Date: 2018-02-28
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Miles today: 0.0

Why the trail name TriTry; because this will be my third attempt to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. I learned a lot from the first two times and have hopefully corrected all my mistakes from the first two attempts. The first time I attempted to hike the AT was in 2011 with my two sons, Schuyler and Tony who were then 14 and 15. We only made it about 40 miles from Springer Mountain to Hogpen gap just past Neels Gap. For all the reading and studying and planning, I was not mentally prepared and neither were Tony and Schuyler. I quite, mainly because I was worried about their safety. All that being said, I believe everything happens for a reason and some major life changing events happened after we got back home. I enrolled in the RCIA program at the nearby Catholic Church and enrolled Tony and Schuyler in confirmation classes. I also applied and got accepted in the Nursing program at Wayland Baptist University that same year. I received my BSN February 2014. None of this would have happened if I had not followed my heart and left the trail when I did.However, I still felt the Appalachian Trail tugging at my heart strings. I had to complete a thru-hike. So, for the year prior to me graduating from Nursing school, I planned my second attempt to hike the AT. My graduating Nursing school in February was perfect timing. It would just be my older son Tony and I, though. Schuyler made it perfectly clear he had no desire to hike for 6 months and I could see that mentally he was not capable of it. I wanted to start in March 2014 but we were unable to start until April 15, 2014, due to the boys Confirmation being scheduled April 11. I made adjustments to our gear and eliminated about 10 extra pounds to increase our chances of success. But, I did not count on my conscience getting the better of me. I felt guilty for the money were spending and knowing that I would be making pretty good money as a nurse, but was relying on my husband, Sam's, sole support. I just couldn't in good conscience keep hiking, expecting Sam to shoulder the whole financial burden and digging us in a bigger hole. He never said a negative word, but since I am the one that does the bills, I could see the writing on the wall. However, this time we hiked approximately 273 miles, starting from the Approach Trail and hiking to Hot Springs, NC. So, I rented a care and we drove home. As I said everything happens for a reason. We arrived back home toward the end of May and I took that time resume homeschool our sons who have learning disabilities and to work up the nerve to apply for a nursing job. Sam, being the wonderful husband he is, gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get over my fear apply for job. The question was where was I going to apply. All I can say is in all of this I see God's hand, because I believe sometime during the Summer one of my fellow classmates invited me to lunch and encouraged me to apply where she worked, at University Hospital in San Antonio. Thank you Karen! I finally got off my butt and applied for 10 different positions at UH, the maximum number a person could apply for at a time. I didn't not expect to hear anything and was waiting to the two weeks to be up to put in more applications. On of the job openings was for Peds, which would have been my last choice, but they are the ones who called me for an interview and I was hired. Big surprise time me! I have now been working there for 3 years and 3 months and I can not imagine working as anything other than a pediatric nurse. During this whole time, I still maintained a strong desire to hike the AT, but never dreamed Sam would be okay we me trying a third time, but being the wonderful husband he is he supports my dream and even came up with my trail name. He did say that I could not come home this time until I completed the trail, thought :) . So, Tony and I are about to embark on our third attempt in two weeks. I can not wait. I am doing this blog for me, my family, my friends, and co workers who want to follow my adventure. I will post information and pictures about gear in the coming days.There were two roads and I took the one less traveled. Robert Frost