Living on a prayer
Today was one of those days where I got a little bit of everything. I am starting to wonder if I will ever have a full day of sunshine again.
I was on trail around 6:35AM this morning. The trail leading to Pine Grove Furnace State Park was fairly easy. There were a couple of spots that were a tad bit rocky, but those usually did not last long. The rest of the trail was fairly level and smooth terrain.
I rolled into Pine Grove Furnace around 10:30AM. By this point I had already crossed the half-way point, however there was no marker because the half-way point changes every year due to relocations.
In PFG I attempted and completed the "half gallon challenge". It took me around 15 minutes to consume a half gallon of strawberry-chocolate-vanilla ice cream. Of course it was raining and cold when I walked into the general store, so I had to enjoy the ice cream indoors. When I finished the ice cream I received a small spoon that said "member of half gallon club".
Just north of the park I stumbled upon a sign that denotes what was at one time the half way point. While this is no longer the official half-way point, it's a good spot to celebrate. I have now walked 2.5 million of the 5 million steps needed to get me to Maine.
For the rest of the hiking day it was raining. The grade was not all that difficult but the rocks were slick and there was plenty of mud.
I rolled into the shelter at 1:50PM, and my body told me I was done. My body needs some rest, so this "shorter" day will do me some good.
To think I have walked half of the Appalachian Trail. It's hard to believe I'm halfway home. From here on out I have a shorter distance to walk that I've already walked. Katahdin is no longer a distant monolith, but a goal that I become closer and closer to by the day.
Woah. I'm halfway there. Woah. I'm living on a prayer.
I'll make it.
I swear.
I shall now prepare to fight will all of mt heart, all of my soul, and all of my might.
And that's the way it was.
Kirby
"Sir, every thinking man in this country will vote for you", says a man to Winston Churchill.
Churchill replies: "That's not enough, I need a majority."
Ga>ME 2008.
