"That's exactly right. I could've made a similar cross-country trip in my 1997 Suburu. But when we entered a rural community, saying that we were literally walking across the country to make a point about the environment, people took notice."

I imagine many of the people you met with weren't as politically progressive as your crew. How did they feel about environmentalism?

"The environment isn't a partisan issue since it impacts everyone."

Tell me about the weird experiences you faced on the road.

"Well, it seemed like we were single-handedly keeping America's shoe industry afloat since we went through so many pairs during our eight months of walking. We began our walk in a 10-inch rainstorm in Los Angeles, brutally cold weather in Phoenix, a tick infestation in Nebraska, and extreme conditions that will convince everyone things are changing faster than ever before."

But you end the book on a very positive note, right?