Enjoy The Walk: Washington Man Passes Through Hub City on Health Campaign

New Brunswick sees a lot of people pass through the city on their way to another destination, but few of them are making a 5,000 mile journey on foot.

George Throop, 38, a native of Washington state is doing just that. 

In 2009, he set out on a journey to walk across the entire continental United States for the purpose of spreading the message of healthy living, personal growth and positive thinking.

Earlier this week, his journey took him into New Brunswick, and before setting back out on the road, he stopped at Maoz Vegetarian for a healthy lunch. 

"We're happy to sponsor him for lunch," said Maoz owner Larry Goldberg, as Throop's healthy lifestyle is in line with Maoz's philosophy of vegetarian, healthy food.

Throop set out with the goal of reaching Washington, D.C. and met that milestone this past summer. At that time, he decided to extend his journey to the northern Atlantic shores of the East Coast, and expects to reach Long Island at the end of January. 

Coming through New Brunswick was a "natural choice" he said, as the city is a health-conscious, progressive one with major education posts within its borders. Its location near many major roads also helped. 

He came through South Brunswick, North Brunswick and Milltown to come into New Brunswick, and left the city via Albany Street into Highland Park. He is planning the route as he goes, looking for the most pedestrian-friendly roads he can find, he said.

This is his first trip to New Jersey, he said. 

Throop is traveling with a small cart of supplies, the company of his girlfriend, and little else. He is a vegetarian who has existed along the way on items like energy bars, protein powder and chia seeds, as well as the goodwill of the many people who have taken him in along the way, offering meals and shelter, he said. 

A pair of Rutgers graduate students housed him in New Brunswick for a few nights, and a Woodbridge hotel also opened their doors to him. 

Before his journey, Throop professionally managed security for high-rise buildings on the west coast. He did not dislike that work, he said, but the journey has made him much happier and healthier.

"Over the years, I didn't feel like I was a making a positive contribution to the world around me," he said. "I feel good when I wake up. I feel good when I (go) to bed."

Throop tracks his progress on http://www.enjoythewalk.org, as well as his Facebook and Twitter pages.