The March Day 3 and 4

Marchers and Interested Parties,
Day 3 was a good day, but the end of Iron Cody. Cody had been with us since Day 1, and had suffered with blisters, and chewed up feet. I had bought him some tennis shoes at Wal-Mart, and he stated they brought some relief, but we never heard him complain. We did see him roll on the cool dirt road to get some relief form the heat, and he did learn Thomas' name, so he could tell him to keep off his feet, but that was all there was to the stoic Cody.

If it had not been for the stop at Lake Stubble Field, and the opportunity to look in a mirror, we might not have known he was dealing with some skin irritations. He took the opportunity to look in the mirror, and saw many red puss filled pockets. The debate once it was brought to the attention of the Marchers, was whether it was a heat rash or acne. Acne seemed to be the consensus of the Marchers, but Ryan had left to make a run to the store, and his medical knowledge was not near to hand. Capt. Jack, took a look, and came back form the bathroom looking saddened by the sight of Cody's back and chest.

With a sadness, the decision was made to leave Cody for Ryan to appraise, and the four remaining Marchers left Lake Stubble Field headed for Kelly's Pond. By this time Thomas and Justin were crotch deep into the hike, and were beginning to see why all the fuss about feet and rashes were such an issue for those of us still on the March. The Lads had worn man-made fibers, as the web site had recommended, but they were gym shorts, and were causing some discomfort on this new playing field.

The terrain had changed a bit, but the vegetation now was thicker. While the Forrest service had burned off some under brush at the beginning of the hike, this new section had a chest deep feel to it. Our staffs were put to good use, as we pushed through the briers and brambles of the trail. Spider webs were a bit higher and made a tasty treat as we hit it with our mouths. My bush hat, boonie hat, had a nice long brim which, when the head was bowed, kept the webs from my mouth. Jack wore no hat and used his hands, while the Lads wore caps, which helped.

The walking was easier now for me. I was growing accustom to the endurance level needed, and was feeling a bit rakish again. The thing that bothered me was the pills Ryan had given me again that morning seemed to make me want to void, make water, etc.. I had to go every 45 minutes, and then shuffle back to the group. The Lads seemed worried about me, so I tried to smile and wave as they continued along the trail, making my deposit in a hurry near a tree- no use in letting all that fluid go to waste.

By the time we were closing in on our destination point, Jack was beginning to suffer form cramps. I had not idea how bad they were, but later I learned his hands were locking up. He was carrying the extra weight, and had not shown any weakness while on the March. He still did not, but when it came time to be picked up along the March, I saw he was having a bit of trouble. We had made good time, and the pick up point was deserted. We still had water, but it had been a long day and were ready to go to camp. Jack suggested we take a look down the road at an alternate pick up point, and I was feeling well enough to make the effort. The Lads were over by the end of the day's trail, looking tired, but later, they were swinging the guidon on at each other, whether in desperation or fun, I am not sure.

As I was headed up a hill, I kept hearing Marine cadences in my head, and began to Recon shuffle, as we Marines call it, Ranger shuffle, as the Army calls it. It felt good to be alive and doing something for Addison, not directly, but indirectly, thinking I was showing him a male sort of love- can't cure you, can't but it away, must do something sort of thing. This is when my sister showed up with her family and my Mom. They drove to Jack first, and then he sent them to me. I did not want to drive, the cadence was strong in my head, so I shuffled back to the pick up area, getting there a few moments after Jerry arrived. We took a few pictures, and eat the grapes and celery Cathey handed us, and headed to Kelly's Pond, and our last night in the woods.

Val Marshall's friends had made much of the food we had been eating in the evenings. This night we feasted on chicken gumbo. I could not eat much, but what I did eat was excellent. The camp was very nice, except when bathing myself by the out house I flashed the Lads. It was a back flash, not a full frontal; I apologize to the mothers of those I said I would take care of. I kept having visitors come near me while bathing, and I could not get my clothes on fast enough.

