**Facebook Post 092917 at 11:36AM**
Thanks For The Memories
Last night I split a hotel with a couple of north-bounders turned flip-floppers, Overload and Romeo. I originally met them in Maine when they were traveling in a larger group (A “trail family” as they call them out here.) getting ready to summit Katahdin. It was my fortune to randomly meet back up with them in Vermont when they came back through a small section they originally skipped. Last night, I’m proud to say we finished walking Vermont together and entered the great state of Massachusetts.
For at least the last few days, we have been leap frogging and hiking as a small unorganized group. I say unorganized, due to the fact we met up, then parted ways, then I met up with them again during their attempt at the 24 (miles)/24 (hours)/24 (beers) challenge. It’s a trail thing. Let’s say they were hard to miss as they sang and frolicked down the dirt path toward me at minimum 6 beers in already. LOL
The guys will be completing the 2,189 mile journey with this last section, a final 70 or so miles. (Good luck! You should be hugely proud of yourselves! The weather and sun are with you!)
I was unfortunately due to get off trail for my grandmother’s services today, and the guys were in need of resupply anyway. So we took it upon ourselves to push into Williamstown, Massachusetts last night. We arrived well after dark.
Upon hitting town, and immediately as we left the woods, I got this almost euphoric feeling. Things are different in the world, in towns. There’s water here and it’s plentiful, and you can get food, whenever you want. So, you can imagine as we searched for a hotel and randomly came across a grocery store, we would feel compelled to enter, which we did.
We wandered the isles originally as a group, but eventually set off in our own directions, One by one, we met back up in front with our gear and grub. It’s a good feeling to just hand over a bit of paper and suddenly have whatever you want to feed your face. You loose that appreciation when you have it every day, at your fingertips.
Also, staying in a hotel room with a hot shower and comfy beds is also a luxury you forget. Even though I had just been in town a few nights before in Manchester at Jen’s Place (hostel) literally hours after I had left, I was back covered in sweat, walking my tail off, and feeling the pain of my feet. It’s the small things that society provides that become so beautiful. I relish clean sheets, warm water, hell, running water, and food, all sorts of food. Prepackaged, whole, fresh, not so, whatever, open mouth and insert. When on trail and I run out of my favorite food, it’s not like I can just snap my fingers and get more. My next opportunity to have that flavor hit my tongue might not be for 100 miles. It can be brutal eating Ramen Soup for 5 nights in a row because you ran out of Campbell’s…
It was sad parting ways today with the guys. Our first meeting actually happened (over a month ago) during trail magic at a roadside stand where the hosts were feeding hikers hotdogs and burgers and cold soda. A blessing in the woods. Thank God for trail angels! Immediately after the magic, the guys and their trail family met at the bottom of the hill to camp and congregate over a warm fire. Being I had been traveling alone, it was a great experience to be included and have a little shared time with other hikers. Plus, I never burn a fire. I usually walk way late and have zero energy for fires. Plus, I’m alone, I just eat, then crash, typically.
You can make great friends really fast on trail. The experience of being out in the remote resonates, and we are all going through it together, in a way. The struggles are the same. For me, I have never had the very real experience of the “normal” through hike. I’ve always been in a hurry. Always trying to complete big miles and quick. I’m out for months, and I meet many people, but I can see how my experience differs from the traditional thru-hike. I don’t get the whole trail family experience long term, and I don’t get to share the moment of finally completing the enormous task of 2,189 miles shared with people who have gone through at least a huge portion of it with me or at the same time. I’m always half in, if you will.
I still have to say though, I’ve hiked with many folks over the years, through hikers, section hikers and day hikers, and the experience for me at least lasts. I actually stay friends, even if at a distance, with most of the people I have met on trail. It’s weird. Even though my time with them had been brief, it was still substantial, and holds deep in my heart. I can tell you stories in which the memory does not fade for each and every hiker I’ve shared moments and amazing conversation with. These people are not just friends, but people I have met that cannot be replaced in the experience which is my life. Moments and friends I will remember forever.
Hiking on the AT especially, has a magic about it that I truly can’t explain to the layman. I recommend it to anyone looking to expand their mind, change their life, feel more deeply, look more closely, in need of deeper relationships, looking for more, etc.. If you breath, I recommend it. I don’t care if you are 80 or 18. If you can muster up the time and energy, even if brief, get out there. It WILL not only change your life, but give you a paradigm shift that will fundamentally thrust you in a different direction forever.
So, good luck Romeo (aka Kevin Hanley) and Overload (aka Cameron Kearney)!!! I’m with you guys for those last 70 miles, even if I’m not physically there! You always have a place to chill in Florida! Just hit me up!
Sort of symbolic as I watched those two head one direction down the sidewalk today, as I headed the other. And here I sit, in Dunkin Donuts, waiting for my Uncle Brian (Brian York) and my father (Blayde York) to pick me up and bring me to NY for my grandmother’s funeral. We are all on our own sacred journey, aren’t we?
Peace and Love ya’ll!
11:25AM Start (092917)
•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
11:25AM End
APPROX 0 Miles
(OFFICIALLY OFF TRAIL FOR GRANDMA’S FUNERAL AND FAMILY TIME)
