I’m here at the airport, finally on my way! It was a whirlwind weekend trying to get everything ready. Yesterday I had my ceremonial last hair cut (see picture), it feels really good. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a buzz cut, so it’s still a litttle shocking when I see my head in the mirror.
Anyways, my dad and I are flying Manchester, NH, then taking a cab in to Boston, then taking a train up to Portland to spend the night. We’ll rent a car and drive up to the trailhead in Baxter State Park tomorrow morning and start walking. Turns out the the forecast calls for rain for about the first two weeks…let’s hope my rain gear holds out.
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Okay everyone, you win. I am now officially on Twitter. I don’t even know how to use the damn thing, and I sure don’t know what I am going to “tweet” about besides “I’m walking….still walking….walking some more…” but the point is I am there so stop bugging me about it already! Find me at https://twitter.com/robertbkent.
Ooooo, I can change my background colors—pretty!
I can already tell I am going to like this.
Alot.
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I can hardly believe it, but I am leaving in three days. I’ve been going down my checklist, and it seems like everything is in order. My pack has arrived in Portland, I’m almost done cooking, mail drops are arranged, I’ve got a room reserved at Shaw’s Lodging for when I finish the Hundred Mile Wilderness. There is still a nagging feeling that I am forgetting something, but I guess by this point it will have to be something that I can live without. All that’s left to do now is start walking.
I’ve pretty much given up trying to anticipate what this trip is going to be like, or how I am going to feel once I have started, or any of that really. I’m sure it’s going to have its ups and downs, days where I am loving it, and days where I wish I was back home. I think in many senses, there really is no way to totally prepare for something like this—it’s easier to take it day by day.
If you’re of the praying sort, I would definately appreciate your thoughts and prayers for safety and health and that I may see the Lord and his goodness in the wild.
“Never stop because you are afraid – you are never so likely to be wrong.”
– Fridtjof Nansen, Polar explorer
“The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.”
– Benton MacKaye, father of the Appalachian Trail
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I just got back from the YMCA where I was using their scale to weigh my pack. Without food or water (so just gear) it weighs in at 32 pounds. So, when you add food and water (which is of variable weight), I’m looking at 55 pounds or so. This is about ten pounds heavier than I was hoping. So, now comes the time where I ruthlessly dissect my gear and see what I need and what I don’t. Let’s take a poll: what should I leave behind? Sleeping bag? Tent? Extra pants? Long underwear? Or all of the above? My vote is the first aid kit–what’s the worst that could happen?
UPDATE: I just dropped off my pack at UPS and it is on it’s way to Maine! I was able to shed a few pounds off its weight, but it’s still a little heavier than I was aiming for. Oh well, not the end of the world.
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