British traveler stops in Albany - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

British traveler stops in Albany

Posted: Updated:
  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:26 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:26:38 GMT
    If you're traveling this Memorial Day Weekend, you may notice you're paying about the same at the pump as last year. AAA says the average gas price in Georgia right now is about $3.46 a gallon. That's
    If you're traveling this Memorial Day Weekend, you may notice you're paying about the same at the pump as last year.
  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:20:46 GMT
    Looks like will have great weather for Memorial Day weekend and DNR Rangers are preparing for big crowds on Lake Blackshear. Rangers expect a large number of boaters all weekend. They say they will strictly
    Looks like will have great weather for Memorial Day weekend and DNR Rangers are preparing for big crowds on Lake Blackshear.
  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:14 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:14:04 GMT
    A Cordele woman and her father are leading an effort to send clothes and other supplies to tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma. Not only are a lot of people already donating items, but people are chipping
    A Cordele woman and her father are leading an effort to send clothes and other supplies to tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma.

A young international traveler, making his way across the country, is in Albany.

He's not far into his journey, and he's already had to deal with torrential rain from Tropical Storm Debby and scorching heat here in south Georgia.

But he's not going to let that keep him from backpacking from coast to coast.

At 18 years old, you might expect Patrick Stocks to be enjoying his summer break with his friends. But Stocks decided to spend the summer alone, on the open road.

"Thought I just needed a bit of a change and see the world a bit while I am still young," says Patrick Stocks\British Traveler.

So he got on a plane from England and flew to America. All he had was a little money in his pocket and a few changes of clothes in his back pack.

"It has always been a dream of mine to go across the states," says Stocks.

His journey started in Miami, from there he took a bus to Gainesville. "To explore, see the United States of what it really is, the real United States," says Stocks.

He got caught up in Tropical Storm Debby while he was in Gainesville. Everything he had was soaking wet. The rain even destroyed his cell phone.

"It started to throw it down, and thunder and all that and I felt it push down on my tent and it went to about 3 inches down, and I was like 'oh man this is a bit rough,' but I just roughed it," says Stocks.

And he is roughing it, starting fires with two pieces of flint and eating most of his meals out of a can.

"Beans, spam and maybe rice, just basic stuff, just over a camp fire," says Stocks.

Even though he has only just started his journey, he's already experienced a few life lessons.

"I have found out a little more of who I am, what I am actually capable of, actually being on my own and looking after myself," says Stocks.

And he will be on his own and looking after himself for the next couple of months. He hopes to be at his final destination by September, Los Angeles.

He plans to leave Albany Friday or Saturday to continue his journey across the United States.

Copyright 2012 WALB.  All rights reserved.