Amazingly Blessed

 Today’s one of a kind:

 

The above stretch hurts my head a little... LOL

Some thoughts for today:

Sitting here at the computer earlier today hoping for some great inspiration. Thoughts kept coming to me about all the wonderful supportive comments I have received. I wanted to thank you ALL for your encouraging words and also your prayers.

I have never thought of myself as bullet proof, but I have for the most part finished what I started; being fortunate also. As I sat here I glanced up at a fantastic gift I inherited.  It is an original painting. My sister Kat knowing my love for art gave this to me.

It is almost ghost-like. I am sure that the artist meant it so. It is a great painting of NYC and the twin towers. Also showing the Empire State Building. A photo of it does not do it justice.  I do not know the history of the painting but it was before 9/11.

The artist is a famous or well-known artist, but I do not know his name. It is impossible for me to read his signature. It is for sure you must get close to this painting to appreciate it. It was a gift to my sister and hubby as a going away present from their position working on Long Island.

If you can make a stab at anything on this signature let me know!

As I stared at the painting, I got the feeling that it was a premonition the towers would not stand the test of time. We all know that one day, some day, that day will be our last standing here on earth. But down inside it is some time off, NOT NOW!  I am smiling at that as I remember a flight thru the Devil’s Triangle on the way to GITMO.  We were in a USN Cargo plane and as I looked out the portholes I saw an island below. Son Mark sat beside me, I called his attention to the island saying, “Wouldn’t it be something if the pilot had to crash land there and no one got hurt and we could live like Gilligan.”

“WOW yeah,” he said just as the big cargo plane hit an air pocket and dropped about 50 feet, “BUT NOT RIGHT NOW!”  He added very quickly.

Now back to this picture, I sat here thinking how those nearly 3000 people were going about their daily jobs and in an instant or very short span, time for them was no more.

I sit here thinking, memories are good, but let’s live the best we can for now, while we can.

Again, you guys are the best.  Thanks again.

Oh yes, I wanted to show you our new traveling home.  It is 36 ft. long 8 ft wide with THREE slide outs.

We hope to hit the road in a week or so.

 

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:

The name is William

 Today’s one of a kind:

 

Some thoughts for today:

I came home a few days BEFORE my big hike attempt. There was a man sitting at the table with Jack Jr and Sherry.  He wore a surgical mask.  When he lowered it so I could see it was William.  

William and I have a long time business relationship. I met him early in my construction life. We had lots of good times and he was one of the best with drywall hanging and finishing. He was good with textured ceilings back when they were the THING.

With William we always go over some of the funny things. One was it seemed every time I stopped by a job to see how it was going, I seemed to catch him on break. Sitting on a 5 gallon bucket smoking a cigarette.  I would ask, “Don’t you ever work?”  We would laugh as he answered, “Who the heck do you think hangs this drywall and spreads the mud?”

The best one was the time he called saying something important had come up and he couldn’t make it today. I was frustrated and told him you know we will be behind schedule. He said he would make it up to me, but this was seriously important.

My office was in our daylight basement. Around noon, here comes William towing his new bass boat.

He got out, and held up his hands saying, “I know I lied to you Mr. Darnell, but you have got to see this Bass I caught today!”  Looking at a big beautiful Bass I laughed and said, "I don’t know whether to kiss you or kill you William!”

William is now a very sick man, he has faced death several times in the past couple years. Multiple fights, Cancer, internal bleeding, internal infections and now a GIGANTIC Hernia.  He was here about none of that.  He was here to thank me for all the jobs I had provided for him, But in tears the real reason was to thank Sherry and I for giving life to his best friend 60 years ago, our son Mark.

Since the time Mark left me to start his own Construction Company, William has worked for and with Mark for years. Binding a friendship that most dream of having.

William had drawn close to his Lord and prays a lot. I had never seen a Gigantic Hernia, his Stomach muscles have given away and it appears he has a huge bowling ball under his shirt. Repairs, if possible, require a special Doctor. He was due a consultation this week. If you pray, remember our friend William. He is a joy to know.

