Date: 2018-06-16
From: Quality Inn

To: Paducah Ky
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I woke up this morning in a hotel room somewhere between Catawba Virginia and Paducah Kentucky. Papa Big Swig was beside me, and my two favorite 4 legged people were at my feet. We had a typical hotel breakfast before setting out on the last leg of our journey to Paducah. I¢ve spent a few hours of ride time uploading photos to Trail Journals. This is a much more difficult task than I anticipated. For one thing, the locations of these photos are all askew in my brain! But I want you to see them, so I hope you enjoy. Secondly, almost every photo has to be edited to fit within Trail Journals parameters. Keep looking back for new ones though. I hope to get them all in over the next couple of days.  Today¢s featured photo is an up close shot of Mountain Laurel in bloom. This photo was given to me compliments of Hugs.  Let¢s talk about Hugs and Big Kahuna. They are my Tramily, and sure to be life long friends. We¢re a pretty cohesive group. Big Kahuna is always the early riser and he systematically prepares us all for the day. He always retrieves our bear bags that he hung for us the night before. He usually wakes me up first as I need extra time to put in contacts and prep for the day. Hugs usually sleeps in the latest. I don¢t think mornings are her most favorite time of day. That being said, she is always ready when the time comes. It takes me a good hour each morning to get my trail legs going. Oftentimes Hugs leads us out of camp. She is also usually the one to keep us informed of expected climbs or views that day.  Between the three of us she¢s probably done the most research. I would miss a lot of awesome sights if not for her. After the first hour I generally take over the lead. It regularly happens that we are separated by 5 or 10 minutes, so it¢s very much like hiking alone. It is my practice to stop every couple of hours and drop pack to rest and rehydrate my body. This is a time when we all come together again. We talk about what we¢ve seen, what we¢re thinking, and where our planned ending will be for the day. That¢s when I come in. After 6 hours of hiking with 30+ pounds on our backs we¢re ALL ready to drop pack right then and be done for the day. I¢m usually the one who digs deep and pushes us through that last mile or two. It¢s the least popular role in our tramily! But we always get there and we always love each other at the end of a day! Big Kahuna 100% of the time makes sure us girls are safe and settled before he retreats to his tent for the night. The sun comes up and we repeat! That¢s the skinny version of my wonderful tramily. I¢m so blessed to have them!  About me...I¢ve definitely had some a-ha moments. When you have 6-8 hours a day to be inside your own head a lot of rehashing goes on. I¢ve come to many realizations about myself. Some good, some bad, but all of them healing in a way. There¢s lots more to review, but I think I need healed. I¢m grateful for the start.  Blue Raccoon¢s guest book question of the day:JulianneI've been reading your journal with enthusiasm since I am close to your age. I'm rooting for you hard to succeed, but getting a bit nervous since you haven't made it to the 1/3rd mark yet and it's been well over 2 months since you started. Have you thought about flip flopping to Katahdin and heading SOBO back to VA to finish up so that you won't arrive there after they close in October? Winter wouldn't be nearly be as big an obstacle in VA as it would be in ME in Oct/Nov if you couldn't make the deadline. I'm pulling for you every step of the way!Thanks for your support Julianne! Your concern is valid! In the beginning I had this plan to start at Springer and end at Katahdin, the big coup des gras. I¢ve come to the realization those are my plans , and HIS plans are not always mine.  I¢m absolutely open to flip-flopping or whatever it takes to complete the trail this season. I¢m going to let the trail take the lead and do my best to soak it all up. Either way I¢ll be happy!  We¢ve arrived in Paducah now and I¢m off to see my daughter and grands. I¢m super excited as it¢s been 3 months!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?