Two weeks from this moment, I will be sitting in a Jetblue airplane, practicing my starvation skills as I very slowly munch on the five peanuts provided by the airline, as the plane begins its decent into Charlotte Douglass International Airport. I will no doubt be wondering if my well packed backpack will indeed be AS WELL packed once it gets off the plane. And trying to figure out what extremely important item I forgot to pack. My blood will be rushing through my veins and my heart will be racing as the reality of the pending adventure begins to truly sink in. I may even be regaling my poor neighbor about said pending adventure in fast words without breaths in between, while they desperately beg the flight attendants for relief.
Yep, the journey is almost upon us. As with any great adventure, I fluctuate between thinking everything is all set and wondering what other little thing I need to get. I have a “Oh yeah, I need THIS” list that never seems to get smaller. Meanwhile, Maytag (who may change his trail name to Nucking Futz instead) keeps finding cool toys to bring along that do not actually require another sherpa. For instance he just got us our official Appalachian Trail “Passports”. We can fill it up with stamps from participating folk, thus proving once and for all we actually did pass through all the places we will claim to (even if nobody can prove we actually HIKED the distances in between).
Even as I am typing this, the following came up on my streaming radio. Freaky eh?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78O6–THTF0]
As important as having accurate navigation on the trail may be, the trail is really well-marked. I am more concerned about getting lost in my own pack … therefore I still need to make a good pack map. Kind of a challenge with a nosey cat around. It might be awkward if I pack her by mistake. I also need to pack my “bump” box … basically the box of stuff that I may need more of, don’t need right away, or to eventually put what I don’t need any more into. This box, if I do things right, will be waiting at post offices a few days ahead of me. That, combined with purchasing on the way, is how I plan to keep the larder (and belly) full. Also, for the convenience of any people who are fond of care packages, such as cookies (and other baked goods), I will generously keep people informed on which post office will be best to send them too. Make sure you make enough for everyone on the trail though!!
Stay tuned folks. I am sure I will have more excited babble in the near future!