Nite Shipslog

Ignorance, ok, but it is hard to explain stupidity

  Today’s one of a kind:

 

(I remember it was much warmer with two people in the tent!  LOL)

Synopsis, a lot of repeating:

I was dropped me off a mile from the trail head. It was just above freezing. I had walked this very trail 20+ years ago. I remembered it as a ridge walk, sorta level along the ridge, Sherry did too! BUT in fact it was rocky and uphill. LOL I had figured the walk at 20 minutes. It was nearly an hour. I knew then it was going to be tough.

In reality I only hiked 17 miles on the AT in 3 days.  I climbed about 5 or 6 small mountains, a total of about 3500 feet.

 I have never understood anyone ‘getting lost on the AT’; I did it three times. I had a pack pedometer it reads almost 60,000 steps, about 28 miles.

I figured I cost myself 7 or 8 miles in those lost miles. The one that HURT bad, was leaving Hawk mountain shelter, I missed the AT and climbed up Hawk Mt. That is straight up practically. After a while there was a sign “This is NOT the AT!”  HONEST.  I stood there and said out loud, ”Then why didn’t you post this back down there where I got on it.”  I about cried, but I just laughed out loud saying, “You are a dumb OLD man!”  LOL I turned and walked back down.

I mentioned this before. On one mountain I was trying to reach the next shelter. I was stopping every 25-40 feet to lean on a tree. I was beat, took off my pack and lay down in the frost. I actually went to sleep. I got up and walked the wrong direction 5 or 6 miles. I came to a cemetery.  Could there be two similar cemeteries on the trail? I checked the closest tombstone, then realized it was the one I had passed earlier.  So I pitched the tent, it was getting dark.

We had a friend who got frost bite on the trail in late fall, I also worried about that. I moved around and shook a lot in the sleeping bag. I shook harder than I was shivering just to try to stay warm LOL.

Any way I thought I could do it, even though the consensus of family and friends was, ‘It will be too cold you cannot do it.’

Truly it was at least 10 degrees lower than I expected. BUT I had to try.

Most of all I hated that my wife and son drove so far to deliver and retrieve me, they were great.

I did tell her if I EVER mentioned this again to just shoot me! LOL

Nite Shipslog

Off the mountains, tail between my legs!

The top view is from the summit of Springer mountain.

That is icicles in the background. For 3 days the temperature never got above freezing.

I could get no sleep at night my sleeping bag did not hold warmth.  My gloves did not one bit of good, were supposed to be sub freezing rated. OUCH

I hate to admit it, but I bit off more than I could chew. I will try to explain some of my mistakes and missteps next.

I just noticed my blog entry was in the title area but not all.  I am a mess!

Nite Shipslog

Post by cell, having a problem with that LOL

I'm definitely going to have a problem with this posting via cell phone. I created one post but it is gone this is my first stop and I am at a place called Hawk Mountain not but a few miles into the trail. I was told never quit on a bad day so I didn't quit today very tired. Climbing up this mountain I got tired threw the pack on the ground and lay down to rest, I went to sleep. When I woke up I walked the wrong direction so that added 4 to 8 mi onto this trip. I did not like that.            I'm afraid to start another line by indenting so I'm just going to space. Starting a fire is very hard this time of the year it's taking me an hour to start a fire at both camps. I'm going to include a couple pictures or try One is icicles on the trail The other is the view from the first mountain I started on 

It was fluring a little most of the rest of the day.

Nite Shipslog

Headed for the Appalachian Trail

 

Today:

Well this is my last entry from a keyboard to the Shipslog.  The next, when I have a signal and it all works I should be on the trail headed North.

I know I may not make it 30 miles, but I am going to give it one last try.  I have told Sherry I will give up this goal if I fail this time.  There is always a time to know (or learn) your limitations. But you do not know until you try them.

