Old Forge, New York will be my first destination when I depart tomorrow. I’d consider this the hub of the Adirondacks. 14 hour drive that will be broken up into one long drive and then a quick morning jaunt. I’m hoping to be inside of Old Forge mid morning. I’ll park in town and walk about for a bit to loosen my legs and realign with my new coordinates. I’m hoping the tourists and campers up there are as predictable as the ones down here- Weekend campers who pack up and head home after noon on Sundays. I want a small spot on a lake to rest my mind and feet. To me, there’s nothing like pulling into a town you’ve never been before and absorbing its own little culture and vibe. I try to blend in as much as possible I don’t like being labeled or seen as a tourist.

I have no itinerary as to how long I’m staying there. It may be two days it may be the entire time although that’s not likely. White mountains are on my list to climb. I’ve done the Franconia Loop twice in New Hampshire. 9 miler with a 4000 foot incline in 4 miles that climbs over Little Haystack mountain, then you walk a ridge line for 1.7 miles over Mt. Lafayette and Mt. Lincoln before descending back down. It may be the most grandiose hike I’ve ever done.

I’m not doing it again but I’m hitting up its neighbor Mt Washington which is the highest peak in the northeast and has the world record for the highest wind speed ever recorded of 231 mph. The weather can be erratic.

Just a tad.

Maine will be next I’ve done Acadia, it’s beautiful but crowded. Baxter state is one my list again I may go for Katahdin for a climb on the Knife’s Edge. If you aren’t familiar with this mountain it’s where the Appalachian Trail ends if you’re coming from the south.

Logic would explain that it’s the beginning of the AT if you’re heading south.

I currently don’t have the AT trail on my bucket list but I could probably be talked into it. Not this week though.

That’s my only scheduled itinerary for my trip. The rest is left to my trail markers and weather. I haven’t looked at one weather map as of yet. Not sure I will all the hurricane seasonal weather are sleeping at the moment.

I activated my trip flip phone yesterday and it took me five minutes to text my wife “hello”. Don’t expect any text diatribes from me for the next two weeks..

I’ve mentioned I’m going internet less and social media less. My smart phone will be in a case in the back of my truck for emergencies and I’ll have to make a few work emails for product ordering. If I need my phone for something important such as finding a place to camp I will but for the most part I intend to ask the locals for direction. That’s where you find the best places. I won’t be on social media, my phone will not be used for anything else.

My intuition will be my GPS for the most part.

I’m planning on a three day fasting. I may start that as early as this evening. By mid week my caloric burn will be well above a 1000 daily I’ll need some nourishment to keep my energy levels up.

This trip has no other agenda. I’m acclimating with feralness.

New word.

A 12 day divine leave of absence.

Noise reduction for the soul.

Cake icing for my old reckoning

My cat is going to miss me. Maybe

I’ve tweaked my gear and goods a hundred times. I’m missing one pair of wool socks. It’s causing me to lose sleep. I’m weird about my socks. If I lose one I tear the house apart looking for it. I’m down a pair and a half.

Fuck

Oh well

Maybe I’ll get a tattoo while I’m out. It’s been 5 years. It’s odd that my affinity with tattoos dropped dramatically with my sobriety. Not sure how it’s related. Could be the exit from the service industry too.

Maybe a “I ❤️ NY” on my ass cheek. Oh there’s the old Chad speaking. Sit down sir.

I’m excited. 10am tomorrow. Truck ahoy y’all.