Date: 2008-01-11
To: Happy New Year!
Miles today: 0.0

Happy New Year!! So here it is 68 days (+/- a few) to launch. I am finally back on the East Coast after a fabulous Western adventure. I have decided that sunny is nice sometimes, but I really enjoy a day or three of rain and clouds. It was chilly here in Mountainous NH, a cold rain with ice mixed in. I know I'll be experiencing this at some point on the trail.. so I had better pack warm.    I am ready to get back to work, this slacker lifestyle is bugging me. I still feel that it is okay, because my college friends are still on break till next Monday.) I am ready to be a substitute or something equally as entertaining. I am also ready to really start solidifying my plans for the next phase. It will all really happen when I get in my car for another cross country adventure to Wiscownsin. And by the way don't believe the whole "happy cows come from Californian." I was there and I saw some very unhappy cows, they are all sunburned and such. Plus their dairy left much to be desired. Real Happy cows come from Wisconsin   With this new year I am happy to report of some new gear I received over the holidays¢¦ hiking shorts,. A phantom sleeping bag, stuff sacks, a wind screen, hand/feet warmers, chaff-age balm, and $25 gift cert. to REI... YES! I have also decided to stay with my big ole beast of a backpack. My Sirocco II may weigh a hefty 6.4lbs, but it will last, and it fits comfortably. I had been thinking hard about investing in an Osprey, but I kept on getting varying reports on its abilities. Most sporting good stores said it was not all it was cracked up to being and that was compared to several friends saying they enjoyed the pack. After trying it on and lugging around some sand, I decided it just didn't fit right. So that is why I will start this adventure with a base weight of a little over 11pounds (base weight means pack(6.4lbs.), sleeping bag(2lbs), sleeping pad(~1lb.), and tent(2lbs.).) I have tried to keep it around 10 but this will have to do. I know that bag can hold its weight. I have had the lovely experience of working with 13/14 year olds who like to pawn off the heavy gear. So I trust its use and Know that it works and how to load it to fit.   I have also decided that I may start hiking a bit earlier than planed. Goody needs to get back up to school so my Drop off date will probably be well before the 19th, perhaps the 14th or 15th of March. I am okay with this, as I picked the 19th for silly reasons anyhow. Also on the news front: My wonderful friend Elliott said he would be my scribe. I will send him journal entries from the new Pocketmail device I just won on EBAY (YESS!) and thus you will be updated much quicker than if I just sent my paper journals to him. So please be nice to him as he is rocking my world and doing a wonderful thing.      Well I think that is it for today.. all the new updates to my hiking life. Still a bum.. but hopefully not for much longer. peace out.. oh if you need a new song to listen to (that reminds me of the trail...) try Hot Buttered Rum's song "The Crest" best if from the Stone Church in November 07 (can be found on archive.org) but any version of it may do. (I was just there that night so it makes it extra special for me.) Haha Enjoy!