Here is a little known fact about me. I LOVE Sherlock Holmes. I have read all the Conan Doyle stories, many, many of the patisches, watched all the black and white movie, PBS series, listened to archived radio programs -- you name it about Sherlock and I have probably immersed myself in it.
Currently, there are 2 representations being offered on commercial TV -- one is on CBS and is called Elementary and the other is a BBC production called simply Sherlock. Both characters exist in modern times but feature a neurotic, almost sociologically crippled Sherlock. One recent episode of Sherlock had Benedict Cumberbatch uttering "I have no friends". I love both of these series and fortunately for me, my family is really into the BBC production. We have saved the final episode of Season 2 of Sherlock for this family reunion gig we are doing this weekend.
But I have to say, I have learned a lot from Sherlock Holmes and much of it is helpful on this little Appalachian Adventure. You really have to pay attention to the little details or you will miss out on the trail. As in -- fall down a ravine, step on a snake, run out of water, choose a bad companion for your hike. None of which has happened to me -- yet. But I can easily see it happening if I start with the idle brain. That is point one.
Point two has to do with something he hasn't figured out how to overcome -- the doldrums. I recently experienced them myself (witness my disappointing post recently). In Sherlock's case, he just either self-medicates (cocaine in the Conan Doyle stories other more socially acceptable forms in the current expressions) or finds a new case. My life just doesn't work well with the first b ut the second has some merit to it. And that is what I think this whole AT adventure is for me in the broadest sense -- a new case for a stodgy person who has been in quite a rut for quite a while.
Which makes yesterday and today's hike such a departure for me.
Yesterday, we hiked 10 miles and today did almost 4 making our total for this trip 22. North Carolina is home to hundreds of waterfalls big and little and we saw many on our hike yesterday. We got no rain on us on the trail but it did rain heavily almost as soon as we got down off the mountain and back to our hotel. Perfect timing each day.
And yes, I am in better shape. I was sweaty and stinky but I am not sore. I probably will be a little tomorrow but I intend to run several miles and stretch a lot and that will be that. Still hate stairs, though. I definitely need to work on the stairmaster more.
This morning we started the day off at Wayah Bald which has a magnificent viewing tower which today was above the clouds. And we walked most of the morning in what can only be described as a meadow -- on a mountain but a meadow nonetheless. There was either a fire or some horrible storm that took the tops out of all the trees and left dead poles with wide open spaces under it. If the sun had been out, we would have been burnt. But it was misty and quite cool and a really lovely treat -- except you couldn't really see where your feet were and that worried me about snakes. Didnt see any of them either, thankfully.
But my mood has definitely lifted and I am glad to be here in Seiverville at the family reunion and to be with my boys and my family.
No comments:
Post a Comment