Date: 2014-01-31
To: Bucket Revolution
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Bucket RevolutionDo I want others to be carrying a bucket around? No. It gives me a uniqueness on the outside that reflects my differences on the inside. Truly I don¢t know how anyone can hike without a bucket. Sure in a few years my hands will hang down to my kneecaps. I¢m always afraid I¢ll crush someone¢s hand when we meet. And now I walk a little sideways without the weight of the bucket to keep me strait. You just don¢t know what you are missing.I admit the first few months carrying a heavy bucket is tough. Your hands hurt, shoulders are popping, and your forearms are on fire but you mustn¢t blame the bucket. The bucket was perfectly fine sitting on a shelf in a store. You should not throw your new friend over a cliff and enjoy watching it explode on the rocks below. You can think about it, but don¢t do it!Eventually you will give your bucket a name and keep the relationship secret from the other hikers. Me and my bucket sleep together. Shhhh¢¦ don¢t tell. I can¢t bear to think of her hanging in a tree. I know if I keep her by my side, and safe, she will protect my food. ¢this is a very controversial relationship.Think about all that money she saves me. Because of her I get my food cheap. She does my laundry for me almost free. And I can tell when she thinks I smell¢¦so, she gives me a bath. Sometimes she soaks my feet and they feel so good afterwards. I¢d much rather be in the woods with my bucket then in some town. I love my bucket.I do get tired carrying her around. Whenever I do she tells me to have a seat and take a load off. I feel safe from all those crawly bugs sitting on my bucket. She is comfortable too. I feel sorry for the other hikers who sit on rocks or rotting logs. Sometimes they have to sit in the bushes and get rashes.She is better than a bear canister because she is lightweight, and has more room inside. No big bad bear would dare mess with my girl. Also she has this neat curved handle for carrying that a bear canister should have. So sexy. (Now I want a dime for every bear canister that you put a handle on because I came up with the idea!)A few of the smaller critters tried to get into my girl because of the treasures inside. They barely could make a mark. I seen one walk away woozy after trying. I think she reduces attention because she has an air tight seal that limits their ability to smell what is inside. Like I say, ¢I don¢t know how you do without her.¢One time she almost killed my friend. It wasn¢t a case of jealousy really, just mistaken identity. He was being playful and snuck up behind me in the rain and roared like a bear. Well, I spun around all scared and she almost took his head plum off his body. I apologized for her behavior but also warned him not to do that again because she is a deadly weapon.She saved my life too, more than once. I slipped on a rock crossing a river one time. The river was high and swift, not to mention cold. Well, I hugged my girl and she kept me afloat until I could get my legs under me again. At the same time she saved my life she also kept a complete change of clothes dry, including socks and boots. I was very grateful. She is always keeping stuff safe and dry for me.She is also willing to give me a step up or down when I need to go over an obstacle or when climbing rocks. I have to attach a cord to bring her up after me but this is very helpful for climbing up north. I bet I had an easier climb through Mahoosuc Notch then most hikers. Also she gives me a lower center of gravity so I don¢t fall over in a strong wind and I can balance easier.People don¢t understand our relationship, the bucket and I. They are always asking questions like, ¢Are you going fishing?¢ Now, I want to say ¢does it look like I¢m going fishing? Do you see a fishing pole or a bass boat on my back? Or better yet do you see a lake on this mountain? The nearest water with fish is thirty miles away!¢ I can¢t keep myself from being a little smart so I do say something like, ¢no, I¢m heading to the construction site in Maine.¢ Then I smile and walk away from their bewildered looking face. Some people think I¢m working on the trail and thank me for it. I always tell them, ¢you¢re welcome.¢The most common thing I am asked is- ¢what¢s in the bucket?¢ The first ten times the question did not bother me but by the thirtieth time I became a little sarcastic and inventive. I would say things like, ¢my pet snake Reggie¢ ¢Gold bars¢ or ¢rocks¢ (because it was so heavy) ¢¦I had a bunch of them. But it was another hiker who felt sorry for me after hiking with me for a day who came up with the best one.We were walking down the trail talking about food when we met two young female southbound hikers. I was in the lead and I could see their eyes glued to my bucket and knew the question was coming. ¢what¢s in the bucket¢ she said. I sighed and was selecting my response when my friend said in a gruff voice, ¢bear hearts!¢ The look on their faces as they processed this was priceless.I guess about twelve times a day I was asked about the bucket. I do apologies for giving people a hard time. If you do try to hike with a bucket just be prepared for a lot of questions. I have a new list of answers to try out on the trail this year.So I hope I dissuaded you from hiking with a bucket. For an item that cost $3 it did save me over $2000 on my hike but I¢m sure you will have more fun spending the money you could be saving. And you know you don¢t have to carry the amount of weight I do in the bucket to get most of the benefits. I can¢t hike without one. I don¢t know how you do without it. Hey, HYOH.