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10 Million Smiles Happiness Tour
Created by
America’s Happiness Ambassador
Edward Smile Rodriguez
Creating a Happiness Movement One Smile at a Time
10 Million Smiles From FL to NY
It's not about the miles, it's all about the smiles
A true life adventure about a man who walked 2,000 miles over 9 months with only $200 in his pocket. Learn about the amazing people who stepped up and helped one man to complete an unusual trek up the southeast coast to spread happiness and the smile. This book will inspire you and reignite your faith in people! It will have you laughing one moment and crying the next. This book will have you wondering what will happen from one chapter to the next and will hold your interest until the end!
My Support Group At The Start
This group walked with me to start the walk; others stopped by to lend their support, but had to go to work!
Places to sleep
The Aloft, Mount Laurel , NJ
Motel 8, Mount Laurel, NJ
The Hilton, Chesapeake Bay, VA
Highwayatt, Chesapeake, VA
Lowes Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
The Black Swan Bed & Breakfast, New Smyrna
Beach, FL
Holiday Inn Express, Orlando, Fl
Courtyard Marriott, Newport News, VA
Camden Inn, Kingsland, GA
Homewood Suites, Chesapeake, VA
Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Holiday Inn Express, Jupiter, FL
Fairfield Inn and Suites – Marriott, West Melbourne, FL
Knights Inn, Williamsburg, VA
Econo Lodge, Summerville, SC
Holiday Inn Express, Summerville, SC
Comfort Suites, West Ashley, SC
Holiday Inn, Charleston, SC
Best Western, Titusville, FL
Captain Hiram’s, Sebastian, FL
Fairfield Inn and Suites, Sebastian, FL
Fairfield Inn and Suites, Titusville, FL
Symphony Beach Club, Ormond Beach, FL
Night Swan Bed and Breakfast, Ormond Beach, FL
Days Inn, St. Augustine, FL
The Pirate Haus Inn, St. Augustine, FL
St. Francis House Bed & Breakfast, St. Augustine, FL
Best Western, St. Augustine, FL
Hampton Inn, Darien, GA.
Embassy Suites Hotel, Brunswick, GA.
Midway Hotel, Midway, Ga.
KOA Campgrounds, Richmond Hill, GA.
Days Inn, Savannah, GA.
Carolina Lodge, Ridgeland, SC
Econo Lodge Summerville, SC
Holiday Inn, Express Summerville, SC
Holiday Inn, Charleston, SC
Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Ocean Isle Inn, Ocean Isle Beach. NC
Brookwood Inn, Murrells Inlet, SC
Sands Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
Quality Inn, Georgetown, SC
Beach Cove, Myrtle Beach, SC
Palmetto Shores Myrtle Beach Resort, N. Myrtle
Beach Hilton Gardens Inn, Wilmington, NC
Holiday Inn, Wilmington, NC
The Clarendon Inn, Wilmington,
Hotel Tarrymore, Wilmington, NC
Loggerhead Inn, Surf City, NC
Ramada Inn, Jacksonville, NC
Baymount Inn & Suites, Jacksonville, NC
Holiday Inn Express, VA Beach, VA Econo
Lodge, VA Beach, VA
Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn, VA Holiday Inn,
VA Beach, VA Highwayatt,
Chesapeake, VA Homewood Suites,
Chesapeake, VA
Courtyard by Marriott, Newport News, VA
Knights Inn, Williamsburg, VA
Crowne Plaza, Richmond, VA
Hyatt Place, Baltimore/Inner Harbor MD.
Holiday Inn Express, Baltimore, MD. Sleep
Inn &Suites, Baltimore, MD Bluegreen
Harbor Lights, Conway, SC
Hilton, Williamsburg, VA
Duke of Dare, Manato, NC
Hilton, Cape Fear, NC
Comfort Inn, Jacksonville, NC
Holiday Inn Express, Greenville, NC
Washington Motel, Washington, NC
Days Inn
Holiday Inn Express, Plymouth, NC
Flag House Inn, Annapolis, MD
Days Inn & Suites Richmond Hill, VA
Bay View, Myrtle Beach, SC
Beach House, Myrtle Beach, SC
Comfort Inn, Myrtle Beach, SC
Hotel Harrington, Washington D.C.
