Date: 2010-01-28
To: It's Getting Real
Miles today: 0.0

It's Getting RealWow, with roughly 62 days, 4 hours, 6 minutes, and 11 seconds (not that I¢m counting) left before my life changing journey I just wanted to take a minute to catch my breathe and finally grasp how real this is getting. I had a dream last week where I found myself on the trail on the first day. As I was walking it hit me that I was on THE Appalachian Trail. For some reason, in my dream, I fell to my knees and wanted to cry because I was so happy. It was an awesome feeling. As each day goes by, the realism of this journey becomes more and more of a reality to me. Idealism is now becoming practicality and with that a few truths have really stuck out to me.First, wow, the gear and its expenses. Yeah, I am blown away by the technology of today¢s equipment but with that come the prices. I really don¢t know how I am going to overcome this. I have a very small budget so I am really picking and choosing what I am buying. Since I am on a limited budget I am totally prioritizing the gear. My main priority is my feet. I can not skimp on footwear. If you don¢t take care of your feet while on the trail, well, that¢s all folks. You can¢t walk. Then, you gotta have clothing that does not stay wet for very long so you have to get shirts and jackets that dry quickly. Again, with that come the prices. I¢m really hoping to be able to get the main essentials, which I should but all of the extra stuff will have be remain on the shelves because I ain¢t buyin¢. I¢m hoping that I can borrow anything from anyone and I know I will give it back. It¢s just tough because no one I know actually has hiking stuff. Most people I know don¢t even know what a pack is. Oh well. I really wish I could borrow a good jacket and an awesome hiking tent. If I could borrow a warm hiking jacket and tent then that would save me tons. Second, again wow, I am totally getting rid of most of my possessions. TV, bed, couches, kitchen ware, washer and dryer, a lot of my clothes, various other stuff¢¦.all gone. If anyone wants anything please let me know soon. Hahaha I guess since I am the only one who really reads this stuff it¢s not very effective advertising now is it. Oh well. But yeah, I am going to be driving to Maryland from Texas around March 26th and I fully intend on having only my beloved Civil War books and smaller other stuff. When I decided to hike the trail last September I remember thinking, ¢Yeah, I¢ll get rid of most of my stuff but I don¢t have to think about it now because that is such a long way off.¢ Well, now is that time. Not to mention, I have to be out of my apartment February 28th and I¢m not leaving ole Texas until March 26th. There¢s a little over a 3 week gap there of staying on couches and floors. Thirdly, another thing I haven¢t figured out as of yet is what I am going to do with my car. Could anyone use a car for a few months???? (Again with the ineffective advertising) Seriously, I can¢t just let the payments go. On top of that, I have my college loan payments that are more than my car. Oh well, if I can¢t find anyone to take this over then I will make due with the situation. I will find a way. Through God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). At the waaaaaay bottom of my list is fourthly (is that even a word?). My situation after the end of the trail is not very clear. That is where my faith in God will be truly a beautiful sight to see. I have no idea what I am going to do after the trail but I do know that I want to serve him and help others serve him. With that, I do not get stressed about money, jobs, this, and that. A sense of ease comes over me that I know I will be taken care of. I truly believe that God will take care of. Does that mean I will have a mansion, have lots of money, and have a beautiful model wife waiting for me when I get off of the trail? Absolutely not, in fact, I might have to endure a little ¢suffering¢ from the worldly things but I will be ok. I will be taken care of. So there you have it. Those are the things that have stuck out at me as I get ever so close to my dream. I really don¢t know where this is going to take me. I don¢t know how it will end and who it will bring me near. I do know that I will embrace every second of this journey and I will always be thankful to God that he has given me this opportunity no matter what happens, good or bad.www.awalkforthefuture.com