Weekly Ephemera #164

• It was an odd week for me.  I was in a do-nothing mood most of the week.
• I watched more episodes of "One Piece".  I still have a ways to go.
• I was going to walk three times this week but I ended up only walking once.  I walked 7.25 miles (11.7 km).  As I said, I was in a do-nothing mood.
• I tried to replace a spark plug in the snowblower but I simply discovered I am a crap small engine mechanic.  I gave up when I couldn't even get the boot off the spark plug.

Weekly Ephemera #161

The defacing speaks volumes about the hate in people's hearts.

• The highlight of the week was a visit of the Wife's best friend on Thursday and Friday.  The wife and her had a great couple of days going out and watching a movie.  I stayed home and enjoyed the quiet of the house.
• I walked three times this week for a total of 21.2 miles (34.1 km).  This was a little shorter than last week but any week over twenty miles is a good week to me.  The picture above was seen on one of my walks.
  
  My blood pressure has also been in a more normal range for the last week or so so the walking appears to be helping.
• This coming week I have a blood draw to see if my diabetes medication is working or not.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I am also feeling a bit nervous that it isn't doing as well as I hope.
• Despite feeling a little nervous I have to admit that the past week or so have felt ... bright to me.  I have felt happier in general and content.  Not sure what changed, but it might have to do with me avoiding the news like the plague.  My tranquility may also be helping my blood pressure as much as the exercise.

Weekly Ephemera #130

Theme of the week: I do not get it. I just do not understand anything anymore.

• This week started with avoidance.  I avoided watching the inauguration by watching/listening to non-political podcasts and music.  Unfortunately, since I steep myself in news nearly everyday, this reprieve from politics lasted twenty-four hours.
• Took my car for its first service since I bought it.  I drive my car so infrequently that I usually don't hit the mileage maintenance target in a year.  I think I actually walk more in a week than I drive.
• Went in for a teeth cleaning.  This may be one of the few dentist appointments when I didn't have any issues.
• I walked twice a this week.  I skipped my Monday walk due to the single digit temperatures accompanied by negative wind chills temperatures.  I probably could have walked as I know how to properly layer and bundle up for cold weather but I cocooned in podcasts instead.  The two walks I did totaled 24.1 miles (38.8 km).  Next week we're having spring-like weather so I should be able to get three walks in.
• Watch 'The Wild Robot".  It has been nominated, and in many cases won, best animated film rewards.  It's pretty good.  A bit on the saccharine side but definitely a safe place in our current situation.  It reminded me, at least superficially, a bit of the robot in Becky Chambers' Monk & Robot books.
• I am getting an MRI this week to check my prostate.  I think they are being overly cautious but better to be safe I guess.  I wish it wasn't so expensive though.
• My cousin sent me a bunch of family pictures my Aunt had.  I may start posting a few.  Here's one:

"Bruce giving PJ a Pepsi"
Developed January 1975
Picture taken in Guatemala.  Probably taken around Christmas 1974.  PJ was a peekapoo.

The Day After

 Despite being a pessimist, I find myself always

underestimating the stupidity of the American people.

A Misnamed Weekly Ephemera #110

On Sunday Mom's visitation and funeral service were held.  I was pleasantly surprised how many people came to pay their respects.  I saw aunts and cousins I hadn't seen since the 1980s.  Mom's Pastor led a wonderful service.  The whole thing was very heartwarming.

Other highlights of last week:

• The week was filled with meetings about Mom's funeral preparation.  It was not as hectic as I expected it would be but the Wife and Mom's stepsons took a lot of pressure off me.  Not being Mom's executor kept things to a minimum.  I did a few things to help the executor.  I'd been dealing with some of Mom's accounts when we were trying to get her on Medicaid so it was easy for me to handle the closing of some of those accounts. 
• On Saturday we attended the Tim Walz for Vice President rally that was held a couple miles from where we live.  It was our first political rally and we were happy to see how positive it was.



The non-AI generated crowd in the Astro theater.  You can see us in this photo if you look closely.

(Photo 'borrowed' from an Alex Cole - @acnewsitics - Xitter post)

The line going in stretched for a long ways.  We got in the theater that has a 2,400 capacity and the outside amphitheater was used for overflow held another 5,500.  There were speeches by Congressional/senate candidates, music by a very talented twelve year old Jayde Dorsey, and speeches from Tim Walz and his wife.  It was an interesting ... and exhausting ... experience. 

 

Photos of the rally can be found in my 2024-08-17 Gov Tim Walz Rally, The Astro, La Vista, NE Google Photos album.

• Keeping in the political realm I started watching the fourth season of "The Boys". 
• This coming week I hope to return to my 'normal' routine and to start walking again.  I can't remember when I last had a 'normal' week.

Weekly Ephemera #108

•  Mom is back home and she seems happy.  She was released from rehab on Tuesday.  We hired a care service to come in for three hours each morning to help her get going and do chores around the house she is not capable of doing easily.
  
