The sign on the backpack explains it all.

Walking across America.

Stephen Ashworth, a Terrell, Texas, native, estimates he's traveled more than 26,000 miles by foot.

"I'm a traveler," he said.

Ashworth ventured through the Summerland region last week, stopping in Clearwater, Wednesday. He dropped his gear at the village's park, pulled out his super cat stove - a well-worn cat food can - added fuel - HEET gas-line antifreeze works best - and placed a titanium pot on it to heat water for a Cup of Noodles.

Soon, the Clearwater Public Library would open, and Ashworth, also known as Smiley the...