Date: 2007-05-08
To: Rural Retreat, VA
Miles today: 11.0

This is the life. Today I woke up at the pizza shelter after hanging out with some arkansas party kids by the fire until really late (musta been 9:45). I got a decadent 7:15 start to the morning for my cream puff 11 miles to a real motel, restaurant, truckstop combo right on the trail! I just climbed glade mountain as I type this, and should be at the motel in a couple of hours.Lately ive felt my tastes changing again in regards to trail food. As ive mentioned I started out on mostly nuts and berries with a few snickers thrown in for treats. About the time Jocelyn left I started to get "the hunger", where I could talk for hours on the relative merits of chuys enchilada selection. I shifted my food bag to reflect the full product lines of the frito lay and mars corporations. This actually put a dent in my undead-like hunger, and I quit salivating when I saw sticks that resembled sausage links. But lately it isnt doing it the same way anymore. In order to really feed the craving for partially hydrogenated goodness ive had to make a pact with her dark majesty, little debbie. It started with nutty bars and black tar brownies. Lately im into the real stuff - frosted, glazed honey buns and 50 cent pies. Any normal person eating my standard breakfast of 3-4 items like this would levitate above the ground for several seconds before spontaneously contracting type 2 diabetes. I, however, am completely unphased.*****Ive been thinking I should talk more in my journal about what im doing and why im here. First it is important to make a distinction between what brought someone here vs what they are getting from it that keeps them getting up and hiking everyday. The reasons that people undertake this trip are as varied as the people who do it - and I can promise the people are a bag of mixed nuts out here - but it seems like everyone ive met does this every day for one of four reasons. The first are the ones who are here for the people, the social aspect. The most extreme examples are the people who dont seem to hike at all, just go from hostel to hostel. Mostly younger folks.The next type are the nature lovers. Mostly older folks, they seem to want to live in the woods semi-permanently. Its more than loving pretty views and wildlife - this type does, but its hard to express how excruciatingly boring the actual hiking is after a few days. Even on the most interesting and exciting days there are 9 hours of walking in the exact same forest for every 1 of cool stuff. To do it for the love of nature and succeed requires a desire not just to view but to weave yourself into the scenery.The third group are here with friends or family and endure the hike to spend time with them. Most of these people seemed like they were having more fun than youd think. Maybe lacking the burden of intent helps.The fourth group is the one my mileage inadvertently typecasts me into - the achievement oriented athletes. Nobody gets more scorn from other hikers and random villagers than the people "who care only for mileage". The mantra of "hike your own hike" seems to apply only to anyone who hikes slower than you do. I find myself downplaying mileage the same way I instinctively downplay my financial security. Ive met many wonderful people out here, but jealousy is alive and well in this utopian society.Im out here to think. I like the woods, the people, and the athletic challenge, but its the introverted deep dive that I get from this day after day. A good think takes about 10 hours, and that translates into big mileage. The views, animals, neat towns and friends are great for breaking up the monotony, but aren't really why im here. I think about lots of things, not least of which what I want to do with my life and how to approach all my complicated relationships. So far ive gotten my moneys worth.