  Physical Therapy at home started on Thursday.  On Saturday she called me and her hip was in terrible pain.  I took he to the emergency room and, after waiting over three hours to see the doctor, it was determined that is was most likely strained muscles from the PT she had.  The hip joint looked great and there was no evidence of infection.  I think the PT guy had Mom move muscles that hadn't been moved in a long time.
• The repair of our car was delayed due to the body shop reporting more damage.  Still looks like it won't be totaled which is good.  Still, the two supplemental reports the body shop sent to our insurance adjuster delayed everything by a week so we are probably looking at the third or fourth week of August before we are back to being a two car household.  Fingers crossed.
• I actually got a walk in on Friday.  Since I hadn't walked for three weeks I kept it short at 5 miles (8 km).  I felt pretty good so I'll lengthen my walks this coming week.
• The Olympics dominated the TV again and will continue to until the closing ceremonies are over.
• Things are starting to appear normal.  We still have a ways to go until average levels of normalcy are achieved, but it does look like things are moving in a generally forward direction.

Weekly Ephemera #106

OᐧMᐧG.  Seriously?!?  What a freaking week.

• The insurance adjuster came by to evaluate the hail damage to our house.  After hearing what his report said, our roofer called the adjuster "an idiot!"  This coming week either our roofer will provide proof of additional damage, or I will ask our insurance agent for a visit from a different adjuster - this time our roofer will be on the roof with them.  I was hoping for an easy process but it doesn't seem like it's going to be that simple.  More to come.
• On Thursday we were leaving Omaha to visit family in Minnesota with a side trip to the "Dignity of Earth and Sky" statue in South Dakota.  This didn't start out well.  On the way out of the city a car on my right veered into my lane.  I responded by veering to my left to avoid a collision.  This resulted in our car being hit by a semi.  After a lot of spinning, cursing, and sheer panic the car came to a rest pointing nose in at the center median barrier,  We were not hurt (we would be sore the next day or two).  We were not hit by any other cars.  Our airbags didn't even go off - our car's nose scraped the barrier but didn't actually hit it head on.
  
  The asshole who swerved into our lane was never seen again.  The truck driver stopped and asked us if we were alright.  The back driver's side door was mangled and the wheel well scraped against the tire now.  Highway patrol stopped traffic so we could limp off the freeway into a parking lot where we called a tow truck.  The car was towed to a body shop.  We took an Uber back home, got in the Wife's car, and completed our trip as planned.
  
  When I filed my insurance claim over the phone and described the condition of the car, we were told it would very likely be considered totaled.  If this is confirmed then I'll be looking for a new car this week.
• Our visit to the "Dignity of Earth and Sky" statue was in the rain but we had enough of a break in the weather to get out of the car to get good pictures.  The statue is at a South Dakota visitor's center on a bluff overlooking the Missouri river.  The view from there, despite the rain, was amazing.  The rain precluded taking any good pictures of said view though.
  
  

  

  "Dignity of Earth and Sky"

  We followed the statue visit with a visit to the Atka Lakota Museum and Cultural Center in nearby Chamberlain.  The museum is located on the Saint Joseph's Indian School campus.  The museum covered Lakota history as well as school history.  Very interesting.  To support the museum and school we dropped some money in the gift shop.
  
  

  

  The inside of the school church.

  On the way out we visited the school Church.  The lights were off when we entered and the Wife started flicking switches on and off to see if she could get the lights on.  Turns out she was turning the confessional lights on and off.  We took some low light pictures before discovering the sign in the hall pointing out the button to light the church interior.  The 'picture' behind the altar is actually beadwork.
• In Minneapolis we had a good day visiting with family, watching a cousin's baseball game, and celebrating the seventieth birthday of the Matron of Honor and Best Man.  There were a lot of people, and dogs, at the party and despite being tired (and a bit sore from the accident) I recovered as the party went on and I enjoyed the people and conversation.
• Oh yeah ... Saturday was my Birthday too.  Whoopee.  With the house, Mom, and now the car I don't really feel like celebrating my new year.  I was hoping this weekend away would help me relax and relieve some of the stress I've been living with but I returned home with more on my shoulders.

Weekly Ephemera #74

• After feeling sick last weekend, I started the week feeling pretty good.  I still don't know if it was a medicinal side effect or a twenty-four hour stomach bug.
• Since I felt better I spent Tuesday putting up the Christmas tree and putting on lights.  The Wife would put the ornaments on later in the week.  On Wednesday I put up all the lights up around the entrance, hung the wreaths, put up the laser lights (so much easier than climbing on the roof to put up strings of lights), and, of course, hung the big balls in the oak tree.  The Wife, besides putting up the ornaments on the Christmas tree, decorated the mantel with Santas, garlands, and lights.
  
