Date: 2010-08-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 37.9

It is the trail town in the sky, the land of milk and honey. Home. It's got everything here. One word....refridgerator. Here is another one....Aubrey. And unfortunately, during this stay, there was a funeral here. I want to thank so many of you for your condolences, both on my guestbook and by text message. It meant the world to me.We buried Mom Mom on Friday. It was a nice funeral, a fitting celebration of her life. I gave a eulogy along with my cousin Steve and we all had some good laughs. She lived nearly 87 years,and for the last twenty she warned us that she would be dying soon. Luckily, she died after she got to see the Phillies beat the Mets on Sunday night baseball. It is kind of like a really good book that you don't want to end. When you know your near the end, you hesitate to turn the pages fearing you will see that final page with writing on only half. Mom Mom wrote a hell of a book. At first I felt guilty enjoying anything here. For the only reason I was here was that Mom Mom had died. I found it difficult not to enjoy the Melbourne steak at Ouback, or the comfort of a real bed and a clean house. I forgot how sweet my car is (2007 Toyota 4 runner). The first time I drove I found myself speeding unreasonably. I instantly slowed down to about 35mph. I had been doing 40mph in a 70mph highway. It felt so fast. I made a whirlwind of a mess with my things in the living room, but Aubreys Mom is very patient and understanding and did not say one word. I had to get something to wear to the funeral. I know I had lost weight, but you really dont notice on the trail. When I had to buy pants 6 sizes smaller than before, it started to sink in. I was able to go to REI and exchange my bent trekking poles. REI probally has the best return policy in retail buisness. My poles were not able to retract after a fall bent them. I took them back beaten up, with no receipt or packaging. No questions asked, grab yourself a new pair. I was also able to purchase a new knife, watch, and a few odds and ends ive been needing.There are shelter mice in the suburbs. In case I never told you all, the shelters are infamous for the mice that come out at night and try to steal our food. They have fasioned these ropes with cans attached to them to hang our food on. So how did the shelter mice find me in NJ? Well they appeared in the form of a beagle named Colin. I had bought some dehydrated meals for my first week back on the trail thinking I would treat myself. We came home one night to find my food bag torn open and dehydrated spahgetti and beef stew stains on the carpet. I was so mad....and impressed that he smelled the food through its impermeable foil packaging. So I had to take another trip back to REI for more food and a new food bag.I will be on a train tomorrow. Originally I was gonna head back out yesterday, but it was 50 bucks cheaper to go Tuesday, and allowed another day with Aubrey. My train leaves around 10 and I will get to NH around 6:40. I'm not staying in a hotel, I'm going to take a cab straight to the trailhead where I left off and do 5 miles or so before dark. I miss the trail. I long for it.My buddies are about 100 miles in front of me. I had been debating whether to meet them where they are or not. I have decided that I do not want to skip such a signifigant section of trail, so I will be making it my challenge to catch them. I will be doing some long days and high milege, but I bet I can get them in a month or so. I will gain signifigant ground on them by not taking any days off.......I love a challenge. This whole thing was a little bit of a tough blow. It caught me off guard and it hurts. Just like on the trail......I get back up, brush off and continue to walk. Tomorrow, my journey continues.Churchill