Day 1

Despite rail problems that delayed ALL trains, freight and passenger alike, I made it to Cascade Locks today!  I am thrilled to be in the woods, even if still within earshot of a freeway. The next several months are going to be just that - nearer and further from roads and people, same as up and down the hills (and in and out of cell/internet signal!).  There's a metaphor for life in there somewhere...

Questions

Found a list of questions I wrote down in 2007:
Why do you work?
What do you have in return for your time & energy?
If you didn't need to work for income, what would you do with your time?
If your room and board were paid, how much more would you need/want?

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'm leaving, tomorrow, it's only a daaayyy uuuh-wayyy... (curse you Annie!)

I am amazed at how hard it is to dispose of everything ethically. Sure, I could have just walked away from the apartment and left it all for the landlord to deal with, but I just can't do that (although I did do it to a roommate once when I was 18). Plus I wanted to liquidate as much as I could, which takes effort. Seriously, how is it that minimalism is such hard work?! Sheesh.

The yard sale was a success – I managed to sell probably a good two-thirds of my stuff, the rest has been donated. I also Craigs-listed a few of the more valuable items. I have a couple boxes to send to friends (gifts and returns), and just a couple boxes (mostly important papers) being kept in storage. I am hanging on to the dehydrator, one of the more difficult decisions, but simplified by a friend who wants to do a long-term loan of it – I'm hoping I can convince him to occasionally mail me some dehydrated supplies! And really, that's about it! Everything else will be either on my back, or in the “drift box” that I will forward from Post Office to Post Office (aka the supply closet). The drift box, or bounce box as I was calling it at one point, will have critical supplies that I may not be able to get at various resort stores along the trail: extra socks, fresh fuel canisters, refills of hand lotion and sunscreen proven to not irritate my skin, envelopes and stamps to mail filled journal pages to my mail-drop/holding service, and the like.

For a while, this whole concept seemed unreal. I couldn't imagine that though I was planning to get out into the woods, I would actually be there. Now it is very real, and I can't wait!!

I have no idea how often I will have net access, or the ambition to post if/when I do, so I make no promises. But I have a vague notion of resuppling every 70 miles or so, and posting at minimum “I'm not dead yet!” when I do. Depending on how scenic the area is, and how strong the urge to wander is, this might be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks! In the meantime, I encourage everyone to consider your own dreams, and how you might follow them.

Going public

Uh-oh, I've told people what I'm doing and where I'm writing about it, now the pressure's on!  -grin-  Gotta figure out how to blog from my phone now.  If you're reading this, I succeeded! 

I have been amazed at the overwhelmingly supportive responses I've gotten to this upcoming adventure!  All my life people have always said "you're going to do what?! Oooh-kaay..."  But this time the reaction has been "Oh that's so cool! Good luck!"  Is the change a sign of the times or a sign of the people I know now?  As puzzled as I may be, I'm not going to argue with supportive comments!  Thanks all!

A left turn, then head south

Life has taken a left turn. Again.

I'm quitting my job and going back into the woods.

I wasn't sure what would happen when I moved to Spokane.  I experimented with "normal life" for  a few months - got an office job, my own apartment, went shopping on Saturdays and to church on Sundays.  My apartment is less than a mile from work so I walk to and fro, and I've actually been going home for lunch!  There's a wonderful wilderness area latticed with hiking trails a few miles south.  I adore living alone.  And I'm absolutely miserable.  

I'm just not cut out for city life.  I knew this, and yet I tried to do it again anyway.  So I'm selling everything and heading for the woods.  Different woods this time, gonna explore the west coast for a bit.  The plan is to hit the Pacific Crest Trail starting from Bridge of the Gods, and head south.  It's a walkabout - I know where and when I'm starting, but no idea where or when I'll stop!

My vague plan is to leave the trail occasionally in towns with hostels and temp agencies where I can pick up a bit of food money to keep me out in the woods longer.  I may even try exploring the desert - I'm still pondering tree-less hiking concepts!  I'm going to be a hermit, wandering around with my belongings on my back, contemplating life and writing about it.  I'm following my dream, my passion, and fascinated to see where it will take me and what I will learn along the way.

I've gone for a walk indeed!