Category: Uncategorized
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Quick Update
I appreciate all the people who read and comment my posts and in recognition of that I like to post at least a few posts each week while I’m hiking. Usually I can do that, but these last few weeks have really tested my ability to write while on trail. Hiking on crutches has been…
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Advice
Now that I have a broken foot it seems there are two camps of people. One group calls me Badass, says I’m inspiring and encourages me to keep going. There’s another group that are concerned for me. They tell me I should give up and go home so I don’t hurt my foot more. I…
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Rising From the Ashes
People have told me I bring good things into my life by the way I live or think. I’m not sure I believe this, in part because if that’s true then wouldn’t it also be my thoughts that are responsible for breaking my foot and for other seemingly negative things that happen to me? I…
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I Get by with a LOT of Help from my Friends
Doing a long distance hike looks like a solo adventure. For a few people it is, but for most hikers these seemingly solo adventures are enriched and made possible by the many people who support hikers. This could be someone who mails resupply boxes to the hiker, someone who provides transportation to the start or…
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Asking for what I need
After taking a zero at Uncle Joes motel and fishing camp, I felt a need to move on. I arrived there anticipating buying some prepared food. Instead I was surprised to be told there was leftover lasagna in the refrigerator that I could have. After gratefully downing the lasagna and taking a nap, Trip, who…
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Taking What Comes
As I’ve aged I’ve gotten better at accepting what comes my way. Sometimes it is easy. Other times it is much more difficult. The Florida Trail has presented me with an opportunity to take this to a new level. I took the swamp in stride, learning not to rush it. When the water got shallower…
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It’s All Relative
It became readily apparent on the Florida Trail that dry is relevant. When wading all day in water over my knees, even a stretch of ground with only an inch of water felt relatively dry. On the other hand, ground that had minimal standing water but was full of sole sucking mud definitely did not…
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A quick update
This is just a quick update for all of you who have been wondering what’s going on. I took a week off because I had a foot that was hurting and discovered I had yet another stress fracture in my foot. I’m still in Florida and in a few days I’ll start hiking again. But…
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Optical Illusions
It has taken me a while to get used to a major optical illusion seen across the Florida swamps. Known as cypress domes, these featues are not domes at all. While viewed from almost any distance cypress domes look like small hills, they are in fact depressions! The reason for this is as follows: cypress…
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A Very Special Sendoff
The Florida trail is unique in that it hosts a kick off event each year allowing hikers to meet other aspiring Florida trail thru hikers. A large section of a campground is rented. Thirty or more volunteers show up. Multiple tents are erected with multiple grills, warming dishes and numerous tables loaded with food. Hikers…
The Mary Badass 