Date: 2007-04-18
From: Newport, TN

To: Newport, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Ahhh, another day of rest, just what the knees and feet ordered. We've beensleeping A LOT, guess our bodies needed it.Wanna shout out to Rockstar, our newest "recruit" in the hammocking world(thanks for the help Blackie! Got another one, only 5,999,769,123 more peopleto go! LOL)I talked to my friend Cindy last nite, and she said she wanted to know what Ithought about all day while hiking, so here goes.A typical thought cycle while hking is:Dodge that rock, dodge that mud puddle, ouch...my calves are burning again, geezI'm out of breath again, I wonder if I'll ever be able to hike up a mountainwithout stopping 1,000 times, where is my next water source, man I can't waitto hang in my hammock tonight, etc., etc. LOLNo seriously, a lot of my thoughts depend on weather conditions honestly. Hiking in beautiful weather, I try very hard to be aware and in the moment,looking at everything, appreciating the beauty, and being aware of the peace inmy heart and mind, trying to create a mental and emotional imprint of what thatfeels like so I can continue practicing it after this hike. I think a lot about the things I want to share in my journal, and I reflect alot on previous days, laughing at funny things, remembering those perfect nites(like @ Justus Creek, GA, or lunch on Wolf Laurel Top Mt., GA).I try to take at least 1 break a day (on nice days where I don't have to worryabout freezing to death), and really look at my surroundings, remember thesmell, notice the way the trees, leaves, and sunlight dance together, and watchthe birds flitting around. I try very hard to not take one second for granted,and I also think a lot about all of you whom I've never met, but who wish youcould be in my shoes. We are, afterall one big human family, and believe it ornot, I gain strength from your comments and thoughts (especially during therough days). Time really does pass out here. I can't believe I've been out here over a monthalready. I try to make a conscious effort to find something beautiful aroundevery curve, every uphill, every downhill, every place I stop for the nite. Ihave a whole album of visions in my head already.So how does the weather change this? On days like coming out of the Smoky's orwhen there are just less than favorable conditions, I kind of go into a survivalmode. I go more back to thinking ahead about potential dangers and giving somegood thought about plans of action (which includes constantly being aware of mysurroundings.) So like the day we hiked in the snowstorm, I got my thoughts inorder of what I would do if Persistent got hypothermic for instance. I know,sounds a little weird, but it is my way of being ready to act in case of anemergency in dangerous conditions out here. I do try to find the beauty aswell, but I have my guard up a bit more. Things are very different on a hike in which you can't say, "I am headed todestination x and will have my vehicle there to drive to safety." Everything isunfamiliar and somewhat unknown, so you find yourself spending mental energy ondealing with present circumstances.Well, Gadget and Scribe showed up today! They are in the room across the hall. We all enjoyed dinner together, and are all getting shuttled back to DavenportGap tomorrow morning. It is late, so I need to get some zzzzz's. Persistent andI are both sporting sore throats, so hopefully getting our blood flowing againtomorrow will help our immune systems fight them. Goodnite all. ~Certain