It is now exactly 4 months since I reached the end of the Appalachian Trail .
I can’t shake the damn Trail! It is stuck to me super glue. It comes up every day for me, multiple times a day. I have moved away from the pre-AT part of my self that was able to fit right in with mostly everything, to this sort of new model self that functions more like a visitor from a foreign country. This is the direct result of being outdoors for months at a time, walking around, and taking in the rocks, trees, wind, and elements that touch our bodies on a daily basis.
I am convinced that much of what is shoveled our way through the media is drivel that only lines the pockets of people and organizations that want to fatten their wallets at our financial and spiritual expense.
I don’t buy much of anything other than coffee, meals, and newspapers.
My wife complains that I don’t change my socks enough, that I need to put t -shirts in the wash way sooner than I do . She winces when I have on the exact same clothes that I have had on for the past several days, in public, and out at work.
I really don’t want to cut my hair.
I could care less about reading about backpacking gear. Gear either works fine, or if you go out there and it doesn’t, you get something that does.
I have the feeling that even though we all do the best we can in getting through the day , we end up supporting a superstructure of obligations that may not be ideal for us to shoulder.
I have given up magazine subscriptions that I used to think I needed. I like going to the library and ordering books about people that live in the outdoors.
I have insufficient motivation to stick with reading and posting to Whiteblaze.net. Reading about what people think is important regarding the Appalachian Trail is too far removed from actually getting outside and walking.
While all this sounds like I am turning into a malcontent, I feel that I am OK. I continue to formulate my own plans for getting outside and living in my tent or my hammock. I am getting back into playing music with my polka band, King Pirogi on a weekly basis.
I am headed down to Florida tomorrow on a cheap flight from Bangor, ME to hang out with my oldest friend, Edward , who is camping in Disneyworld.
I am making plans to introduce one of my AT hiking buddies, Bad Influence, to winter camping here in Maine the week of Feb. 19-24. We will head up to the North Maine Woods where we will walk in an area northwest of Baxter state park. I am very excited that my wife ( Auntie Mame) and her twin sister V8 have plane tickets to Atlanta, GA in order to start their own 6 months out on the AT this Feb. I get to be a support person and Trailjournals transcriber for her.
I already have plans to joint at least 5 people for sections of the AT this season. I have a lot of hope about things again.
Uncle Tom
