The BackBlast:

AO:

woodstockrucks

Pax Names:

Trust Fall, Secret, Chops, Hooch, Geek Squad, Lucky Charms, Hass, Lexi, Gut Check

Number of Pax:

9

FNG Names:

Number of FNGs:

0

Intro:

YHC dropped clues in the #WoodstockRucks Slack channel beginning at 0826 for the ruckers who had made the decision to show. Clues were as follows:
1. It’s 0826: Leave your house in 12 hours.
2. It’s 0926: Add 10 lbs of non-consumable weight to your ruck. Now. Get your pack +10 lbs more than it was 5 minutes ago.
3. It’s 1029: Take a minute with a map of Woodstock. You will need to know where the First American intersects the First President.
4. It’s 1126. Hydrate. You think that’s “cool” weather. You will sweat. Drink a glass of water every hour till we ruck.
5. It’s 1240. Sorry for the delay. I was continuing my daily push-up count. I’m at 80. Men, get to 161 by 2100.
6. It’s 1328: Two is one. One is none. You need a headlamp and reflective gear tonight. Pack your spare batteries.
7. It’s 1442: Back to your map. Where could you once drive through for a wash but now it watches you drive by? Remember the location.
8. It’s 1529. Another clue. We might be the only city to memorialize this fowl. He met his end rucking in Downtown Woodstock.
9. (Redacted after 3 minutes–Only Lucky Charms saw it in time)
10. 1720 Update. I have provided 4 clues for 4 waypoints for tonight’s ruck. Work together to list them. You’ll need them.
11. Updated Starting Point. (Inserted picture of Woodstock War Memorial)

… and finally, 12. This clue had all the instructions.
2. The final message:

Meet: Woodstock War Memorial, Park at City Center, before 2100

Prerequisites:
– All PAX must have completed 161 Merkins on 5/1, or total of all PAX completed Merkins must average 161 before ruck will begin.
– All PAX must choose 1 war hero from the War Memorial to ruck in honor of.

Requirement: 30-40 lbs non consumable weight. This is a training ruck.

Waypoints:
– Old Reformation Brewery
– Abandoned car wash on 92
– 123 Franklin St. Woodstock
– Bob the :turkey: statue
A photo of the PAX must be taken at each waypoint and must be posted to Instagram and Twitter with #woodstockrucks and #f3cherokee hashtag.

Route: PAX choice. All waypoints must be located and visited.

Additional recommendations:
– Pack water, preferably in a hydration bladder, and a small snack
– Put ID and $20 (cash/credit) in your ruck
– Headlamp and reflective gear required

SYITG,
Gut Check

Warm-o-Rama:

PAX showed up with varying levels of Merkins completed. Chops at 0, so we had some catching up to do. Got each of 9 PAX above the 161 merking count.

PAX took a moment to select a name from the War Memorial. YHC chose Joshua J Strickland. Further research indicates Joshua was killed 9/21/13 by hostile fire (by an Afghan soldier he was training) in Patika, Afghanistan at the age of 23.

Provide the 4 waypoints, PAX were tasked with setting the route. The plan was to return by 2215.

The Thang:

PAX Chose to hit waypoint 1 first–Bob the Turkey. The revelers in Downtown Woodstock were extremely curious as we rucked down Main St. and gathered for our first photo at the Bob statue. A quick folklore lesson on Bob was provided to those who didn't know about him.

Ruck continued down Main and turned left on Hwy 92. The PAX were cheerful and satisfied with the selected route. Mumblechatter was high and jovial. Arrived in good time at Waypoint 2–"Creepy Car Wash." YHC hoped beyond hope there would be some lights on to provide a moment of exploration (wanted to know if I could still drop some change and get the PAX into a waterfight). To no avail, we had to take this photo in the dark.

The PAX continued east on 92 up the long hill towards Neese Rd. The PAX spread out quite a bit at this point. Spirits were raised when one of Woodstock's Finest gave us a "whoop" with his siren as he drove by.

YHC is left handed, and needed to find a "righty," so he asked Trust Fall and Secret. Secret seemed game for whatever was coming, so YHC decided (coincidentally) that it was time to slow down the gazelles. Signaling from the rear up to the front, all PAX were stopped in front of Thrive Church, where YHC and Secret nabbed a hidden "sand bastard." Shared weight in my left and Secret's right hand, we set a new pace for the PAX…

We turned left on Neese and traded the weight between pairs. PAX were forced to work together and communicate as we passed thru the narrow stretch in Neese Town (yes, it is called Neese Town there). They did an incredible job communicating "car" and using headlamps and reflective gear to alert on-comers.

Once thru there and just before we get back to some sidewalk, we arrived at Washington St. PAX are looking gassed at this point, so we made it to Woodstock's "first corner"–the junction of Franklin and Washington streets. Along the way, we received a salute from a retired NYPD, who Chops took the time to go say hello to (TClaps).

After a break for an appreciation of two of our founding fathers, we carried on enjoying the freedom we have in this great country. Freedom to be asked by a concerned neighbor, "Are you some sort of search party?" To which Chops (does he ever stop marketing?) replied, "No, we're a men's fitness group called F3…" as he walked onto the gentleman's property and took him a business card. Wow.

This chance encounter would not have occurred had the PAX chosen the obvious route to continue down Washington's slow loop. Instead, we rucked Franklin's hill, which put us straight back onto Arnold Mill. Confused by their decision NOT to consult the map, the PAX needed a pickmeup, which they received around the time Geek Squad threw the 60lb bastard on his shoulders and one of our fine Cherokee Sherriff's deputies gave us a "Great Work! That's what I like to see!" from his PA as he drove by. Goosebumps and fist bumps ensued and mumblechatter picked up just in time to hit Waypoint 4: The Old Reformation. Continuing our celebration of freedom at the place where they Set Beer Free, the PAX were all smiles–even if gassed.

Home stretch back to the War Memorial sharing solo duties on the sand bastard. Once home we rested at the memorial and I challenged the PAX to revisit the soldier they chose to ruck for.

COT:

Prayers for the kids and teens in our community who are facing dark stuff. Prayers for the families in our community who have lost loved ones recently. Thanks for all those in public service and our armed forces who protect the freedoms that Franklin dreamed of and Washington fought for!

Naked Man Moleskin:

Not sure I could be prouder of a bunch of guys… though they'll surprise me yet, and I'll be prouder at some point. They took all my bullsh*** clues and National Treasure-style mystery with minimal lip, as they rucked with more weight than any of us were prepared to ruck with. 6.2 miles in 2.25 hours.