I have failed to mention that we picked up a dog on our first day's hike. The kids were very nice to the dog we called Marshall. Even Jack made sure the dog had water as we traveled together. That next day, Cathey and others went back over the roads we had traveled to try and find the dogs old home. The man at one house said the dog was stray, but had been staying there. It was a very nice dog and of good breeding. At Kelly's Pond we met another stray. He became Schindler, as whenever Justin came near him, he became excited and happy. I think Justin was flattered by the attention, but also embarrassed by the dog's devotion. We few, we happy few, kept picking up dogs, or they us.

The stars were heavy and near as we looked at the night's sky, but it was the lack of wind that kept us from a deep sleep at Kelly's Pond. That, and the sound of one of the walkie-talkies which gives off a beeping signal when the battery is getting low; it was low for over two hours giving off a beep-beep noise, and no one ventured forth to shut it off. Suffering was in beeping silence.

Our last day on the March, and Adam re-joined us, now that his bites and allergic reactions had taken a course for the better. He was no longer suffering, and was ready to hit the trail. Water was taken care of, breakfast was ingested, and the camp was being broke down in the warm, wet dew of morning.

The trail was a nice easy one, through the woods, staying off of hard packed roads. We had a took a break near a roadway, only to have Captain Jack walk out to the road and inform us the break point was across the road, and the good folks were waiting on us, no need to sup on MRE's.

It was at this point, I should have broke out my compass, form my back pack. I was feeling well, but kept moving in the wrong direction, and wanting others to follow. It was a good thing Jack had his GPS, or I might have taken him with me. The Lads, just nodded their heads when I recommended they come my way, and then moved off in a different direction, following Jack. By the mid day sun, I was ready to head south and not north, as we had traveled off on a different trail for a few extra miles. This was not heart braking, but the three Lads looked a little depressed, as they found out we had miles to go before we rested.

Disorientated, we had toruble making comm with our walkie-talkies and had to rely on phone with little or no reception, depending on the phone service used. We had to contact people in Tomball or Richmond, to make contact with those just a few miles away from us in the woods. It took longer then I had suspected, but with a small stretch of the legs on a dirt road, we found Ryan waiting for us, and the welcome relief he was, took us to the rest stop.

After the break, we took off, ready to face the world, with our Guidon held high. Jack kept it for this part of the March, and it was the first thing to cross the finish line, just ahead of Jack. That guidon had been held by everyone on the March, going the distance while others could not.

We saw the end point of the March with welcome relief, and a picture of a limping Addison coming to meet us at the trail head. He may have looked a bit bewildered by the sight of five happy hikers, but his eyes lit up as he recognized his two great friends. His Dad, Jack, was first on the scene, and the first one to Addison, He grabbed Addison and gave him a good healthy kiss, one that showed evidence of his great love for his son. Captain Jack had made it, and brought his gift of completion of the trek to his son. Addison, on the other hand, was embarrassed, not by his father's display of love, but by his inability not to be on the trip himself. He is a pridful young man, and does not want others to make a trip for him, but he wants to make it himself, perhaps unaware that is he was well and fit, the trip would no have been made.

I took my place for pictures with the other finishers, not really understanding what Addison was feeling, nor what I was feeling. I had thought I was doing this for Addison, but I was doing it for me. I was doing it to show my support, and love, in the only way I knew how. He will understnad it later, but no man worth his salt, can sit while others do something for him; he wants to be apart, to be a doer, not a sitter. He wants to do for others. This is what men do. You can sit and talk for hours, give sympathy to others, but in the end how do you reflect the feelings you have for one another? You can sit and talk with a friend while the crops rot in the fields, him injured in a bad fall, telling him how sorry you are for his loss, or you can get off your butt, and go harvest the crops- win or lose you are doing something.

Stay the course, Addison, for we are with you. We are Marching With Marshall.