Date: 2007-09-10
To: Making titles is too much pressure...
Miles today: 0.0

Things are starting to come together nicely, and I've made some rough plans for this fall, winter and coming spring.First--It's about time I get my arse moving and put in some pre-hike training miles. I'm going to start focusing on building mileage, and adding weight. I would hike on inclines....if there were any inclines within 50 miles of here. There are definantly no options in the way of scenic trails around here, and there's pretty much nowhere to walk except on the track. We'll see how far this training plan goes...the track is really really boring to walk on.Second--I'd like to start going on some weekend backpacking trips. I've got almost enough gear right now to make this happen, but I still need 2 crucial pieces. Backpack: I have my eye on the Six Moon Designs Starlite pack, which hasn't been in stock for months, but is supposed to be back in stock "Mid Septembert". Also, I need an underquilt for my hammock. I think I can stomach spending the $259 for a JRB Nest, since my parents bought me a $200 sleeping bag for my birthday and I'll only have to buy one expensive down quilt-like item instead of 2.Yes, I've been lazy this summer. In fact, as I write, I am sitting in a cushy leather recliner w/ laptop on lap, watching "She's the Man" on big screen tv, in the perfectly cool 78* living room of my parents' house, eating cheetos and drinking sweet iced tea. But some of you just don't understand--summer in Texas is friggin' hot. We're talking over 100*. I'm looking forward to 80 something degree daytime temps. At that point we'll start talking about weekend backpacking trips and outdoor exercise.Last weekend I went to Austin to visit my college buddies, and this included my token trip to REI. I was kinda hoping Tim, the guy with dreadlocks otherwise known as "Dred," AT class of 2003 (I didn't know this info at the time, but did some snooping afterward. He's on TJ. Someone in my guestbook [thanks!] alerted me that the dreadlocked guy at REI thru hiked the AT). He wasn't there, but I had some important business to attend to. The goal: to try on some shoes.   This turned out to be less simple than I hoped, because: 1)As it turns out, Austin REI has an absolutely DREADFUL selection of women's trail runners and 2)the shoe guys at REI like to argue with potential customers who are planning to hike the AT about their footwear needs. The shoe guy was surprised that I was looking for a pair of trail runners and flabbergasted that I was unsure of whether I wanted goretex ones. He kept looking at me like I was stupid, countering my every reason for uncertainty with the phrase, "but your feet will be DRY." I was really annoyed at the time, but now I am merely amused and further enamored with Austin REI.My friends in Austin are really concerned about my cleanliness on the trail. They kept trying to get me to buy "soap leaves", and they said that if I didn't buy them they would have to include some in a care package sent to a trail Post Office while I'm hiking. Liz and Emily also recommended bear bells, dry shampoo, a survival kit with tinder and a magnesium striker, some splints and a fancy camelback. It was really entertaining, espcecially since they are the type of people who freak out if they don't shower every morning. I don't think they realize how much of a slob I've been lately--like showering 2, possibly 3 times a week. Ordinarily I would feel embarrassed about this little tidbit of information, but these days I can consider my slovenliness as part of my thru hiker training. I do wash my hands all the time, though. That should count for something.My goal for the week: do not accidentally offend anyone. Because it's been a problem lately.