Pair walking across Canada for mental health make overnight stop in Blyth

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

From Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, Blyth’s Duncan and Lynda McGregor had unexpected visitors camping out in their yard: a man vowing to walk across the country to raise awareness for mental health with his support car driven by his best friend.

 

Mike Morrison - also known as The Dancing Shaman (which is how you can find his videos on YouTube as he chronicles his journey at the Canadian-Walkaboot YouTube channel) - lives in Cambridge and, just one day earlier, set out to walk west across the country as far as he thinks he can make it. His best friend John White, who says Morrison is like a brother to him, is joining him, supporting him from his car, nourishing him with food and drink and scouting places to camp for the night. Morrison is pulling a large trailer/rickshaw contraption, which doubles as his sleeping quarters, adorned with all of the information on his journey.

 

Morrison and White set out west from Cambridge on Monday, stopping in Monkton from Monday night to Tuesday morning. Then, as they rolled into Blyth on Tuesday afternoon, they met some friendly faces on the Goderich-to-Guelph Rail Trail, who directed them to the McGregors as a likely place that they could stay for the night. They were right and that’s where the men headed. And that’s where The Citizen caught up with them to learn a bit more about the journey.

 

Morrison says he grew up on the streets - largely unhoused from the age of 11. As a result of that and some struggles of the familial sort, he fell into depression, bi-polar disorder and other struggles with mental health. However, he has, in recent years, been able to combat those through non-medical methods - with the guidance and support of his doctor - such as martial arts and other spiritual approaches.

 

However, finding that success doesn’t mean that the stigma surrounding mental health doesn’t remain an issue, he said, which is why he and White wanted to take this journey. 

 

The two met on the streets as young people and have been friends ever since. White, who has had his own bouts with mental health struggles and depression, wanted to aid his friend on this journey and see more of this beautiful country.

 

Morrison said that one of the ways he has found his way to a successful and fulfilling life has just been to always keep moving. And now, in his mid-40s, he is undertaking this journey as something that he has always wanted to do, but also as something that he feels might help some people down the road. He isn’t raising money for any cause, just awareness for mental health.
The men were keen to rest their legs, but were committed to getting up bright and early Wednesday morning and continuing west to Goderich, where they have some friends and had planned to stay for a few days, finally able to give their legs a rest.
While they are only in the very early stages of the journey, Morrison says he hopes to keep going as far as his legs will take him. He’s not sure exactly how far that will be, but he sure is excited to find out.

 

He has also encouraged his children to join him along the way. All grown adults now, he hopes they’ll take him up on his offer and see some of Canada with him, all for a good cause.

 

While the two men are full of excitement and anticipation, they know that the journey will not be without its challenges. First and foremost, the contraption that Morrison is pulling weighs over 80 pounds and is a lot to carry, but he is up to the challenge, he says. Then there will be the logistics of finding places to set up for the night, but they are ready to meet those challenges head on and hope to lean on the continued kindness of people like the McGregors.

 

Morrison posted the first YouTube video of his journey on Monday - a short, 37-second clip to mark the beginning of his walk - but you can follow along by searching “The Dancing Shaman” on YouTube or finding his official channel at @Canadian-Walkaboot.
As for the McGregors, Duncan and Lynda said they were just happy to help and, as one of the families with a home right along the trail, it’s not the first time they’ve had a knock at their door, wondering if someone on a lengthy quest could pop a tent in their yard for the night.