One moose, two moose, three moose...and no camera!

Hello everyone,

(Yes, Dave E., "everyone" means especially you!) I have to kid a bit, as my friend, Dave, is up home from Florida to work at camp and visit a bit... and I had a chance to catch him there yesterday. He asked why I hadn't been posting to the blog for almost a year, and I was "Honest" with him. I was busy!!! Of course, he will read the previous blog regarding the "prodigal stickman" and see the truth... I squandered my time. So the whole truth is that if you "get busy" you can become complacent about important things, relegating them to the back burner. After a bit you just.... you know what I'm trying to say, and I again ask you all to forgive (not ovelook) my shortcomings.

Shortcomings... brings me back to the subject of the title of this post. If I had just brought a camera I could post up a picture... now I'll have to use up a thousand words! This last Sunday I got up, showered, and readied for Church. Suddenly I realized that I was attending alone. Cari had picked up my "cold" (I'll call it that), and was miserable. Of course, she had only had it for a few days, and I had suffered with it for three weeks... and mine was a MAN-COLD!

When all was said and done, I decided it best not to attend either. No sense in infecting a whole congregation... Alternate plan: attempt a hike up to Little Bigelow!

I changed into hiking garb, grabbed a daypack and a ScriptureStick, and headed to the store. There, I picked up a six-pack to leave at the Little Bigelow Lean-to for other hikers to enjoy. I thought of leaving "Moxie" but picked up "Pepsi" instead.

So, off I went. A very pleasant 33 mile drive from Madison up through Lexington/Highland to the Bigelow Preserve. Hanging a left at "the mailboxes", I was quickly parked at the trailhead. To the Trail! I walked slowly, on easy trail, enjoying the music of the birds which were accompanied by the sounds of the wonderful stream running off to the right of me. Becoming lost in the experience, I was somewhat surprised to realize that there was a big animal just off to my left. Wait! It was a BIG "big animal", and two LITTLE "big animals"! MOOSE!!! Yes, it was a cow moose with two young'uns! They couldn't have been more than 20 - 25 feet away, and I had no camera!!! The babies looked at me a bit nervously, fidgeting just a bit around Mom, looking to her to see what to do. She just gazed at me for a minute or more, then started to slowly walk alongside the trail. We walked together for just a little way, then she angled slightly away from me, taking her children ever deeper into the tree cover, and safety. This is, by far, at the top of my list for animal encounters... and I was totally unprepared, camera-less!

To try to make up for my slip up, I will re-post another "very cool" moose picture, one from the 2007 thru-hike attempt. The picture is NOT mine. Huck Pendolino snapped the shot as the moose peered into his tent!




Thanks, Huck, for letting us post your moose picture! I'm sure it was a harrowing experience hearing her walking around outside your tent, then "checking in on you"!

Sooo... my hike continued. It is only 1.3 miles to the shelter, on fairly easy terrain, but I was huffing and puffing like an old Stanley Steamer by the time I got there, with my lungs not quite right from my recent man-cold, and lack of activity. By the way, the Stanley Steamer was a creation of the twin brothers, F.E. and F.O. Stanley, of Kingfield, Maine, and you can visit the Stanley Museum right there at Kingfield!

Arriving at the shelter, I found the little springhouse destroyed by fallen trees, so I made a bit of a depression in the spring-stream flow, depositing the drinks to cool for any hikers that should come along. I sat at shelter, reading log entries, and was surprised to find only half a dozen entries thus far this year. I added my own entry, while swatting away at the vicious blackflies, then returned to the main trail. I looked uptrail, thinking that I should surely continue another 1.8 miles to the top of Little Bigelow, and take in the view... but my lungs weren't going to get me there, and the weather was changing quickly. I returned to the trailhead, jumped in the truck, and replayed the little hike in my mind over and over again on my way home. It is amazing how Blessed our time can be... if we just take the time!

So, I'll get this blog closed up for now, take a little ride up to the lake to see my friend Dave, and enjoy all the Blessings God has in store for me today!

Take time to let God Bless your time too!

