Heading South on 911

I got up late this morning for a drill weekend.  Because my unit is based out of Fort Custer it is nearly a three hour drive to get there.  So the usually Army Saturday begins at 4 a.m.   But not today.  All I have to do is stop by the armory and turn in some equipment before heading south to Little Rock, Arkansas for two weeks of logistics training. 

Most of the drive down was through heavy rain.  When I arrived at Custer I headed out to the ranges where the troops were qualifying with their weapons this weekend.  I kind of hesitated, thinking momentarily like a civilian, it is raining, they won't be shooting.  There they were, firing their weapons with rain dripping off of their helmets and the barrels of their M-16s smoking as each drop of moisture made contact.  I thought to myself, "What a fitting tribute to 9/11, soldiers training in a cold rain in preparation for their next deployment."  That is what it is all about.  They had that grimace that is so familiar with a troop who is miserable yet loving it.  You have to love the irony.  Sadly, I could not stay to join in the fun.  I had to head south.

Tonight I am staying at McCormick's Creek State Park at an inn that was build in 1918.  It is pretty cool and the park is great.  So I checked in, dropped my bags, put on my PT gear and went for a run to check out the trails.  I was a little disappointed at first.  It appeared that they were going to be the flat, unchallenging type that walk you through the woods.  On the map I had selected the trail marked as "rugged" so I could work off the whole sitting on my butt and eating chips while I drove all day slog.  After about 1/4 mile the trail lived up to its label.  It wound down through a gorge, across a creek several times and up to a waterfall.  Very cool. 

I stopped to check out the falls and when I did I heard a lady yell a question to me from to top of the gorge.  She asked it the way I had just come was easier than the way she had seen everyone else getting to the falls.   I really hadn't paid much attention, but looked around and told her it was pretty easy except for the 15-20 feet of slippery logs she would have to cross.  I felt kind of bad about the advice in just a few minutes.  She and her husband worked their way down the trail and gave it a try.  They were almost immediately on their butts and wet.  The logs were slippery, and now they are even wetter.   After making sure they were not hurt, I continued on with my run.  I had to get back to the inn restaurant before it closed at 8.

I think there must be nothing more pathetic than a guy showing up to dinner all alone.  The girl at the desk put me out on the porch by the bird feeders so I would have some company with my meal.  So I ate south Indiana food while I looked out into the forest.  Very relaxing. 

I am tired.  Good night.