Date: 2012-07-12
From: Dennytown Road

To: NY 52
Miles today: 15.8

It was a long day and Hot! There was nearly no one on the trail. In 15.8 miles of hiking I saw only two other hikers going South while I was going North. I also saw one more hiker leaving the RPH Shelter just before I arrived. This was an average of 1 hiker every 5.27 miles.I also saw 2 ladies and 2 children doing a short hike on the AT. They were hiking to see get a view. They turned around, when I told them they had about 2 more miles before they would get any view. It was a good thing because their round trip would have been over 6 miles and they were not prepared.The only view I had all day was at lunch. The day was hike and hike some more. I did have two interesting animal sightings. The first sighting was 4 wild turkeys. The second sighting was much better than the first. At 2:40 PM I cam face to face with - not a bear - a red fox. He seem to be walking leisurely up the trail. I did not see him and he did not see me until we were no more then 15 feet apart. He saw me just as his head popped up as he climbed a steep rise. His reaction was priceless. It was like wow where did this hiker come from - he turned tail and headed the other direction. He did not pose for me, so I have no picture - only a memory.Today my thoughts went to my military years and the fellow soldiers I served with and how they influnced me and my Christian walk.The first was a fellow soldier to influnce my Christian life I met at my officers basic course in Indianapolis. His name is Kenny; sadly I do not remember his last name. He was so at peace with where his life was going. He trusted God would be there no matter where his life led him. I wanted the peace he had. Because of Kenny I became serious about my relationship with God.Captain Gary Little also influnced my life as a Christian. We met at annual training at Fort Polk Lousiana in March 1976. We were both assigned to the same unit and had rooms across the hall from each other. Gary shared with me that he had recently been involved in a horrific car accident near the exit to Marion IN. He influnced my life forever with just one comment when I was acting less the Christian than I professed to be. I was having a stressful day and was reacting to the stress with less than exemplary language. His comment to me was "that language is not you stop it". I think of Gary whenever I stray and his comment leads me to the higher ground.SGM Ed Castle is a fellow UM Christian. Everyone in the 4160th USAR School knew Ed was a Christian and they would go to him for guidance. I am blessed that Ed is a friend for life. I am also blessed that he counts me as one of his friends. Ed has influnced my Christian life by living a Christian life I can imulate.LTC Bill Rivera and I served together and had the same billets (living quarters) in Taszar, Hungary, when I was mobilized to support Bosnia. Bill's influnce on me is his contagious smile and his love for life. He made my auster life in Hungary livable.Another soldier who influnced my life was Greg Haley who is my oldest son's Uncle. Greg is a soldier for whom I have the upmost repect. He served in Viet Nam and was physically injured 3 times the last time resulted in the loss of one of his legs below the knee and as many Viet Nam veterans Greg was emotionally scared. Greg was such a brave and good soldier that he received the silver star 2 times. (This is one below the metal of honor.) Greg is gone now and I miss him dearly. Greg influnced my life by honoring me and humbling me at the same time by a comment he made to me. The comment was he would have been proud to have me as senior officer in war time. To be given such a high compliment by one who placed his life on the line for his country means I must live my life so as not to disappoint Greg and lessen his respect for me.