Blind Courage, Bill Irwin and the Appalachian Trail

 AT pic of the day:

For today:

The book, “Blind Courage” tells of his life and his super commitment to his Lord and his delivery from Alcohol.  He felt that hike would aid in his recovery.  He gave away 500 bibles to kids as he walked the 2197 miles. You will never know the number of times as WE hiked that trail that I said, “And a blind man did this with just his dog?”

Remember he did this unassisted. THAT INCLUDED Into towns to wash his clothes and restock supplies. His dog at the time was named Orient.  Their trail name was “The Orient Express.´ He was 50 yrs old when he hiked the trail and passed away at 73 in  2014.

He said he fell thousands of times, even cracked some ribs, but he persevered and hiked a solid 8 months to finish. At the peak of Katahdin he fell to his knees and newsmen and friends sang “Amazing Grace”

Bill in his own words:

For 26 years I was an alcoholic and lived my life out of control. I never even thought of God much less sought a personal relationship with Him. This is how it is now. Through my youngest son's surrender to cocaine addition, I was able to get a good look at my life the way God saw it and it was not a pretty picture. I was to the place in my addiction that I was drinking around the clock and thought that I would die without it.

God dramatically and completely delivered me from the desire to drink. Two months later He delivered me from my five-pack a day cigarette addiction. God provided these miracles without my asking for help or even having a desire to recover. Then through the love of a man that He put into my life I was led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then I learned that He changed me and helped me overcome all the things that prevented me from being a happy person. I experienced the peace and joy that only comes when one is willing to surrender and allow Jesus Christ to become first in his or her life.

Bill Irwin passed away on March 1, 2014.

He will be missed. ~~

 Photograph courtesy of billirwin.org

 

 Arms on the trail is a normal question when the AT is part of the conversation. I have never known a hiker to carry a firearm. Most will not add the extra couple pounds for gun & ammo.  We did like most hikers carried ’pepper spray’ for possible animal encounters.  Of course most carry a knife, but for camping purposes mostly.  Even with the violence of this year, It is safer on the trail than most streets of towns/cities in the USA!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!