  Despite all this decoration I can't say I am in the Holiday mood.  Perhaps it's because I missed Thanksgiving, the official start of the holiday season.  Maybe it's the lack of snow and the warmer than normal temperatures we've been experiencing.  There is also the cloud hanging over me ...
• The cloud hanging over me is the surgery coming tomorrow.  It's pretty basic and there really isn't any reason for me to be concerned but I'm a natural worrier and, while I wasn't worried most of the week, reality caught up with me this weekend and I am a bit anxious.  This will be my first overnight stay in a hospital since my first ACL reconstruction back in 1996.
• I was busy putting up Christmas decorations, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, and taking mom to the doctors so I didn't do any walking this week.  I think walking in the chill air, even if it is warmer than average, would have helped me get into the season.  I'm not sure how I will be feeling this week after my surgery so I can't predict when I will go walking again.  Hopefully sooner than later.

Relief, Disappointment, And The End Of A Dream

When I ended my 2019 Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hike attempt one of the factors that convinced me to stop were the shakiness of my legs.  Every step up was a challenge, every step down felt like my leg would collapse.  Three years later, by the end of the first day back on the trail, my legs felt the same as they did in the White Mountains - shaky, unstable, and weak.  My legs never actually gave out and I wonder if my true problem was a loss of confidence.  My 2011 Camino had given me my confidence and the AT took it away.  

Over the past week my feelings have fluctuated from relief of being off the trail, wondering if I gave up too quickly, and mourning for the end of my AT dream.

Every SOBO I ran into talked about how beautiful Maine was and the pictures I took supported the veracity of their statements.  I'd been looking forward to the ponds, rivers, and mountain views that would be the crown of my AT adventure.  But this was my third strike.  I tried three times to complete the AT (2017, 2019, and this year).  There will not be a fourth.  And I mourn my loss.

I told other hikers that this was my last big solo outing.  I can't say I'm not disappointed..  But my adventures will become our adventures and the Wife and I will explore the world together and that will make it all better.

Music: America W/ Matt Whipkey At The Holland Center

On Saturday the Wife and I went downtown to the Holland center to see another 50th anniversary concert which would be kind of depressing if the music wasn't so good.

The concert warmed up with a local singer, Matt Whipkey.  He came out with only a keyboardist to support his guitar and harmonica.  His stuff was ok.  Not great but not bad either.  His songs were written based on his life, friends, and family.

He was in good humor and commented that this was his first time in the larger Holland Center venue.  I could tell he felt more comfortable on smaller stages.

America took the stage and after a few songs I realized there was a lot of America's library that I'd never heard of.  My experience was with their greatest hit album, which I liked very much, but there is so much more.  Having said this, when they performed their greatest hits they really came alive on stage.  They played every song I was hoping to hear.  When they played "Ventura Highway" the screen above the stage showed scenes along the namesake highway and the Wife and I were smiling as we recognized many of the scenes from our ol' stomping grounds.

America performing "Sister Golden Hair".

One of the songs, "I Need You", was a song I played after the death of my brother.  For decades I couldn't play that song.  I avoided it.  It wasn't until I was on the Appalachian Trail, in some small hotel without air conditioning on a hot summer's day, that I listened to it again (it was an accident ... I guess Spotify decided it was time).  Time had smoothed out the hurt.  It no longer made me sad.  America playing this song on Saturday brought back some feels but they were all good.

This was their, slightly delayed, fiftieth anniversary tour and they sound just as good as they did back then.  A few photos I took can be found in my 2022-06-18 America w/ Matt Whipkey, Holland Center, Omaha, NE Google Photos album.

P.S. Both Matt Whipkey and America covered Beatles songs to honor Sir Paul McCartney's eightieth birthday.  We saw Sir Paul back in July 2017.  He was seventy-five at the time and performed non-stop.  It was amazing.

What Is That Feeling?

Been a while so here is a Haiku:

Strange third day feeling. Lack of anxiety, lack of daily controversy? Could that be hope?

 Whatever it is I'm liking it and I hope it continues.

Appalachian Trail: The Stories A Little Hiking Speed Chart Can Tell

I was thinking about how I was feeling while I was on the Appalachian Trail (AT).  Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, most of my memories were positive before Harper's Ferry, WV.  I started wondering if I could link my feelings with how I felt physically.  I decided to look at a plot of my average speed figuring the better I felt physically, the faster I moved.  This, of course, is not perfect since terrain also affects hiking speed.  Below is a chart of my average speed on the AT.

The first twelve hundred miles of my hike my average remained fairly steady between 1.5 and 2.5 MPH (2.4 to 4.0 km/hr).  There is even a slight upward trend between the third week of June and the third week of July.  Then the bottom drops out.

The left blue line is when I arrive at Port Clinton, PA.  It's after port Clinton when the rocks really became bad and Rocksylvania earned it's name.  I expected this drop since the terrain really slowed me down but I never expected the drop to last.  I kept waiting for the terrain to get easier and my hiking speed to go back up.  This chart tells me it never did.

