And it was but a few yards further along The Way (after parting ways with Eula) that I crossed the Appalachian Trail and even saw my first (and ultimately only) AT through-hiker as well …

“Every twenty minutes on the Appalachian Trail, I ended up walking farther than the average American walks in an entire week. Indeed, for over 90 percent of all trips taken outside their homes, for whatever distance or whatever purpose, Americans now hop into a car to get where they are going. On average, the total walking of an average American these days – that’s walking of all types: from car to office, from office to car, around the supermarket and through shopping malls – adds up to around 1.5 miles in a week. Quite frankly, that’s nothing short of ridiculous … It doesn’t take fancy equipment to engage a longer walking – no guidebooks or training or youthfulness. No, all it takes is the wherewithal to put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time – a few hundred thousand, or even a few million, times … And indeed, if you can face the rest of your life with the same spirit you showed on the trail, your life will have no choice but to yield the same kind of meaningful encounters and spectacular experiences.” ~ inspired by Bill Bryson, Ben Montgomery & Adrienne Hall

Filed under: Peace Pilgrimage #02: Walking HOME (2019) by Scaughdt