These Knees Were Made For Walking

Here’s an update for things happening. I am actually leaving Bynum tomorrow, May 3rd. It has been a long month of delays. I had some remodeling work to do at the house. That took longer than anticipated but is finally done. I also have some car issues that are being resolved today. I should get my car back this afternoon. It is loaded up with most of my stuff. When I get it back I will put the rest in and, then, take off in the morning. I am heading to Bryson City, NC, as my first stop and will spend a couple of days there before heading north to catch I-90 and head west.

The first leg of the trip is driving out to Washington state where my Aunt Ina lives. She finds out the results of the biopsy they did on spots on her lungs today. April has also been the “dark days of not knowing” what those spots are and fearing the worst and hoping for the best. Today, that torture ends but the new stuff begins like what to do about the spots. We will see.

Here is her address in case you want to write:

Carrie Overgaard, c/o Ina Schmidt, 906 Middle St., Tumwater, WA 98501

Because of Ina’s health issues all plans have changed and continue to evolve. Instead of starting on the east coast and heading west, I will start in Washington state and head east. Here is the link to the map and trail I plan to follow:

https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/route/

So I will spend most of the next 5 months in Washington state with Ina and the rest of my family. My hope is that I will be able to log 500 miles, across Washington and Idaho, this year.

I will say that April has been a long month and has had a fair amount of anxiety. Now that the time is here to actually start the trip I am filled with trepidation and some self doubt. I can’t quite put my finger on what my worries are because my intentions remain steadfast. I will do this journey.

So what am worried about? Change? This trip will be challenging and will certainly change me but will the changes be fundamental or superficial? Safety? Not so much. Taking lots of care to stay safe and I feel like I have an army of angels around me, to keep me from harm. Ina’s health? Most certainly. Clearly, this is a scary unknown but Ina is facing it head on (most of the time) and we will get through it. She has her daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren to give her strength and support. And brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and friends. Lots of love surrounds Ina.

I think the things that worry me are what I don’t know and am I capable of learning them? Sometimes it’s logistical things like can I use the internet on my phone to find places to see and stay? Can I still cook on a camp stove without blowing up from the propane? What if I don’t have matches to start a fire?

So, tomorrow I head out. I have said “Good bye” a few times to some people. Saying it here, to you all, But this isn’t really good bye because you will be with me when you read this I will miss everyone in person, here this summer.

But I won’t miss the humidity. Just sayin’