You may be wondering what the heck is going on in this image, and honestly, so am I. It’s a pretty good representation of my emotional state right now: ready to get an adventure underway, but worried enough that I am having trouble actually packing what I need to make it happen.
My best hiking buddy Judy and I have been preparing for this experience for a year now, ever since she convinced me that hiking the Florida Trail through the Ocala National Forest is a worthwhile thing to do. Immediately upon making that decision, we began hiking sections of the Florida Trail that are within the Forest, and we have now hiked most sections more than once.
We’ve primitive camped enough to feel comfortable outside of developed campgrounds. We’ve identified water sources and practiced drinking filtered water. We know some great spots for camping, and we even have a back-up plan just in case Farles Prairie (currently still flooded after recent hurricanes) does not dry out in the next two weeks. So, you’d think I would be less ambivalent about this trip.
Practice, practice, practice
We’ve practiced loading our packs, setting up tents, taking care of hygiene, and every other thing we can think of. Steve will bring us supplies if we need him to, and will drop us off at our starting point and pick us up when we finish, but we’re trying to be as self-sufficient as we can. We’ve talked to other hikers and researched everything we can think of to research in hopes of avoiding unpleasant surprises along the way.
On the one hand
On the one hand, I’m confident that we’ve done everything we can to prepare. We’ve been conditioning ourselves to hike, cook, and sleep on the trail. We have tested meals. Our gear has been tick-treated, reservations have been made at Alexander and Juniper Springs and we have a plan for every other night. We’re confident hikers and campers.
On the other hand
On the other hand, neither of us have undertaken a trip like this before. 30 years ago I was part of a group supported by the Florida Trail Association hiking around Lake Okeechobee, but this is not that. We will be mostly on our own for this trip and my body is not at all shy about reminding me of how much time has passed since that last long hike.
My anxiety is a liar
It is not unusual for me to experience anxiety before leaving on a trip without Steve. I can come up with 900 reasons not to go do what I want to do, but as soon as I turn out of the driveway, excitement replaces that anxiety. It’s going to be like that when we step off on the trail, I know. As soon as I can no longer see Steve driving away in my car, my focus will be on the hike ahead, and you know what? Just thinking of that moment anticpation is starting to drown out the worry.
I’m still not going to pack, though.