Stickman

Trail Days at Damascus

Hey all y'all,

Yeah, that was my lame attempt to type "Southern"! Y'all, of course, would be you, and all y'all would be all of you! I thought i'd get in the mood for the upcoming trip to Damascus, Virginia, for the incredible Trail Days at Damascus gathering. This will be the 25th year for the event, which is the largest gathering of hikers in the world. Here's a link to the official website... http://www.traildays.us/

Bad news is... we won't be able to make it down there this year. Time and money, the two usual suspects, are once again at the root of the problem. So it is... But, we would like to encourage any that can make it, GO! It is a wonderful time, and an experience that is truly unique.

Cari and I will content ourselves with all the other things at hand in our lives, and resign ourselves to the reality that Trail Days just isn't workable for us this year.

I did get an e-mail from Johnny "4-Iron" Male, a hiker I have had the pleasure of speaking with these last few months. He is a "local", living but a half hour from us, up here in Maine. Currently, he is on trail, working on a thruhike, and expecting to hit Damascus at just about the right time! So... Johnny 4-Iron, here's to you! Y'all have a wonderful time, and may God Bless every step of your hike...

God Bless All Y'all, too!

Stickman

Stickman, where ARE you!?!

I am HERE!!!




I am sure you have all heard the story of the "Prodigal Stickman"... (the word 'prodigal' means 'wastefully extravagant')! In the story of the prodigal Stickman, said Stickman has disappeared from the blogging scene, and has squandered his blogging time in the most wastefully extravagant ways. Blogging opportunities abounded, but Stickman selfishly failed to blog...

...the GOOD news! When Stickman returned to his blogsite and began blogging again, his Blogfollowers graciously forgave him, welcoming him back with open arms!

Now that I have poked at your funnybone, I would like to seriously ask your forgiveness for my shortcomings... and with that, promise to try MUCH harder to keep the blog updated!

Currently... Working two jobs, trying to raise money for my next thruhike!
... Cancelled 2011 thruhike ministry plans, for lack of $$$!
... Trying to fund upcoming trip to Trail Days at Damascus(May 13th-15th)
... Gearing up for local Trail Ministry/Magic on A.T.!
... Making more ScriptureSticks!
... Get ready for local "Relay for Life", prepare more ScriptureSticks!
... Looking forward to local Fairs and Events to bring ScriptureSticks!

Yup, i know it was a "short posting", but I really DO have things to get done today, so I gotta go... But WAIT!!! Has anyone asked for God's Blessings for your life today? NO!?! I will!

May God be present in your life, and Bless you, exceedingly!

Stickman

Trail Days at Damascus, and MORE!

WOW!

Hello everyone!

Since it is almost a month having passed since Trail Days at Damascus, I thought I might take a breath to let you know that Cari and I did, in fact, take the 1000+ mile drive to Virginia!

We got to meet lot's of hiker's, and were Blessed to give away many ScriptureSticks! When we arrived in town at 10:00P, we drove down the Main Street, wondering where Joel and Cortney Leachman (Bark & Berry) were staying. Halfway down the street, I saw someone stepping down from the top step of a porch, and he was waving. It was Joel! WOW! Bark and Berry were Trail Chaplains for ATServants in 2009, and are now functioning as members of the Board. We had an opportunity to offer assistance to them when they were in Maine, at Caratunk. We have become very fond of them both! Berry also came out to welcome us, and within five minutes of our arrival, two men and a little girl, Firecracker, approached us, asking if we knew if it was possible to find ice cream that late at night, as they wanted to treat the girl. To their dismay, the answer was "No.", but Cari quickly offered up Whoopie Pies for all of them. We went to the truck, handed out the treats, then gave a little purple ScriptureStick to Firecracker, and two natural finished sticks to the men. "Gravy" and Weaver (his real name), loved the sticks, and shared that they were Christians. I kept seeing Weaver everywhere during Trail Days! What a way to start our visit!!!

There is so much, too much to tell, about our trip. Here are some highlights!