I think the left blue line is also when I started to lose my enthusiasm.  The difficulty of the terrain and the time I'd spent on the trail began wearing on me emotionally.  Several things happened in this section that hurt my morale.  I got separated from people I liked.  A reunion with someone I'd met in my first week fell through and never happened.  A reunion with a Camino friend never materialized. I began making bad decisions about where I should stop. This, combined with the damn rocks, slowed me down and made for some darker feelings.

The right blue line is when I reached Lincoln, NH.  The White Mountains caused my speed to drop once again.  This was mostly terrain but I was also feeling my body not recovering.  My legs often felt just as bad in the morning as they'd felt the night before.  I didn't expect the terrain to get better for at least one hundred and fifty miles into Maine and I doubt my speed would have ever recovered to what I was doing before Port Clinton.

So there you have it.  To the left of the left blue line I have happy memories.  To the right of the left blue line my memories grow darker and more dreary.  To the right of the right blue line my dreariness combined with a more physical breakdown.  Love what a good chart can do to explain things.

One last thing.  Below is a picture of my custom insoles.  The left is one I wore on the AT, the right one is a new one for comparison.  While the worn out insoles didn't cause me any problems, I think I should have gotten new insoles in Harper's Ferry.

AT insole on the left, new one on the right.

Appalachian Trail: Delaware Water Gap, PA To Greenwood Lake, NY

🐻 x 6

UPDATED 11-21-2020

I broke down this week.  A bunch of things came to a head all at once and I felt overwhelmed.  I had a mild anxiety attack.

I'm starting to wonder if my plan is too aggressive.  I hope I'm wrong.  I know of three people who have told me they are confident in finishing when they see me because they heard I had a plan.  If they are even with me or past me then they know they will get to Katahdin.  But … what happens when I begin to doubt my own plan.

A tranquil pond.  Do you see the Butterfly?

Day 122 - I left Delaware Water Gap, PA and, while crossing a bridge over the Delaware River, crossed into New Jersey.  The seventh state was behind me.  I'd not see or talked to Choo Choo after the first night in Delaware Water Gap.  I texted her telling her where I would be camping that night. 

The trail climbed back up the ridge.  There were rocks in New Jersey too but there was also dirt.  Logically I knew that the rocks would be just as bad as in Pennsylvania but it still felt less rocky.  I think it has to do with how the trails are maintained.

Somewhere I passed the one thousand three hundred mile marker but I didn't see it so no picture.

I ended the day at a campsite near Rattlesnake Spring.  This was my tenth tenting on the Appalachian Trail (AT).  Choo Choo never arrived and she didn't answer my text.  While I was setting up camp I wondered if I'd said or done something that had bothered her.  I'd heard many stories about women hikers on the AT being harassed and stalked. I sent one last text saying that if I'd said or done anything to offend her it was unintentional, I was sorry, and I wished her happy trails.  She didn't answer.  I was ghosted.  Alone again.

Another state behind me.

Day 123 - I woke up to a dry tent which made me happy.  I packed up and headed out.

My energy levels have been extremely low lately.  This day was no different.  I have been slowing down and taking more breaks during the day.  Even with the extra rest stops I'm often exhausted at the end of the day.  I think the AT is making me weary.

I came to a road crossing and realized there was a restaurant not far away.  I stopped at the Mountain House Tavern and Restaurant and relaxed in the air conditioned space, drank some lemonade, and ate my first good Mountain House meal.

In the first half of the AT I would have known about the restaurant because I would have studied the guide book.  Since Harper's Ferry I've been paying less and less attention to the guide book.  The results are I am surprised by restaurants and other points of interest along the trail.

I drug my way away from the cool air and finished the short climb to the Gren Anderson Shelter.

Day 124 - The surprise of the day was how close the trail went to

High Point Tower.

High Point State Park headquarters.  Turns out if you are a thru-hiker and sign their log book they give you a soda.  I ran into a few thru-hikers taking a break here including Salamander.  I also took a short nap before I moved on.

The trail passes a place where you can see the tower on the highest point in New Jersey.

I reached a road crossing that would take me to Unionville, NY.  I started to walk the three quarters of a mile to town when a car pulled up.  In the passenger seat was Salamander.  She had recognized me and asked the driver to pull over. I squeezed in between the two car seats and they took me to town.  Salamander said she was going to a drive in movie theater where the owners let you camp.  She asked if I wanted to go too.  I decided not to go.  I was concerned I would have difficulty getting out of the town and back on trail.  Looking back now, I should have gone with Salamander.  Most of my isolation along the trail was self-induced.

Unionville offered free camping in the town park.  I ate a good meal at an Italian restaurant and had a rather restless sleep.

Day 125 - I packed up and bought a breakfast sandwich at the general store before walking back to the trail and heading North.

The trail follows roads, skirting a nature preserve where I saw a flock of egrets, before heading back up the ridge.  Part way up the ridge you pass a vacant house where the guide suggests getting water from a spigot.

