Date: 2013-06-13
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Miles today: 0.0

Some thoughts about my journey. I started this hike almost 2 full months ago full of enthusiasm and energy with hopes of walking to Maine within 5 months. This proved to be a challenge I just could not complete, but I do not think of it as a failed hike. It has been a success in almost every other way except for the early conclusion. I have met many, many wonderful people, and the people are what make the A.T. such a great trail. I do not want to list all of the wonderful people as I am sure to omit some names of people that were so very nice and kind but I do wish to thank several trail angels that were so helpful at really difficult times. Godspeed and Mountain Mama, thank you for the ride to Gatlinburg on a day when the rain was miserable and the winds were near gale force on Clingman's Dome. Eli, Daniel, and Kent, thank your for your kindness and friendship and the ride to Roanoke. Thanks also to the warrior hikers. First for their service but also to Jabba, Machine, and Mama Goose in particular for your friendship and for stopping to help the day my leg was in such pain. I truly have mixed emotions about stopping this hike. I still have a desire to complete it and wish I was able to meet up with Timeout to complete the walk to Maine, but am also very happy to be home with loved ones and with a new appreciation for my life in Texas. I have a great life. So. what Have I learned on this adventure? First, it is the journey that is important, not where the journey concludes. Making it to Katahdin would have been fantastic, and I will finish the journey at another time, but this journey is about more than a destination and is filled with memories of wonderful people, beautiful sights and life lessons. Secondly, this trail is much more physically demanding than I ever anticipated. The demands on the body take a toll. There are few ways to prepare for the demands you will place on your body, the stress on your legs and ankles by walking through rock fields, by climbing for hours then descending down steep and often slippery slopes, all while carrying a heavy pack on your back. I have also learned that life need not be more complicated than it is on the trail. I believe we tend to add a lot more baggage to our lives than necessary and just as on the trail, we need to lighten the load. I will try to simplify my life. Several weeks ago, I had a nice talk with Ms. Janet over dinner and she mentioned that the trail was never really meant to be hiked in one year as a through hike. Well, for me that is proving to be true. On my journey, I met many section hikers that seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the trail, while I felt a need to push the miles. If I was going to finish the hike in 5 months, I needed to be halfway by the end of June, no where near where I was, and I had been pushing hard to hike as far as I got. Section hikers seemed to have more interest in enjoying the hike and less concern than I about daily miles. So when I return, it will be as a section hiker with only a desire to enjoy the trail, not to push the miles. Finally, I think the most important lesson from this journey is that the majority of people are really, really good people. I think I had become a little too cynical and jaded prior to this trip, and during the past few months I have encountered some of the nicest and kindest people that I could imagine. I encountered people with great talents, with wonderful humor, with honesty and truthfulness. It has reaffirmed my faith in people. Surprisingly, I never once felt afraid, fearful of being ripped off, or afraid of being assaulted. In fact it was the opposite. I felt comfort being with fellow hikers, comfort with strangers that offered rides and went out of their way to be helpful. And what now?Now I intend to rest and to enjoy the wonderful family and friends that I have. Margaret and I will take a vacation in July (yeah, another vacation!) and as we had planned a trip in September after I completed the hike, we will still go on our trip in September. At some point, as there are still bills to pay and retirement to prepare for, I will return to work and hopefully will have a renewed enthusiasm for work as well. It too is part of life's journey.