Meeting hikers! Giving away ScriptureSticks! Meeting the ATServants Staff: Craig and Suzy Miles, Jonathan and Kristy Carter, and Joel and Cortney Leachman! Cari's brother, Tim, coming from Tennessee to meet us at Damascus! Taking a hike with Joel (and Cortney, Cari, and Tim)! Taking a drive up to Nebo, to see Mack and Kelly Spainhour, who have built a WONDERFUL Christian Hikers' Hostel! (They are not quite open yet, but getting closer... PLEASE keep them and their Ministry in PRAYER!)! Meeting Skywalker (6' 11 15/16th")! Spending time with Virginia Huggs (the RINGLEADER), and the rest of the fine folks from the Senior Adult Ministry, Kempsville Baptist Church, of Virginia Beach, Virginia! These wonderful folks make the trip to Trail Days to host a "Porch Ministry", where they offer up free coffee, food, and "instant friendship". I can't say enough about them, but pray to meet them all again next year. AWESOME MINISTRY!!! Where was I?... Oh yeah... Music on the ground! Music at the Coffee House! Food! Food! Food! Vendors! Gear Reps! Hikers! Sleeping in the back of the truck! ...it was ALL good!

Eventually, we had to leave, but the trip wasn't over!

We went to Fredericksburg, where we hooked up with our old pals, Wayne and Teresa Morris! They are friends from our days in Garner, NC, and were up to provide special music at Leon and Celie's Church. We got to stay with them all, and attend Church the next day. It was "Homecoming" for the Church, and folks came "Home" from all over! The music was great, and so was the preaching! Then, we got to share in a fantastic dinner with the Church members. Everone was so friendly, and we didn't want to leave. After giving away a few sticks we were on our way, promising to return for a visit.

Time to go home. NOT! We got to visit with Mark and April! April was my classmate in High School, and a great friend of Cari's. We got to visit with Tony and Dawn! Dawn is April's sister, Cari's classmate, wonderful friend! (Hey, Mark and Tony... 20 or more years is too long between visits...).

Hmmm... Oh yeah! Lancaster, PA! Almost forgot! We took a chance, stopped into town, and placed a call to Pastor Curtiss Kanagy. He was a candidate to Pastor at our Church in Maine, Crossroads Bible Church. He graciously left what he was doing, and came to find us. Five minutes later, he was with us in the parking lot. We had a great visit! (Since then, I am happy to say that he has been to Crossroads, was called, and accepted the position. He, his wife, Robin, and their children will be active at Crossroads in August!

There is much, much more... but that will have to come later! Tonight... I sleep!

Good night, all, and God's Blessings!

Stickman

Please remember our fallen soldiers on this Memorial Day...

The following is a copy of my Monday, August 17, 2009 blogpost...

"Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, Josh Bernard, American Hero




I dragged myself home after an extremely hot and busy day at the lumberyard... I checked the news immediately, somehow believing that if the following never made the news, then it never happened...

"Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, 21, of New Portland, Maine, died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay."

...So, yes it was on the news, and yes, it really is true... all I could do is cry "one more time", knowing full well that the tears will linger and return many more times in the future.

Many of you do not know Josh, or his family. Those of you that did know Josh were keenly aware of his exceptional qualities... and that he came from the finest of families. He was a friend, strong, yet sensitive, and willing to put his life on the line not only for his Country, but for his Christian beliefs. As we have sat grieving with his family and friends, we have heard many wonderful things about him, about how much he CARED. He was not one to judge another, and held fast to his faith in God, striving to live his life as would bring Glory to God. I understand that he had been given the title "Holy man" over there, and had the respect of the men that he served with. I can think of no more honorable way for a man to walk in this world... we have suffered a heavy loss.

So, I grieve. I know that many of you are also reeling from this tragic loss. It will be a long time of grieving. We will grieve for our loss... we will grieve for his wonderful parents, and the most terrific sister a man could ever have, and the aching pain of their loss...

So, now I make these simple requests, that those of you that knew Josh will somehow rejoice amid the tears, thankful that God Blessed us with his presence, if even for this brief time... that ALL of you will take a moment to honor him for his service to our Country... YOUR Country. That you will lift his family and friends in powerful prayer. I believe it is the only thing that will help them heal.

With heavy, yet hopeful, heart, I ask God to Bless me, you, and, especially, the Bernard family.

Stand down Marine, your mission is complete. May our Heavenly Father welcome You home to rest.

Semper-Fi

Stickman "

Memorial Day... It certainly is a great, fun time, with a three-day weekend, paid day off from work, firing up the grill with the family, going to camp, etc. ...yes, it has become that. I am asking that you will also take a few moments to remember.

