Story and Photos: Mirtha Uriarte, Miami Customer Relations Coordinator
More
than 600 Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders hiked 35 miles from Pompano Beach, FL, to
Miami Beach FL, to commemorate the 52nd annual Barefoot Mailman
Hike.
The
Boy Scouts of America relived part of South Florida history, walking the trail
of the Barefoot Mailmen who carried mail on foot between 1885 and 1893. The Barefoot Mailmen braved heat, thunderstorms, alligators,
sharks, and bears to carry mail between Palm Beach, FL, and Miami, FL.
Crossing inlets by rowboat and hiking along the beach, a round trip took six
days. Their exploits earned them $600 a year, and later resulted in a
best-selling book and a movie.
James Hamilton was the most well-known carrier. He
mysteriously disappeared after only three months on the job. It is believed that
he lost his life at Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, FL, where he attempted to
swim from the shoreline to the other bank to retrieve his rowboat that had
drifted. Search parties scoured the coastline, but only found Hamilton’s
clothes and backpack of letters.
Following
in Hamilton’s footsteps, modern-day Barefoot Mailmen were self-sufficient,
carrying their food supply, shelter, and letters on their backs. They camped
overnight on the beach. On the second day, family and friends gathered to
applaud and cheer Scouts --- some barefooted and blistered --- as they
completed their journey. Miami Customer Relations Coordinator Mirtha Uriarte collected
letters and affixed a “Barefoot Mailman Station” special cancellation to each
envelope to commemorate the event.
Also participating in this year’s hike were Nancy Hill Carter and Suzanne McDavid Pendleton who have been best friends since middle school. During the 1976 hike, Pendleton’s father, Eagle Scout John McDavid, asked both Pendleton and Carter (who had just celebrated their 18th birthday) to chaperone during that year’s hike; back then it was a little more than 50 miles.
Forty
years later, Pendleton asked Carter if she wanted to complete the hike
again.
“I
figured I would call her bluff and told her if she thought she was up to it
that I would do the hike with her,” said Carter.
The
ladies completed the 35-mile hike and truly enjoyed reminiscing along the way.
“We
have remained best friends all these years, even after marrying, having
children and grandchildren,” said Carter.
The ladies proudly carried a photo of themselves during their first hike. Pendleton has a special place in her wallet for the photo with “50-Mile Barefoot Mailman Hike, February 8, 1976, Last leg of our journey, South Miami Beach” on the back.
Forty
years ago, Nancy Hill Carter (left) and Suzanne McDavid Pendleton (right)
participated in the Barefoot Mailman Hike.
The ladies proudly carried a photo of themselves during their first hike. Pendleton has a special place in her wallet for the photo with “50-Mile Barefoot Mailman Hike, February 8, 1976, Last leg of our journey, South Miami Beach” on the back.
Back of
photo
No comments:
Post a Comment