Date: 2005-06-12
To: Trail Days, Part 1
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Days, May 12-15, 2005I started out my journey to Trail Days on Wednesday the 11th. I left 7:00PM from CT in order to avoid the morning rush in the busier-than-God northeast states of CT, NY, and NJ. Driving through these states at night was quite peaceful and, as I look back, something I will probably do again next year.I was looking for a highway rest area coming through New Jersey, but could only find exits that went into town. I had just come off a 6a-6p shift at the ambulance so diving though the night was not an option -- too much yawning and not enough caffeine on-board. My desired rest area, quiet, dark, and with little traffic, didn't surface, so I got off one of the last exits in NJ. There I found a 24-hour gas station with a back parking lot. Normally I would stretch out and sleep in the back of my pick-up, but there was just too many cars moving in and out for my sense of security. I hung some clothing from my windows to block out the street and parking lot lights, flipped up the seat divider, and curled up on the front bench seat. Not bad. I thought how glad I was to have bought a full-sized pick-up years ago. So what if it doesn¢t get 30 MPG, it¢s darn comfortable.Morning came for me at 6AM -- a whole hour after I wanted to get on the road. No worries, I thought, I've got all day to get there. I started down the highway and crossed the PA line in ten minutes. The highway drive was like going down memory lane. I could see signs to towns I had been in or parks and attractions that I had walked though. I made the decision to stop in Waynesboro, VA to see if any hikers needed a ride. Waynesboro is where I was before Trail Days last year. 30-30 gave me a ride down for the weekend and dropped me back on Sunday. This year I wanted to see if I could give a ride to a hiker. Before lunchtime, I arrived at Deep Gap (Waynesboro) and parked in the paved pull-off just past where the trail meets the road. I walked to the southbound trail crossing and descended into the forest. At first it felt odd walking down the trail, but that soon changed. The "green tunnel" was all around me and my senses were perking up. My eyes were open wide, taking in the verdant plants and leaves. I don't know what it is about memory and the sense of smell, but as soon as I got a whiff of the AT... My, oh my -- my trail experience, the way I felt on the trail, hit me like a ton of bricks. I was euphoric, my body was tingling, and all I could say was "Oh my God", over and over again. I was so charged, so in the moment. I had to stop and sit a while and bask in the experience I was having.I know it¢s not the trail that creates the experience, it¢s me that creates it. But, I seem to limit it to the trail. Granted, my life now is not as it was before my hike. It is much better in my opinion, but I still want to cover the gap between the AT and modern life. The same euphoria can be had in the normal every-day world. I¢m working on it.I drove around Waynesboro, stopping at the outfitter, food store, and YMCA camping area. I met few hikers, none of them needing a ride to Trail Days. I decided to get a $5 pizza at Little Caesars and head out. Just before getting on the highway I came across two hikers and offered them some slices. The guy thanked me but he had just stuffed himself. The girl with him, on the other hand, had a full stomach, but had that look in her eye. She asked what kind of pizza did I have. "Pepperoni", I said. She came around to the passenger side and grabbed a slice. "Have a great hike, I know you will", I said. They said thanks in reply and we all shared a smile and a familiar glance. An indescribable glance that thru hikers know... we see it in each others eyes.   Maybe it is that we really see each other... maybe we really feel our connection to each other. That is priceless. You can see my Trail Days pictures on my WhiteBlaze photo gallery.