Virginia “Gin” Szagola is roughly half-way finished with her trip across the United States and she already has enough for a book.

For the most part, she has been greeted with kindness during her walk across America. There have only been a couple of times she was scared.

Szagola doesn’t like walking after dark, although at times it has been unavoidable. And, a couple of times, she was approached by people that set off her inner alarm.

Ellsworth was one of the many places where she found kindness. Szagola, 19, was here during the Ellsworth County 4-H Fair. When people heard her story, they immediately offered their help. One person offered a place to sleep. Another found her a shower.

Szagola said such a reception is refreshing because of the way too many people view today’s society.

She has walked 1,500 miles since she left Delaware about five months ago on her way to California. Szagola said she started the trip because she was concerned about how she would react if she was kicked out of her home and ended up with no where to go.

“I wanted to make an adventure out of misfortune,” she said.

Szagola took her savings and hit the road, for the most part following the American Discovery Trail, a route that goes through both the countryside and towns. She started at Cape Henlopen, Delaware and plans to finish in San Francisco.

“My route will take me through Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California,” Szagola wrote in her blog, www.ginandfaith.com.

“In total, I’ll be walking around 3,500 miles, and it’ll take me 8-9 months ... so nearly all of 2019.

Szagola said most of her money goes for food and repairs to “Faith.”

Faith “is my bright orange, threewheeled, googly-eyed companion for this trek,” she wrote. “Likes to complain about her weight when she’s carrying more gear than usual. Loves posing for photos. Hates hills, rough terrain, doors she can’t fit through, and going down stairs. Hopes to make it all the way to California!”

She usually stays at campgrounds when available. Other times she calls local churches and police departments to get permission to camp.

At one point, she was in West Virginia, going up a mountain, when her cart broke. A biker happened to pass her by and asked if there was anything he could do to help. She mentioned what she was doing, and explained what had happened. The man was a blacksmith, who took “Faith” down the mountain and fixed her up as good as new.

Another time Szagola was caught in a snowstorm, which flooded her tent. Soaked and freezing, she sought shelter in a nearby cabin.

What happens once the grand adventure ends? Szagola plans to attend college; however, she’s not sure what she will study.

Meanwhile, she continues to chronicle her trip at www.ginandfaith.com.