Homer's Travels: April 2021

Thursday, April 15, 2021

That Light At The End Of The Tunnel Just Got Bigger And Brighter

Last Sunday the Wife reached the 'two weeks after the second shot' and I reached that point today.  I can not tell you how relieved and happy we feel.  While COVID is still scary, we feel like the end is in sight.

The bright light at the end of the tunnel.

We both plan to continue wearing masks until the CDC says it's ok to go without.  I'm starting to see older people walking around without masks and I'm surprised how irritated I get.  Some people just can't act responsibly.  The pandemic has changed all of us, I think, and we will always be a little more wary in crowds.

Despite this new wariness, I'm looking forward to going out to lunch with my vaccinated Mom.  I'm looking forward to going to a movie or two this summer.  We're considering going on the driving vacation we were planning last summer.  I guess I'm just looking forward to getting back to something close to normal.


Saturday, April 03, 2021

The Call Of Little Hill

A year ago, on the first anniversary of the beginning of my Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hike attempt, I posted that I would not be going back to finish the trail.  In the year since I have not been able to get the AT out of my thoughts, especially when I was doing my weekly walks.  It was like my hiking alter-ego Little Hill was calling me.  He left a hole in me that I haven't been able to fill.

The last month or so of my last attempt were incredibly tough.  I always thought the memories of those hard, rocky trails would keep me away for good.  I never considered myself a masochist but neither a quitter and I often wondered how long it takes for bad memories to fade.  Apparently it takes about a year and a half.

I have decided that I will heed the call of Little Hill and return to New Hampshire where I left off, complete the almost three hundred miles to the AT's northern terminus at Mt. Katahdin, and finish what I started.

I'm planning to do this in July/August 2022.  I'm not getting any younger but I want to give time for the Pandemic to work its way through, time to get myself back into backpacking shape, and time for the Wife to retire.

I think it will be a good transition for me from the life before and the post-retirement adventures the Wife and I have planned.  It will also allow me to bring Little Hill home so that hole can be filled once and for all.