Date: 2006-06-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well, it's been over four years since my hike ended and year after year I have tried to get back to finish it. Well folks, the time has finally come! After the disappointing finish (broke foot) in Duncannon, PA there really hasn't been a week that goes by that I haven't thought about getting back out there to finish it. It's taken a lot of hard work to make it happen but finally, in just a few short days I will be back. When my foot troubles prevented me from finishing the thru-hike of my dreams I was devastated. Now I look at it as a blessing in disguise. No, I didn't get to summit Kathadin with the wonderful people I met. I didn't get the joy of sending my summit picture out to family and friends. And most devastating of all, I wasn't a thru-hiker. But four years of growing up has taught me a few things. Now I see not finishing as the best excuse ever for taking another four months off of "real" life to do what I'm passionate about. Very few hikers get to take that much time off for one hike, much less two. I'm also blessed with the fact that so many of the hikers I met in 2002 will be coming to meet me to either hike with me or at least let me dirty up their showers. Every year since 2002 there has been a POD reunion and this year it will be on the trail, with all old POD members and new POD members coming to join. A little about me now: I have lived in New York City since 2003, occupying various sections of the city, currently the East Village. I'm a very happy waitress at a wonderful restaurant with extremely supportive owners who are willingly giving me 4 months leave of absence. Their son did a SOBO hike last year, finishing this past December, so they really understand the importance of hiking. And I just got back from a two week trip to Italy! So if this entry makes no sense it's only because I have been awake and traveling for the past 24 hours. I have 1 full day in NYC until POD member Mallow comes to take me to the trail! Living in NYC has taught me a lot about patience, understanding, and seeing the many sides of life. I would like to think that not only am I a little tougher, I'm also more willing to let things roll off my back. I'm definately a lot more independent. I'm also nervous as all get out to be going from the big city to the woods. But I know those jitters will subside within a day. It'll be the coming back to the city in the end that will be difficult.      About the hike: I will not be starting in Duncannon but maybe somewhere near by. I know this isn't true to the full thru-hike but I do not want to start my hike off with 2 weeks of rocks. They killed my foot and I do have anamosity toward them.   I have given myself 3 1/2 months to do the 900 or so miles to Katahdin. Plenty of time. I do plan on enjoying myself, taking it easy, making sure I see old friends and making new ones. I do plan to write just about everything that is going on in my mind, what's happening to my body, and my general opinions. I refuse to censor what I think. As most hikers will tell you, when you are doing something as long as this, your feelings change from day to day. I may write something one day and not necessarily believe what I wrote a week later or even a day later. Please keep that in mind when reading my journal, remember, it is you who has chosen to read this. I say all this because last go round I had problems with people taking my entries too literally. One man took it to an extreme and posted my picture with one of my many entries in the registers along the trail with horrible comments about me (he didn't know me personally). I can't help what people think or what they interpret my writing to be saying. But I know I will not make constant apologies for things I have written and will write. So on that note - I'm off! I still don't know who will be transcribing for me, my sister now has three wonderful kids (ages 7, 4, 1) so her hands are just a little too full this time round. It may be that I am doing it from the trail so entries might be sporadic with lots of space and then lots of entries. But keep up with me. Oh, and my trail name was changed forever one POD hike two years ago. I am now known as Gator Goat! Ciao for now!