Date: 2007-07-15
From: Spring Mountain, GA

To: Mt. Katahdin, MA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Harpers Ferry --- Mile 1009!!!We did it! We passed the 1000 mark!The half way point is officially 1087.Each mile these days seems hard earned. In fact, I have been thinking about motivation and what best helps me to keep going when I don't feel like hiking. Naively, I thought that since I wanted to do this trail there would never be a time when I just felt like stopping. Well,,,I haven't exactly wanted to quit seriously, but the journey has been and is very tough. There are days I would like to hunker down in my sleeping bag and just not move, or better yet...find an air conditioned movie theater and watch six movies in a row while eating huge portions of buttered popcorn! So here is a short list of things that I think about that help me keep walking: #1 I am "Hiking for Humor," a campaign to rasie money for my clown troupe. Kabookee's Clowns, as the clown troupe is called, continues to bring laughter, joy, playfulness and loving kindness to young and old folks in Western North Carolina. If you would like to contribute money per mile I hike, contact Claire at msclaire@charter.net #2 I think of my mom and dad who had iron wills. They just didn't give up on anything--their work projects, complicated job situations, their children. As Momma aged and her heart made doing everything harder, she just kept right on going about her life. She used to say that she was afraid if she sat down too long she might not get up. Consequently, she never let "grass grow under her feet!"# #3 Something inside me allows me to DIG DEEP even when the going gets more challenging. I usually remember that "this moment will pass too". After all, things keep changing so even if I feel awful one moment, the next will be better. Prayer helps to access that deeper part of me that knows that most anything is possible. #4 Friends on and off the trail soothe the rough, trying times through their humor and encouragement and phone or email messages. Don't get me wrong, mostly the time on the trail is just incredible. I love being out here! I've especially loved this last week (even though getting through the Shanandoah's was very challenging). I got to hike with Jolly (aka, son Zack) amd his girlfriend, Kristy (who is just awesome!). I also have had the chance to meet Jolly's hiking buddies, Ping, Dirt and Blue Song who have adopted me for a while. Cabooise and Blue have sped ahead. Ping leaves the trail in the morning to go back to New Hampshire. Her enthusiasm and fun energy will be missed! She just spreads joy at every turn of the trail! She is taking the cutest puppy back with her. Woody is a spunky (like his mom) Jack Russell that has won our hearts in just a day. If I do not answer phone calls or emails promptly, know that it's because I am hiking more miles now and spending less time on the computer or on the phone. It is easier for me to receive phone messages than to get to a computer these days, though often the cell services are sketchy which means it might be a few days before I can call back. Just know I appreciate your thoughts and prayers!Until next time,....HAPPY TRAILS!