I am a slow hiker. The reason I am outside not at the gym, is because I want to experience being… outside.

I connected not long ago to an old friend from the deeply Christian part of my adolesence, Cari Pattison. I am pleased to say we still connect as easily as when I was 15 when we discussed a compassionate and loving experience with God. (Mental note to write about that more later).

She is currently doing a Thru-Hike of the Applachian Trail. I love her blog, her attitude, and I recommend reading along as she hikes her way up to Maine. I feel the trail as I read, even between my toes.

Cari talks about “her people” on the trek, and I loved this passage.

These are my people.
We are “kind of outdoorsy.”
We are taking our time. We don’t mind the mud but mosquitoes are mean. We can hang with the rain but wet tents make us tense. We love a good sunset… but also a shower.
I know there are people who blast through the AT in 100 days, preferring a solitary sprint up the eastern seaboard.
But I am not one of them.

I am going to leave this here. Cari deserves the final word.