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VOLUME 1 PAGE 1
The experiences and stories of the
THRU HIKER can be varied, outlandish and even true. The old timers all stress to keep
your load as light as possible, like shortening the handle of your tooth brush. Who needs two undershirts, you start with one and when it
deteriates you buy a new one, or maybe someone will donate one. Like I said, some of
the stories are true. They have the expression of "YOGEE" from
yogee bear.
You arrive at a location used by the weekend picnic groups, and you stop
for conversation, you keep your eyes wide open, lick your lips now and then, switch from one foot to the other.
Talk about getting on the way,
till finally they hand you a plate. It may not be good, but it's better
than you have had the last three days, so yogee bear has won again. Some
hikers don't smell too good after a few hot days, but you would be surprised how sanitary a hiker might be, like brushing his teeth when short of
drinking water, using tooth paste and no water. I was amused once after
washing the cook pot to see my buddy redoing it with HOT water. He could have spoiled the taste of the ham and eggs at the next
meal.
There is probably no positive rule for equipment. Each have their
own reason or no reason for what they wear or use. Water proof boots fill with
water flowing in from the top and there it stays, while other boots don't hold the water in and dry out while you're hiking. You have to try them
all and get what you like and stop trying to justify your reason. Shorts
are great especially in the briars, and they don't hold the ticks, but they do look good on the girls. A poncho keeps the rain off but
boy do you sweat for lack of air. I just cover the back pack, when that
gets wet it really gets heavy. Of course, you do wear a hat, you don't want to
spoil the hair do. And after many days of solitude you may not get religion, per
se, but for some reason you "do onto others as you would have them do
onto you".
(8<0)#
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