You're Funny

So, here I am in Salisbury, CT.  I've tossed in the towel early today, as I simply can't hike in this heat.  It's unbearable.

My past few blog entries have been on the serious side.  Therefore, I thought I would lighten up the mood a little bit by writing about funny things that thru hikers do.

You know you're a thru hiker if/when:

- You strike up a conversation with strangers about pointless things

- When ordering in a restaurant, you ask how big it is to determine if it's going to be enough

- You think about how you're going to write your witty shelter register entry

- You get pack separation anxiety

- You stop hiking and think about picking up that peanut M&M someone dropped on the trail

- You can smell day hikers' "freshness".... is that Tide?

- Your own funk makes you gag

- You go days without a shower and think nothing of it (sponging off in a stream is good enough)

- You walk past views because they all look the same after awhile

- You play games to make the time go by (count how long it takes to pass 100 white blazes)

- You find humor in the most ridiculous things (bathroom humor in the privy, anyone??)
- You find yourself not using your table manners

- You think nothing of going into town looking like bum

- (and you think nothing of approaching people when you look that way)

- When in town, all you want to know is where the post office & grocery store are... as your eyes glaze over at the thought of a hamburger and coke

- You entertain one or more of the eight topic questions from curious people:

    - Do you carry a gun/weapon?

    - What did you do before you came out here?

    - What are you going to do when you finish?

    - What do you do for food?

    - How old are you?

    - What do your parents think of this?

    - How long is your hike going to take?  "....what?!"

    - Do you do this alone?!

Therefore, as you can see, hiking the trail can be quite humorous... to some.  It's those that notice the magic more than others that cherish this journey!