Memorial Day is a day designated for all of us to be able to take time, (ALL DAY IF YOU SHOULD CHOOSE), to remember and honor the men and women who have died in service to our country.

Perhaps you will read this blog tomorrow, after the three-day weekend is finished. Maybe you will read this post in a week, or month from now... but, maybe even then you would remember, and take a moment to reflect, honoring our brave men and women who have offered up their ultimate sacrifice while in service to all of us.

'nuff said... God Bless.

Stickman

http://www.scripturesticks.com/

Going to Damascus!

Hello All! Or I should say y'all... or all y'all...

Yep! It's Damascus, Virginia, here we come! Cari and I are really going to be able to go, and we're excited! (I have to ease up on all those exclamation marks... don't want to use them all up...).

It is going to be quite a trip though. We will leave Madison, Maine on Wednesday night, May 12th, and drive the 1000 miles to Damascus, Virginia, to take part in the annual TRAIL DAYS gathering. Check out the link, below...

http://www.traildays.us/

Damascus is about mid-point of the roughly 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and Trail Days is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in the trail, or interested in the great outdoors, to come together to enjoy a wide variety of events and activities. You will get to meet thru-hikers, sectioners, day hikers, trail maintainers, trail angels, authors, outfitters, gear manufacturers, and it goes on... and on. Definitely check out the site, and the schedule of events!

We will also be looking forward to seeing Bark & Berry,(Joel & Cortney Leachman), who were Trail Chaplains for ATServants this past year. We had opportunity to be of some assistance to them when they got to Caratunk, then I had the honor of meeting them at the summit of Mt. Katahdin. It will be so nice to see them! Clay & Branch,(Craig & Suzy Miles), who founded the ATServants ministry, will also be there, and we will get to meet them, too!

And if that isn't enough excitement... we will (hopefully) get to visit Lumbermack & LabRat, (Mac & Kelly Spainhour), up in Nebo, an hour North of Damascus. I worked with Kelly several years back, for Cary, North Carolina, at a wastewater facility, where she is the LabRat... uhhh, Lab Manager. I hadn't seen or talked with her for all these years, but in reading the guestbook entries in Bark & Berry's Trail Journal, I came across an entry by LumberMack Spainhour. He mentioned his wife, Kelly, the LabRat, and I realized who they were. I never knew that they hiked, that Mac had completed the AT, or that Kelly had been up here in Maine, and has summited Mt. Katahdin three times! After contacting them, I found that they are in the process of starting up a new Christian Hikers Hostel in Nebo. We hope they are there for the weekend!

One more thing... Cari (Mrs Stickman) and I have been furiously trying to make up a bunch of ScriptureSticks to take down to Damascus. We intend to look for opportunities to "gift" them to folks we meet on this trip. We never intend to be annoying to folks, or overbearing in even the slightest way, in offering up a free ScriptureStick. We do look for the Lord's leading in our little ministry, and would appreciate your prayers, that his agenda takes the forefront, and not ours. Thanks so much!

I need to call it quits for the night, but couldn't wait to share with you all! Good night, and most certainly, God Bless you all.

Stickman

http://www.scripturesticks.com/

Mow...shovel...mow...uh...shovel!

Quick "Hello!",

We are still working hard on completing a whole bunch of ScriptureSticks, in the next couple or three weeks, amongst all the other "normal stuff" that life throws our way. I had anticipated a possible short hike this weekend, but was doubtful it would happen, as the lawn is already in need of cutting, and there are weeds growing in the raised beds that I need to get prepped for this years' crops.

Thankfully, my decisions were easy ones this morning! I woke up early, checked the current weather conditions, (I looked out the window...), and was mildly surprised to see about two inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground! My mind was working it's way around it, as I tried to figure out the day. Mow... shovel... mow... uhhh...

So, it is too wet to mow, not enough snow to shovel, and... hiking? Nah! I think the best course of action is to continue working on the ScriptureSticks, take a sunny hike on a sunny day, wait for the snow to melt, watch the grass grow, and pray that some of the garden weeds are edibles.

Gotta go! God Bless!

Stickman

http://www.scripturesticks.com/