Date: 2010-08-08
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Rt 20
Miles today: 11.5

Today's Journal overview: Long, but I had a realization. I woke up to a pretty chilly morning. I didn't sleep well but I got enough to not be exhausted (I think I am still a little worried about a mouse invasion). Rewind and Fast Forward were already milling about in their jackets and pants. It almost looked like they were awaiting a snow storm but shhhhh don't tell them I said that. I, of course, do not have my winter stuff yet so I was in my shorts and thin long sleeved Patagonia short freezing my kazooties off. Oh well. A little cold to put some hair on your chest right? Earlier in the week I had received an email from Dave Hodgkins or Dman as he is called on the trail. He was asking if I wanted to stay at his house for some R & R. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to be able to resupply, shower, laundry, and buy some new kicks (trail runners). So I replied back saying ABSOLUTELY!! Well, come to find out he was coming from Walpole, MA which is roughly 2.5 hours away. Wow! What a trail angel!!! We agreed to meet at Rt 20 at 430pm.I hiked with good speed on this fine day. I was back to my 3 mile an hour pace for a while. That was good. However, my shoes were killing my feet. I've gone 800+ miles in my Merrell Moab Something-or-nothas and they were spent. The balls of my feet were killing me everyday. They are awesome shoes to which I have since bought a second pair of the same kind to finish me out to Katahdin. Yay Merrell. Anyways, I made it to Upper Goose Pond Cabin where I had lunch and listened to all the people talk about the amazing Blueberry pancake breakfast and about all of the swimming and canoeing they had done. It sounded awesome but not today as I had other plans. I finished my hike at around 4pm at Rt 20 and Dman was there at 430pm to pick me up.We droved back to Walpole and on the way we stopped and Dman got me dinner at the Cracker Barrel. Totally awesome Roast Beef dinner. We made it to his house at around 8pm where I met his lovely wife Janet, showered, ate another dinner of steak and salad with brownies and vanilla ice cream for desert, showered, and hunkered down to watch the Cowboys football game against the Bengals. AWWWWWWWWW ITS FOOTBALL SEASON!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! I absolutely love this time of year. Football is in the air!!! Life is beautiful.Sometimes things happen and you can't explain why. But its been real nice getting to know Dman. It takes a really special person to drive a total of 10 hours (to and from Walpole twice) and put me up, make me food, run me around town to do errands, and just talk to. Dman is a strong believer in Christ and its been not only really nice but super special to be able to talk about the Lord and how he is working in both of our lives. It really makes it a lot more clearer when you can talk to someone about this and see the benefits of so much sacrifice. I know that God placed Dman in my life for a reason and I am very thankful that I have been able to be with him. Its been no secret if you have been reading my journal that I've been a little on the struggling end of things. But Dman gave me some great advice that has really stuck with me. He said "You've got to make you're own fun." He's completely right. Why am I looking at this journey with the feeling that I just want to finish it? Thats completely wrong. I'm going to make it fun for me. Its MY journey. There are no rules here!! I can do what I want to do. I guess I needed to hear that. Before, in my mind, I just subconsciously thought I had to be doing this or that such as walking a certain amount of miles a day or passing through a town without stopping. No, one of my biggest enjoyments in life is talking to people so if I want to stop in a town and get to know people then I will. You dig? When you start the AT you feel this awesome sense of freedom but slowly, for me anyways, I felt bound to stay between the lines. I must walk a certain distance, I must eat certain things, do this or do that. Dman really put it in perspective for me. This is my hike. I do what I want. With that attitude I know I'll finish the trail. I know I know...a lot of you have been telling me that same logic but I can be a little thick sometimes. But from now on, I'm going to be a little more conscious of making sure I'm walking my walk. God will provide for me. I will get to Katahdin one way or another if even on a unicycle. I still have 600 plus miles to go so I know I'll have tons more stories and stuff to share and more people to meet. My freedom is back baby! Hello Vermont....be kind to me and my new shoes.He will always provide!