"The Journey Is The Destination"

I Hope to Make John Muir Proud.

"The Journey Is The Destination"

Greetings Friends, Family, Colleagues and Others:

Tomorrow morning I will depart for the Northern end of the “Original Blue Ridge Parkway” at Jarman Gap on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park to begin my “Hike of a Lifetime”. I took a 2 day rain delay while the remnants of Tropical Storm Fay refilled the springs and seeps of the high country for me so that I will have plenty of fresh water.

I have been trying for a while to decide on what to use for a “Trail Name”. In church on Sunday our Pastor dedicated the school children’s Book Bags and of course my Pack. She also spoke about Journeys, and "Kingdom, Power, and Glory” and how it was all God’s Kingdom, and His Power, and all for His Glory. The Scripture was Psalms 121. Our Pastor also gave me a copy printed out of this verse for me to take with me from the Church Family. During the sermon the word "Sojourn" came up and I think I will adopt it for now as my Trail Name – “Sojourner”. However, if rain from more tropical storms like "Fay", "Gustav", and "Hanna" continue to bring their moisture to the Blue Ridge, I may have to adopt the trail name of “Rain Dance”. Two weeks ago, while on the Parkway, I noticed that the Parkway was extremely dry due to the drought. I was a bit concerned that there would be little water available for me at higher elevations. It looks as if my prayers regarding this have been answered.

I have also been trying to decide how to dedicate this undertaking to a “Greater Cause”. I finally decided to dedicate it to raising awareness about Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child. After my Mother mentioned hearing of a runner wearing a Bumper Sticker for Operation Christmas Child running across the State of Minnesota to raise awareness, I decided to do something similar. I plan to carry on my Pack the Operation Christmas Child Bumper Sticker and during one of my resupply stops near Boone, NC. I plan to have some friends bring me a little red wagon and some of the OCC Shoe Boxes and we will do a Photo Shoot on the Parkway of the Thru Hiker (Me) wearing my Pack and Bumper Sticker, pulling a Little Red Wagon carrying Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes, wearing an OCC T-Shirt.

I will be thinking of all of you while I take this stroll down the Blue Ridge Parkway to visit places I always heard about but have never visited. I will reminisce about the past- both mine as a National Park Service Ranger, and of the “Boys of the Civilian Conservation Corps”, who 75 years ago, built this wonderful, scenic, most visited, and most treasured, National Parkway. As I get closer to NC, the experience should be more of a Homecoming – since I am very familiar with most of the Parkway in NC. If you can, come visit me. I shouldn’t be that hard to find. Milk and cookies are always nice as well as fresh fruit and ice. Please keep me in your Prayers for Strength, Health, and Safety. I have had the Bible Verse Psalms 121 claimed for me and I will cling to it. So long for now. Watch for the updates that will be forthcoming as I get underway.

“Sojourner” or “Rain Dance” Barlow

Rain Delay is In Effect for my Blue Ridge Parkway Hike

Update to this Blog entry on 8/28/08
It turned out that the rain totals in the Landis, China Grove area of NC received between 12-14 inches of rain in a 36 hour period. The storms moved into Virginia and are just now clearing out.

It appears that Tropical Storm Fay has entered the equation and will delay the start of my Blue Ridge Parkway Thru Hike for at least one and possibly part of another day.

"It is not too bad if you are caught in it while on the trail. You adapt to the card you are dealt. It is quite another thing to start out in a terrible, sloppy, mess. It can set a negative tone for the whole experience" "Sojourner" Barlow

From www.WBTV.com Weather Center in Carlotte, NC
Wednesday: Periods of rain, heavy at times, even pockets of thunder and lightning can still develop Wednesday in the vicinity of the remnants of Fay as she slowly pulls away to the northeast of the Carolinas. Highs near 80. This system should be on its way out of the region by Thursday, but not before rain putting down rain totals of 3 to 7 inches. While we sure need the rain, it may be too much of a good thing in a short period of time, particularly in the mountains and foothills, where flooding is a concern.

All of this weather is heading up the Blue Ridge Mountains and will be in the Jarman Gap area for the next two days putting down some huge numbers of inches of rain.

Dedicating the Blue Ridge Parkway Thru Hike To a "Higher Cause"

Ever since I decided to Backpack the Blue Ridge Parkway from end to end and include with it Section 1A that is now a part of Shenandoah National Park, I have tried to decide how to dedicate this undertaking to a “Greater Cause”. I have prayed long and hard about it and I had not received and answer – that is until last Friday.

I received an Email from my Mother on Friday night and she mentioned that she had recently learned about a runner that was running across the state of Minnesota?? to raise awareness about Samaritan’s Purse - Operation Christmas Child. My Mother is very involved with this wonderful ministry through her Church - Master Builder Ministries and beyond by doing awareness sessions for other churches. Her idea was for me to put an Operation Christmas Child Bumper Sticker on the back of my pack for the Parkway Hike. I could speak to people along the way about the program to raise awareness. I also took a cue from the way Mom and Dad dedicate the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes. The boxes are pulled in to the church sanctuary by children in wagons.

