We spent today getting the final preparations to start the Newport to Newport Transcontinental Pilgrimage tomorrow, April 1st, 2019. After waking up from a great night’s rest at the Beech Tree Inn and Cottage in Newport, Rhode Island, we started to sort and pack the final gear list in our packs. We still have far too many things based on the weight of our packs, but it’s hard to know at this point what we can leave behind.
A common refrain I’ve heard in the thru-hiking community is that you have a tendency to pack your fears. I’ve certainly found this assertion has held true for me. I have zero interest in being cold. Not one little bit, and if you paw through my pack you would probably be able to guess that’s one of the elements of the pilgrimage that I am vigorously trying to avoid. Even after getting rid of an unnecessary fleece and a couple of other small items, I can tell you that I’m probably carrying an extra long pair of pants and maybe a shirt or two.
Knowing that intellectually and doing something about it are two different things. Tomorrow when we finally strike out on the pilgrimage, the temperature is supposed to rattle the mercury around thirty-five degrees. I’m going to be wearing those long pants. Not because I need to be wearing them. I should be wearing my rain pants until it warms up a little later in the afternoon, but I just can’t bring myself to get rid of the long hiking pants yet.
It’s silly. I’ve said during the course of the last four years of training that any temperature above forty degrees is by definition shorts weather. Tomorrow supposed to get well above 40, and if I get cold I can always throw on my Under Armour Cold Gear leggings. Somehow I’m still caught up packing my fears.
Hopefully a day on the trail will cure me of such silliness. One way or another we’re going to learn a little more tomorrow.
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