Date: 2004-08-22
To: Twisted Luck
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday after I broke camp I decided that I accomplished what I wanted by getting away. There were no more summits that I cared to conquer. Meanwhile, I had to check on my vehicle parked by Lake Susan. I hiked the 3.8 miles or so from my camp site to the road. I wanted to find Pinnacle Springs to stop for lunch. I hiked about 2 hrs down the road and was picked up by a pickup truck (Makings of a county song lyric). We drove for about 10 min when the driver finally stopped and said he couldn't find the place that I was looking for. I must be the worst hitch hiker because I had him drive me back all the way past where he picked me up. At least now I knew where I was. I thanked him and decided to continue on the right trail back to my vehicle and to skip the ever elusive Pinnacle Springs. I found a grassy spot just off the utility trail and ate lunch.I came to the conclusion that I packed way too much food. I also realized I hate trailmix and I still had about 3 lbs of it in my bag. So I dumped it for the wildlife to enjoy. My great plan for taking MRE's was at a loss because there is plenty of excess weight you have to carry around after you eat. Plus, what I cooked tasted better. I do like granola bars and anything with chocolate. All in all, I hardly eat when I hike so I lost about 7 lbs in the past 3 days. I did drink plenty of water. My Katadyn Hiker filter is awsome. I could not imagine taking purification tablets to sacrifice taste for a few ounces.I got back to my car and everything was in order. I decide that if it was running with no leaks then I would try to make it home. The funny thing is it ran much better than it did before, and I made it home without a problem. I also got better gas mileage. I think it was because the transmission fluid was low causing more heat which made something stick, but corrected itself when it cooled. Regardless, I will have someone look at it this week.Here is the big life's metaphor on my hiking adventure the past few days. Hang with me I am not much of a deep thinker and please excuse any cliches. Sometimes you can get side-tracked looking for one trail and go too far down another, so when you go the wrong way, the best way to get back on the right trail is to go to the last place you know. Even though the wrong way can be easy and may be perfectly paved, if it does not take you where you want to go, then it is not worth taking. No matter how many wrong trails you take, you will eventually learn where you are. Ultimatley your trail can have endless ups and downs, and give you more bumps and bruises than you can take. But if you take the time to enjoy the views and acknowledge your personal accomplishments, then the difficulty of your trail is only a small part of your journey.I will not be returning to my job, I feel that is the wrong trail that will not take me where I want to go. I will have to retrace my steps to where I was before I started selling real estate. Even if that means having a part-time low-paying job, living with my parents while I get some more classes. What I will accomplish is helping my parents' bed and breakfast get started. They need me and a B&B is worth investing in. If I can save the money and if I am at a point to where I can hike the AT then I will, but I will not stress over it. My March 1, 2005 hiking date is more of a goal now then a deadline. In the mean time, I need to find a job to pay the bills.