Farther ahead the trail was a boardwalk through a swampy area.  The boardwalk stretches nearly a mile and incorporates a suspension bridge over a creek.  The only bad thing about this is there was no shade on his part of the trail.  I did manage to find a rare bench in a spot of shade and took a short nap.  During this leg I'd played leap frog with a German girl named Wind and the two couples she was hiking with.  They passed me while I was napping on the bench.  They kept saying they were hiking faster than I was but, as I passed them farther ahead I pointed out that if I was so slow, why was I passing them now.  We all got a smile out of that.

The flattest part of the Appalachian Trail.

I found another surprise when I ran across Heaven Hill Farm.  I stopped here and bought ice cream and watermelon.  I talked with a local woman with her mother.  Her mother seemed to have Alzheimer's.  I patiently answered the same questions about the AT several times.  

I ended the day at the Wawayanda Shelter.  As I was arriving Wind passed me and asked me if I was going to the Drive In theater.  Once again I said no.  

I was alone at the shelter.  I looked at the guide book and realized the next resupply town didn't look very good.  I became frustrated.  The difficulty of the trail, the lack of substantial social interaction, and the difficulty of making my plan work all reached a peak.  I was still stewing about Choo Choo and the lack of an explanation.

On top of that a friend I'd met on the Camino who lived in New Jersey suggested meeting me.  I gave her my schedule and asked her to contact me when she returned from a trip to Peru she was taking so we could coordinate and meet up.  She said she would but … She never got back to me.  No explanations.  No I'm sorrys.

To add to it all, a few weeks back Curry had texted me and said she wanted to jump ahead and join me for the rest of the AT.  We'd agreed that her boyfriend would drop her at Delaware Water Gap.  This made me very happy and I was really looking forward to reuniting with one of my original trail family members.  About a week before I got to Delaware Water Gap she texted me that, after talking to her boyfriend, she'd decided she was going to quit.  That was a blow but at least she apologized and explained why she wasn't joining me.

All these things, along with my self-sabotaging, came to a head in the Wawayanda shelter.  I had a mini breakdown.  I called the Wife so she could talk me down.  The AT is not getting easier for me.  Thoughts of quitting began creeping into my thoughts.

Even another state behind me.

Days 126 & 127 - I hiked eight miles, across the boarder between New Jersey and New York, to a side trail that took me sharply down a ridge into the town of Greenwood Lake, NY.

The first hotel was full.  The second had a room.  The town has little resupply resources available but they have restaurants and there are some convenience stores and a drug store to scrape together supplies for the next few days on the trail.

I think I'm the only hiker in town.  It feels very lonely.  I looked at the next few days and I added stops to shorten some days.  I'm giving myself a sort of hiking vacation.  Today I will hike only five or six miles to the next shelter.  The changes I made will eliminate a few twenty mile days but add a few days to my AT hike.  Shortening the next few days will not help me feel less alone as the thru-hikers I know will very likely pass me up and once again I will be behind the bubble.  That is the hardest part of this endeavor.

Pictures can be found in my 2019 Appalachian Trail Google Photos album.

Total Distance: 1,371.7 Miles (2,207.5 km) Section Distance: 79.8 Miles (128.4 km) Section Elevation Up: 11,860 ft (3,615 m) Section Elevation Down: 11,222 ft (3,421 m)

Appalachian Trail: Hot Springs, NC To Erwin, TN

UPDATED 10-18-2020

The past couple of weeks have been a mental and emotional rollercoaster.  Despite meeting new people everyday, or possibly because of it, I have felt isolated and alone.  Everyone I've met are nice people with many interesting stories but I would have to have the chance to meet people for more than one or two days to really meet them.  Then I push some hard miles and feel a real sense of accomplishment and my mood soars.  What a ride.

Day 37 - I left Hot Springs late because I'd forgotten to buy a gas canister for my stove.  The outfitter opened at 9:00am and they were out of small cannisters so I bought a huge, heavy one.

The French Broad River along the trail.

The trail leaving Hot Springs briefly follows the French Broad River before turning and climbing up the mountain.  It was warm and humid as I hiked out and sweat was dripping off of me.  My hat and buff came off as both made my head feel too hot.

A bench begging to be sat on next to the serene pond.

The trail passed by a novelty for the trail so far: a pond. The calm waters were serene and a bit stagnant though there were fish in it. I don't think I stop enough to enjoy things like this.

The full pack of food and bigger gas canister didn't help -  by the time I got to the Spring Mountain Shelter I was exhausted. By the the numbers the climb up to this shelter was not as bad as the first day in the Smokies but I was more tired and worn out today.  This was a bit demoralizing.  I felt I was backsliding.  It was supposed to be getting easier.

Day 38 - My plan for the day was to do a short hike to the next shelter some 8.6 miles (13.8 km) away.  When I got there I felt like I'd gone through the wringer.  I was pooped.

I stopped at the shelter and rested.  Drank some water and ate some food.  Then I made an odd decision.  I decided to hike the 7.3 miles (11.7 km) to the next shelter.

Note the AT blazes going down the rock wall.
I climbed down the wall hand over hand.

