visit https://www.kenttreptow.com/blog.

—Kelly Parker