Finally moving toward the Appalachian Trail

Michael Kane and John Stewart head for the AT

So finally today, I’m on the train and heading south.  It’s an emotional day, the first day of an adventure always is this way. Little sleep, wake up early, double even triple check everything and of course the one rule of travel.  You always forget something.   For me today it was both my debit and AAA cards.  Remembered the debit card in time, the AAA card is left behind.

Always a bundle of nerves initially and then standing at the station a woman cautiously walks up to me and says, “heading to Georgia?”  I smiled big, she was a 2008 thru-hiker and we had a great conversation.

Getting into Penn Station and headed for the train, it was my turn as I said to a couple, heading to Georgia?” They smiled big.  Turned out to be John Stewart so there were now two famous names heading for the trail.

On the train we fell into immediate and easy conversation, we have the same anxieties, questions, excitements.   We are all carrying too much food, right?  We immediately talk about gear, the hiker’s equivalent to how’s the weather. it’s nice to have this conversation, they are good people and I’m taking it as a good omen.

Today I’m traveling solo but not alone, I bring pieces of people with me both mentally and physically.

My medicine bag from KC with a drawing from my youngest niece, and Ganesh from Stephanie.

I have a good luck charm from Kim and Lhakpa in Nepal.  A book from my family. A piece of a quilt from my friend Meleah, anything you carry on this trip has to be precious because weight is so important.

We carry a lot in our heads as well and we hope to throw off that weight with the miles.  So to my three questions, what was the most beautiful thing I saw today, that would have to be the scenery out of the train window.

What made me happy today is easy, getting on the road.  What I learned today was that other thru-hiker’s are in the same space I’m in and that made for a happy day my friends.  – Rev Kane

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