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Sunday, August 13, 2006
Got a late start (6:30) it is more difficult to leave a warm sleeping bag when it is cooler outside of it (boy have I gotten soft). Met Sun Worshipper and See Bears Everywhere (2 girls from the U.K.), also saw a bunch of day hikers and a thru hiker from Mattituck. Went swimming at the Nuclear Lake, which was very nice, and I think it killed any skin cancer I might have had (that’s a joke). When I told my story to one hiker he said his Dad was a Vietnam Veteran, but was dead now. The doctors said he had spots on his lungs that weren’t cancer, got an enlarged heart and died; he was a gunner in airborne. I guess he died before our government admitted that Agent Orange was killing our troops. I have discovered (sometimes rediscovered) that when I tell a lie I get caught (guess I’m not good at it) and what I thought was bad before just got worse. For now not only do I have to deal with what I lie about, but now I have lost credibility. If I do it enough my word means nothing to anyone especially myself for I have lost my integrity.
It seems bad enough when our country does that to another country but when it does it to it’s own people, what are they thinking? I know I don’t have all the facts and figures because what I do have just doesn’t seem to add up. Surely when it comes to our own it isn’t just about money? How much is a father worth to his child, a child to his parent? Who do I see to get compensated? How do I get compensated? Do I use the eye for an eye scale? Do I turn the other cheek and let them take my other son?
Please tell me the truth, the facts, not what you believe or what you want me to believe; I can respect the truth; though I may not like it I like it more than a lie. I may be carried away here, but how carried away could I get if that was my father or brother?
I ended outside of Stormville at a deli where they let you camp out back. There are a lot of great people in this country (seems like we hide it once in awhile). I had some 14-year old boys stop and talk to me outside the pizza parlor, asking questions, wanting to be grown up and kids at the same time, thinking. When was the last time I thought (not remembered) and how long did I do it?
Monday, August 14, 2006
Got up waiting for 8 am to call the local paper; seems like I am burning daylight. Had breakfast, got my gear together, did a “butt patrol” (leaving the area I was in better then when I came). I’m writing this and only 45 minutes has gone by. Seems nobody is in till 9 am so I took off and called from the woods, set it up for Peekskill tomorrow.
On my way out of town walking the highway I found earthworms about to be baked alive in the gutter. I would pick them up and throw them n the grass, then I remembered as a kid I would go out after it rained and save them from mud puddles. It was something I like to do; I think worms are pretty neat in being able to turn rotten stuff into topsoil and aerating soil. I also like to walk through mud puddles (or just a puddle on the road) and knock down rotten trees. While walking now, saving worms, knocking down dead trees and going through mud puddles I realize that I am easy to please or haven’t changed much or both.
The other thing I remembered as I walk and see holes in the ground is that when I was about 7 years old my life long friend Tony T. and I started a snake club (we were the charter and only members). We had our snake book with all the pictures and where they lived (I had hoped a lot of snakes had read the book so we could find them in our neighborhood). We would go out hunting for them, every hole in the ground the diameter of a snake was a snake hole, I was very optimistic with all these holes, never saw a snake but I believed we would see one. Having an attention span of a 7 year old (which I was) the club lasted about one day and no one could tell me we didn’t see snake holes because I believed they were. My youngest son was a little (maybe a lot) like that when I took him fishing: every fish that got away was a shark and every time he got stuck on the bottom it was a shark. He may have been right because I didn’t go in the water to find out; he believed it so much that why should I go in the water and take that chance. Even if I was right he wouldn’t have believed me because he knew it was a shark.
Today I met Stampede, Blind Monkey, and Cresent City. Now Cresent City is hiking to replant New Orleans (website: www.hikeforkatreena.com). We are both working to change the world in different ways; I feel it is important to directly change the attitudes of people, she feels changing their surrounding does it in a subtle way. Neither of us is wrong nor have the better way they are just other ways that we believe in. What ways do you believe in, what way are you doing? I have discovered that when people talk to me about what they believe I hear better with my eyes than with my ears.
The book the Tipping Point brought to light how the subtle ways work, like the subway graffiti in New York, Check it out.
Met 2 day hikers, I told them my story too and they have a friend (a Vet) that works with Vets in that field and has written a book, The Battle of the Soul, which I will check out, and hope to meet him someday.
