Food preps are under way!

Not only am I stocking up on foods and preparing meal size freezer bags, but I am testing other options. We tested a just add water option the other night and it was pretty good with enough pepper. So I made two freezer bags and added plenty of pepper. Here is some of what I've got so far:

I also have a bag of food in my pack for the weight. 

I got some ideas from fellow hikers and thought I'd give baking a go. My Birthday and Cody, and Justin's will all happen somewhere along the trail so I thought I'd try a brownie. This is how it turned out:

It went quick but, YUM!!

Oh, got my trail do

I got my trail hair on now, lol. I was debating letting it grow for a pony tail or cutting it off. It has been settled, I cut it off. My hair annoys me anyway so short isn't really an issue for me, my husband on the other hand, well he's not so happy about it. Oh, and in honor of my support for the Children's Hemiplegia & Stroke Association I died it!!

I think I will add more purple as the day gets closer.

Sponsored by Emergen-C

My trip is sponsored by Emergen-C. I'll be sharing along the way with my fellow hikers.

It's Getting Real

I bought my bus ticket to Georgia and arranged transport to Springer Mountain. Going over my A.T. Guide and getting excited. Still need to get rain gear and a few other little things but I'll start hiking the 19th of April.

Trail Magic? without a real trail

So a friend of mine invited me to hike the family's 80 acres with her. That's cool, I thought, I love to hike near creeks and granite / bedrock. Something about the rocks jutting up out of the ground and the running water is just peace. I had a great time, there really is nothing like it.
The problem we seem to face is that we start too late. SO, here we go hiking across Cecil county, no map no compass (except her phone) and for me know idea where I was. It wasn't a long hike more of a meandering wander through her memory lane. So we were gonna come out by the Cecil county drag way and what walk home, sure the best laid plans....we ended up, I don't know, 4 miles from were we started by road in the dark.
We did get 2 ride offers though before her mom came and got us. I would say the first was drinking or had drank more than his share, the second was tempting but her mom was on the way, so we waited and chatted with him.

People can be truly generous, it is refreshing to see.

Raising Awareness!!

I have been thinking for a while that my walk north should benefit more than just me and my mental health. With that in mind I have been looking for the right cause.

I believe I have found it!! This is a personal cause for me and though I am grow now and my childhood went fairly smoothly, I have always been different. My mother told me that I had a stroke before I was born, sounds crazy right but it happens. Kids have strokes. Infants have strokes. And Unborn children have strokes!

Strokes at such an early age have a variety of medical implications. My right side has been slightly weaker and smaller with less coordination and my leg is smaller and I limp when tired. I had gotten use to people not noticing, but yesterday I saw a general surgeon about something completely different and 5 seconds in "Whats wrong with your hand?" It really doesn't bother me any more but as a child I was teased relentlessly by kids at school, everyone needs to know that survivors are just that survivors!

So I am going to try to promote awareness along my hike of childhood stroke!!

My Shelter, one concern down!!

I have decided on shelter! I bought an Oware 8x10 tarp. I had been contemplating my options and decided I could do the most with it. A single person tent would probably be easier to ...wait not really. Maybe its more private, and smaller, that's all I've got right now. So this way I will have room to spread out or I can share with my cousin who is considering joining me.
I do plan to add no-see-um netting around the tarp to reduce bug issues. It is just a plan right now and I want to test the tarp before I take needle and thread to it. I'll have to post pics of the test and any modifications made.
I was running through my list of gear and realized I don't yet have a mat. While shopping last night I was researching my options and reading reviews. Now I really want to test drive some mats, see how they work with my curves. I had wanted a NeoAir, but I don't want to wake up on a flat mat. So I will try to keep an open mind as I continue my search for a mat.

What am I forgetting?

• Pack heavy but comfy - check
• sleeping bag - check though a lighter one for summer might be nice.
• tarp - ordered
• stove - check
• pot - check
• spoon - check
• water filter - check
• water storage (3 leters) - check 

I know meds. and bathroom items need reviewed. 

I am concerned about the not showering. I generally need to shower to clear my sinuses (the steam) , I don't remember having issues in high school when I hiked but I know it was a big issue a few years back when I spent a week in the hospital after a trip to Egypt. They didn't let me take a shower until day 4 when I started crying and vomiting, it wasn't pretty. SO, will I be ok, or will I be foiled by my head, I am hoping all goes well.