Each step that Phil Cihiwsky takes, he is one closer to his goal -- walking 3,300 miles across the country.

Cihiwsky of Loveland, Colo., began March 4 a seven-month trek through 15 states to his destination in York Harbor, Maine, in early October.

On day 29, Cihiwsky reached Fountain Hills where he met his wife, Sharon, and friends Deb and Steve Stientjes, at Comfort Inn for an Easter weekend of rest. He headed from here to Payson.

“It’s been a lifetime dream of mine to walk across the country,” said the recently retired 59-year-old engineer.

A friend convinced him to step with a purpose. He is bringing awareness to senior needs, particularly Meals on Wheels in San Diego, a national organization and network dedicated to end senior hunger through community-based nutrition programs.

Meals on Wheels may be forced to trim services because of federal sequestration. For $7, two daily meals can be provided to a homebound senior.

Cihiwsky is pushing a three-wheel modified cart weighing about 100 pounds full of camping supplies, water and sundries.

He avoided traveling through Phoenix by walking Route 74, coming through Rio Verde to Fountain Hills, a total of 475 completed miles.

Cihiwsky reached Payson after climbing up and down grades of 6 percent. He reported that his left lower shin had been hurting for the last six to eight miles of the hike.

He followed Route 260 for 22 miles and stayed at a campsite at Christopher Creek. He wrote Monday that a forecast of high winds, rain and or snow will keep him there for a couple of days until the weather and his leg improves. He then will walk 31 miles in two days to his next stop, Heber-Overgaard.

“Between here and there, the elevation peaks at around 8,000 feet, which will be the highest point of my walk across America,” wrote Cihiwsky.

He averages 19 miles a day, “sometimes more, sometimes less,” Cihiwsky told The Times. The farthest he has walked in one day was 27 miles.

He travels solo without any support staff.

“It helps me understand what some of the seniors are going through as far as isolation, loneliness, hunger at times and the need for food and a helping hand,” he said.

He plans to stay overnight in a hotel once a week; otherwise he sleeps in a tent about 200 feet from the roadway.

“It’s wherever I am,” said Cihiwsky. He is restricted to secondary roads as walking on an Interstate highway is prohibited.

He carries a solar-charged smart phone for emergency purposes and staying in contact with his wife and two school teacher daughters.

Cihiwsky wears low-cut hiking shoes and figures that he will go through at least three pairs on his trip.

“The test is still in progress,” said Cihiwsky. He thinks his first pair will need replacing in New Mexico.

He carries meager food provisions, usually eating tortillas with peanut butter for lunch and tortillas and tuna for dinner, and restocks his supply when he reaches the next community. He packs four gallons of water and a replacement tire and tube for his cart.

He generally is on the road between 7 and 8 a.m. and by 3 p.m. starts looking for a suitable place to spend the night.

Cihiwsky said he can better relate to seniors after the hour-by-hour isolation on the road.

“It’s no fun being lonely and isolated. I can appreciate a lot more of those people who are in need of a helping hand.”

His wife said she may plan some surprise visits at points along his route and will definitely greet him in Maine.

Visitors to his website at https://sites.google.com/site/wentwalking/home can follow his itinerary and read his blog. He encourages individuals hearing about his venture to contribute to their local meals on wheels program or visit www.mealsonwheels.org to give.

Fountain Hills operates a Home Delivered Meals program through the local Senior Center.