Ted Butler walked through DeKalb Wednesday, but you won’t believe where he started.

The 42-year-old Madison, Wis., native began his trek across the U.S. this past November in Santa Monica, Calif. His goal is to “try and get people more aware of the stimulus that affects us and the decisions we make.”

Butler maintains a Web site offering updates on his route and allows users to comment on his progress.

“I’m writing an online interactive book.” Butler said. “It’s something that any visitor can contribute to.”

When the Star caught up with him he had just passed the DeKalb Post Office, 600 E. Lincoln Highway, and was heading east toward Chicago.

His final destination is the World Trade Center site in New York City, which he hopes to get to by Dec. 13.

“I tried to do this once before, travel from New York to the west coast, but I failed due to a stress fracture in my foot,” Butler said. “I haven’t been home since.”

Butler is using his own money to fund this trip as well as some funds from his father. He has also received a few loans.

He says he tries to camp along the way to eliminate the cost of staying in hotels.

“Sometimes I stay in shelters when I’m in larger cities,” he said.

He knows this is a unique way of getting across his message.

“It’s unconventional,” he said.