I Am Missing a Gear!

Today, May 29, Nephew and I are taking a zero day in Dalton, MA due to heavy rain.  The NE of the USA has been experiencing an unusually wet April and May, so we are learning to embrace the cold and misery that comes with hiking in the rain.  However we needed to buy more resupply food and wash clothes today, and since it started raining hard after we hiked into Dalton, we choose to go to an Econo Lodge and spend the night.  It is nice typing on a full size keyboard for a change.  The hotel has one in its lobby.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, we were told by a former thru hiker, Wondering Bill, that after one has hiked from Springer Mountain in GA to Damascus, VA, he or she has probably gotten into the best shape possible for him/her.  That is a distance of around 700 miles.  Nephew and I are just about to hit that 700 mile marker.  

Well, that is on the one hand good news, but on the other hand it's news that worries me a bit.  You see, Nephew now has a gear or two that I don't have.  It is like he now has an overdrive gear, let's call it a fifth gear while I only have 3 gears.     And that after hiking 700 miles!  One day this past week he reached the shelter over 2 hours before I did.  When I eventually came stumbling in, he said he had been worried about me.  On other occasions he is arriving up to an hour before me.  I am proud of him and rejoice along with him that he has attained such a level of strength and speed.

On those days when Nephew decides to put it into 5th gear, Uncle pushes his "clutch" and tries for a 4th gear at least, but all I am hearing as I push on the stick shift is the grinding of gears!  Well, I suppose that is how it should be when comparing a 33 year old and a 60 year old; or at least in the case of this particular 60 year old.

Now it comes down to perseverance and the sheer grace of God.  I know that He is able.  I remind myself of that every time I plant "faith and obedience," my trekking poles, in the ground to push forward.

Thanks to all of you who prayed that the Lord would provide healing for my right foot.  Your prayers have been answered.  It has felt fine for the last week.  Just within the last few days, I have spoken to 3 different 50+ year old men whose attempt at a thru hike ended due to an injury they sustained in the rocks of PA.  So this year they have picked up where they left off and are trying to finish the remaining distance, and that's how I have come to meet them.

Today I am feeling pain on the outside of my right knee that is new.  That may have been caused by my standing up after falling with my pack on.  The last time I did that my knees sent a definite message to my brain "tell him to take his pack off in the future!"  Message received and noted.  Thank God for the "I Vitamin," Ibuprofen.  

Uncle