Date: 2006-04-03
To: No more gear.
Miles today: 0.0

It sucks when you realize that you don't have anything left to buy. I like buying gear, dangit. Today's journey to REI brought new insoles, a Jetboil for Antonio, a new OR stuff sack for my food and a pair of Sahara Convertibles for moi. We're officially done. Which, considering we are leaving in 11 days, is probably a good thing. ELEVEN DAYS!!! Yikes! I've been meaning to update my journal for two weeks now but time is going faster and faster by the minute. The weather has been amazing and has gotten me itching more than ever for our start date. And then my mother called and said they are expecting snow in VT tomorrow and Wednesday. Noooo!!! I signed up for the Walking with Spring hike, not the walking in blizzards and snowstorm hike. Well, no matter what happens, we will be walking. Antonio's dad apparently didn't fully understand what we are about to do and got into a friendly argument with his mom about it. His dad insisted that we were taking my car and driving...stopping here and there to hike. His mom said "No, they are hiking the whole way." To which his dad replied "No, they aren't. That's crazy! Do you know how long that would take them?!?!?" I think he gets it now. I'm happy with how everything has come together and how we seem to be as prepared as we can be. That's all I can hope for. The rest will just come as it may, and we will be dealing with it one way or another. I've acquired quite the little entourage that will be accompanying me. In the photo at the top, you'll notice two devilish looking ducks. Those come courtesy of my friend Anthony, from Seattle. The big burly looking duck is Archie Villian...he's riding shotgun on Antonio's pack. The little red fella is Luis Cifer, and he's coming with me. Griswold the Traveling Gnome, standing in the center, couldn't make the hike so he sent his friends as a replacement. Then there's Nubbin Magoo and Kay Toddin who will be joining us...a regular little toy store hauling butt down the trail. Sadly, Kate will no longer be hiking to Neel's Gap with us, but she still wants to provide our shuttle to GA. She's asked her sister to come along so she will have company on the ride home. I'm bummed she won't be hiking with us but I understand and will simply expect to see her when we hit PA, along with the rest of the crazy MAYP'ers. The countdown is definitely on. I have 2 more days of work (why did I choose to work until the last minute?!?) and then it's off to Vermont for a few days. Then, one day at home before we leave. Our place looks like REI barfed in here. Last night was the sushi binge at U-Yee Sushi. Half price sushi on Sunday's...holy crap. I did a number on myself, methinks. I was feeling quite ill until this morning. It was worth it though. Antonio is pestering me with his new nylon cord. My feet have been hogtied, I had a rope around my head and now he's threatening to tie up my nose and ears. I think he needs some attention or something. I just have plain ole 2mm parachute cord in that ugly tan color. Not him, he got some new fangled purdy reflective stuff. He likes tying knots (and is good at it) so I imagine it will keep him occupied on quiet nights in the tent. My Dermatone has a Turks head knot around it. Time is slowly closing in on us, and I think I'm ready. Maybe my next entry will even be about the hike...