Date: 2013-01-25
To: hurry up April!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

One thing I have learned over the last few years is communication can be tricky. When I was building my cabin I used to tell folks that I was building it in Manila. Since most folks were from UT I was certain that they knew I meant Manila UT. But instead some of them wondered how/why I was building it in the Philippines.   The same holds true with the question I get all of the time on ¢why do you want to walk the AT?¢ To be truthful I don¢t know if I can answer that. Maybe it is because I see it as a challenge, an adventure, a way for me to test myself. I really don¢t know if there is a ¢correct¢ answer for that question. I also think you can ask 100 people that question and get 100 different answers. That is what makes this trip so different is that on the trail you will see a wide range of individuals. To walk this trail you don¢t have to run a 4.40 in the 40 yard dash, or bench a ton. You just have to put one foot in front of the other for 5 million times. Hell that sounds simple! What I am hoping for is not to over think this trip. I know mentally I have to be prepared for a lot of tough weather days, sore body and sorer feet days. But at the same time to be able to live basically for five months with just the stuff on your back, intrigues me. When I was young I always wanted to walk the US, but just never got the chance.Last year I felt I failed when I got off trail. Smooth Sailing commented to me that the trail wasn¢t a test and that it was to be enjoyed. I have to agree with him on that. I think the test was more about myself, than anything else. I wanted to know if I could do such a feat. I never have been able to get rid of the feeling of not completing what I started. I'm hoping I run into him again this year on the trail. When you write a journal-you are sort of putting your plans in concrete for all to read; strangers, friends, family, all seeing your thoughts and how you are either progressing or not progressing. The words are left on the paper when the feet hit the trail. All the good intentions and words of bravado don¢t hold water unless you put feet on the ground for 2187 miles. When we go off trail we all say we loved it, learned from it and so on, but if others feel the way I did, inside you are sick because the journey wasn¢t completed.Something seems to be missing and you can't put your finger on it. That same feeling will be in my stomach every day as I walk this year. If I hit a hard spot I¢ll remember it and hopefully keep moving on. I¢m planning to enjoy this year¢s adventure.I had my knee scoped yesterday and I am up walking around. It is a little sore, but considering it has only been 36 hours I feel I will be progressing pretty quickly. Medicine sure has come a long ways. The amazing thing was Dr. Rice himself called me today to see how I was doing, not the PA. That was a first for me. I also gave the doctor that performed my Achilles surgery an update and he called back as well! all is good on that front as well!!!!! I think they understand how much I want to do this trip. Either that or they think I am insane and they want to keep me happy¢¦anyway I can¢t wait for April 13th and Bland VA to be in front of me. May everyone have the success they dream for and I¢m hoping to meet many new hikers on the trail. take care