Matthew Perdie is walking across America -- literally.
Just last Friday, the 23-year-old strolled through McDuffie and Warren counties.
Carrying a backpack filled with such things as a small tent, some food, drinks, clothing, a camera, a laptop and waving a large American flag attached to a metal pole, he walks the highways.
He brings along a message for every American.
"I'm doing this to bring awareness to massive government spending by previous and current administrations," said Mr. Perdie, who began hiking across the country on June 22 when he left the northeast tip of Long Island, N.Y.
"What I'm doing may not change anything as far as the massive spending goes, but I want to at least let as many people as I can know about it and how wrong it is," he said.
Mr. Perdie, a student at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and a native of New Yorker, admitted that his parents think what he's doing is crazy.
"But at least they support my idea and that means a lot to me," said Mr. Perdie during a roadside interview near Warrenton, just before darkness set in last Friday.
He is making a documentary of his walk across America.
"I'm shooting a mini-series while I'm walking across American," said Mr. Perdie. "I already have six episodes online now."
When he first began his journey, he left with just $200. Along the way, he has received donations -- sometimes enough money for him to get a motel room, instead of bedding down in his sleeping bag and staying in a 5-by-6 tent. He's even had some people invite him into their homes to eat and spend the night.
"I've met a lot of really nice people," said Mr. Perdie. "This has really been a neat experience."
For more information, go to Perdie.com.
