The Time Is Short, the Stress Is Creeping In

Wow. What a week to say the least.

The week started with me getting food poisoning, and then it proceeded into my puppy Sugaree being diagnosed with Lyme disease. A whopping $800 diagnosis to say the least. But we made it through! And it is only 11 days from starting my car and driving to Florida to meet my trail crew.

The ups and downs have been extreme. I don’t know if anyone really understands the hours of overthinking, planning, deciding, and contemplating that comes with a six-month hike of survival in the woods. I definitely didn’t understand until now. Each day I have been waking up in my almost-completely packed apartment, just me and the pup, drinking my coffee and trying to make sure I know what I am in for. The mental preparation is more than I could ever imagine. Saying goodbye to my best friends that I have lived with for two years, my sister, my mom; the goodbyes are going to be the hardest part. Being really close with my family and friends is what makes this is trip bittersweet. I really just wish they all wanted to go with me.

  

Less Than a Week to See My Trail Crew

I will be starting the trail with three of my other friends, one of who is my best friend, Destiny; then we have Chris (CJ) and Hailey. We will have three dogs with us: Sugaree, Road Runner, and Bella. Quite the crew we will have! We are all coming from different parts of the US too, which is awesome. Destiny is in Colorado, CJ (he is from Maine) and Hailey are in Minnesota, and I am coming from New Hampshire. All with the same goal to conquer these 2,190 miles together. We have been communicating together and comparing drop boxes, gear, dog food, exercise routines and everything in between for months. I cannot wait to see them and put our dreams into reality.

Only 16 Days Till Our Start Day

I have only one real concern for myself through this journey and that will be money. Saving money while trying to pay bills, feed myself, and have a dog is almost impossible. I am bringing my last three paychecks pretty much and that’s it, but I know that I can manage money way better when I only have a set amount for a set time. We don’t plan on staying in many hotels or splurging too much, especially with the dogs, so that will save a bunch. Also with there being four of us, we can always combine our meals together. I would never let financial obligations stop me from this anyway.

Goodbye Work Life, Hello Woods

I work at a greenhouse and plant liner facility. Anything to do with plants, sign me up. I am lucky enough that they are letting me take the time off to do the AT and are inviting me back to be promoted in the fall. Working hard is definitely a strong quality of mine, and I am so happy that they believe in me enough to let me do this. The overtime has helped fund this whole trip too 😉 Well, speaking of, I am at work right now, better get back to the plants. Be back to write soon.