I just looked at the calendar and noticed that I'm exactly two weeks along. 14 days, and I've traveled 106 miles. It's not a stellar pace, but maybe allowable for a 62 year old. An average of a little more than 7 1/2 miles a day. I've spent two days, three counting tonight, in hotels. Mostly this is due to working out how much food to carry, and I'm getting better at it. Some of it is wanting real coffee and a hot shower.
When I leave here tomorrow (maybe on Thursday--got a slight gear issue to resolve) it's 30 miles to the next major resupply. At 7.5 miles a day that will take 4 days. 10 a day? 3. 15? 2. Despite the aches and pains, I feel like I should pick up the pace.
It's a balancing act though, and a matter of being honest with myself. Am I quitting at 8 or 9 miles a day because I'm really done in? Or is it just because I can? Am I trying to keep up with the young studs knocking out 15-20 miles a day, or am I actually capable of putting in that many miles? It won't do to push too hard.
An axiom on the trail is “hike your own hike”. I guess I'm just getting a feel for what my hike actually looks like, and thinking out loud. To do more miles it will be necessary to start hiking in rougher conditions, too. In driving rain and mud, that sort of thing. I’ve got 2,000 more miles ahead of me. At 10 mile/day that is 200 days. 6 1/2 months. Puts me in Maine in the middle of September--if I don't take too many days off.
To finish, before the snow flies in the White Mountains and Maine, I think I need to build up to 15 mile days soon, and maybe, eventually, 20 mile days. As I said, though, it's a balancing act. I don't want to start thinking of this as a job, where if I stop or goof off I'm playing hooky. That would suck the fun right out of ir.
So I'll just keep on doing 7 or 8 for another week or two, and gradually step it up to 10 or 15.
Thank God for Advil.
Great writing, as always! I am already impressed, and I am cheering you on and looking forward to your every posting. I like "hike your own hike". You are absolutely correct that this hike is not a job, but something you are doing for the fun of it. It is how you are choosing to spend this time of your retirement. You are already an inspiration to the rest of us retirees who may be wondering if we should consider something more challenging that what we are doing.
When it stops being fun, or at least being a challenge you want to continue, that is the time when it is OK to consider your options.
I’m enjoying every bit of this! 💕