Schedule, schedule, schedule...

I went into a shop today, pack on, to buy another memory card for my camera. "You hiking the AT" the guy asked perceptively? "Sure am," I said. "Ah," he replied, "You must be the last one on the trail thru-hiking this year."

Then it hit me...that nagging, horrible, bastard of a deadline, October 15th...the last day to climb Kathadin at the end.

"Enjoy the moment" I am told again and again by experienced hikers. "Maine will always be there." That daily internal struggle to make up the miles behind while I try to find balance and see and enjoy things the way I want to see and enjoy them.

Hikers who are goal-oriented have it easy. They generally don't care about the towns, they focus on the miles and invariably, unless they injure themselves or lose their will to go on, make it to Maine on time.

But I'm built differently.

I love American culture and small-town charm. I love American "Kitch" and tacky tourist towns. I love a slog of greasy spoon food now and then to break up a week of hard mountain climbing. But with each tacky tourist shop entered, that little hiker with the stop watch sitting on my left shoulder keeps reminding me about the October 15th deadline.

I have plenty of time still and the sore knee and ankles that were plaguing me for the past several weeks are feeling better now, no doubt because I have taken more time off. But still, I must push on and challenge myself a little more. It's a battle of finesse to be sure.

Today I take my second zero day here in Gatlinburg but inside I am really looking forward to getting on the trail tomorrow, rain or shine.

Ron
Lover of all things "Kitch"