Date: 2015-07-26
From: Matt and Jeralyn's

To: Matt and Jeralyn's
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Red Panda Rotund Rump has once again exhibited her tendency to be a terrible person (it's not intentional, I promise!)I lied.I got sucked into the comforts of real life and stayed with Matt and Jeralyn another day. I got to enjoy some things that I haven't been able to do much since I began The Hike (how could I pass up such opportunity?!)This included baking cookies (and eating most of them myself), cooking dinner, sleeping in a bed, playing with puppies, and FRIENDS. Not that I don't have friends on the trail, but they are different kinds of friends. Hiking friends and childhood friends know me differently. I love them all, but it was of course wonderful to reunite with old friends just as it has been to make new friends.Also, eating myself sick for three days in a row, which is something that I OFTEN do on the trail. However, the quality of food over these few days was over the top. I ate better during the last few days than I have in a long, long time. I had organic food, fresh food, fruits and veggies.Don't get me wrong, I also had a BOATLOAD of snacks. I am not even kidding. The amount of snacks I ate could probably have filled a small boat. And they all ended up in my stomach. Then my butt.I have been trying to cut back on sugar but this weekend was a failure. Jer and Matt brought back chocolate from Europe. You can't say no to real European chocolate. And when your friend offers to buy you a bag of pretzel M&Ms, it would be rude to say no, right?And when her mom brings you dark chocolate covered cherries because she is amazing and knows how much you LOVE cherries, you have to pack them into your food bag. There is no other option. Not only is it the right decision, it is the ONLY decision.So it was another good lazy day. In the morning, I was itching for the trail. I worry that every day I take off will make it harder and harder to get back on the trail.I am also paranoid about timing! I know this is ridiculous. However, I NEED to summit Katahdin with Alexa and I need to attend her wedding. It seems like there is no good way to make it work. Yet at the same time, I know that it will work out. It always does, somehow, especially on the trail.But the comforts... and the chance to spend the entire day with my friend! It can't be beat.So TOMORROW I will return to the trail and book my buns, fattened from extra cookies and bacon, north towards Maine. I am hoping to run into Coco and Magnus (another benefit of a lazy weekend), though I may put in more miles than they do tomorrow. However, I expect to be back in the running with them next week after my visit with mom and Dan.As for Chris, I have no idea where he is. But you know how the trail works. When I need him, if I need him, the trail will bring him back to me. I needed the alone time that I enjoyed for a couple of weeks. As the journey draws to a close, I need to focus on the goals I set for myself when I started in Georgia, and all of the goals I have picked up as I have made my way north.I promise that after my holiday with my mom and pizza fairy next weekend, I will stop slacking off. I think that at that point, the end will be so close that I will just WANT it (as much as I don't want the adventure to end, I am starting to need the end).I keep feeling so sad that the end is near. At the same time, I know that my thinking about this is a little flawed. The end is near, but that means that a new beginning is just as close. I have so many things to look forward to. And, best of all, once THIS adventure ends, I get the excitement of planning the NEXT adventure. So many choices! The trail has inspired me with a list of so many new things that I want to try. WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEXT?!At least I have a lot of life left to trundle around the woods some more, learn how to tumble down a snowy hill with strips of wood strapped to my boots, attempt to bike up a hill with full saddlebags, and kayak in the ocean (I can't believe I haven't done this yet). Especially after viewing pictures of all the amazing places that Matt and Jer got to visit on their honeymoon, I am psyched for new adventures as much as I am for the rest of this one.People in the real world get weekends, so it's okay if I take a couple too, right? Even though my life basically is a never-ending (at least not until Katahdin) vacation of playing in the woods. I got to take a vacation from a vacation. My life is so great.I just hope that my legs will remember how to work tomorrow morning. That might be my biggest problem. That and fitting into my shorts after days of eating like six hungry hikers but no actual hiking. I am thankful for spandex. SO THANKFUL FOR SPANDEX. I don't even care that synthetic fabrics are extra stinky. I am just grateful they can take a bit of butt growth so I don't have to invest in another pair just to get them trashed (I tend to just sit wherever is convenient whenever I need a break, which means I have a dirty rump 99% of the time).Like I said, I am thankful for spandex, adventures to look forward to, delicious food and gifts, friends old and new, and the wide open future in front of me.This week, I will enter the Whites! BRING ON THE MOUNTAINS! I've packed on enough extra insulation! My bulky legs can take the climbs!