Strangely I started off with a second wind.  I climb the next hill and did it with gusto.  Then I hit a part the AT Guide described as rocky and strenuous.  It was a tough rock climb/hop along an exposed ridge.  I handled it without any issues.  I loved having to climb down hand over hand for one section.  At the end of the rock scramble someone had marked the distance in stones: 300 miles.

Passed the three hundred mile mark.

I arrived at the shelter feeling awesome.  I'm not sure where it came from.  I did 15.9 miles (25.6 km) my longest day so far and I felt good.  This actually put me a day ahead of my schedule.

There were several people at the shelter including an Italian named Long Feather (for the feather in his hat) who played the guitar.

Day 39 - The forecast had rain Saturday and Sunday.  Some people in the shelter were going to hunker down.  This didn't make sense to me so I started out in the drizzle.

Is this Big Butt Mountain's crack?

There was only one hill in my way, Big Butt Mountain (love how things are named in these parts).  It was just a light intermittent drizzle when I crossed the crusty rocky top of big butt. After the summit it started to rain harder.

I started humming songs with the word 'sunshine' in their title.  It worked.  My mood was lifted up and I really made good time down the hill.  The good mood was countered by an older hiker wearing a Trump 2020 hat who liked to preach to the younger generation.  I did my best to politely ignore him.

At the bottom I made my way to the Laurel Hostel.  This place is tiny and has few amenities but it was dry and warm and the shower was hot. The resupply was non-existent so the owner took me and a few other hikers to Erwin, TN for resupply and McDonald's take out.

While I was heading north we heard stories of a murder on the AT.  Turns out the murderer stopped at the Laurel Hostel briefly.  The owner pointed out a hole made by a knife point.  Apparently the guy known as Sovereign stabbed his knife into the top of the coffee can tip can.  The owner then told him to leave (no doubt backed by the second amendment).  Soon afterward the guy killed a hiker and almost killed another.

This appears to be a bear print on the trail but no bear has been seen yet.

Day 40 - The forecast for today was more rain so a few of us decided to take a zero in the hostel.  We went into town again to eat and get more supplies.  This was the third weather related zero day and I wondered if I'm being too cautious.  Hiking in the rain can suck but as they say "you must embrace the suck."   This zero day ate up my extra day I'd earned a few days ago.  In hindsight I should have not taken the zero day at the hostel.  It really didn't rain that much the next day.  The confederate flag under one of the bunks didn't make me comfortable either.

The owner of the hostel was nice enough.  His older brother would show up every now and then.  His accent was so thick I could hardly understand him.  A hiker from Netherlands was fascinated by him since he had no clue what he was saying.  He just kept nodding his head.

This day also tied for the longest hike in terms of days hiked I've ever done matching my second Camino.

A meadow is a nice change of scenery along the trail.

 Day 41 - After talking with other hikers over the past couple of days I decided to push hard the next couple of days.  This day would be a long 15.9 miles (25.6 km) predominantly up hill.

It was a very long day and it was overcast and a bit uninspiring but after seeing some interesting but muted views from Big Bald Mountain I arrived at Big Bald Mountain Shelter where I spent the night with a few other hikers.

Is that Pi or is a shelter nearby?

Day 42 - Temperatures were in the low 40s this morning and for some reason I was really cold.  I think some of my insulating fat layers have been replaced with non-insulating muscle.  I spent most of the night putting on more layers.

Lots of rain equals lots of
water in the streams.

I left early and hiked hard in an attempt to warm up.  Today I would push hard again, this time predominantly down.  By the end of the day I'd hiked 16.8 miles (27 km) to Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel and Cabins just outside Erwin, TN.

I rented a cabin that had a set of bunk beds with full size mattresses.  I've never seen that large of a bed.   The hostel has an outfitter and offered three free shuttle trips into Erwin.  I took one of those shuttles into town to resupply and eat an Italian dinner.

I spent time with a few hikers I knew including Eastwood and Jim (He always wore a bandana but too many hikers were named Bandana).  Jim and I had spent the last few shelters and the Hostel together.

The hard hiking days I'd just done had pushed me a day ahead of schedule.

Day 43 - Another zero day to recover from the two hard days I'd just hiked.  A shuttle into town for breakfast and a relaxing afternoon at the hostel to let my body recover.  That was what I needed.

A lot of hikers here were shuttling ahead to Damascus to celebrate Trail Days.  It's a big celebration with gear vendors, food, and lots of drinking.  I decided to skip it.  Who knows, I may catch up to people who took time off for the festivities.   I expect the trails to be empty between Erwin and Damascus.  Eastwood and Jim took the shuttle.  I never saw them again.

Pictures can be found in my 2019 Appalachian Trail Google Photos album.

Total Distance: 355.16 Miles (571.58 km) Section Distance: 70.35 Miles (113.22 km) Section Elevation Up: 15,928 ft (4,855 m) Section Elevation Down: 15,794 ft (4,814 m)

NOTE:. Due to human error, part of the GPS track was not recorded properly.  I drew in the approximate route on the map but the elevation data listed above is an approximation.

