So, this morning I wasn’t sure what I’d do. With the mental games this trail is playing, I’m still not willing to give up. So, my choices were to either head back to the trail this morning or to zero here and head out tomorrow morning. I chose the later which would give me time to make a short term plan and to post my photos and videos from the last two legs of this journey.
The photos and videos have all already been posted. You all should’ve received a short dedicated post about that with a link to them.
As for my immediate plan, I have one. But first, I want to talk about the funk I was in yesterday for which I think I have an explanation. Back in “real life,” anytime a vacation or a family visit or a party weekend comes to an end, there’s always a day or two of transition back to the normal routine. Most experience this as a kind of “oh great – back to work” type of feeling.
Well, what I hadn’t really realized yet is that my hike really is like work. Hiking the trail is my job. I get up in the morning and I hike. In the evening I stop hiking and I camp. So I think what I was experiencing yesterday was the same thing although I didn’t realize it at the time. I’d just had this fun-filled vacation weekend with family and that was now over and I was back to work. I think making this realization will help going forward.
So, what’s this immediate plan of mine? Well, MotMot and Zeba are a day and 3 miles ahead of me now. But for tomorrow and Thursday, they have 2 really short days planned which will land them at Standing Bear Hostel where we’d all planned to stay a night. I’ve figured out that I can get back on track if I do a 15 mile day tomorrow followed by an 18 mile day on Thursday.
The 15 miler should definitely be doable. I’ve already knocked out a 14 miles day by hiking from 8am to 5pm. Even starting out at 9am still gives my until 6pm to cover the same 14. Extend to 7pm and 15 should be doable. But the 18 mile day is gonna be far more tasking. I will need to get started as early as possible to even have a chance of making that day. There is an option for camping at 14 miles that day if it looks like I won’t make it, so at least there’s an alternative. Even if that happens, I will still catch up to MotMot and Zeeba before Hot Springs – it just means I will miss them at Standing Bear.
So that’s my plan. I have a shuttle picking me up tomorrow at 830am. I hope to reach Newfound Gap as close to 900am as possible and to start hiking immediately. Here’s wishing me luck on my first 15 mile day.
Wandering On…
Mojo
Come on now no more talk like that !
A bad day on the trail, still beats a good day at the office, anytime.
There are a bunch of us in the office that are wishing we could be working the train just like you.
You can do this for yourself and for all of us as well.
Thanks for the cheering squad Darrell and all of VCCS!!! I’m doing better these last few days.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are correct though. What you are doing is your job – get up every morning as if you are going to the office. Only your office is the great outdoors and seeing some of the country you may never see again. My husband is enjoying your blogs and your photos and is very envious of you. Hang in there and keep on moving northward.
Thanks Linda! It’s one helluva journey!
I love what Darrell said about a bad day on the trail…….office. Good point. You are so awesome. Wow, the way you counsel yourself makes me so proud of you. Maybe my counseling skills have worn off on you! LOL Hang in there Kel, you are awesome sauce!