Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-23
B00THbAY MAN
: GAIN GAINS HEAL HEALTH
BY LONG WALKS

East Boothbay, Me-. Nov. 22.-That
steal exercise as a means of restoring
health is the verdict of John r. McDou-
gall, former postmaster and retired mer-
chant. Having kept a record Of his years
tramping by means Of pedometer
properly gagged to his stride. Mr.. Nc
Dougau finds that he has covered 52j3
miles, and therefore lays claim to- being
the amateur champion long distance
pedestrian of the State. and at the age
Of 65 declares he is in better health than
for 40 years.
Broken in health Mr.. McDougall re-
tired from active business one year ago
after having been engaged in the grocery
trade here for IS years. Feeling the
necessity of bracng, physical activity, he
chose walking as the form that would
combine health. pleasure and exercise.
He accordingly started out on Nov Is,
1914, on what developed into long trail,
and when the year ended last Sunday,
Mr.. McDougau was amazed at even his
own figures.
AT first / took only short tramps,"
said Mr.. McDougall, when describing his
hikes to a correspondent for the Globe
Eight miles a day was about sufhcient
for starter, but in the course of a few
weeks / gradually increased the distance
to 10 miles daily, and on Jan. Y of the
present year | took my first really long
walk, a distance of % miles. l considered
this feeler, but finding that l suffered
no i'll effects from this tramp l COM
menced to increase my daily walks to Il
and ~ miles.
My next longest walk was on June 4
last when l covered So miles on trip to
Jefferson in an even 10 hours. On Sept. 6
/ decided to walk to Dapariscotta and
return, a distance of AZ miles, and when
l got back home had so much reserve en-
ergy left that 1 walked down around
Ocean Point for finishing touch, thus
establishing a record of SO miles for the
day.
What | considered my best trip was
when | walked to Portland on Oct. %, less
than month ago. Although the distance
is 81 miles, / felt that | could do the trick
without falterng. 1t was beautiful
moonlit night that left my home at 10.5
on the long hike. l reached the WOOL
witch ferry at $50 the next morning, full
hour earlier than 1 had planned. After
being set across the kennehec river in a
rowboat l continued on my journy from
Bath and reached Brunswick at o'clock.
l was then IS miles from Portland, but
my courage was strong and SO was my
energy and | continued on my way and
at 6 o'clock had reached the home of my
daughter, Mrs. George Fosg.
Having deducted the time taken in
| ferrying across the river between Wool
| witch and Bath, / was on the road just an
even 20 hours. | arose the next morning
! better in my life. l had an enormous APP
petite. as might be expected. but my con-
! slant exercise has developed my digestive
organs to such. an extent that nothing l
| eat hurts me now"
| Mr.. McDougall was born here, 4 son of
| the late Simon McDougall. and has been
a prominent citizen. In addition TO con-
/ Quoting a grocery store nearly half a
! century, he was for many years an active
member of the Republican Town Commit
tee, was town treasurer and collector six
| years, and postmaster four years, and
| also was a member of the Board of
| Health many years. He is a pas master
| of Seaside Lodge of Masons, a past king
| of Pentacost Chapter. Royal Arch Ma
| Knights Templars, Of Bath. and a men,
| Der of Boothbay Lodge. Knights of Py-
| thas.