Walking

Bob Egbert is a member of the Sierra Club and he is putting his money where his mouth is. The environmentalist walks 1 1/2 hours to work and home each day. "I like the walk," Egbert said. "Sometimes I walk along the Appalachian Trail and I see all kinds of wildlife -- bears, coyotes, and even otters playing in Catawba Creek."

Bob Ebert walks along the Appalachian Trail. When he needs to get to work or home more quickly, Egbert walks along Route 311.

Recently, VDOT widened and paved the shoulder,” Egbert said. “That’s made it much safer and easier for hikers. In addition to myself, Route 311 is often used by Appalachian Trail through-hikers. They walk along it to get down to the post office and general store in Catawba Valley.”

Egbert begins his 4 ½ mile walk each day in Roanoke County about 6:15 a.m. He gets to work at Catawba Hospital around 8. In the afternoons, he packs up his work clothes in a backpack, changes into his hiking clothes and heads home around 4:30. He has followed this routine for the last four years.

“I believe in conserving gas and our natural resources,” Egbert said. “The walk has also been good for fitness. I’ve lost about 25 pounds since I started.”

Weather is usually not a problem either. Darkness, however, can be a challenge.

“I use a headlamp when it’s dark out,” Egbert said. “Sometimes I catch a ride home with a co-worker if I have somewhere to be or if I have a cold or something.”

Once, while walking along Route 311 during an ice storm, a motorist stopped and offered Egbert a ride. He declined, and ended up coming upon an accident down the road. It was the motorist who offered the ride.

Factoid

Many RideShare agencies offer a Guaranteed Ride Home Program that provides you with a free ride home via taxi or rental car if you have to respond to a personal emergency or work late unexpectedly.

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Page last modified: Jan. 28, 2008