What's for Supper?

   By this time in 1980 I was finishing up the section of trail in New York. I had a mail pickup in Warwick New York which was scheduled for July 11th, but I'm not sure what day I picked up supplies since I was still behind schedule. My foot was doing pretty good and my speed was starting to pick up. The temperatures were still high, but getting up into higher elevations helped ease the heat.
   I have talked before about breakfast and lunch, but not supper. So, what did I eat for supper on the Appalachian Trail? I had two "standard" meals. For one supper I would cook an entire box of macaroni and cheese (yes, the entire box!) Then I would mix other things in. I carried small cans of tuna and boned chicken and would usually mix one can in with the macaroni and cheese. One or two nights out of the week I didn't have a can of meat and mixed in dried soup mix, dehydrated potato flakes, and anything else I could find! The second "standard" meal was exactly the same except I used minute rice instead of macaroni and cheese.
   If you could see the big pot of food I ate every night, you would be shocked. But you have to remember that I was burning up a large amount of calories every day. I didn't lose any weight hiking the trail because I was already thin as a rail! I did put on two or three pounds (mostly muscle). I had some snacks and sometimes candy to top off my supper every night. It was great to eat and relax as the woods grew dark and the night sounds began. Drifting off to sleep to the sound of crickets and owl calls is a wonderful thing!

   2011 update:  Yesterday I weighed in at 173.0, today I weighed in at 174.2. Yesterday and today I helped to install a large playground at the Haven House. I have a lot of sore muscles. A lot of time when that happens my body retains a lot of fluid (which comes off later), so I am not worried about a temporary weight gain. Today is cooler than normal. I have been trimming hedges at my house. Just finished two burittos for lunch, time to get back to work (great exercise!)

A Good Meal, A Hair Cut, & the Republican Convention!

   During the heat wave in 1980 I was glad to be at a friend's house near Bear Mountain. Bev was like a mama to me. She cooked and fussed and pampered me. I wound up staying two nights. I took a nice long shower (ahhhh!!!). All my clothes were washed (in a regular washing machine, not in a creek!) All of my cooking gear was scrubbed. The meal that was promised when we were in Tennessee was cooked (and it was delicious)! Bev's daughter was close to my age. She gave me a real hair cut (I was getting pretty shaggy).
   While I was there I remember sitting on the couch, watching tv. The Republican National Convention was being held. Some guy named Ronald Reagan was nominated as their candidate for President (I think he was an actor and then governor of California. Does that ring a bell with you?!) The guy nominated for Vice President was some other guy from Texas named George Herbert Walker Bush (he must be important, he has an extra name)! I stayed up late watching tv. When you are backpacking you don't get to watch tv. And if you stay up late you either have to build a fire or use your flashlight!
   In the morning I ate a huge breakfast of french toast. Bev drove me back to the Appalachian Trail so I could continue my journey. My foot was doing pretty good. The special foam pad in my boot was helping a lot. As Bev drove away, I waved goodbye. Then I faced North. Mt. Katahdin in Maine was still calling my name. I had had a time of refreshment, now it was time to hike some miles in the woods!

   2011 update:  This morning I weighed in at 172.6 pounds! That is 14.2 pounds lost so far! I ate a big salad at "Wings N Things" yesterday for lunch. I ate a big burrito for supper last night (at home). Yesterday I jogged. Today I have tried to take things easy. My wife & I ate at IHOP. I had the "two by two by two" meal which was only 400 calories! Just because you eat out doesn't mean that you have to get fat!

Bear Mountain & Air Conditioning!

