Date: 2004-02-27
To: Full gear
Miles today: 0.0

I have packed and repacked and done it again. I am sooooo ready!   And I need to be ready cause I leave in 4 days for Atlanta!I took a long overdue FULL gear hike today, determined to go along my training route, which is 15.4 miles of mostly level terrain. In the past, when I have taken training walks with a load, it was a small frame pack loaded with steel plates from the weight set, so it looked small and didn't cause many stares. Today was different. I frightened some little children first as they were walking to school. Our routes converged at a corner as I waited to cross the street. They grabbed each other's hands and began to move off the sidewalk in an arc around me. I smiled, backed off the corner a little, and said "Hi kids!" They seemed to relax and said "Hi". I guess I looked extra weird. Big, bearded, odd guy with a huge backpack and strange green pants. (I assure you these pants looked a lot different in the catalogue.)Later I realized two huge cops in a cop car were watching me. It was funny how small that mid-sized sedan appeared with those two inside it. They were scowling and staring. I smiled, waved and continued on. They continued to scowl and stare. The road I was on crosses the county line about a mile ahead, so I suppose they were glad this particular unsavory character in strange green pants was about to leave their jurisdiction. Little did they know that I'd be returning on the same road in a couple hours, but I figured they'd be at Dunkin' Donuts by then and I wouldn't have to be "run-in". Hehe.The weather was very co-operative during my "shake-down" cruise. It started cold and humid, as it had rained during the night. Then it began to drizzle - then blow very hard and snow and hail. The bits of ice stung my face, but I felt warm, layered in my polyester. I think I'm well prepared for AT weather. I sure have come to appreciate layering and polyester!I began to experience some discomfort then a hot spot on my foot. Sometimes while training I remember to carry a bandaid, but usually I forget. But here I am with EVERYTHING I need for my walk through the Appalachians. I stopped and took off my sock and applied duct tape (duck tape if you prefer) and I was thinking how great it is to be prepared and able to fix what's needed when it's needed. I felt like a "Duck tape doctor". Hmmm... Maybe I'll change my trail name.During my return route, I was walking on a long, muddy road. A big Ford with a powerstroke engine pulling a large horse trailer slowed and came alongside me. I was bent into the fierce wind trying to keep a good pace. The two guys in the truck wanted to know if I wanted a lift. I grinned thinking, "Trail angels"! It's great that there are wonderful, helpful people everywhere. I thanked them for the offer and watched the truck disappear into the distance. So... my full gear/full load test was a success. Oh yeah... the song that got stuck in my head today happened because, as will happen on a long walk, a person needs relief from time to time. It was a remote area and no cars or houses in sight, so I prepared thinking to turn away from the wind. That reminded me of that Jim Croce song....Don't tug on Superman's capeDon't spit into the wind.Don't pull in the mask of that ole Lone Ranger.And don't mess around with Slim!Dew da dew dewDew dewtn dew dew dewGA dew ME a.k.a. Dr. Duck a.k.a. Slim a.k.a Willie McCoy (that pool shootin' boy)