A boring day in the forest (Day 90)

I had a great night’s sleep on my new closed cell foam mat. It was surprisingly comfortable and the firm surface provided strong support for my back. I also like that I now have a mat to stretch on in the morning and at night, so I don’t have to sit in the dirt anymore. If anything, I wonder why I didn’t change sooner.

A lesson in worldliness

I walked almost 16 miles today and I won’t lie, it felt a little heavy. It’s not to say that every day I’m not grateful to be on the AT, or that nature and wildlife aren’t beautiful, but some days are just boring. I actually don’t think this is a bad thing. We can’t expect every day to feel like one big adventure, whether at home or on the road. Some days exist simply to get us from point A to point B, acting like small pieces of a larger puzzle.

Pieces of a life

I spent the small chunk of today thinking about my apartment, my cat, my husband, and my life. Of course, I think about these things in some way every day. So far, I’ve walked almost 1,200 miles, and sometimes it seems like I must have had every thought I’m capable of. But the next day I find something new to think about. It is an endless stream. New thoughts spring from my mind as abundant as the leaves of the Appalachian trees.

Sounds of society

I’m camped for the night at a small site next to Trout Run. It can’t be more than a quarter mile from Route 443, although you can’t see the road through the trees. Cars pass quickly and, from time to time, a helicopter flies overhead. I don’t really mind the noise; It feels like something different.

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