Date: 2009-12-19
From: Pennsyltuckey

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello Everyone, I finally have settled in here in PA. I just want to give everyone an update. It looks like in 2012 that I will Hike from The Dry Tortugas, FL to Labrador, Canada. This time around, I will attempt to give real time updates as I hike via web cam, twitter, etc. I will update here on TJ; but, I will have a personal website as well that will have more data that I will eventually try to make into a documentary. First, I should talk about where I am now and how I got here. After the 2007 AT Hike, I went to live with YDG and she nursed me back to health. After all those years out in Appalachia; I had a major adjustment getting back to "reality." I had to get creative with me resume. I had to get used to the increase cost in living. I had to get used to being around alot of people in places like Wal-Mart. I had to get used to riding in a car with all that speed. And had to get used to the commercialization of everything; most annoyingly, sports on TV. Initially, I spent about 4 months writing that book that I talked about. Yes, I wrote it. No, it is not published. No, I have not really even tried to market it. The deep personal nature of the book made me take a deep look into my soul and character. Although, I was proud of my accomplishment of walking all the white blazes from Springer Mountain, GA to where the trail was closed due to weather at Abol Campground, ME; I did not feel good about everything that I did to accomplish the 2,160 miles feat. I learned through the hike that something had always gnawed at me and the writing of the book helped me figure out what it was. Basically, that I have a struggle between how I "ought' to live versus actually how I live. It is the struggle between my free wheelin' upbringing by my hippie parents; who then found religion, and then raised me without "sparing the rod." I am just a dicotimous person. I have come to terms with that and am happy about being that way. It has really taken an edge off of me that has made me much more "cool, calm, and collected." This has shown up in my new job in supervising a local group home. After writing the book, I got a sweet job as being the caretaker at Bigelow Moutain Campround. Before I could get up there, I twisted my knee on a hike up on Peter's Mountain, PA and I could not go. I felt bad about not being able to carry out the job offer; but, I just could not carry out the rigorous job duties with a injured knee. At that point, I began the tough job of trying to find a good job in the middle of a recession. The search was made even tougher because it is difficult to explain "hiking for four years." I ended up getting a job as a program director for Keystone Residence in Harrisburg, PA. It has been very rewarding. So now, I am gearing up and planning for a January 1st, 2012 start date down in the Dry Tortugas, FL. They are a group of Islands off of the Florida Keys. I will then walk up the greenway along the Florida Keys; then cut across over to The Florida Trail; then do "The Alabama Roadwalk" to the AL-GA Pinhoti Trail; then hit up with the Benton Mackaye Trail; then the AT; then hit the highpoint in GA-Brasstown Bald; then follow the AT to The Bartram Trail; then hit the Foothills Trail over to Sassafras Mountain, SC; then somehow get back to Clingmon's Dome, TN; then follow the Mountains to Sea trail over to Mount Mitchell, NC; then get back to the AT to get to Mount Rogers, VA; then follow the AT to The Alleghany Trail to Spruce Knob, WV; then over to Backbone Mountain, Maryland; then down the C&O Towpath to the Washington Monument, DC; and then over to MT Davis, PA(could be before DC). OK, you can see that I am trying to hit the highpoints along the states in Appalachia. Here in PA; there are many variables that will effect the rest of my hike. The main point is that it will probably be the dead of winter. I am giving myself from January '12 to Sept/Oct '13 to finish this Adventure. I am not entertaining any thought of trying to do this journey in one year. I want to end up in Labrador when it is too dangerous to continue. So, there will be alot of "give and take"; while I travel over to MT Marcy, NY via the Central PA Alleghany trail/Connector trail/Mid State trail/The North Country Trail; the Long Path, NY to NYC and The Empire State building; then back to The AT to hit the high points in NJ, NY, CT, and Mass; then The Original Long Trail to Mt Mansfield, VT,; then over to MT Washington, NH(not sure on the route. I could use some suggestions); then hit MT Katahdin, Maine about the time it opens up June; then follow the International AT though New Brunswick and The Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec to Cape Forillion, Quebec; then get a ferry to Channel-Port Aux Basque, NFLD; then follow the IAT to Port Anthony, NFLD; then a Ferry to Belle Isle, NFLD; then over to Labrador and to the unknown finish spot. This sounds daunting and I have no delusions that this will be easy; but, I am going to give it a shot and you all can be a part of it. There is an open invitation to all who are interested to hike with me for all or little or to just be moral support. I also want to apologize to everyone that were my friends, readers, etc that I did not stay in contact with. Please try to understand the place that I was in, after the hike."Peace, Love, and Chicken Grease."