Date: 2005-04-12
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ok, here is the standard first paragraph for all of my "still at home recouperating" journal entries: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.   I want to be back on the trail! This paragraph will not be repeated, but you'll know that it's there, OK? Fortunately, "She-who-knows-me-best" is a very understanding person, so she doesn't take it personally. Meanwhile, here's what's going on:1. Yesterday, after driving my daughter to school, I went straight to my Doctor's office and spoke with his assistant. She handed me the referral slip for scheduling my MRI, and said that if the MRI indicated a miniscus tear I could get the necessary surgery done on Thursday, as my wife had kindly arranged for me last week. 2. From there I went immediately to the MRI office, located one building away. Luck was with me, as they had had a cancelation just that morning so I was able to get an appointment for noon! You can be sure that I was there early, and by 1:30 had completed the MRI and had hand-delivered the CD of my knee back to my Doctor's office. They still needed the written analysis from the MRI folks, but Dr. Madden had asked for a "wet read" (i.e., a same day report), so I was hopeful that I might hear for sure what the diagnosis was that same day. Unfortunately, I heard nothing before the end of the day, so there is still some uncertainty. I called again this morning, but haven't heard back as yet.3. To keep my mind focused on the trail, I spent the afternoon studying maps and guidebook pages for the AT through Pennsylvania. If I have surgery this week, I figure one week for healing and gradual use of the leg for walks around the neighborhood, and then a second week for longer walks and a gradual increase in the weight I might carry in a day pack. By the third week, I figure I should be ready to begin some rehabilitation-type hiking, just a few short day hikes. And by week four, I should be able to begin some 3 day overnight hikes, complete with a full pack. As I've mentioned before, I have already completed the AT between the southern end of the SNP and the Maryland/ Pennsylvania state line. Since Pennsylvania is closer to me at this point, I've come up with three 3-day hikes of 18, 30 and 35 miles, respectively. That would give me close to 75 miles in rehabilitation hikes and, at the same time, tell me whether or not the knee is ready to take on the Smokeys. It would also take me as far north as Duncannon, Pa. At the moment, my plan is to get the knee back into shape, and then resume my hike where I left off -- at Fontana Dam. Before doing that, however, I will show up at Trail Days in Damascus so that I can renew my ties with all of my M Company friends. I will then hitch a ride to Fontana Dam, and begin hiking the Smokeys. When I reach Waynesboro, at the southern end of the SNP, I will jump north to Duncannon. At that rate, I may never catch up to M Company, but the most critical thing to me is to hike my own hike, and not to leave any gaps. The only other possible rearrangement of my hike, if it looks like I could keep going north after my Scout Camp hiatus in late June to mid-July, would be to start far enough north on July 18 that I could reach Katahdin by Labor Day, and then come back and hike the section I missed during September/October. That would allow me to complete my hike yet this year without geting closed out of Katahdin which closes for the winter by October 15. We'll see. As you can tell, however, I don't intend to give up the dream easily!Meanwhile, since I will now definitely take advantage of my previous section hikes, I will be reviewing the written notes I took during my hike of the SNP, Northern Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and record those as formal journal entries here, probably starting tomorrow.I am also planning to spend some time learning to use my digital camera better, AND will finally have a chance to review the photos I have already taken and try to get them posted to the relevant pages of my journal. That should also keep me out of mischief for awhile until I can get back to the real thing.Finally, I again want to say thanks to all who have emailed me or signed my Guest Book for all of your good wishes. Please do keep me in your prayers.Thanks, and stay tuned,Longhaul