And…….I’m off.

Here I am in Massachusetts just 5 miles from the trail. Today was travel and getting everything together to hit the trail in the morning.

First up on the agenda in the morning will be to return the rental car, get to the trail, and climb a mountain. Returning the car and getting to the trail isn’t my idea of fun, but climbing a mountain sure is.

The weather is dreary. It’s raining and cold and the forecast is rain for the next 3 days. But, that’s usually how it goes.  There’s a saying on the trail–“No rain, no pain, no Maine.” I’m gonna just say that I’m sure it will make me appreciate the sunny days that much more.

My plan for this journal is to try to make daily posts even though I probably won’t be able to publish them daily because of spotty cell service. I will publish when I can, though. I also plan to share pictures with each post.  One of the purposes of this journaling is to have a record for myself. I’m sure those of you that aren’t already sick of me saying how much I love the trail, will be soon; however, I plan to tell it like it really is and I’m sure there will be days that I may not be loving it so much.

I hope everyone will feel free to email, text, call or comment. I won’t always have service and I keep my phone off most of the time to save battery, but I will get messages at some point and will look forward to hearing from any of you.

I seriously don’t know what it is about the mountains that call me back, but whatever it is touches my soul. I’m ready to get going.

It’s been a long day and I’m about to have my last decent meal and my last night of sleep in a bed for a while. Hope to have some pictures to share tomorrow, even if they’re wet ones.

Good night.