Date: 2015-09-08
To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Before the HikeI didn¢t know I wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail until March of 2012. At that time I took a flight to Georgia to hike the 78 miles of the state, end up in North Carolina and head home. That trip was the catalyst to my hike this year. But back in 2012 I started with all of the thru-hikers. I was one of them for that short time being. It was new to me and everyone else; the places, the people, the hospitality, the experiences.During that time I made a couple friends who I still keep in touch with today, one of them being a successful thru-hiker. We pick up conversations and share experiences like we never left off. The trail is one of the only places you can meet a complete stranger, learn about each other in such a short time and keep in touch years later. It¢s unlike any experience at work, school, or in daily life. I knew that as my time down there came to an end, I¢d be sad, not want to leave, and be wracked with the desire to hike the trail in the future.Over the next three years I talked to Nikki about hiking the trail. Often it was in jest, but she knew there was true meaning behind this. We talked more and more about me actually being able to hike the trail and she came around to it. I was thinking of going in 2014, but it was more important to buy a ring with the money I had saved for the hike. I had thought for quite some time about leaving to hike the trail. I knew I wanted to go but unless I had 100% support, I wouldn¢t. It took many months of talking and getting her to feel comfortable with the idea of being alone. She never fully became comfortable with it, which is completely understandable. She knew it was important to me though and wanted to support me on my journey.I talked with my family and eventually got their support. I talked with my friends who thought I was crazy. I put in my 1 year notice to work and started the planning process. The stark reality is whether I made it 10 miles or 2,000 miles I would return home jobless.I made the commitment to hike and the wheels were in motion. I was occupied with more important things though. We were planning our wedding and buying our house just a few short before my departure. I wanted to get our house to feel like a home for Nikki while I planned to be away. I knew that those things were my priority before I started to walk.I remember thinking of purchasing my Southwest ticket before Christmas. The price was about $100. I waited, thinking they would go even lower after Christmas¢¦I was wrong, so I took out the debit card and bought my $134 ticket. I was committed to the flight. I then got in touch with a shuttle driver, Ron Brown. We agreed on where and when to pick me up on my departure date. I knew that there was no way I was not going to go, chicken out, or become overwhelmed with the fear of the unknown.I wasn¢t nervous about leaving. I¢d say surprisingly but it really wasn¢t a surprise when I actually thought about it. It was something I knew 110% I wanted to do. My only concern, in all honesty, was my left knee. It never felt 100% since I hurt it on my 2013 hike through North Carolina. I figured if anything would stop me, that¢d be it. As you can see it all worked out.The worst part about the time leading up to the trip was knowing I¢d leave Nikki, my family, and my friends for an undetermined period of time. There was no way of planning when I¢d be back in Connecticut. I figured I¢d hit Connecticut for a short visit home at end of June (it ended up being June 7th) but there was no way to know. The weather, the terrain, and my health would dictate of my pace. As the trip became closer, I don¢t think I realized it. I had 99% of my gear though and felt ready, so how could I be rushed? I had over a year to plan? I did though. I was putting new shoe laces in at 5:30am on the morning I left. The morning I left was snowy and it was a somber reality that I was leaving everyone. I had no family to see and possibly limited contact with them by phone. As Nikki and I drove to Bradley International Airport, we both echoed the words ¢this sucks¢. The next chapter had begun¢¦Part two, ¢During the Hike¢ to shortly follow this entry.