"There are many stories I want to tell you. Stories such as the one about a nudist at a windmill; one about a man who felt sorry for me and literally gave me the shirt off his back; one about kissing the plaque on the Empire State Building, and even one about the time I drank water...that was only intended for flushing toilets..."  

On April 8th, 1991, David Stoess left Los Angeles on foot. He arrived at the Empire State Building on September 24th. This is the story of what happened to him in between. Filled with humorous and harrowing tales of torturous heat, near-fatal flash floods, relentless fire ants, and naked Samaritans, it is a personal tale of physical challenge, mental hardship, and unlikely heroes.

It is, as Stoess sees it, a tribute to America and her people.