Editor’s note: Salisbury native David Freeze is running across the state from Murphy to Manteo. The Post is chronicling each day of his journey. Contact him at david.freeze@ctc.net.

I knew that Monday would be long simply because I had to get back early to the Cary area to get going again.

After rising early, Tim and William Deal brought me back to the exact spot near Jordan Lake where they picked me up on Friday. We had a nice ride over and watched as the temperature got colder along the way.

They dropped me off at just past 7:30 a.m. and sent me on my way with prayers and some photos. My very sore shin felt much better.

U.S. 64 was very good with moderate traffic until I neared Raleigh and suddenly the road swelled to six and occasionally eight lanes when partnered with U.S. 1. I had plenty of time on U.S. 1 while cycling from Maine to Key West but never did this part of it.

Rushing traffic was loud and thick until U.S. 1 peeled off, then suddenly Interstate 40 joined in. I don’t know exactly how it happened but U.S. 64 and I-40 were even busier. I knew from the very beginning that this part of the route would be dicey, and I expected to be stopped. No signs prohibited pedestrians, so I had my argument ready.

The road had been under construction recently, and I suspect that the big equipment was not working Monday because of the wet ground. One of the construction guys was moving barrels and began walking toward me. I thought, “Uh, oh! He is going to tell me to find another road.”

But the exact opposite happened. The worker wanted to know all about my trip and said that he had been thinking about doing a 100-mile walk and wanted to know how long it would take. We walked along and talked and he offered me money, and I tried to decline but finally did accept his offer of paying for a meal. I felt terrible when he opened his wallet and gave me his last $10.

I asked to take his picture but he opted out, saying he would just offer prayers for my safety. I don’t even have his name but was moved by the experience.

I felt pretty good because the construction had included paving a new lane and the barrels were still in place for probably 4 to 5 miles. I just stayed behind them and kept going.

Suddenly, just up ahead was Raleigh police Officer E.H. Patton. He walked back and read my Murphy-to-Manteo sign, and we had quite a conversation. He continually wished me well and said that a motorist had called in that I was in the median.

We both laughed when we looked at the concrete barrier wall that divided the east- and westbound lanes. There is no median.

Officer Patton was another good guy just doing his job. He let me take a picture of his car with the stroller but not with him in it.

Not 20 minutes later, I was jolted out of my daydream by the screech of a siren from another police car while yet another one pulled in front of me. Both officers got out and asked what I was doing. I proceeded to tell them, and their mood lightened.

One of the officers told me that there were cameras in the big lights that overlook the road and someone thought it looked like I was out with a walker on the road. By walker, I mean the kind that a person would lean on and roll along.

I told them that I had been on the road for most of March and hoped to reach Manteo in about a week. I also told them that I write for the local paper and one of them said, “Will we be in it? Just call us Officer Good Looking and Officer Bald.”

That might be the line of the trip so far. They wished me luck and safety and drove away.

One more unusual thing was left to report. I was confused briefly by where my target motel was, whether it was on U.S. 64 Business or 64 Bypass. Once I figured it out, I was hustling toward 64 Business when a car slid to a stop right in front of me and three people jumped out screaming and running from the car as it started to smoke heavily. Fluids were coming from in front of the car, and the front bumper and lights were damaged. I just kept going around them and didn’t look back because several trucks had stopped.

After 31 miles and hours of screaming trucks, I ended up in the Wake Inn, right close to the hospital. At the end of Day 17, my total mileage was 447 miles with an average of 26.29 miles. I have about 190 miles to go and will head most of the way toward Rocky Mount today. Good weather is on tap and warmer temperatures too.

My brand new pair of Altra Paradigm running shoes did the job Monday with no break-in period. I will wear them all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to Ralph Baker Shoes and Altra for providing them. At this point, I consider them one of my favorite pair of shoes ever.

I planned to go to bed early Monday night, thinking I had earned it. Here’s hoping that you are enjoying this trip as much as I am. See you back here tomorrow!