Day 1: “Begin It”

CAPE HENLOPEN, DE —

March 25, 2024

"Begin it." - Greg Mans

DAY 1:

My morning started with meeting the Delaware ADT state coordinator, Terry Shuchart, to take a quick picture and be the recipient of some words of wisdom for traversing her jurisdiction. I will be pounding pavement for awhile before getting to the kinds of trails I’ve grown accustomed to on previous backpacking trips. Not to mention, it will likely be a week or two before I’m legitimately in the swing of things physically, so I kept it to 10 miles today, and I will probably keep it light tomorrow as well.

Greg and the gang showed up for the official send-off shortly after Terry departed.

“Where’s the television crew?!” uncle Rick demanded. I’ve grown to enjoy his sense of humor more and more each time we meet.

The entire Mans family’s banter is as novel as it gets. Ample writing material there, which I will be revisiting when I have some free time, but what is free time when all you do is walk, shit, eat, and sleep? We’ll see how long I maintain that view after my first 20-mile day. The truth is, there are plenty of hard days ahead, but embedded in them will be moments of wonder and beauty. Greg would call that hope.

There will be more time for reflection tomorrow. I have a lot more to say. Don’t we all?

It’s 43 degrees outside, I’m bundled up in my tent, and the dreams I’m about to have will pale in comparison to the one I’ll be living tomorrow, including its challenges. Grateful, I retire and surrender to the dreams within the dream.

“Begin it.”