Date: 2012-08-25
From: home

To: 1 wk post trail, traveling
Miles today: 0.0

This past week has been wonderful but somewhat difficult. The transition continues having not the time to settle into the home. Both Peeper and I have been traveling and preparing for our future endeavors. Peeper is in Mississippi packing and saying her goodbyes, on to Scotland, University of Edenborough. I have been traveling reacquainting with my wife and family, presently in NJ with my parents. Work starts Monday. I have had 1 day at home since summiting.Paula and I left Katahdin, Baxter State Park, soon after the post summiting picnic with the group. Peeper went home traveling with Hawk and his Dad. We had somewhat sad goodbyes, Smiles and Wiffleball to climb Katahdin and then finish some of the trail in NY and Virginia that they had missed, Blues has been reported to just starting the 100 mile woods, left Monson today. We all were scattering in different directions. Paula and I went to a Millinocket Hotel, had a great restful night, good meal in a local diner. Some time to reacquaint. I told Paula, this was her week to do what she wanted, then back to work on the 27th. We have friends who live on the Maine Lakes, one who lives east of Katahdin on Duck Lake, Dennis. We decided to explore the area and do some visiting. Arriving at Duck Lake in Lakeville Maine, we found Dennis expected us to stay a few days. This was heaven, quiet; slow pace, just what we needed. This is a beautiful area of many many interconnecting lakes. Paula and I are considering this area in the future for getaways and retirement. Dennis was an extremely gracious host, we¢ll be back. Paula and I then drove towards home, sightseeing on the back roads, drove to Augusta, and stayed in a hotel to visit friends in the Belgrade lakes the next day. This visit with Deloris and Sony was also wonderful, quiet lunch and visit on their beautiful pond side camp, peaceful. Our next step, a day at home before we moved on to NJ Shore to visit my parents. We arrived in the evening, back home to a waiting granddaughter. The home front very welcoming, has been stable and wonderfully kept in my absence.I dealt with some issues of work, a neighboring patient on Hospice requesting some intervention, threw me back into my reality, though welcome somewhat foreign in my woodland life. Settling some of the home issues, lawn work and chores, it was good to be home. We had to be timely; our step son had previously given us tickets, for the 22nd, to the Red Sox at Fenway as my father¢s day gift. We left for Fenway, my first home Fenway Visit. Great time, but the Red Sox did not do so well. Love Fenway Park.We got home by midnight; plan to leave for NJ in the am. There was little time at home to settle. We had a long drive to NJ the next day. We had dinner with Dick and Michael, my brother and sister in law who had been Trail Angels for us when we were at the Delaware Water Gap, arrived at my Parents about 11:00pm. Here I sit, remain unsettled but great to see family, we go home tomorrow to start work Monday. The above agenda is probably not the recommended post trail transition, Peeper has had a similar experience, but life again invades. Sleep has been difficult for me; I awaken most nights feeling as though I am in the woods. I remain restless, my wife also as result also sleeps poorly. I continue with numb toes, some stiffness in the legs, and a voracious appetite. My family continues to try and get me to gain weight, though I certainly want to be able to control this appetite. I still have my beard, but this too will disappear in the next 24 hrs. Transitions come difficult for me. Smiles and Wiffle called yesterday, they are finishing the NY section they missed with the Mother-in- Laws funeral, soon to go to VA to do the last missed section. Smiles reported it has been tough climbing without Katahdin in the future. Post Trail withdraw, I expect to last awhile.Trail Thankfulness:Wonderful weather overall- we missed only 2 views that I can recall on the whole trail, the rain came at the opportune time. We had plenty of heat, but tolerable. Water was somewhat less plentiful, but never scarce. We were blessed.Community and friends on the trail- could not have asked for any better people. We never had an issue except for one strange persona early on. Truly we had a trail family and were well protected. I have developed lifelong friendships, and we come from all different areas and walks of life, we will enjoy many adventures together again.Family and support- incredible support, at home and in the extended family. My wife and kids never failing to be positive, uplifting even in times of great distress. My wife injured at home in my first week of the hike, not telling me of her issues until she was in throws of recovery. She did not wanting to worry me, supported