Thursday, August 2, 2018

More Insight as to WHY, The Long Trail.

   Ok So most are probably wondering, What do you hope to gain from this adventure. I mentioned some before but with a little time on my hands at camp thought I would add to it
I have thought about this for quite some time, I wanted to come up with a meaningful answer that explain why this trip is on the “to do list”. Hmm ….fingers tapping….biting knuckles……..more thought….. Then it hit me, actually Three things came to mind and I suppose I already knew the answer inside but never really gave it that much thought or talked about it. One reason is, and it is no particular order, One reason is no better than the next, you could say they are equal importance. Yes back to the first thing, this would be just too spent time with Anita. At home and at the trailer there is always someone around, it’s rare to be able to have time alone so I guess taking her in the middle of the mountain range in Vermont would cure that. Hardly anyone will be there in fact I am not sure Anita wants to be there. I just hope at the end of it ( whatever that is) we will still be talking hopefully even still married .If not married I think this will be a very expensive trip! When I say “Whatever that is” I mean we plan on finishing the Long Trail But who knows what will take place. I said it before, this is an adventure whether not we finish. As you can imagine when taking a trip like this, making it to your destination is great but it’s all the stuff in between that makes it fantastic. Think about it like an Oreo cookie the outsides are the start and finish and the filling in the middle is the adventure…The Good Stuff. It’s what most of us look forward to; just don’t be in a hurry to finish the first one to have another.
   The next I think I know I mentioned before but will cover it again, this time with a bit history. When you have children from babies until they are out on their own you are constantly teaching them something. Anyone with kids knows this and to be fair it’s not always easy. It seems they know everything anyway. I remember taking the kids to the ball park to ride bikes and decided to show them how to do a jump. My first couple of jumps were alright until I build up a bit of confidence. My next run I did with a little speed. Actually too much speed. A bit sideways in the air to land a total wipe out to the horror of the kids. They came over to make sure I was alright .I was, but just barely alright. As I brushed away the dust, dirt and small bit of blood, I picked up my bike, happy that I taught them to not hit that jump with too much speed. The truth is I wasn’t really happy about that lesson by the way. There has to be easier ways! Another skill I taught them was to skim board. This ended with me showing them how to get road rash on half your leg at the beach. Showing them how to scooter in the drive way was another. By now I think you can guess how this ended, Yes it was over the handle bars with me rolling around the driveway. I guess I may be better at showing them what not to do. At any rate I hope to show them that they can do anything they desire from the small to the big, don’t create limitations for yourself, don’t be afraid to travel don’t be afraid to experience new things and when doing these things Don’t be afraid to fail. I do have scars to prove it.
   All joking aside if I started the sports mentioned earlier in life I think I could have be a pro.

   Last but not least. When sitting around in our later years maybe with grandchildren or at some type of gathering with folks around , who knows where it will be, I don’t want to be telling stories about working 90000 hours of my life in and out of an office. I want to be able to tell the story of how we hiked the long trail and what we had learned and gained from this experience. I want to tell of the people we met, the places we stayed and the obstacles we overcame. The work is just the means to allow this to happen. After all no-one wants to hear about work anyway. I know I don’t even want to talk about it.
I hope that answers some questions of why I decided to hike. I think Anita will tell a different story. She will say that she is doing it to make sure I don’t get hurt. As long as she is along for the ride I will be happy whatever her reasons.
   Now our story of the trail will be different from anyone else’s, ours has been in the making for a year now and is about to commence, How will it end, How it will be told will be up to us. I am looking forward to the day when this experience can be shared. I will tell you one thing for sure! Beer got us into the mess and beer will be there in the end, I hope we can all meet and talk about the newly minted memories in the near future over a Bud Light.

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