Called Up -- Show Time

A few updates. 

Friday was a full and fun day. Start to finish. 

I talked and talked and talked. 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Dropped the first arugula donation to the food bank. Not a huge amount yet, but enough for 4 families. I'll have another donation on Wednesday when I'm back from Asheville. 

4 banded bundles

I never received "more information" on the volunteer day in Clarkston yesterday. I pinged them again the day before. The event was off their website. Last time I went to the information presentation, they didn't inform the details until the day before so I hadn't been concerned. Maybe I missed a cancellation email? It was frustrating, but I was happy to have a day off from plans.

Drumroll ...

Today is the BIG HIKE. First of 2 (assuming this goes well). 

I have feelings about it, of course I do.

A little excitement.

A little dread (it's going to hurt). 

A little just-get-this-done feeling. 

A little nervous.

The unexpected. 

Don't know where I'm going. 

Don't know the trails. 

Don't know how I'm going to feel. 

I've done the distance and the elevation, but not together. I don't feel particularly energized this week. Recovery from a cold, lack of sleep, knee and ankle pain after that one hike (not horrible, but it's there).

We're taking this hike more slowly than this hike leader normally does. It'll be a nice pace, but not a big push. Good and bad. Slower means more time on my joints and that's a concern. My guess is all will be well until about 8-9 miles and then I'm going to struggle. 

I'm hiking with extremely experienced hikers. There are 5 hike leaders on this hike. I'm the least experienced by far. Called up to the big show -- lord help me. None of my hiking "friends" and that's also a bummer because chatting = distraction. Guess I'll get a lot of eavesdropping on conversations. 

Will this elevate me or put me out of my league?

Next week's hike is even harder. 

Oh geez. I didn't go out yesterday because the volunteering was canceled and that means I didn't get gas in the car. Crap. 

Okay, I've got to get going to leave a little earlier than planned. Wish me luck.

Have a good one. Later gators.