Following the Spirits Call – Walk to Freedom

On my recent walk from Detroit to Dresden, I mentioned to a few people how surprised I was the spirits called me back out onto the road so soon after walking to Owen Sound last summer. It was almost as if I was being told by the spirits I had not completed the walk they had in mind.

Last March, while trying to decide if I was going to walk to Owen Sound, I came home one day after walking the dog to discover this U-Haul truck parked in front of our house, literally in front of our house, with the woman’s eyes staring at the front door. I yelled out loud, “I hear you, I hear you” acknowledging the spirits that wanted me to walk to Ontario.

Ten months later, on January 13, 2026, two weeks after returning home from Ontario, I saw the same truck parked near 56th and Market Street in West Philadelphia while again walking the dog. I was momentarily stunned when I looked at the truck now recognizing for the first time the house in the picture and its significance. It’s the Josiah Henson African-Canadian Museum where I ended my recent walk on January 2.

Maybe I was supposed to walk the Josiah Henson Museum last summer and I misunderstood the Spirit’s message. I’m happy I walked to both places because they each have different meanings to me.