Itiniary
M=8.0;C=234.9
J: In at Mountain Mama's, Waterville NC. Hostelled with Port and Starboard, Permagrine, Stomper, Tired Dogs, Babbles, Portacan (after a run-in with sheltermice, he might become 'Dances with Mice'), WrongWay and Yeti. Met Denver Dan, a systems engineer with Martin Marietta.
Spent the evening sitting by the stream, sharing stories. Smoking swisher sweets on the water. Fishing off the rocks and skipping stones.
We're just out of the Smokies on the north side. Long descent, and mixed emotions about getting out of the Smokeys. Legs are stronger, save for the toes that no longer know they're there and that R knee. I've slipped another day on the itin. Seven days back. I think it's time for a reality check.
I'm no longer interested in finishing on some artificially picked day. Back in the winter when I first worked up the spreadsheet on the Mac, April 1 to Labor Day seemed fun and realistic. Adding just two miles a day and I'm easily back on track in two months. That's easy. What isn't easy, what isn't on the itin is that the whole experience is not what I expected. Quiet aloneness and contemplation in the woods by myself. Yeah -- that's not the hike.
Yes, the A.T. is giving me so much of that alone time. But the people I've met are -- well, they are all flawed. They all have their issues. And they're excellent people. The townies - the weekenders - the people who don't even know their trail magic exists. This trek is going to be over far quicker than I know, or want. Why push it? I think the spreadsheet didn't account for the wonder of it all. I think the spreadsheet needs to be folded up and tucked in with the topo map from the hiker box -- the map is not the territory; the schedule misses the magic.