Around60,000 years ago,humans migratedoutofAfrica.Theymovedtotherestoftheworld.Salopekisfollowingtheirpath.

SoleBrothers

RiftValley,Ethiopia

January31,2013

Salopekwilltakemillionsofstepsonhistrip.So,hisfootwearispretty important.

Insomeplaces,peopleweardifferentkindsofshoes.ThisisnottrueinEthiopia.Mostpeopletherewearsandals.Theylookthesame.Theydon’tcostverymuch.

Wearewalking.Therearefootprintseverywhere.Allthefootprintsweremadebythesamekindsofshoes.Yet,ourguidecanreadthefootprints.Hepointstoone.Hesaysthathisfriendwillbewaitingforusinthenexttown.Andhewas!

ManyEthiopianswearthesamestyleofshoe,madefromplastic.

Awad’sRefrigerator

Umlajj,SaudiArabia

October30,2013

Salopekandhisguidescarryeverythingtheyneed.Thatincludescarrying water.

Whenwalkingthroughadesert,it’simportanttobringwater.It’snicewhenthewateriscool.

AwadOmranismycamelhandler.Hehasaspecialwaytocarrywater.Hekeepsitcool,too.Hemadeaspecialbottle.Heusedcardboardandotherjunk.Hewrapsthebottlewithcardboardandsackmaterial.Thebottlestartstosweatintheheat.Thewettedcardboardhelpskeepthewatercool.

Awadkeepswatercoolwithacanteenmadewithsackmaterial,cardboard,plastictwine,andaplasticwaterbottle.

MyMule

NearSiverek,Turkey

December11,2014

Salopekdoesnotwalkalone.Packanimalscarryhissupplies.Here,hewritesabouthis mule.

Itdoesn’tmatterwhatyoucallamule. Amulewon’tanswertoit.Eachofmywalkingpartnershascalledourmulebyadifferentname.OneguidecalledherBarbara.AnothercalledherSweetie.Myphotographercallsher Snowflake.

IcallherKirkatir.ItisaTurkishname.Itmeans“greymule.”Butsheislikeallmules.Sheanswerstonolabel.Shecomeswhenshefeelslikeit.Shedoeswhatshepleases.Thankfully,thatincludescarryingour supplies.