Man and His Goat Walk Through New Jersey On Cross-Country Journey

Walking across the country to raise awareness for something isn’t new. People have done it for Meals on Wheels, breast cancer, gay rights — one man even did it to try and save his marriage.

What sets Steve Wescott’s trek across the 48 states apart from those who came before him? His companion, Miles.

Miles is exceptionally even-tempered and well-liked, making the perfect companion. That might not be too impressive, except that Miles is a goat.

“It wasn't like the heavens open up and God was like, ‘Take a goat across America,’” Steve joked in a pseudo-booming God voice. “I just knew I was going to do it.”

Together, Steve and Miles are Needle2Square, a 3,800-mile journey from the Space Needle in Steve’s hometown of Seattle to the bright lights of Times Square. The duo are raising awareness and money for Uzima Outreach, a substance abuse program and children’s home in Nairobi, Kenya, established by Steve’s best friend, Stephen Turner.

“He had the reason, and I have the will, and so together we are teaming up with the same goal,” Steve said. “We’re two different organizations with the same goal.”

Steve is incredibly close to achieving his cross-country goal, with just central New Jersey left before he makes his way into Manhattan. On Tuesday, Steve and Miles started their day in Highland Park, getting ready to walk up Route 27, into Edison and onward toward the Lincoln Tunnel.

The pair will arrive in Times Square on Oct. 1, taking a break from walking for the short drive through the tunnel. Waiting for them in Times Square will be two choirs, and more than 100 people who have connected with Steve and Miles, either in person or through Steve’s extensive social media documentation.

“They made T-shirts!” Steve said excitedly of the group planning on meeting him.

Philanthropy wasn’t always the guiding force in Steve’s life. Formerly a touring musician in a heavy metal band, it was during a break in the band’s touring schedule when Steve decided to make the switch.

“I was in a band at the time, and I remember we had just got off tour, and I had a couple weeks off — I was walking up the stairs to my apartment and I thought, ‘when this tour’s over I'm going to walk across America,’” Steve said.

Steve wasn’t raised on a farm and had no prior experience with goats, or any farm animals for that matter. His original companion, a German shepherd, was injured during the training process. Steve stumbled upon an ad for a local goat rescue, and he met LeRoy, his first goat.

LeRoy passed away in Ohio after being fed something he couldn’t eat by a well-meaning local. “It was sad, but it's understandable, I get it, so [Miles] ended up being my second goat,” Steve said.

“If [LeRoy] was like Bruce Willis, [Miles] is like Miley Cyrus, he’s a diva,” Steve laughed. Miles’ diva side showed itself not too long after, when a woman wanted to say hi to Miles where he sat underneath a sidewalk table. In response to her outstretched hand, Miles ducked his face underneath his pack and refused to say hello.

Miles treated all passersby more or less the same: with total indifference. People stopped, stared and took photos — after all, how often is there a goat sitting outside of Ruthie’s in Highland Park? — but Miles barely noticed. When Steve tried to get going for the day, Miles took a moment to sneak a few bites from the neighbor’s purple flowers before starting.

Despite Miles’ diva antics, it’s clear Steve has nothing but love for him. “I don't ever want him to be a gimmick,” Steve said. “I know people think he's a gimmick, but he never was to me, he's a friend.”

So what’s next for the friends? Steve will begin meeting with long-term donors for Uzima Outreach and will take a volunteer group to Nairobi. Miles will get a much-deserved vacation at a farm in upstate New York before moving in with Steve in Washington state.

The journey has already been a success, judging just by the amount of people who want to be there when Steve and Miles march into Times Square.

“I’ll never forget walking through the middle of Kansas when there was nobody and no one cared, and I was on some dusty road in the middle of nowhere, drinking warm water and eating beef jerky, and I remember thinking, ‘is anybody even going to care when I land?’” Steve mused. “And to know that so many people were touched and inspired and are going to be there — it’s surreal.”

Main image: Katie Kausch for Patch