Tennessee Boy!


I helped my dad plant potatoes yesterday afternoon. This is my dad on the tractor in our back field. I must say it has been several years since I've worked the soil. As a kid we grew up on a farm and during the summer had the responsibility of helping my grandfather with the farm chores. Planting corn, tomatoes, cabbage, beets, carrots etc...was how I spent the better part of my summers. As I walked down the rows with my dad yesterday the sun was setting and the spring frogs had started to chirp. I was instantly taken back to my teenage years. It has been fun being at home this week.

I have one more week of Tennessee before heading out to the trail. My preparation is going well and I'm getting to visit with high school friends and do some traveling around east Tennessee saying my farewells etc... I slept in my new home "tent" last night in my parent's backyard. I felt like a 12 year old having a sleep over as I got my sleeping bag and stuff ready to take the 50 yd walk across the yard. I'm trying to get my self used to odd noises, tent flaps flapping in the wind, critters making noises at night etc... It was fun to sit in the tent and read in the peace and quiet prior to drifting off to sleep. What was a "pain in the ass" literally was my back this morning. Somehow I think sleeping on a 1/4 inch therma rest is going to be harder to get used to than carrying a 35lb pack!

Only 1 week to go!

oh, BTW...for all of you Massachusetts folks...the temps have been in the 70s!

Miss you guys!
Eric

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey Eric! Let's assume that you will get used to the whole sleeping-on-the-ground-with-1/4-inch-of-foam thing. It sounds like the preparation is going great - that's awesome. You're Seattle fan-club will be following along (and praying for you, of course.)
March 31, 2008 at 11:05 AM
jmichels said…
Eric,
I am excited and somewhat envious of you. I love that you are taking this adventure. I look forward to your future posts. You look great, btw.
Love ya,
Jeff Michels
ps. my email is jam67@charter.net
April 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Unknown said…
Good luck and have fun! I can't wait to read all about it.

Oh and don't worry about people sending you too much food -- soon you'll have more hiker friends than you can count, and the possible calorie consumption by you and everyone you'll be at the post office with will be astronomical. You'll soon see why they call it the hiking superhighway.

Take care, Eric.
April 2, 2008 at 10:37 AM
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