Published on Thursday, September 25, 2008

Man passes through DeKalb on walk across country

By MICHAEL VAN DER HARST

Ted Butler stops along Lincoln Highway for a moment to talk about the people and places he has encountered on his travels walking across the country, Wednesday afternoon. Butler hopes that by sharing his experiences with others he can help to foster growth in his own and other's self awareness, which he believes is a solution to many of the greater problems in our society. Butler began his journey November 26, 2007 in Santa Monica, California and plans to end at The World Trade Center site in New York.

Ted Butler walked through DeKalb Wednesday, but you won’t believe where he started.

The 42-year-old Madison, Wis., native began his trek across the U.S. this past November in Santa Monica, Calif. His goal is to “try and get people more aware of the stimulus that affects us and the decisions we make.”

Butler maintains a Web site offering updates on his route and allows users to comment on his progress.

“I’m writing an online interactive book.” Butler said. “It’s something that any visitor can contribute to.”

When the Star caught up with him he had just passed the DeKalb Post Office, 600 E. Lincoln Highway, and was heading east toward Chicago.

His final destination is the World Trade Center site in New York City, which he hopes to get to by Dec. 13.

“I tried to do this once before, travel from New York to the west coast, but I failed due to a stress fracture in my foot,” Butler said. “I haven’t been home since.”

Butler is using his own money to fund this trip as well as some funds from his father. He has also received a few loans.

He says he tries to camp along the way to eliminate the cost of staying in hotels.

“Sometimes I stay in shelters when I’m in larger cities,” he said.

He knows this is a unique way of getting across his message.

“It’s unconventional,” he said.