Refocused and Refreshed

Yaaaay, I’m focused and refreshed. Per the prior blog, I opted to take a step back from my constant trip planning and internet research and just kind of re-shift my complete focus back to God. Well, it worked. You see, I do not want to suffer burn-out of my AT trip before I even leave so I had to go back to what I was used…daily knowledge attainment. I had become overwhelmed with planning my trip and gear purchasing and needing some relief. It was very easy to lose focus but once I dedicated myself to getting back on track and staying focused it was just as easy to get back in the swing of things. I strongly suggest that you should do this too!!


I still had some trials last week to which I can apply the lessons learned to my AT thru-hike. I opted to drive from Dallas to Atlanta on Friday for a wedding. I started the 820 mile trek at 6am on Friday morning of last week. When I got to Louisiana, my AT day-dreaming was rudely interrupted by a flat tire (please note that I was listening to A Walk in the Woods on CD). How dare my car have a blow out without my permission!!! Anywho, instead of being filled with a lot of anxiety, anger, and stress I just promptly changed the tire and continued my journey east all the while thanking God that I was safe and me or another person were not hurt. I think that had I not had the refocus session last week there could have been more anger and anxiety involved. Anyways, to answer most people’s questions…yes, driving is cheaper than flying. No, driving is not cheaper than flying when having a blowout and finding out you need to buy two new tires for an additional $273 on top of gas. What can I learn from this? Well, I will face adversity while on the trail but I will always keep God as my number one! Because I kept a positive attitude I had the best time at the wedding and I did not allow it to ruin my time even if I can’t afford new tires. Yay for Faith!!

With my priorities back on track and my stress levels down, I will now be able to start the next leg of my AT preparation. I will be moving from my apartment this weekend to the floor of a friend’s living room for about 3 ½ weeks. I thank God everyday for the friends I have and I am very appreciative of the things they do for me. This move is a little different though. I am basically throwing away or donating all of the momentos from the past…stuff I have kept for endless moves and now its all going bubye. Sad in a way, especially when you are sorting through a box and come across a picture or two. Oh well. The memories in my brain will have to suffice.

So, the moral of this journal is: yay God, yay getting back in His word, yay refocusing, yay great wedding, yay two new tires, yay I am alive, yay for friends, yay for moving, yay for tossing or donating a lot of stuff, yay for AT planning, and yay for the chest cold I now have. Ok, kidding about the chest cold. Just seeing if you were paying attention.

GEAR UPDATE: So, last week I received my University of Texas (couldn’t find UK ones) crocs. Yup, they will officially be my camp shoes. So light indeed. I also got my Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree sleeping bag. Seems light and easy to pack. Havent tried it out yet. Also received my Tuli’s cups. These are heel inserts that go in my shoes. They have worked wonders on my for football and baseball in the last few years so a new pair are taking the trek with me. Google them if you don’t know what they are. I also got my Marmot Precip rain jacket. I’ve worn it every day so far. Love it.

On a side note…I went to the Coke Museum in Atlanta. Pretty cool but the taste testing at the end should come with a warning. There are 64 flavors of coke but they don’t taste like any of the Coke that you buy here in America. There was Banana/Mint from Zimbabwe and other fruity tasting Cokes. There were also bitter tasting ones from like Germany and stuff. I walked out pretty sick so I suggest not trying all 64 flavors.

God Bless,

One Life