That was it! I plan to carry on my Pack the Operation Christmas Child Bumper Sticker and during one of my resupply stops near Boone, NC. I plan to have some friends bring me a little red wagon and some of the OCC Shoe Boxes and we will do a Photo Shoot on the Parkway of the Thru Hiker (Me) wearing my Pack and Bumper Sticker, pulling a Little Red Wagon carrying Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes, wearing an OCC T-Shirt.

In the Church that I attend, First United Methodist of Landis, NC this last Sunday we had the Dedication of the Book bags for all of the students returning to school this week. Since I spent 33 years in the classroom and I will not be returning to the classroom this year, but will be living out of my pack for about six weeks – I was asked to bring mine for the dedication as well.

Our Minister, Rev. Bev Coppley was a student in my Homeroom class when she was in the 7th Grade. On Sunday her message was all about “Journeys” and "Kingom, Power, and Glory”, and the Scripture was Psalm 121. Our Pastor also gave me a copy printed out of this verse for me to take with me from the Church Family. During the sermon the word "Sojourn" came up and I think I will adopt it for now as my "Trail Name" - Sojourner.


LINKS

Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
Master Builder Ministries

Master Builder Ministries Operation Christmas Child Outreach Ministry
Psalm 121
First UMC Landis

Only One Week Left until I start My Journey Down the Parkway

Where I will begin my Journey on August 28th, 2008

It is early Wednesday morning and I still have a list of about 100 things to do before I can head for Jarman Gap in Shenandoah National Park to begin the "Journey That Will Be The Destination".

My teacher colleagues are already attending school - these are the Teacher Workdays that allow the Teachers to Gear Up for the start of a New Year. The excited faces will all be in their seats on Monday the 25th of August and I will not be their Teacher this year.

Instead I will be making my final preparations for my approximately 500 mile Backpacking Trip that will cover the Entire length of the Original Blue Ridge Parkway from Jarman Gap (Map) in Shenandoah National Park all the way down the Blue Ridge Parkway (Map) to Cherokee, NC. The actual road distance of this journey is listed at 478 miles and is ~8.5 miles longer than the Blue Ridge Parkway due to my inclusion of Section 1A that was deeded over to Shenandoah NP in 1961. Just think - No Stop Signs for almost 500 miles.

On August 12th while returning from a visit with my parents in Rhode Island, I stopped by the Otter Creek Restaurant on the Parkway. I left a parcel of food with the Manager - Mr. Calvin Rice. He has been the Manager of the Otter Creek Restaurant for almost 50 years. This supply of food will last me a week so I will not need to carry as much when I start out.

I guess I'd better wrap it up for now, it is late and I have a lot of preparation still and items that have to be done in advance for me to be able to be gone for nearly 6 weeks.

"The Order of The Long Leaf Pine"

"The Order Of The Long Leaf Pine Certificate"

On Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 the Faculty and Staff of Mooresville High School Gathered for a Retirement Luncheon for Mr. Rankin and David Barlow. We have been good friends and colleagues for many years having worked together in several schools - but longest at Mooresville High School. I had Mr. Rankin's daughter in my class and she was present as well as my family and Susan Shields and Natalie Miller another of my former students and Staff Member of the American Odyssey program.

What a festive occasion it was - Balloons and cakes representing our career interests, wonderful lasagna and salad and ice cream. The Faculty really outdid themselves. Cathy Black the Bible Teacher put together a slide show of the past and present for both Mr. Rankin and myself. There were photos of his coaching activities and my Hands On activities in class as well as photos from the American Odyssey Trips. It was awesome!!!!

Coach Nancy Dilks served as the Emcee and many wonderful stories were recounted from both of our careers. Mr. Eddie Karriker spoke about both of us. Natalie Miller spoke almost to tears. So did Mr. Rankin's daughter.

Margaret Shoe, a History Teacher, that I had the pleasure of working with for 20 years - (I also had her daughters in class) got up to speak and began to summarize my career. Shortly thereafter, she began to read a letter from the Governor of North Carolina - Mike Easley.

I was being presented "The Order of the Longleaf Pine" The Highest Award that can be given for a civilian in the State of North Carolina for dedication and years of service.

Wow! What an Honor!!

Information on the Order of The Long Leaf Pine
Longleaf Pine information from the Governors Office

Yes, there were newspaper articles. My recognition even made the Charlotte Television Station WCNC News 6 - 36. Links to the Newspaper articles are here:

Mooresville Tribune

"For Outdoors-Loving Teacher, It's on to the Next Adventure"

By MELINDA SKUTNICK
Friday, June 13, 2008

The Salisbury Post

Landis Resident, Firefighter, Teacher Honored with Long Leaf Pine Award

By Sarah Nagem
snagem @salisburypost.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

What a Send Off!!!!