You may wonder why Dennis and I are attempting to hike the Long Trail, the oldest trail in the US. Dennis, a seasoned hiker (having completed the Appalachian Trail), is doing it for the challenge, the pleasure of being in the woods, the camaraderie among hikers, and getting back to appreciating the luxuries of modern-day living. I still haven’t figured out why I am doing it, but this morning as I hiked I felt at home. The smell of the fir trees, the woodpeckers’s rat-tat-tat, the fecund earth stirred my spirit. Reconnecting with nature is like returning to a mother’s embrace, warm and comforting.
Part of my reason for doing this is spending time alone with Dennis. At home, life’s demands don’t allow us a lot of one-on-one time. Out on the trail, there is just us. When Dennis had his six artery bypass, the doctor’s give him five years. That was in 2007. Beating the odds gives us an opportunity to enjoy each other which we don’t want to miss.
The challenge to complete one the the US’s more difficult hikes is also a draw. I want to prove to myself that at 65 I am still capable of doing something physically and mentally demanding. Silver hair and leaden feet are not defining characteristics—I am still “crazy Jane,” just a little bit slower.
Perhaps with the solitude, I will learn something about myself and our relationship…or relearn something I have forgotten. Without all the external noise, will I be able to hear my inner voice. If so, will I have the courage to listen?
We shall see. I still have over 222 miles to travel.
