Here is Jim's usual hike prologue - needless to say, he is getting very excited! Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts - always much appreciated.
In just a few days, Jane and I will drive back to North
Carolina, to the spot where Segment #4 of this walk up the East Coast ended
last November 1. In the final days of February, we will leave behind our home,
our cat, and a disappointingly warm and dry winter. We will bid adieu to the
remnants of snow and ice that haven’t yet melted but are rapidly shrinking. It
has been a bust of a season for skiers, ice fishermen, and lovers of a real
North Country Nor’easter.
Segment #5 will begin in northeastern North Carolina,
where we hope to observe the first signs of Spring. In the past two years I
have walked 1200 miles along coastal Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina. Now I will head inland, skirting the major metropolitan areas of
Norfolk, Washington and Baltimore to avoid their crowded and noisy highways. I
will hike through the less congested cities of Williamsburg, Richmond and
Fredericksburg. I will trade the busier highways for the state roads that pass
through small cities and towns. I will walk along several former railroad
routes that have been converted to rail-trails catering to bicyclists and
hikers like me.
In the past few weeks we have found friends, classmates and
others who have offered to host us as we pass through their locales. Thanks to
all of you who will open your homes to us. We are looking forward to making new
friends and renewing some acquaintances as we share their homes and our stories
of the travels of Jim and Jane. And if our plans come to fruition, I will have
several people to keep me company as I hike along for one or two days at a
time. How pleasant it will be to have a
companion to talk with and share the pleasures of the passing scenery.
At this point my biggest concern is the weather. For the
previous segments of this coastal trek, I have been remarkably lucky in that
few storms have dampened my travels. But the east coast, from the Carolinas to
New England, has been hit by a number of major weather events this winter. By
choosing to begin in late February, I minimize the risk of blister-provoking
heat, but increase the chance of encountering cold and rainy conditions. But if
the weather becomes too uncomfortable to handle, Jane will be just a few miles
and a phone call away.
One additional concern is leaving Scooter alone for four
weeks. A trusty cat-sitter will come in every other day, but so might unwelcome
wildlife through Scooter’s cat-door. In fact on Monday I discovered that a
raccoon had paid our kitchen a visit last night. But on his way out he made the
mistake of grabbing more food invitingly positioned in our have-a-heart trap.
That critter went for a long trip this morning! That’s the fifth raccoon we
have caught in the last year. Are there any more in the neighborhood? I fear we
will find out.
Starting a big hike like this one in the middle of winter
could be problematic in another way – my feet are somewhat soft, despite my
best attempts to log a lot of miles in recent months. Yesterday – a breezy 40
degrees chilly day - I gave them a good test, walking along some
beautiful country roads and around a golf course. I managed to cover 17 miles
in just over 5 hours, without as much as a sore spot on the feet and toes. The
real test will come after I get past the 100-mile mark in week 1 – if I haven’t
blistered by then, I am probably good for the entire 420 miles of this segment.
Jane and I look forward to sharing our adventures with you.
She will transcribe my description of each day’s hike and send out the journal
by email about every four days. From time to time there will even be pictures! She
will visit many local libraries along the route, using their wifi to access the
internet. We love to get your feedback, so please feel free to react as you
read the Hiker Jim Journal.
Kindly remember us in your prayers or non-religious good
thoughts. God Bless, Jim
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