A Walk Across America: Summary

A Walk Across America: Summary A Walk Across America is an adventurous story of how Peter Jenkins and his best pal, his pet Malamute, Cooper, discover America on their journey from Alfred, New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Peter Jenkins is the author and main character. Throughout the story, Jenkins experiences hardships and enjoyable events. Jenkins’ personality and perspective on life changes throughout the course of the story by the influence of characters he meets along the way. In the beginning of the story, Jenkins recalls his college experiences. Jenkins explains how his girlfriend and he rushed into marriage and it “disintegrated” (Jenkins 20-21). After the end of his marriage, Jenkins decides he must get away from everyone and everything. On October 25th, 1973, Peter Jenkins and Cooper leave the town of Alfred, New York for Washington, D.C. (32-33). Once in Washington, D.C., Jenkins goes to meet with a writer at the National Geographic Society and receives a camera to use during his walk (Jenkins 50-52). After Washington, they head south to their next destination, the Appalachian Trail. Jenkins and Cooper spend a cold Thanksgiving on a peaceful mountaintop in Sperryville, Virginia (Jenkins 58-59). Next, Jenkins and Cooper walk into the town of Chattam Hill, Virginia. While in Virginia, Jenkins hears of a man by the name Homer Davenport (67-68). Jenkins journeys a far distance up a mountain to find Homer’s secret home, which faces the town of Saltville, Virginia. Homer invited Jenkins and Cooper to “come on up for a spell” (71). During their two days and nights at Homer’s, Jenkins says, “I learned and expanded until I thought I couldn’t change any more” (78). Homer and Jenkins understand each other’s way of living and thinking. Homer mentions to Jenkins that he should settle down on his mountain and make a life there. However, Jenkins continues on his journey south. On Jenkins’ cold winter journey south, he catches the influenza virus. He must stop