A little more relaxed the third day in Bear Country.

One of NJ's most hilarious road signs.

Our predawn walk was successful. The danger spots were untrafficked, and we made good time. However, no vehicular support was possible in the first half hour because the West Gate to the park was closed, and our vehicles had to make the 45-minute trip from the East gate. We stopped at a diner parking lot, and the kind, hospitable people of Vernon were kind enough to allow us to use their facilities. We continued past rivers, ski areas, and spectacular views of farmlands, vacationlands and countrysides. We'd noticed that as we descended out of the skylands, the people became more hospitable and friendly, and the bears less prevalent. Our friend in Ogdensburg, Jerry Butler, who is connected with the Ogdensburg Muncipal Alliance, was especially helpful along the way, and thanks to him, we were allowed to stay at the elementary school grounds on Main Street. The walk was 22 miles, both in Mr. Frank miles and by the odometer, and the roads were very steep. We walked past several Poconos resorts and ski areas (closed for the season, of course) but the roads were wide and easy to travel.

Once we got to camp, we had to say goodbye to two of our strong walkers, Brandon Guarini and Devin Murray. Devin had gotten ill, and Brandon took the opportunity of his parents visit to hitch a ride home to be with his family. Devin had been the Poison Ivy of his team, a solid leader, and left with his team, The Gummy Apples, in sole possession of first place. He would be missed, but because of fever he had no choice but to go home.

When we had trained, the National Guard had advised that in case of a close encounter with a bear, to shout the bear down and appear unafraid. On a walk through the elementary school fields, a group encountered a bear at close quarters. Brandon Murray, who weighs under 100 pounds, and stands about five feet tall, decided to heed the Guard's advice. So, when Brandon's group encountered a bear, Brandon challenged the bear, using menacing gestures and fighting words (but he didn't speak Redneck. He simply enquired if the bear desired a "piece of this"--) The bear was not exactly impressed. It roared, and turned and went back to the woods, and called to its friend-- "Hey Silas, come check out this bald skinny-legged raccoon challenging me to a pissing match!" So the bear retuned with its friend, who barked, "That ain't no raccoon, Beauregarde, that there's a you-man." The bears shook their heads, and went back into the forest. Along the way, they let every tick, beetle and mosquito know our exact GPS coordinates, and they all paid us many visits, landing, clinging, biting, and embedding.

For anyone awake at about 1 AM, and sleeping outside, a phenomenon like nothing on this side of the state occurred: A swarm of fireflies. The fireflies were thick, and danced in the blackness above the forest, like a shimmering curtain of bioluminescent chartreuse. They were so abundant, that if you put your hand out in front of you, you could see the outlines of your fingers blocking out the thick, dancing green light. The scene had depth-- the brighter lights were close by, and the light grew smaller and multiplied as you looked further away. The breeze stirred those lights as if they were embers on a dying campfire, and every breath of breeze seemed to stir those swirling embers to life. And that made me think of spirits, and of absent friends, and those very important people who helped us with walkabouts past who now danced with the spirits-- Mike Koerner, Stan Kephart, and Remington Priscoe.

Remy had scouted the first walk, a wild, free sixteen-year old-- perhaps a little too wild and free for his own good, but so alive, so brilliantly defiant, so born free. Since March, he walks only in the Spirit World, and I find myself often on the road these days, especially at night after everyone's in bed, speaking to his wild spirit, telling him things, sharing these moments with that wonderful boy whose life ended days short of his nineteenth birthday. I admit, in that field, that night, those firefly lights blurred a bit in my teary vision as I spoke to his spirit. I thought of how beautiful, how exciting and how dangerous life is-- and how worth it all to love the people who come itno our lives, even if the time they spend on the earth glows bright for just an instant and is gone, and how all the kids and adults and strangers we encounter on our walk illuminate the darkest of our days with the miraculous light of their spirits.

Poison Ivy:
Called park. Confirmed venue.
(973) 853-4462
Wolf:
Thank Officer Lame for the shortcut.

Thank Jerry Butler, Ogdensburg Public schools

Miles walked: 22 miles Overall miles= 90.4
Ant:


Eagle:


OfficeL