I love a rainy day

On more than one of my “favorite days” on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) it was raining. On one particular day in the Smokies I was able to fully understand why they jokingly refer to it as the Soakies. Take any chance of avoiding puddles or mud away and just embrace the suck.

Not everyone at the shelter that day felt the same way. I remember walking up with a big grin and seeing few others.

One other day with far lighter rain routinely takes the top spot. I walked only a couple of miles before stopping. I spent half the day getting drizzled on, and the other half with my feet in the water and loved every minute of it.

I did avoid walking some rainy days, and there was damn near a week straight of rain at one point. Everything was soaked with little hope of it drying out anytime soon. Once the dry clothes that I only would wear around camp became soaked I head into town, get a room and do laundry. It usually only took one night under a roof before I was ready to get back out there.

Today is no different, my walk was definitely shorter than the A.T. Days, but just as drizzly. I am going to attempt to walk each day, maybe even a few hikes. What I hope to find is the peace that I left out there on the trail somewhere, and to maybe drop a couple of pounds.

Truth be told I am a little shocked that I have not been walking. Before the trail I would walk through neighborhoods or the woods for hours, the years since the trail, rarely. One of the problems I use as an excuse are these dogs, I simply don’t enjoy walking as much when I have to mind their leashes, and their existence makes a long walk like the PCT impossible. I Love my pups, and they have been crucial for a lot of the growth in the last few years, but I really do miss those incredibly long walks.