2,180.5

I'll admit that for a while during deployment, I sort of rolled off of the Lets-Walk-For-Six Months-After-We-Get-Out-Of-The-Navy-Bandwagon.

I'll admit that for the first few weeks following my move and drive cross-country, the thought of not buying a house of our own, not staying in one place for over a year, and not choosing to grow up like the rest of our friends only sort of made me want to vomit on a place mat.

However, I'll further admit that I'm now the dude upfront the bandwagon whipping the horse.

(Do horses pull bandwagons?  They do in my mind.  Maybe I'm the horse, not the dude.)

Weird.  Whatever.


Anyway, I'm ready to roll.

I'm excited.  I'm planning.  I'm reading.  I'm dreaming.

And Jody is way ahead of me, as he's been planning, reading, dreaming, scheming and budgeting since Christmas.

Like I said, we've already begun our budgeting, and have a few weekend trips planned for the Fall to attend some AT conventions, and do some weekend hiking ourselves.  Jody and I have both read several memoirs of hikers who completed or at least nearly completed the entire thru hike.  I am completely intrigued by their stories, experiences and the obstacles along the way.  There are so many blogs, websites and guides on hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I'm sure I've learned something new every day since I've started up my research again.

I like this list of excellent points in regards to surviving a 5-7 month trek in the mountains.
This page shares some phone calls and pictures from a friend who hiked the AT.  What I liked about this post in particular was how cheerful the woman was, even when describing being eaten alive by mosquitos.  I also felt encouraged when I read that she thru hiked while still remaining gluten free.  I myself have been (mostly) off of gluten for two months now, as I've removed it from my diet and added it back in twice now, and have noticed a significant difference in how I feel with and without.  I'm no GF-straight-edge, as I still cheat with beer or brownies on occasion, but I do think that by simply avoiding foods with gluten and replacing them with more fresh foods, I can mostly control the way my super-sensitive-tummy is going to feel.  Celiac Disease? No way. A sensitivity? Maybe. Hypochondriac? It's possible. Whatever it takes, man.  I've been sick far too much in my 21 years and even if it's in my head, I like feeling healthy.

This post has no point, other than to express my excitement for our adventure to come, should it be in our future.  I surely hope so, but I also trust in God's plan for Jody and I in regards to the next few years ahead of us.  I drive back to Virginia in just six weeks, in hopes of picking up my guy in 7-9.  After which we'll find a new temporary home, and try to relax and take a breather as we finish off our final year of being 'stationed' in Norfolk, VA.