Friday, September 24, 2010

This Is It

Dear Appalachian Trail,

These past four months have been something else, huh? One minute I was working at a church, and the next I was on a train to find you in West Virginia. I am impulsive, and I didn't really know what I was flinging myself into. But I got lucky! And now my rose-tinted infatuation has grown into honest love and commitment. I'm crazy about you in the most sane, respectful way.

I adore your mossy mountains and turtle-filled lakes. I sing your storms and morning glory. Your fellow travelers have restored my faith in human generosity and karma and hope, and it's all because of you. My mom said I get "lovey eyes" whenever I talk about you, and I know it's true. I think of the fire towers and sleeping bags and bonfires...

Thank you for the chance to love so expansively. It hurt, all that stretching of my heart and self, but I am grateful for it. Now though, I have to continue on. The winter is on its way, and college loans are piling up. I don't make many promises, but I will be back.

With Love,
N.P.



To all my advocates, friends, and family-
Thanks for following my hike.
-Julia

8 comments:

  1. wow, what a ride. i'm proud of you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice job NP. You will always remember your hike with tremendous fondness. I will always remember our adventure from HFY to DWG! And, September 24 - my birthday. Your friend - "Indiana Jones".

    ReplyDelete
  3. One thousand miles on the trail from West Virginia to Maine! So happy for you! Loved your blog full of adventure, beauty, and challenges. A lifetime memory for me to summit Mt Katahdin with you and enjoy our time together in Maine. Love, Mama Bear

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow!! Julia, this is unbelievable. I don't even know what to say! I always wondered about how you're hike was coming along after those couple days in Maryland. I know I sound like your mom or something but I'm seriously proud of you! I remember when you wanted to take a zero at Dahlgren Campground after doing an epic 11 mile day! Well, my email is jjbohnett@aol.com or you can find me on facebook by searching Jeremy Bohnett. I'd love to hear from ya and exchange stories. Hope all is well, congratulations on your journey!
    -Sonic

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello N.P.
    I'm at the library in Dalton, MA. Will probably finish this section near Bennington. You are my hero. I've followed your shelter postings for a while now. Some memorable, "I'm tired." Others just interesting. Congratulations on your achievement. By the by, I met another "No Promises". A SOBO guy. He apparently just missed you somewhere up the trail. Your fame precedes you. It's Oct. in MA and I still pass thruhikers headed south. It's on to laundry and groceries and other zero day activities. It's been fun and I wish you well down all the trails that you choose to follow.
    Charly(Ramblin Wreck)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dude. Congratulations! So inspirational. Thanks for letting me be a part of this experience. Now all you have to do is start that hike to St. Paul...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Julia,

    I hope you check this blog for comments or get email notification, because I’d really like to get in touch with you. I work for Stackpole Books, a medium-sized publisher of nonfiction books, including outdoor subjects. Right now, we are working on a collection of excerpts from great AT blogs, to be released as an ebook, and we’d love to include some pieces from your blog. I like your writing style, and have some great stories stories on here. If you could email me (kfulton [at] stackpolebooks.com) I can give you more information and answer any questions you might have.

    Hope to hear from you soon!

    Kathryn Fulton
    Editorial Assistant
    Stackpole Books

    ReplyDelete