Date: 2007-08-26
From: Bear Mountain, NY

To: NY 17
Miles today: 16.6

"I'mmmmmmmm back !!!" - young JeezyFirst off, stealth-sheltering is pretty hardcore. After falling asleep around 7:00 PM last night, I was awakened at 9:00 when 2 (yes two) police cars pulled up and it was suggested (?) that I leave the area. Staying was not an option. Must say though that the cops were pretty cool, and directed me to a different park where I re-stealth-sheltered and slept like a log.Anyways, the weather was better today and I was packing Gatorade once again. I hiked an easy 17 miles or so through Harriman State Park, which I must admit has got to be some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever witnessed. The whole park is gorgeous. I felt like a million bucks all day, then got a ride to 'Anton's on the Lake' where I'm staying tonight, showered and full.I've been thinking a lot about why I've been so down lately, and what I've come up with is this: early on, the NEWNESS of the trail kept me excited every day. New challenges, new people, etc. But once the excitement wore off, I started hammering out miles as if I were going to reach the end in August. However, this is too long of a trip to be worrying about the end. Every day in the middle has to be fun in itself. And that's the way life goes too, not just on the trail.Whatever the goal or mission is, sooner or later it's not enough to think about the end, very few things are worth doing if you're not enjoying the journey there.Throughout this trip I've been trying to better myself physically, i.e., moving stronger and faster and longer. But, that logic implies almost a linear improvement. Sure I'm physically stronger, but is that necessarily better? Am I happier? Another big part of life is recognizing that you're never going to have all the answers and that's ok. It's more and more obvious that just when you do begin to think you have all the answers, you realize you totally missed the point. I'm also coming to terms with the idea that it's ok to not be in control. To be scared and unsure is acceptable under the right conditions. And that's what this trail's been, a series of minor failures and successes. It's not that one way of hiking (or living) is better than another, they're just different. And if you ever get into a rhythm day after day, you get comfortable and boring, and might have trouble dealing with new obstacles -- like the fact that you've been in the mountains almost 2 months and you're not even halfway.I'm rethinking my trip's structure as well. Normally I think in terms of the next town approx 100 miles away, but now there are tons of hostels and towns, so I'm moving more from day-to-day. I still need to organize mail drops, though, and my shoes are starting to beg for euthanasia.Even with all the nit-noid obstacles, good and bad days, and who knows what else, looks like I'll be in Unionville on Tuesday instead of Monday, and I'll still be in Pennsylvania before September. NY-August-humidity be dammed. It'll take more than a little mid-hike crisis (ha, I like that) to shut me down. Maybe I'll buy a bright, chromed red backpack (with 400 hp) to impress younger hikers. Ha!Thanks for reading.   ~ Obie (Dr Jekyll)PS: my heartfelt THANKS go out to mom fireworks, angela, kspirit, Paolina, Tom, mom birdstar, Jason, teri, Jack, and all the rest of the guest book support group for the kind words. We're gonna get there, ¢¦ mid-hike crisis and all.