5/22/13...nap time

its been so hot, felt like 90 yesterday, its hard to go hiking when its so hot. Its  just about 5pm, before today's 4+ laps around the Park, and I am flogging myself todothis everyday. I canceled the Tarptent Notch order today. I cant pretend to be AT manimal if walking a lousy 4-10 laps  for 3-4 hours wipes me out.

Wish I'd done the AT when I was 22. I had tons of time and I could've managed. I wasnt hypothyroid then. I hadnt had a damaging stroke yet. I was fit and energetic. I didn't have any family or job hold backs. But it hadnt occurred to me to do it.   I wasn't in the mood to launch myself into the apparently lonely green world of the AT.

Instead I bummed around southern Europe for 4 months, aimlessly. Looking back on it I no longer see as that as worthwhile or significant though I certainly did at the time. Who is right- the 23 year old or the 58 year old? Both? Neither?

I see the AT as... a challenge...yet  if psychologically I'm readier for the AT, physically I'm not able. I'm seriously old and unfit. I stopped lap swimming over a year ago, and I cant walk more than 2-4 hours ie 5-10 miles. My mind says 'its hot, bag it, go read,  or take a nap!'  

5/19 need everything.  months o' veggie burgers and granola and peanut butter....

5/10/13  getting some walking in to see if the AT is doable. I am  not ready! I went 8 miles today to Nottoway Park in Vienna in old  runners and my feet hurt...  I saw a little girl trying to throw a baseball she was like a shot putter, a bluebird and a yellow warbler -they hang out by the ballfield right field fence where there is a little mixed field and trees and few humans... I doubt this is going to work-- typing a blog is tedious!! maybe Ill just use a cell...this is a random shot of maura and me in Colorado, RMNP, ~ 2009