Date: 2009-08-12
From: Hemlock Springs Campsite

To: Clarence Fahnestock State Park
Miles today: 16.0

Not much to write home about today but here I am doing just that nonetheless. In 2003 journal writing was an unexpected pleasure but in 2009 I am finding it a bit more of a burden. I still enjoy doing it, and I would hate not to have some sort of record of the trip, but the problem is that I seem to continually be falling behind; putting pressure on myself to catch up. It¢s messing with my karma!I think the main issue is that I¢m a different hiker now than I was 6 years ago. Before I took less and shorter breaks. When I did take a break I might journal, giving me something to occupy myself. But now, now I love breaks. The more tome I can eek out for sitting doing nothing, for enjoying the moment, for soaking it all up, the happier I am. Journalling is now an extra, separate activity I need to find time for on top of the walking, the resting, the eating and the sleeping. If I¢m hones I¢m struggling to find that time ¢ oh my crazy, busy life!If I don¢t have time to keep up to date then how am I ever going to find time to catch up? I¢m feeling the pressure. I¢m starting the day thinking ¢I must write at least two journals today (and then another two tomorrow)¢. That can¢t be right but then again I do think it¢s necessary. Sure there is a cost to that sort of attitude but there are also benefits. It seems that even out here you can¢t always have it all.For the record today was pretty dull. It started well enough as I popped by the Graymoor Spiritual Life Centre Ballpark (now more of a soccer park) to get some water. I met Snip there who is currently hiking with a full size guitar. He played well as I sat and read the register and then he offered me a chance to play. It¢s always a pleasure, although often embarrassing but I have no shame. I eagerly and gratefully accepted the opportunity. It didn¢t take long to make my way through (ok murder) my repertoire while Snipe tapped his foot and nodded along. He said it was good ¢ he was being far, far too kind, but it was appreciated all the same. Heading on the day just seemed to be made up of short sections of Trail between road crossings that inevitably involved a rocky up followed by a rocky down repeated two or three times. All of which took place in some rather uninteresting forest with no views. I could see from the map at the Trailhead that the Trail skirted two lakes but you would never have known it. These short sections also seemed to be home to a host of mosquitoes. Today was definitely my worst day for bug bites so far ¢ maybe 35 to 40.I met two young guys at Dennytown Road who had only been out for a few days and had been doing short miles with heavy loads. They were happy though, they had had fun, learnt many invaluable lessons, survived the storm of two nights ago and the heat of the day preceding it. They said that it had been 90 Fahrenheit and 95% humidity, which if correct made me feel much better about my struggles.Thunder then chased me along to this State Park campsite. It just sprinkled thought ¢ not that it made much difference to me. It had been another hot and sweaty day. I¢d also worn a rain jacket despite the heat to keep the bugs off my shoulders and elbows. As a result I was wet pretty much right through; but avoiding any heavy stuff meant my pack and gear would stay dry and that I might get me tent up without everything getting wet. So I was still relieved and happy to have avoided a storm. I got pointed in the vague direction of the thru hikers area, couldn¢t find the spot and camped, I think, in a pay site. It was late, it was wet and it was quiet; I didn¢t think it would be a problem. I organised myself and took a shower , then I settled down to write at least two journals ¢ needless to say I failed.