Routine.

Since my last update, I've walked quite a bit more and I am now nearly at the end of Vermont, with less than 500 miles left!  I should be entering Hanover, NH and my final two states in the next 2 days. I am currently in Rutland, VT, near mile 1700!

The other day I was discussing routines with people.  Ya know, those stupid things or whatever that you seem to do day in and day out with no thought. It was interesting to think about. The trail is all about routine. Walk, eat, sleep, repeat. We do the same 3 things, with minor variation in between. Sometimes it's 20 miles of walking and sometimes it's 10. Sometimes I eat a lot and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I get to bed on time and sometimes it's 12am and I have no idea how I will survive tomorrow. 

 Despite this routine, it's quite paradoxical to think about. Each day I walk into a new environment, one that I have never been in before. The people may be different, and the weather could be 180 of what it was. It's always changing. There's always a new town, a new sleeping place, a new place to poop!  It's very disconcerting sometimes. And yet, within this chaos, there's this routine. 

Somebody asked me what my daily routine is, so here it is. 

Wake up, hopefully by my own alarm, and not some asshole making too much noise at 415am. Groggily check the time. Check how many miles I have to do. Debate how long I can avoid getting up. Go back to sleep. Eventually make myself move. Grab my sleeping stuff sack and shove my liner, bag, and sleeping pad inside. Fold up my ground sheet. Gather my things from my sleeping area and make sure I have it all. Lock my headlamp so it doesn't turn on in my bag. Put on sandals. Go pee. Get food bag and angrily grab a poptart sleeve. Immediately hate my breakfast choice.........again. Deflate sleeping stuff sack and put into my pack. Put ground sheet on top. Shove in shelter stuff. Change clothes and shove stuff sack on top of that. Grab food bag and take out snack bag. Shove food bag in top of pack. Throw in any other stuff I forgot.   Close pack.  Angrily put on damp socks. Shoes next. Continue eating drier than the desert poptart. Go poop. Angrily get water if I was too lazy to get it the night before at dinner. Drink a bunch of water. Pack up front pocket of pack. Read guidebook 1 last time. Pretend mountains dont exist. Put on pack. Finish poptart. Grab poles. Check sleeping area one last time. Leave. 

Walk 15 to 25 miles. 

Get to camp. Unpack shelter or sleeping area. Eat food. Get water. Hang food bag. Forget snack bag. Get food bag. Rehang food bag. Get in bed. Sleep.  

Repeat.  

Routine.