7/17/25

I began yesterday morning feeling great and I hiked without problem from Bonnet Pond Camp to US 65 where I met Marion for resupply. I was very fortunate to see a Florida Trail sign re-routing hikers and find a comment in Far Out telling me how to use some forest roads to re-route around some dangerous boggy areas. 

Unfortunately, my shoes and socks were wet from walking through mid-leg high swamp the previous day. I proceeded to walk to the Sapling Head Camp with a total mileage of 16 miles. I noticed as the walk progressed that my right foot was becoming more uncomfortable. After getting to camp and removing my shoes and socks, I noticed multiple large blisters and macerated areas on the right foot, making it extremely difficult to walk. To further add to the misery, the camp had no water supply. I walked about 0.1 miles to what was listed as the closest water supply and it was dry! I then had to walk to the last known water supply about three quarters of a mile away and obtain very brown water for filtering. 

 I knew the following day that I would need to walk six miles to meet Marion. This seemed nearly impossible with the current shape of my right foot. Therefore, I called Marion and asked him to come get me. He initially wanted to come the next morning but decided to come to the camp and pick me up. I was so grateful for this very kind gesture since I was extremely hot in the bright sun and mosquitoes were constantly biting.

I am very disappointed at myself for not being able to thru-hike for more than 2 weeks on the Appalachian and Florida Trails after planning and training for about 5 years. I am pleased that I was able to hike up to SOBO mile 266 and see some beautiful scenery on the Florida Trail. I saw many deer, an owl, squirrels, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, ponds/lakes. However, I’m convinced now that thru-hiking is just too punishing to my body to continue for weeks and months. I will have a hard time forgetting all of the spiders and cobwebs, short tree stumps catching your toes, swamps and bogs with deep mud, wet shoes and socks, vegetation cutting into your skin, and insect bites. 

I need to rethink retirement and get life back to a more normal pace. I do hope to return to Shell Point Retirement Community on a part-time basis (3-4 days per week) to continue seeing my patients. I look forward to doing more SCUBA diving, enjoying cruises and other vacations with my wife, children, and grandchildren, cycling with Ends of the Earth Cycling, leading Volunteer in Medical Mission international medical mission trips and serving on their board as Treasurer, continuing my work with the Fort Myers Gideon Camp, teaching my Fishers of Men LifeGroup class and serving as an Elder at McGregor Baptist Church, continuing my service with the Fort Myers Sunrise Rotary Club, and serving as the VP Grants fort the CART (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust). I’m sure more opportunities will arise!

To my followers, thank you so much for your support, prayers, and encouraging comments on Facebook and the Goforthintotheworld.com website. I encourage everyone to pursue their dreams but don’t be afraid to change course if the risk of severe injury or death exceeds the expected benefit. Stay tuned for my next chapter in this life!