Date: 2009-08-27
From: Connecticut

To: New York
Miles today: 0.0

I knew when I went on this journey there would be some good times, and some not so good times. Yesterday I sat down and realized that the past few days hadn't been as fun as some of the other days I have had on the trail, and I really had to think hard why I wasn't feeling as good as I had in the past. As a southbounder, I don't get to experience the timeline of events that northbounders get to encounter. You see, northbounders have "the journey" when they are walking north, and then they "slay the dragon" when they experience the white mountains and Maine. I get to slay the dragon first and then take the journey. The things I have seen at the very beginning have been some of the toughest things I have done, but have also been the most rewarding. Now that the trail is getting easier, I have tried to put in big miles to get the same rush that I did in the first month, but it's not the same. I realize now that I have been pushing too hard, and I need to slow down and enjoy more things. When you spend your time climbing across cliffs for a month, you get a rush and it's exciting! I am in the transition point where the 4,000 foot mountains I climbed are now equvalent to 2,000 feet high. Last night all alone in the shelter I thought about why I was out here and questioned some things. I had a good handle on the mental game for a while, but now that all the southbounders are behind me, it's difficult being all alone sometimes. Last night I stopped short of my goal of 20+ miles and built a huge fire. I sat there for an hour and realized that I was enjoying myself more now that I had slowed things down and given my body a break. As of now, I am only doing an 18 mile day, and I have had a wonderful day in Connecticut thus far. I know that usually I have happier things to share, but like the trail, and life for that matter, there will always be ups and downs. Things will only get better from here. I have thought out my new game plan, and I think things will fine. Well, I can't leave my journal entry like that, so let me tell you some cool things that have happened. I spent 2 days in Dalton, Mass. and had a great time chilling out. There was this diner there that had an omelet called the "Godzilla Omelet" that was the biggest omelet I have ever seen! It was 12 eggs, 12 different vegetables on the inside, 4 pieces of toast, and an orange peel! If you attempted to eat it and succeeded in less than 30 minutes, you got a free T-shirt and your picture taken. I was with 2 other hikers that wanted to try it, so we all attempted to eat the Godzilla Omelet! Half-way through I realized that I was going to be sick if I kept going, so I saved the rest for dinner and got full that night again! Only 1 of us finished, and he was in so much pain that night, that I am glad i stopped. It was a tasty omelet, just too much food. Recently I also got caught in a bad thunderstorm, the worst I have seen on the trail so far, and I was able to post a few videos of it in the video section of my website. I was sprinting down that mountain! It was scary, but cool at the same time. I also got to pick blueberries at this blueberry farm close to the trail. I spent a few hours picking berries and chilling out, and it was nice. I kept some, and the next morning I had blueberry pancakes! The caretaker at the cabin made them for the hikers. It was nice. Two nights ago I had the worst night on the trail. The mosquitos in Massachusetts are beyond awful, and that night I got eaten alive! I didn't have any bugspray, so I had to put on my pullover and sweat to death. I started killing them one by one with my hand, and I killed at least over 100, and that was before I went to bed! The moment you expose any skin, a few seconds later there are at least 5 on that spot. Also, I sent my pants home a month ago, and I wish I had them then. My legs looked like ants had biten them all over! I woke up throughout the night with them buzzing in my ear and them biting me all over. Not very pleasant at all. I went into town to get some bugspray with deet, but they were all sold out except for CVS. Thank you CVS! Anyway, I am back on track and feeling good. I am in Salisbury, CT and it's a very nice town. This morning over Race mountain was wonderful, and it's great to have another state under my belt!