Appalachian Trail: Standing Bear Farm Hostel To Hot Springs, NC

UPDATED 10-18-2020

I'm moving from bubble to bubble.  As I take nearo and zero days I leave everyone behind … well actually they leave me behind.  This makes the social game of the Appalachian Trail (AT) a bit difficult and makes the trail feel isolating and lonely.  This is worse in the towns when I almost always alone.  It wasn't like in Franklin when I did stuff with Curry and Crow.

My first bubble is way ahead of me. I liked most of those people.  Only Curry, who has had knee issues, is behind me.  My second bubble didn't click with me.  My third had some good people who I liked but they too are ahead of me.  The latest one was, frankly, too old.  I prefer a younger group who doesn't discuss retirement or losses in their families.  Younger people are more positive and supportive.

I have been told there are a few bubbles behind me.  Not sure if they will catch up with me.  If they do, will we find something in common?

An orange salamander sharing the wet trail.

Day 33 - The blueberry pancakes were not ready yet when I left the hostel.  My first mistake of the day.  The other mistake was not waiting out the rain.

I climb up the trail in pouring rain.  I'd thought I might do a fifteen mile day but the river that was the trail, and my wet cold self, convinced me to go for my planned stop of 6.9 miles (11.1 km).

I arrived early to the shelter and stripped off my wet clothes and put on some dry things to help me warm up.  The weather got better but I decided to stay anyway.  In hindsight this was a mistake.  Several other hikers stopped at the shelter with me but continued on once the rain had stopped.  I should have done the same, maybe not another six miles but anything more would have been better in the long run.

Day 34 - This morning started out cloudy but dry.  The trail was still slow going due to the muddy swampy conditions left by the rain.  I started out really slow this day.

The view from Max Patch.

The highlight of today's hike was summiting Max Patch (formerly Mack's Patch).  The summit had been cleared of trees to allow the grazing of cattle.  The view from the summit, despite the low clouds, was superb.  As I stood taking it in the Sun made an appearance.  As I walked over the summit I expected to see Julie Andrews proclaiming the hills were alive with the sound of music.

After Max Patch I got a second wind and finished the 13.1 mile (21.1 km) target for the day.  The shelter was small and a bit rundown so I tented for the fourth time on the AT.  A couple older gentlemen stopper here as well.

For my Mom: Closest thing to a Maiden Hair Fern that I could find.

Days 35 & 36 - I had another 13.1 miles to do to get to Hot Springs, NC.  Most of this was down.  A never-ending down.  While I started off strong I finished with a whimper.

The AT symbol marking the trail in Hot Springs.

I was almost out of water and my legs and feet were sore from the pounding when I arrived in town.  The AT runs right down the town's main street.  I arrived at my hotel where I'd made a reservation a few days earlier.  They had texted me my room number and a code.  Turns out the code opened a lock box next to the door with my key in it.   I ended up checking in and out without actually talking to a real person face to face.

I checked out the town and got some food - not easy to do when three of the four restaurants were closed for one reason or another.  I did eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's while I did laundry.

On the second day I slept in a little and had a good breakfast. I ran into Strider, Hemingway, and Cricket here where they were taking a longer break.

I resupplied at the outfitter, Dollar General, and a cool country store.  Since I was in a town named Hot Springs I soaked in a mineral springs hot tub.  I was alone since most of the hikers I knew in town had soaked the day before.  I bought a sleeve for my cranky left foot.  Just a bunch of town and trail related stuff.

Today, after this posts, I will return to the trail.  It is tough leaving the comfort of the town.  At times it seems all I think about when on the trail is getting to the next town.  I can't say this is the right attitude and it may just be a passing phase but it has been tough at times to keep positive.  To be honest, while I'm in town all I think about is getting back on the trail.

A comment about statistics.  25% of thru-hikers quit by Neel Gap (day four for me).  45 to 50% have quit by Hot Springs.  The odds are getting better that I'll make it all the way.  Barring an unexpected injury, the only thing in my way is my mental state.   The past few days have been tough for me.  All I can say is I am here to finish and I will keep on keeping on.

Pictures can be found in my 2019 Appalachian Trail Google Photos album.

Total Distance: 284.81 Miles (458.36 km) Section Distance: 34.56 Miles (55.62 km) Section Elevation Up: 8,105 ft (2,470 m) Section Elevation Down: 8,721 ft (2,658 m)

NOTE: I have corrected a day numbering issue in the last few posts.

Appalachian Trail: Franklin, NC To Nantahala Outdoor Center

UPDATED 10-18-2020

A thought before I talk about what I've been up to on the Appalachian Trail.

Before I reached Unicoi Gap and Hiawassee where I ended my first attempt two years ago, there was always a little evil voice in the back of my head saying that it was ok to quit again. After leaving Hiawassee the voice has lost its power and fades a bit more everyday. Yes, on tough days I wonder what the heck I'm doing but I no longer consider quitting. I just want to keep going.