  As I finished hiking the trail in New Jersey, I entered New York. No, I didn't go into the city. New York is a State with a lot of land. The Appalachian Trail crosses a small piece of the lower corner of the State of New York. One of the landmarks is Bear Mountain. You would think that it would be some large, tall mountain, but it's not. The mountain itself is relatively low in height (compared to other mountains on the trail). Because of its proximity to the city and suburbs, it gets a LOT of use by local residents.
   Another interesting thing about Bear Mountain in New York is the fact that the Appalachian Trail started there. When the trail was being put together, this is where they cut the first part of the trail. October 7, 1923 was when the first section of trail was opened between Bear Mountain and Delaware Water Gap! Bear Mountain is also close to the Hudson River.
   When I reached Bear Mountain in 1980 I was HOT! So far I had been walking North and following Spring. But finally the Summer weather had caught up with me and it was miserably hot. Fortunately I had "an Ace in the hole". If you have been reading this blog all the way through then you may recall a post from May 26th called "Limo Ladies!" That's where I talked about meeting two women at a shelter in Tennessee who were finishing a week of hiking. They were from New York and promised to cook me a big supper when I got to Bear Mountain, New York. Food will attract bears and hungry hikers!
   I found a pay phone and made a call. In less than an hour I was riding in a wonderfully clean, air conditioned car headed towards a big feast! Bev L. had picked me up, just as promised. That night I was glad to sleep indoors (with air conditioning). It was wonderful (did I mention the air conditioning?). My journey continued and I was thankful for hospitality along the way!

   2011 update:  This morning I weighed in at 173.4 pounds. I went jogging yesterday and today. My new running shoes are wonderful! I haven't been very strict on my diet the last couple of days, but I am still working on it!

Lunch in New Jersey

   In 1980 I continued to hike through the great state of New Jersey. One of my favorite things in the day was my lunch break. I read a book called "The New Complete Walker" by Colin Fletcher. I was my guidebook for how to backpack. I carried Plantation Mint tea because of Fletcher's book. I even bought the exact same backpack that Fletcher used! He also advocated a long lunch break. Most hikers would try to get to the shelter or location where they would spend the night as early as possible. Then they would settle in and hang out. I would find a nice spot during the middle of the day and take a long lunch instead.
   I would take out my foam pad and sit on it. Then I would get everything out for lunch. I had a quart canteen with a large mouth. I would pour powdered milk and Nestle's Quick chocolate milk mix in. After a vigorous shaking, I had an entire quart of chocolate milk! I drank the entire quart with lunch! Then I would get out the crackers. I had two variations: peanut butter crackers, and Velvetta cheese crackers. I always consumed a large quantity! Afterwards I would have some "gorp" also known as "trail mix" consisting of nuts, M&Ms, raisins, and a little bit of coconut. I would eat about a pound of the "gorp" every day as a snack and as a supplement to meals.
   After lunch I would often lie down and stare up at the trees. They look amazing with the sunlight filtering through. Sometimes I would doze a little bit. I might take some pictures and write in my journal. After 1 to 2 hours I would pack everything up and continue down the trail. After the rest, I felt better and had a lot more energy! I knew I was going to make it all the way to Katahdin in Maine. My foot was still a little sore, but it was gradually healing. New York was not far away!

   2011 update:  After "pigging out" at the cookout yesterday I weighed in at 174.6 today. It's a temporary setback. Even while losing weight you have to live a little! My new running shoes came in today! I may try to  break them in tomorrow morning.

Bandits At Night!

  By this time in 1980 I was in New Jersey.  A lot of people think that New Jersey is just one giant suburb of New York City. Yes, there are a lot of suburbs near New York, but the western portion of the state (where the Appalachian Trail passes through) is very beautiful. New Jersey's nickname is "the garden state". I was surprised at how nice the trail was and how little suburban sprawl I saw.
   I do remember one night in New Jersey in a shelter. Every night in a shelter I would hang my pack up if possible in order to keep the mice out of my pack. That night I woke to hear something rustling just outside of the shelter. I realized that we were being raided by bandits wearing masks on their faces. But the bandits were small and furry! Yes, raccoons were trying to get to our food! They had climbed down from the trees and were trying to get to our packs. One of the other hikers took a stick and threw it in their general direction. Although he didn't hit them with the stick, it did give them pause. After a while, the raccoons gave up and sauntered out into the woods. They would have to find dinner somewhere else. Our packs were safe and we were wary of the raccoons!

   Here in 2011 I weighed in today at 173.2 pounds. Our new church had a cook out tonight. I ate WAY too much. So......tomorrow I will probably weigh more. That's ok. I will keep working on my project to lose weight. I'm not giving up!