Bedded down near a nice stream (saw a crawfish) and saw some magical spots in the woods (just got that feeling) the way the rocks and plants worked together in the sun.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
So much for magic. It rained pretty good so I was pretty wet, did 11 miles by 1pm walked into town and developed a rash from the wet cloths. Met a local political candidate in Peekskill at his headquarters. They were talking strategy; it is amazing how simple things are to me when I don’t know how! Only met 4 hikers: Commando, Small Spoon, Polar Bear, and Danger Dave.
To get back to yesterday a little; my son and I have faith (know what we believe without proof). If you need proof you won’t have faith, if you have faith you won’t need proof and I don’t think you need to believe in God to have faith (in my case I think it helps). Made it to Gray Moon a monastery where they let hikers stay. We are in a ball field calling in for a pizza, doesn’t get much better.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Woke up and found out (by observation) that several other hikers had come in during the night; 2 tents were set up outside and 2 extra full sleeping bays were under the shelter. Ate my left over veal parmesan for breakfast with raw garlic and lemon juice (you don’t see that combo on a menu anywhere). Geared up and started out making a civilized stop at the porta-potti, where I realized if you want easier passage you can’t just eat almonds and protein powder mix.
Made it to Bear Mtn. Early, enjoyed the Zoo where they write about and display native plants and animals; everything they wrote about beavers I believe.
Did a phone interview for the local paper, missed the photographer. Got frustrated with the satellite phone for cutting out all the time, guess it’s only good for about 3 min. bursts. Set up to do a landline phone live radio interview in Seattle, WA for CBS on Thursday. Met Spirit, Free Bird, Stich, Mr. Socks, Moss Foot, Trail Cat (The Kentucky Boys).
Walked until dark so I could get to a landline with time to spare. Stopped at Beechy Bottom Brook (it was actually just puddles and mud) and crashed for the night; 2/10 of a mile from Palisades Parkway.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Got up extra early, headed out and got the number of a Hostel off of a water container at the head of the trail. Took pictures of a little stone canal made in the woods. Met Face Plant (falling forward planting his face in the ground). Got to a pay phone on Rt. 17 between Arden and Southfields N.Y. (by West Point) and called the number while waiting I met Ramado; we talked a little about the terrain which has been for me some of the worst (hard baked flat mud or clay with assorted sizes of lose gravel similar to concrete blend), thank God it’s not consistent. He has been a little discouraged by the terrain, we both agree to slow down and enjoy the views, and it’s good but difficult. It is difficult for me because I start to make a mission and goal oriented to finish the trail and at times lose sight of the big picture, which is what happens while I travel. Just like in life, at times I will look for tomorrow instead of enjoying today.
While sitting there waiting for my ride I looked around and realized how blessed I have been and denied it, how many gifts I have been stingy with and that I have made it all up, it is all make believe a guilt I have punished myself for. I am changing my mind and thinking differently for it doesn’t suit me anymore to suffer, for what? Something that is make believe?
My ride came (Joe) and took me to a camp he leases from the state Park agency. It is awesome, on a lake, great bunkhouses, showers (hot water), great kitchen, just another day in paradise. This is Joe’s dream, he is fixing it up and it is to be a leadership camp for children (he also leases it out, maybe someday we’ll have workshops here for Vets.). Called Daily News (unable to get them), N.Y. Times isn’t interested and at the Wall St. Journal couldn’t reach anyone. Stayed the night, very nice, no car noises.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Got up late; 7 a.m. had a cooked breakfast met Mike (the caretaker who had cooked breakfast). Did my laundry, read and then did the live radio interview, which I thought went well. Went for a swim and decided to stayed one more night and enjoy this moment. Had steak for dinner watched a movie and called it a night.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Got up late and had steak and eggs for breakfast; didn’t get back on the woods until 11 a.m. Had a nice talk with Joe; hope to come see him again. We talked about when you are helping someone or enabling them especially family. With strangers is one thing because I have no history, but with family there are all those emotions and ties. With me I have a struggle that I may not be doing what is best for them but what I think will make me feel good or am in denial that I am part of the problem. If I don’t take them in what will the rest of the family say about me, they helped me once, etc.? I have enough trouble asking what would love do, let alone listen, but when I do the answer is clear. My problem is to stick to what I should do and not get talked into what they want, that happens when I am not totally open and honest(could you believe I am worried what they think about me).
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