Date: 2010-08-23
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

"Final Thoughts"   I completed my hike more than two weeks ago and have been home for a little over a week. I can't even begin to describe what I think or feel, but want to try.   It is a wierd set of emotions that come over you once you can say you are truly done. At times I feel relieved, but at times sad. I am glad to be done with the actual hiking. But, I also miss it. I don't necessarily miss the rain, the mud, the bugs, etc. But, I do miss feeling like I accomplished something every day. Pushing yourself physically and mentally day after day. Overcoming physical and mental obstacles. Realizing what you are actually made of.      There is also something to be said about the simplicity of it all. Each day you woke up and you knew what you had to do that day. There were not many decisions to be made. You got up, you ate, you hiked. It is not that I don't like making decisions, but the simplicity was wonderful. You were able to just spend time thinking, seeing things that you may never have the chance to see again, meeting wonderful people. Enjoying or hating each moment for what it was.   The part I do miss the most is the people. While the trail is definitely about seeing things you've never seen or experiencing all the good, bad, the ugly that the trail has to offer, it really is about the people who touched my life. Not only the hikers, but the trail angels, the people who left trail magic, the people I met in towns, everyone I came in contact with.      I often thought that I missed out on something because I was not able to do a thru-hike. But, the more I think about it the more I feel that I was better off. I was able to experience 4 different seasons of hikers and trail angels. Had I not done 4 seasons I wouldn't have met the wonderful people who I met. So, I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity 4 times over. Reading comments on my journal from people that I may or may not know was priceless.   I am getting ready to go back to school in about 2 weeks. I am hoping that I can keep motivated to keep moving. Having to hike the following summer kept me motivated to keep in shape - hopefully, I can continue even without the next hike hanging over my head.                                             Don't know what is next as far as hiking. I have no desire to do the PCT, or the CDT. And, like I said while I was hiking the AT - I will never hike it again. I will not be one of the people who do it multiple times. Have no desire to ever hike it again. But, I am thinking maybe I will do the Long Trail at some point. And, maybe if I can convince the Garage Man we could do the International AT. Garage Man - just kidding. I will miss updating my journal. It was a lot of fun and I am all about laughing and having fun. I never really thought of myself as a creative person, but doing the journal made me realize that I actually am. And, I really did love updating it. I would spend a lot of time while I was hiking thinking about what I was going to write about. I am really going to miss that. I will have to find another outlet for this hidden talent. I do want to send a big "thank you" to people who supported me in a variety of different ways over the past four sections.   Not in any particular order: The SQ - can't say enough. Couldn't have done it without you.The Southern Support Team - ditto.The Northern Support Team - ditto.The Monkey - for being a reminder each day of what the journey was about. Kiwi - who didn't have a choice, but hiked all of Mass with me.Mr. KB (really Gerry and Frank: if they hadn't given me the leave back in 07 - don't know if I would have actually ever started my hike).Birdsong - my hiking buddy on a couple of trips.Elaine - thanks for the hospitality in Harpers.Rusty & Hijacked - you were a godsend in Pine Grove Furnace. Mel (aka "Midnite" from 96) - taught me what I needed to know to hike the trail.My co-workers/friends who did my job when I started my hike in 2007 and continued to give encouragement and support over the past few years.   And, especially to all the trailangel's and hostel/inn owners who helped along the way: Each did something special for me: Pam from Papa's Pizza in Perisburg,Bob People's from Kincora,Ginny from the Lazy Fox Inn,Pat & Vicky at the Doyle,The owner's of the Dutch Haus & Mountain Harbor B&B,Shaw's,The Virginia Tech hiking women. And, I need to thank all of the hikers who touched my life in some way. And, I hope they will continue to touch my life: All of you are what made the trail what it was for me. Birdsong,Rugged Shark,Pyrite,Garage Man and Pound Hound,White Paws,Tagless and Tagalong,Startrek,Ranger,Rusty,Bushman,Knickers, Hobbit and Jumar,Young & Dum,Pudgie Pie and Mudslide,Tom-B,Seeker,Bottlecap,Mountain Man,Pappy & Appy,Hard Rock,All of the people who commented on my journal,And, all the other hikers whom I met over the four sections.