The woodsman

As I sat outside the Delata Terminal at the Miami International Airport, sitting on a bench awaiting a ride to the Oasis Field center where the Southern Terminus of the Florida trail is located, I typed a text to my brother. "Gerry---Got here, safe and sound. Just waiting for my ride –Josh." Gerry was jealous of my hiking plans, somewhat concerned about my safety, but could n't take time off from work to join me. He did spend his time off helping me pick out hiking gear and getting some, albeit insufficient, experience hiking in the forests near my home in Jacksonville. His research on the myriad ins and outs of long distance hiking was essential to my succeeding or dying.