One week from today, I'll be arriving in Damascus and beginning this epic journey. Of course, in mind mind it began a while ago. Yesterday was my last day of classes and all my assignments are done, but I still have one more shift at the library and two more days at my loathsome internship before I can really focus on getting ready. Still I've been getting closer with each passing day. I went to the chiropractor today, figuring I ought to have my back adjusted before I carry a 45lb pack on it six days a week for ten weeks. Man I couldn't believe how much he cracked me and how good it felt. I still have a lot of tension in my shoulders, but I'm taller than I was when I went in there!
Last night I figured out where all my maildrops are going to be and realized that Shenandoah is going to be a pain. My options there are either carry two weeks worth of food during that stretch or make a 16mi roundtrip haul to go into town and pick up a drop. I think I'm going to go with the former of the two options. It'll mean greater pack weight, but fewer miles. It was a little sad figuring out where my last drop will be (Salisbury, CT) because it had me thinking about the end of the journey I haven't even finished getting ready for. At least now I know that I'm going to have a friend in that area join me for a stretch.
Figuring out the maildrops was fun to think about, but at the same time I was required to figure out when I expect to be where and I felt I lost something by having established a rough plan. I refuse to go so far as to figure out where I plan to spend each night. I prefer to let that unfold on a day by day or week by week basis. The more unstructured I can keep this trip the better... but a hiker's gotta eat! I also figured out that I may not be able to update this blog on exactly a weekly basis as some towns I'll stop in don't have internet access at the library. C'est la vie. I'll update when and where I can. For now, I'm just going to focus on getting ready and seeing some friends before I leave.
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