Warwick, Manhattan, NY
Food
Warwick, Manhattan, NY
Denny’s, Deerfield Beach, FL
McDonald’s, Boca Raton, FL
IL Bellagio, West Palm Beach, FL Maxies,
Boca Raton, FL
Boston Market, Corporate HQ, FL
Bellagio II, West Palm Beach, FL
Sonny’s BBQ, Jupiter, FL
Boston Market, Jupiter, FL IHop,
Jupiter, FL
Flannigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Stuart, FL
I Hop, Stuart, FL
Cracker Barrel, Port Saint Lucie, FL
Cracker Barrel, Jensen Beach, FL Boston
Market, Vero Beach, FL Wendy’s, Vero
Beach, FL
Cap’t Hiram’s Resort, Sebastian, FL Country
Ham N Eggs, Sebastian, FL Woody’s BB-Q,
Sebastian, FL McDonald’s,
Sebastian FL
Off The Traxx, Melborune, FL
Cracker Barrel, Titusville, FL
Sonny’s BB-Q, Cocoa Beach, FL
Durango Steak House Titusville, FL
Country Cookin Diner, Cocoa, Fl
Peddler’s Village Diner, Rockledge, FL
Knights Swan, New Smyrna Beach, Fl
McCharacters, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Ned’s Southside Kitchen, St. Augustine,
Fl Donovan’s Irish Pub, St. Augustine, FL
A1A Ale Works, St. Augustine, FL
Pacific Asian Bistro, St. Augustine, FL
Village Inn, St. Augustine, FL
I Hop, St. Augustine, FL
McDonalds, St. Augustine, FL
Dunkin Donuts, Plaza Palencia, Fl
High Tides Shank Jack, Flagler Beach, FL
Chick-fil-A, Jacksonville, FL
McDonalds, Jacksonville, FL
McDonalds, Callahan, GA
Applebee’s, Brunswick, GA
Ruby Tuesday, Darin, GA
KFC, Darien, GA
Wendys, Darien, GA
Joe’s Crab Shack Chesapeake, VA
Sho-Nuff Seafood, Savannah, GA
Denny’s, Savannah, GA
Cracker Barrel, Savannah, GA
Olde House Cafe, Walterboro, GA
Taco Bell, West Abby Charleston, SC
Applebees, Summerville, SC
Pizza Grill-A Restaurant, Litchfield Beach, SC
Chick-fil-A, Mount Pleasant, SC
Sticky Fingers, Mount Pleasant, SC
See Wee, Awendaw, SC
Mrs. Wilkes, Savannah, GA. (Kellee Ray arranged it)
I Hop, Summerville, SC
Cracker Barrel, Summerville, SC
Firewater Grille, Summerville, SC
Sesame Burger & Beer, Charleston, SC
Denny’s, Yemassee, SC
Paula Dean’s Restaurant, Myrtle Beach, SC
Melvin’s BBQ, Mt. Pleasant, SC
T-Bones Steak house and Saloon, Murrells Inlet, SC
TGI Friday’s, Murrell’s Inlet, SC
Ingelo’s Steak and Pasta, Myrtle Beach, SC
Boardwalk Bill’s Bar & Grill, Myrtle Beach, SC
Spring Garden Restaurant, Myrtle Beach, SC
Friendly’s, Myrtle Beach, SC
Over the Ocean Pier 14, Myrtle Beach, SC
Book Story
We shared a good laugh at that one. I explained to her that I really wanted to get to Little Washington, about 20 miles away now, and settle in for the rainstorm. I asked if I could ask her customers for a ride.
“Fine. No problem,” she said, so I thanked her and ran out to ask anyone and everyone for a ride.
There were four people in the store; three that worked there and me. It was nasty that day. And when I say it was nasty, I mean really, really nasty. It was raining cats and dogs. Sheets and sheets of rain were pouring down. I went outside under the front awning to film the storm. Suddenly a huge lightning bolt flashed across the sky, instantly a loud crack of thunder so powerful it shook the camera in my hand.
“Fine. No problem,” she said, so I thanked her and ran out to ask anyone and everyone for a ride.
There were four people in the store; three that worked there and me. It was nasty that day. And when I say it was nasty, I mean really, really nasty. It was raining cats and dogs. Sheets and sheets of rain were pouring down. I went outside under the front awning to film the storm. Suddenly a huge lightning bolt flashed across the sky, instantly a loud crack of thunder so powerful it shook the camera in my hand.
“Whoa!” I exclaimed. “Okay! I’m getting inside!”
Things weren’t looking so good; with this rain, not very many customers were coming in. With the wind and the pouring rain, water was pooling at the front of the store, so I grabbed a squeegee and started to push water back outside to help tidy up and kill some time. As much water as I pushed out, more came in. I began entertaining the idea that I might end up sleeping in the tractor store if the owner would allow it. Chances are that wouldn’t happen, but hey, it was worth some thought. After about two hours of pushing water and playing the waiting game, a young man walked into the store. He couldn’t have been more than 22 or 23 years old. He was tall and thin and had a country look about him.
I asked him if he was heading to Little Washington when he was done shopping. He said “No,” but he was going about halfway if I wanted a ride that far. “I can drop you off at the gas station over there if you’d like.” He said.
Chances are it would be easier to get another ride for the last 10 miles, or if it stopped raining I could walk the rest of the way. Well, I jumped on it! We loaded my cart in the back of his truck and took off. As we were leaving the parking lot, he made a U-turn to head toward the gas station. Mid-turn, he looked at me and said, “Please don’t do anything to make me shoot you.”
I must admit, I had no idea what he was talking about, so I replied, “Dude! I’m the happiness guy! Remember?” And I laughed. I thought he was just joking.
Then he looked at me again. I could see a sadness in his eyes; I could hear the compassion in his voice, yet I knew he was dead serious. With a soft voice, he repeated, “Please don’t do anything to make me shoot you.” This time he pulled up his left hand from between his legs and showed me that he was holding a .45 and it was ready for business!
Holy crap!
I said; “Look. I’m not going to do anything to make you shoot me. but, I am Cuban, so that means I talk with my hands a lot. If I’m waving my hands around, forget it, man. I’m not attacking you. I’m just talking!”
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this portion of the book. There are many more fascinating stories to be read!
Please go back to the Home Page to Order the book or if you want a signed copy contact me at: eddyspeaks1@gmail.com