Trail Journal

Date: April 08 2001
Trail Day: 312
Miles Today: 27
Location: Southern most point monument, Key West
Section Mile: KWR 186
ECT Mile: 4710

Last night, I decided to finish off the hike today. Its 27 miles to complete it and I will get to stay a day in Key West. I had decided this when I woke up late night. I usually don't fall asleep quickly once I get up at night. But this time I went into a very heavy, deep sleep. It was as though my body knew that I was going to have a long day tomorrow. Managed to complete the 27 miles with only 3 breaks, of which only one was a sit down break.

There are numerous bridges as one gets close to Key West. The miles went fairly easily. Stopped at a place that said - Tourist info. They tried to get me into one of those high pressure sales for some vacation spot for 50$. I have learnt that I'm much better off saying no to anything that says free. The sales guys were young, smooth, 'happening' and fake. I wouldn't trust them with my pen.

Entered Key West. Went into a Wal-Mart and bought some clothes. Tried to find a motel along the way. Nothing for less that 100$. Got to the monument. Took some shots. It was a long day and I was quite worn out. That completes my ECT hike - 10 months and change and about 4700 miles.

It has been the experience of a life time. The main thing it has taught me is that a lot of what society holds to be true is not. Its just one way of how things can be. There are infinte ways things can be, all of which are equally valid. It has taught me the joys of simplicity. I lived more fully and happily with stuff in my backpack than when I had an apartment full of crap and made a good living. It taught me that prejudice and hypocrisy are alive and well. On the flip side there are genuinely good people just about every where. I have been helped by people from all geographical locations and walks of life. Tourists however are the worst. They are very shallow and self absorbed.

Well, the hike has now moved into the past and will soon become bits and pieces of memory - fogged and biased by time. Here are some highlights that have stayed with me

• beatiful girl flashing for photograph on the very first day.
• stunned when I realized that I was seeing whales in St. Laurent bay
• a similar thrill when I saw caribou near Mt. Albert
• woman flirting with me near Matapedia
• the excitement of seeing and approaching Mt. Katahdin
• the feeling of joy I felt on seeing other hikers on the AT
• the sense of frustration when I found my CD had not been deposited and I was going to run out of money. Emotionally this had to be my low point
• the physical hardships - collapsing snow near Park de la Gaspesie, the hard winter from the Smokies all the way to Florida, the extreme heat of Florida.
• the hike and conversation with Grinder on the way to Uncle Johnny's hostel. Conditions were perfect for hypothermia then.
• the unexpected stripper at the Williamsons.
• Suriyan visiting me in Vermont.
• my brothers hiking with me in Florida. Learnt that while there is the joy of solitude there is also the joy of sharing.
• getting the hand pump to work in 3 Lakes WMA with my brothers. We couldn't have been more thrilled had we found a million dollars.
• eating grape fruits also in 3 Lakes WMA. I have always been indifferent to grape fruits, but these were out of this world.
• being deeply moved when two kindly peple paid for my dinner near Maryland
• 3 beautiful butterflies on bear droppings in Quebec.
• the joy I felt when I was done with the mountains with the the Pinhoti trail and again when I entered Pensacola and the last trail - Florida Trail.

Because of their extensive support - physical, logistic and psychological, I consider Suriyan, Kumar, Karen and Vivek as being part of the hike.

Further thanks to:

• Suriyan for maintaining the web site.
• Kumar for taking care of my financials.
• Vivek and Lusia for mailing my stuff back and forth.

11 months is a long time to take care of my stuff and I am doubly thankful to them for their continued help till the very end.

Further thanks to

• my brothers for hiking with me. Suriyan again for visiting me.
• the Williamsons, Dave Farley, Jon Phipps and the Galav's for having me in their homes.
• Karen and Michelle for sending me goodies along the way and for their support.