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Sunday, July 9, 2006
I was up at sun up, my feet were tender from putting in 20 miles. Just before I got to the highway to go to Lyme there was a sign on the trail, Free Water & Free Ice Cream, How could I turn that down? I dropped in got some ice cream from a Boston Dr. who likes to talk to hikers when he is in town. He likes my idea.
I hiked into town, ate, and made some calls then decided to make it to Hanover N.H. tomorrow because this is a Bed & Breakfast town. Didn’t want to pay $100.00 and not be able to do laundry. Talked with Tony at the Lyme General Store who had gone through a traumatic time a while back, his wife (a nurse) realized what was going on and got him help immediately. He was grateful for he didn’t realize how angry he had gotten and how it affected his family who took the brunt of his anger. He is lucky someone cared enough and had the courage to act. How many times have I known something wasn’t quite right and didn’t have enough knowledge or courage to act upon it?
I went back into the woods, I haven’t seen anyone. I seem to have missed a land mark and finally quit walking because it’s getting dark. I worked on my feet, sliced a toe open on some saw grass, it felt like it cut to the bone; blood and mud everywhere.
Monday, July 10, 2006
I woke up and wasn’t too worried for I saw the sun set to my right which meant I was headed south. Sometimes I have a map and data that conflicts with reality and I have to look up at the sun and make my best guess. Like in the world I have my map (plan for my life) then I have data (what society, peers, religion tells you) then I have reality (what is happening now) and they may conflict so I look up or in and if I error on the side of love or ask what would love do now, I can’t go too far wrong.
The going was finally easy this morning, except the sole of my right foot is cracking rather nicely causing some pain and slows me down. I bashed my toes several times while being intent on them to the point of going astray several times. I realize in my parallel world that when I am so engrossed in me, I loose sight of everything else and I don’t realize I am part of everything else. Poetically it is known as having my head so far up my “you know what” that I don’t know what.
I didn’t see anyone on the trail till I was almost in Hanover; I met Hardy whose wife works for the A.T.C. he is pushing for “The Long Walk Home”. This is a college town with no Hostels, my feet are throbbing. I talked with a football player who is getting his team to support the project. Met an exchange student from Oxford, we talked seems her father was in the Royal Air force and suffers from P.T.S.S. She is getting him to look at it as well as look at it for herself. I decided to go to Norwich, maybe find a Hostel; ah forget it. It is worse than Hanover, but being there are no accidents the guy at the B&B was excited about what I am doing and especially that Momentum is a shoot off of Lifespring in which he was familiar.
I took a bus back to Hanover and got a room at the Sun Set Motor Inn. I called the local paper and they did an interview with pictures. I couldn’t just leave this college town knowing the interests of the few students I had talked to.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
I got up and went to get the bus; I was on the wrong side of the road so he passed me and waved. Being there are no accidents, I got picked up by a student who has 2 Uncles with P.T.S.S. he thanked me. I got to a Norwich bus stop, it was pouring rain and lightening, I waited at the bus stop for awhile then took off. The weather cleared, I got to West Hartford picked up my mail (satellite phone, camera, and food) adding 10-20#’s it felt like I needed a trailer. I did a total of 13 miles that is enough until I get some zero days in. I met Jackal at the shelter; he is from England who said they wonder why Blair wants England to be the 53rd State.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
I started out early and got through Woodstock, stopped at a farmers market had a pie, 4 scoops of ice cream, a pint of blueberries, a quart of milk, some fudge and sausage. I got back on the trail for a little bit then took a nap (sugar crash) I made it to the shelter doing 11 miles today. I met a few people, one guy’s brother was an Officer in the Marines who has a problem, but to admit it is a sign of weakness.
It had started to rain before I got to the shelter, then it poured after I got there making it easy to stay here at Wintturi. There were day hikers, teachers; one volunteered to work with the homeless in MN and said over 25% were Vets. Just before I got to the shelter I met Crumbs whose friend was walking with her, she was a Social Worker in San Francisco working with the homeless. She said that 35 – 40% were Vets and they medicate them. In Maine over 50% of the homeless are Vets. I don’t understand or maybe I am naive but what is the profit, why do we not do something to correct this? How do we or who does benefit from it working this way? Do drug companies benefit, does our country save money? Somebody help me here. Our military already has some programs in place, how much more could it cost, it would just be more going through it and they’re there already? People tell me it’s the system; the Government doesn’t want to admit it because they would have to take care of it. I’m not sure but I had always hoped that there were smarter people than me making decisions with the best intent for the American people. Maybe I am naive or I hope I just don’t have all the facts and only see a small picture and they are doing what is best for us. Until I learn other wise I will be pushing for programs to help Vets with their issues.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
I got up it was still raining, put on my tent, sleeping bag, rain gear and walked 20 miles. Met Red Beard 7 and Ex-Ranger who is looking into the programs we offer. I stayed at the Long Trail Inn, I am wiped. Everyone I talk to listens, most thank me, 2 shut me out and they were ex-military that didn’t want to hear it.
Friday, July 14, 2006
I didn’t leave the Long Trail Inn until 8am because breakfast came with the room, it was Great! I did 16 miles; Bird Nut suggested I make cards to hand out so that people remember the web site (excellent Idea). My feet are getting tender and I’m looking forward to a double zero. I talked to a few hikers during the day. Talked to a grounds keeper at one of the shelters and he told me of a shelter close to the highway that gets vandalized and burnt. He couldn’t understand why they would party there and wreck the place, I said what do you expect from someone who wrecks their body and has that poor of an opinion of themselves; how can they treat anything better than they treat themselves? I stayed at a shelter outside of Whistle Stop with Gumby, E.T., Tinkerbelle and a bunch of others I couldn’t remember (cosmic joke) they are supportive of the cause and going to check out the workshops.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
I left early around 5am with Bird Nut who has been keeping an eye on me. I’m a little distracted.
With the pain in my feet (cuts, cracks, and probably bone bruises from slamming rocks or roots). As I talk to people coming from the south, some have already heard and want to hear more.
Got to Danby intersection, I said good-bye for now to Bird Nut and started to walk to town. Two guys in a pickup truck stopped, but wouldn’t give me a ride, they were curious and said someone else would stop for me, and left.
Isn’t that a lot like I could have helped but it doesn’t matter someone else will do it?
Well I tell you it would have mattered to me because I walked 3+ miles before I got a ride of ½ mile to town.
I got a B&B and my feet hurt so much I wasn’t going to try going anywhere else (the price was more than I would normally pay, being used to Hostels) got a room, some food, and a little T.V.
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