“Butterflies”

AT Day 43

Miles: 24.12

Total Miles: 382.3

(Tent; near parkway drive crossing)

It’s funny that I’d find myself out here like this… curled up into a tiny little tent, typing on a wireless keyboard (already a pretty comical scene), and all worked up about a girl.

Something about these long-legged brunettes with cute faces and soft smiles… did ever mention that she was literally born 5 days before my ex–the one she looks so similar to? I’m pretty sure the same birth year too…

I feel self conscious starting the journal today with that, but it’s also where my heart and my mind are.

I was up late last night, trying to get all the story about what happened on trail and with Serendipidous onto the page. Didn’t sleep all that well, but got a few hours of tussling.

But when I woke up I had a text from a girl named Boots. It said that she’d found coverage for her work in 2 weeks and that she’ll likely be driving up from TN to meet me for the weekend of June 9th! I was thrilled, even in my tiredness.

We’ve known one another for a such a short period of time that both of us are aware that it can’t be more than it is. But at the same time, it’s been really fun to have a flirty, sexy type energy back in my life for a moment. It’s incredibly strange and surreal, given the context that she lives in a state that I just finished hiking through and that every day now I’m walking farther away from where she lives. But it’s also wonderful in that I’m closer to her here than I ever was in Arizona.

So we messaged back and forth a bit today, loosely making plans and seeming to feel one another out from a distance–trying to get to know one another as much as we can given the circumstances.

I needed to resupply at the grocery store in Daleville this morning, but didn’t need all that much. Mostly I wanted to get some fruit juices to slam down before going to trail.

As for the trail itself today, it was pleasant but somewhat uneventful, especially in light of yesterday. There were some moments where I was finding myself somewhat worried that maybe I’ve finally found that wall, or that I’ve pushed things too far after yesterday. My brain felt slow, my mood was sluggish, and the miles just seemed to drag on. Fortunately, the weather was good, which always helps mood. But it was still a somewhat gray day in terms of the hiking and the miles.

Then I realized that it wasn’t that things were pushed too far yesterday. The problem was that I just didn’t get enough sleep. There were other hikers up at 4am to catch the sunset at the nob today, and they woke me, in addition to my going to sleep late.

So I’m trying to get a good night sleep tonight, although it is already 9:40pm and I’m still up typing. But oh well.

Saw one couple today with their camp already set up at 1pm. When I asked why so early, they pointed to their little solar panels and said that they needed to wait there to charge their electronics. I cannot believe that people are trying to use solar out here when resupply stores with outlets are so common on the AT and sun access through the dense forest is so uncommon. I wonder how long they’ll be waiting there, just to get a single charge.

I’m falling asleep now.

Need to bring it to a close.

My buddy Leo will be joining me on trail tomorrow. He’ll hike with me for 2-3 days. Looking forward to the company.

Wormwood.

Out.