My daily morning meditation has been memorizing the 81 chapters of the Tao te Ching. Exercising the mind while cleansing the soul followed by some yoga stretches (so important at the senior age) and some strength training. We all know that as days go on we lose focus on our training habits. At those times I grab onto someone like Heigh Way hiking the AP and use his perseverance. Ive held onto the Tao te Ching for my 48 yrs of martial arts training. Like a lot of philosophies where you are today will have a different meaning of where you were yesterday. Focus is keeping a helpful Zen mind - enough of that, sorry. Heres Heigh Ways latest posting as he has crossed over into PA. MyDAY EIGHTY-TWO Nov 4, Wolf Rocks, South, PA, Camp #1, 1,632, mile 906. Wow, was it cold at last nights camp! The wind disappeared by early morning, which was disappointing as those conditions resulted in the inside of my tent fly to be caked with frost (the vapors from me, inside the tent). A good wind circulates my breathing vapors outside of the tent fly. Broke camp at 5:50am (or I should say 4:50am, which would be the correct daylight savings time). If I was king for a day, not only would I get rid of fall back, but I would also add an hour, the other way. Then people would get home from work and have a few hours of daylight left. Perhaps people would exercise more, and be healthier and happier. Who cares about light in the AM, what a waste. Were all at work anyway. It might as well be dark longer on the front end! Hiked with a faster pace, trying to warm up. I followed the big dipper/north star, as I was headed that way in the first part of the day. I descended 1,000 to the floor of the valley and went by the Kittatinny/Delaware Gap Park visitor center, which disappointingly, was closed for the season. Then I had an experience that will be on the Top 10 events on the trail (first one to this newly created list), that I hated!! I had to cross the Delaware River on I-80, with the 18-wheelers, coming right at me, seemed like hundreds of them going 70 MPH, not 5 from where I walked. For .4 miles. With the wind they created, I was absolutely stone cold and close to hypothermia and deaf from the noise, by the time I crossed it. I should have dressed like I was doing a winter traverse in the NH Presidentials, but I wasnt, so I sped through, trying to generate some body heat to no avail. My long pants, gaiters, long jersey, fleece vest, hat and gloves, did not cut it! Now thankfully, I climbed up (1,000+) to Mt Minsi (1,461), generating some wonderful body heat where I took the picture of the Delaware Water Gap. Photo Credit: HeighWay Fantastic, I completed New Jersey (my 7th state of 14 total) and now Id reached Pennsylvania!! I cant help but think of the great people, and my friends at NAVSUP/ Philadelphia. They had to put up with me for 30 years, while I worked at GE, and we all know, that aint easy!!! I miss them all (Gina B, Joe Bigley, Joe Bader, Jim B, Eillen D, Charlie F, Chuck H, John J, Mel, Mario P, Dave M, JR, Dave R, Greg S, Mark S, Michelle T), not to mention the many, many officers of the USN and Marines Corp who came through on their one year assignments. What a great group they all are, and they helped me professionally grow up during my career. Eileen D. would now interject, Geoff, you never REALLY grew up, and thats why we all still like you! My brothers and sisters from the Keystone State, I miss them all!! Great trail conditions as I followed this grass filled, woods road, all along the top of the ridge for miles. Water was again an issue as each stream and spring was non-existent. I was heading to Kirkridge Shelter for water, as supposedly they had a pump/tap behind the shelter. Sadly it was already disassembled for the cold season. Now I was in trouble, I was going to have to rely on one spring a few miles away, or I was going to have to hike a total of 25 miles for the day to the next shelter. I descended and crossed Fox Gap (Rt #191) and then, is it a mirage, or do I see 3 gallon plastic jugs of water, on the other side of the road, where the AT goes back into the woods? Hallelujah, thank God for trail angels, whoever they are! I filled 3 bottles, drank another and headed off (the spring was dry, so without that roadside water, I would have had to hike 25 miles). I climbed to the top of Wolf Rocks. A rough section of trail, very New Hampshire-esque The boulder ridge went for 100 yards, with great views. Came into a slight wooden sag/col on the trail and decided it looked good for camp tonight. Two hot chocolates and two dinners (lasagna and beef stew) and Im ready to turn in. Another great day on the trail! Looks like the weather is going to be good tomorrow as well!! Livin the Dream HeighWay HeighWay Latitude:40.91409 Longitude:-75.23296 GPS location Date/Time:11/04/2013 13:38:11 EST Message:Having a great day on the trail. Heighway is in NJ, heading south on the AT. Click the link below to see where I am located. fms.ws/EU990/40.91409N/75.23296W
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:21:50 +0000
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