Wishing all of you the best in your goals in life.  I am dropping a lot in Sherry’s lap.  The handling of the final paperwork for the Coach, title, tag and insurance. It should be done in Florida but she isn’t there. We are hoping NC will cooperate.LOL

And then there is the filing of our income tax forms. I have done them myself until I started in business then I had a bookkeeper. But for the past 20+ years I have gone back to doing them myself.  She will get a local tax person to do them this time…

We head out for Amicolola Ralls State Pak in Georgia early in the AM.  I hope to start the trail by 11 AM on the 26^th.  Temps are supposed to be 17-20 degrees the night of the 26^th, gonna break me in right.

I will do my best to post that evening at the start. I have a grandson, Joshua, who runs 30+ miles in marathons, surely his grand pa can walk a few hindred miles.

This has been a hectic time, but it is what it is….

 

Nite Shipslog

North Carolina

Some thoughts for today:

In North Carolina, of course I found 3 months of fall leaves. It took a day and a half for me to move the leaves. And clear the property.

We decided to buy a 2005 RV with 3 slides.  Of course there is a small problem. They just paid the RV off and are awaiting a title.

We still do not have Sherry’s  W-2 form for taxes (working on getting it) and the title situation.  I think the title can be worked out, Sherry can buy it in her name after I leave.  I can’t see a problem with that. Jack Jr. will be here to assist her.

I am tied up most of the time getting my pack ready along with getting this lot ready so Sherry will not be bothered by getting the property looking ready for Spring.

We are gonna accept the coach and pay for it without a title. Jim is a friend and I have all confidence he will sign the title over, once he received it.  There are still people whose word is their bond, Jim is one of them.  Of course I will have an agreement typed out and signed in case something happens to Jim or myself  before the deal is closed.

Sorry I am not keeping up as a blogger right now. But I do a quick read. And head back to work….

 

Love you guys, I am holding on to the 26^th as a starting date, for now…

Nite Shipslog

Funny how things pile up….

Today’s one of a kind:

Is this a Shopping cart?

(The pictures are a progression of campers on the way to our next one...)

Some thoughts for today:

Above is the POP up I built for us. Previous to this it was fold outs and tents.

Here at the last minute we decide to buy another RV. Son Mark is buying our present coach.  He is hoping to use it on a lot in Eastern NC while he builds a house there.

(VW Camper for awhile)

We are looking at a coach up in NC.  We just might buy it.  What makes it complicated is the tag, title and Ins. Since it is an out-of-state purchase. We would be required to drive it back to Florida to take care of that, but there isn’t enough time. LOL  So we will have to work around that.

(Then a travel trailer for a few years)

Then there is  ‘Federal Taxes’ to file.  Thank goodness Florida does not have a state tax.  We are missing Sherry’s W-2 and hoping it shows up in the next couple days. I do not have to start the trail in January, but I sure do prefer it.

(Our first Motor home, to see if we liked the full time life, we did!)

But like everything in life, as long as we live the sun keep rising and days pass.  Things we are concerned (or worried) about work out.

(The beautiful Overland, we loved this first BIG one, that is Sonny & Colette out near the Badlands. Our traveling partners for years.)

So as of now, I still plan to start the trail on Jan 26^th if Sherry’s W-2 shows up.  ;-)  Everything else can be handled….

**************  ***************  *************

This Coach, Our latest big one a Monaco Diplomat. We say good bye to it in the next day or two...:

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Our coach is a good one. BUT I told my sweetheart we worked hard for what we have. Hopefully we have 4-5 more years on the road, let's do it in more comfort. We looked at a coach here in Florida and it did not work out. Friends in NC decided to sell one a little newer than ours and has 3 slide outs, making life a little better on the road. We are going to look at it.

PS2: This will be my last post for a few days. I am packing up our computers.  See you guys soon, we should be in North CArolina. Y'all try to be good!  I will miss y'all..

PS3: (10 hrs later)  I just just posted this since the computer is still on line. I was ready to post this morning and Sherry said it is time to go to church, and I thought I had posted BUT ..........If this seems confusing, it is because it is....