Now on with the show …

Snow frosting the trees along the trail.

Day 18 - Curry decided to stay in Franklin one more day to see a band she liked and to let her knee rest some more. This would mark the end of my trail family.

I returned to the Appalachian Trail at Winding Stair Gap. When the shuttle arrived to drop us off it began to snow! Most of the day I hiked up hill in varying degrees of snowfall.  It was truly amazing. The snow stuck to the trees turning everything white. A gorgeous backdrop for my 11 miles (17.7 km) hike today. The trail itself always seemed to be free of snow.

When I arrived at Wayah Bald Shelter I was surprised to find it full.  This is the first time I arrived at a shelter and not got in. I think some of the hikers took a zero day in the shelter to skip the snow - a mistake in my opinion.

I found a relatively flat spot near the shelter and put my tent up in the falling snow.  Even though it was early I made my hot meal of the day and ate but it was so cold my hot meal turned tepid very soon.  I crawled into my tent and ate the rest of my daily allotment of food before hanging my food bag in a nearby tree.

Snow on my tent.

I crawled back into my tent early.  There wasn't anyone I knew in the shelter though I introduced myself to a few of the hikers.  I met Ambassador, Sunny and Letters.

It was going to be a cold night with probable subfreezing temperatures.  It was a night of many layers.

Day 19 - It didn't get as cold as I expected it to be which was a good thing.  I broke down my wet tent and headed out. The weather was weird starting with a lot of clouds.  As the trail climbed you entered a place where yesterday's snow was still hanging around but soon the higher temperatures made the snow and ice fall like a faux hailstorm.  The trail was soon covered in ice that crunched under your feet.

Panorama from the tower at the top of Wesser Bald.

Soon afterwards the snow was all gone and the skies cleared. From the watch tower on top of Wesser Bald you could see what I assume are the Smokey Mountains.  You could also see the snow on their peaks.

I pushed harder than planned today but it felt good though I'm glad I stopped at Wesser Bald Shelter. For those wondering what a shelter looks like:

Wesser Bald Shelter - three walls, a floor, and a roof.

Day 20 - Today was a short 6 mile (9.7 km) day into the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). It's a favorite stop for hikers. They offer resupply, gear, food, zip lines, whitewater rafting, and kayaking.

I spent most of the day recuperating from my two long days, resupplying, taking in calories (i.e. eating junk food), and resting up for the climb tomorrow. My garbage bag had leaked inside my food bag over the last couple days so I rinsed the bag in the river behind the camp store. Somewhere here I bought an NOC magnet and promptly lost it.

With hindsight I think I probably should have moved on after I'd eaten and resupplied.

The hills and valleys are turning green.

Next stop, Fontana Dam and the entrance to the Smokey Mountains.

Pictures can be found in my 2019 Appalachian Trail Google Photos album.

Total Distance: 141.46 Miles (227.66 km) Section Distance: 28.13 Miles (45.27 km) Section Elevation Up: 5,806 ft (1,770 m) Section Elevation Down: 7,962 ft (2,427 m)

Appalachian Trail: "Once More Unto The Breach"

It started early in 2018, a year after my failed attempt at an Appalachian Trail (AT) thu-hike.  Through most of 2017 I had struggled with depression, regret, and not a little bit of embarrassment.  In spring of 2018 the depression lifted a bit and the regret asserted itself.  I began to wonder if I should try the AT thru-hike again.

I didn't share this thought with anyone.  I wanted the idea to ruminate a bit to see how I felt about it.  I started biking again in late April 2018, often daydreaming about the AT as I rode .  One day on a bike ride, as I pondered the trail, I realized I was smiling.  This was significant for me - before my first attempt I often doubted if I was doing the right thing.  Now the thought of a second try made me smile.

The Wife and I were sitting watching TV one evening when the Wife asked if I should go out for another long hike.  I think she registered the funk of indecision I was in about a second attempt.  I told her my thoughts of a second attempt on the AT.  She was incredibly supportive.  I asked her not to share my decision until I felt more certain.  I kind of felt that talking/posting about it would jinx it somehow.

I started planning soon after.  I rode my bike more and I started hiking with a pack to prepare.  I soon realized that I was not getting any younger so I made a decision ... It would be in 2019.

As you are reading this post, assuming you are reading soon after it's publishing, I am not far from Springer Mountain - the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail - and I am heading north.

Posted this picture before my first attempt.  This time things will be different.

This time things are different for both the Wife and I.  Last time the Wife was anxious about me doing this.  Strangely enough, I had the exact same feeling except with the emotional anchor of depression added on.  This time both the Wife and I are excited.  I feel more ready than I did last time.  I have a better plan than last time.  I have learned the lessons of last time.  I feel ready for the adventure ahead of me.

"Once more unto the breach!"

- Shakespeare's play "Henry V"          

P.S. If you are following this adventure on Facebook, you may want to like/follow my Homer's Travels page to get posts as they are published.  Better yet, follow @HomersTravels on Twitter.