me beyond any expectations, my Love only deepens with the thought of their sacrifice.My brothers, in-laws and their families to take us in and feed, clothe and coddle Peeper and I, as well as our trail family. Stevie¢s mother and her family- thank you, beyond my abilities you were a rock. Hard times and you could not have been a better friend and mother.Friends at home that helped my family, especially Corey and Robin, Thank you!!! I look forward to many years of close friendship. See ya soon!Trail Angels and beyond. Thank You!!!Trail Angels-all through our trip; be it rides, food, shelter, celebrations. Usually so timely and unexpected. Peeper often would say, wouldn¢t be great if¢¦. And it happened soon after, a soda, beer, cake, cookies, fruit, and vegetables. Kindness is overwhelming, thank you from all of us on the trail. I hope we can do the same for all in need in the future; you have been a model for mankind¢s kindness.My daughter, Peeper- one of great sacrifice- you have made your father proud and happy to my life¢s end. To hike 5 months and thousands of miles with your father, you have been patient, giving and thoughtful. You are wise beyond your years. Thank you, thank you¢¦. I will miss you, more than you could ever know. Peace and solitude- the woods, the time, the exertion, the beauty. Nothing has matched this in my lifetime before; I hope to carry this into my future at least at times in my life. We all need these moments; I just had a lot of them. Remember the importance of these times, and seek them out.Beautiful country- just in our back door there is such beauty, I have grown up in PA and NJ and I never knew there was such breathtaking country only a brief walk away. We live in a beautiful world, we need to remember to respect and cherish it. Only look at my travels and pictures and all is understood.Good health- to expect my body to uphold the rigors of the AT and for the 5 months of daily abuse with some periods of nutritional deprivation, I have been blessed. I still have remnants of recovery, but overall, I am in better health than ever. Numb toes, sore feet, knees and hips all are getting better daily. I have now to get into a better maintenance program. I rode my bicycle 20 miles yesterday, and it felt good. Daily exercise, good diet needs to remain a goal.Good luck/ blessing- there is always a large component of this to be an AT thru hiker, there was any moment on the trail that one misstep, slip, fall that could have ended the endeavor. I fell many times, at least 3 major falls, and each time just got up, brushed off and moved on. Our entire group was as fortunate- amazing, blessed.Good cheer, laughing- as I wrote previous, crucial in health and happiness. I thank all my hiking family for their healthy humor and silliness. I will continue on with this in life. I might not miss some of this though; I can do without another Candy Intervention.Patience- time to listen, time to feel, and smell the roses. I thank my daughter and All Smiles for the constant reminders. I task my family and fellow works to do the same. Work and the workplace- I cannot thank all at work, Huggins Hospital, Mountain View Community, The VNA, and especially my office for the patience in my preparation, the management of my time, and the ability to let me go. This was an incredible, difficult endeavor. I cannot thank you all enough with over a 5 year preparation process you all stood by me and my cause.My fellow Care providers, you all ROCK!!! I look forward to giving you the same opportunity in the future.My office staff, you were my backbone, I love ya guys!!!!!I thank my Patients, willingness to let go, to see new faces in the office until my return. I will hopefully return the favor with improved care and kindness.I could not thank and be thankful enough for all that were involved, for all the support in word and in deed; I have enjoyed all trail advice, trail journal input and support. Thank You All !!What would I do differently?         1) Not tried to wear boots in the first 100 miles. I should have listened to my daughter sooner to go to trail runner shoes. Change shoes every 500 miles. I did go through 5 pairs of Montrail Masochists.2) Planned to do less processed freeze dried trail meals. Do more investigation for better tasting trail meals with less sodium.3) Allow our hiking group to have more freedom in hiking their own hike. We all enjoyed each other but sometimes felt constrained by each other¢s expectation. Enjoy the time with each other better.4) Some days to do less miles, give a little more time to complete.5) Don¢t come home for a visit, complete the hike. Visits from home are fine, but to go home only tended to disrupt a working system.6) Eat more Protein7) I expect I need more time to decompress. Not be so busy before I start work. Overall the trip was awesome!!!