I’ve written about the evil spandex/fanny pack wearing man and I think it bears mentioning all the people who have been kind and encouraging to me. Just now, an older walked by me on the trail as I was taking a lunch break. They asked me about my trip and then said, “You’re gonna make it. Be careful. Stay safe. You’re doing a great job, and you’re gonna make it.” I blushed and said something along the lines of, “Oh, gee, thanks.”
Barbara and Addy
People are often very encouraging. I find that my biggest fans are 60 year old women. A few have actually hugged me. Women who have hiked all over the world (and are much more hardcore than I am) have said to me, “You’re doing this all by yourself? We’re so proud of you!” or “What a resourceful young lady you are.”
It feels good to have so many cheerleaders. I think it might be that they were active in the women’s lib movement and are excited at the opportunities females in my generation have. Also, I think they are proud of me for going solo. A Northbounder I met told me this, “We haven’t met any other Southbound females.” I said that I knew of a couple but that we are like albino rhinoceroses.
Neither of us knew if there are actually albino rhinoceroses, so the conversation didn’t go very far.
The amount of support I have received out here has been amazing and a big surprise. I was entering a grocery store in Rangely with my big pack on and an older woman came over to me and asked me if I am thru-hiking. I said yes. She gave me her phone number and said, “I want you to come stay with me and I will be very disappointed if you don’t call.” So I finished my grocery shopping, called her, and she picked me up.
Turns out that this woman, Barbara, is 83 and was staying in a cabin with 86 year old friend Phil, and they both used to do volunteer trail maintenance on the AT. We swapped stories over dinner and they taught me some of the history of the area. The next morning, Barbara and I spent several hours talking, and she was wonderful company. Then, she drove me around town, helped me run errands, and took me to the trail.
This is what is called “Trail Magic,” and I’ve received more than my fair share. When Abe visited me in Gorham, NH, we tried
Stuffed in a mini-cooper
to hitch a ride to the grocery store, which was about 5 miles outside of town. Two women pulled up and offered us a ride. Let me put this in perspective: they were driving a Mini-Cooper and their trunk was already filled with their luggage. Somehow, in a miracle of physics, we were able to fit our big backpacks, hiking poles, and, of course, ourselves into that tiny little car. When we got to the store, they asked us how long it would take us to shop. We were expecting to be dropped off, but they offered to help us turbo shop and then take us where we needed to go. We sped through the store, grabbed our supplies, and Abe and I were able to make it onto the trail that afternoon.
So, for every spandex wearing jerk telling me I can’t do it or criticizing me, I have 5 people telling me they are proud of me, taking me to the grocery store, or even being kind enough to open up their homes for me.
