Goodbye Washington.

I'm sorry I didn't get to see more friends and say goodbye before I left.  Things got a little hectic. Packing up, donating and throwing away almost four years of things was intense and overwhelming. I'm grateful my mom came up to help and I was able to show her how to send me resupply boxes.

I'm snuggled up with Brownie right  now, anticipating tomorrow. I'm very excited about the journey ahead.  I'm nervous about the weather though, it's going to snow my third day on the trail, with a low of eleven that evening. Also I finally weighed my pack, sad to say, it weighs 40 lbs. I was hoping for something closer to 30 lbs. Hopefully in the first week I can get a better idea of what I need and can trim down some of that weight.

I first came to DC in 2010 for an internship, fell in love with the city and stayed. I made a lot of friends in the past three and a half years, some briefly, some longer; know that I appreciate all of you being a part of my life. No matter how deep our friendship is or how short our encounter was, you were part of a chapter in my life I will never forget.

I'm going to miss DC so very much, but I'm looking forward to opening a new chapter and composing my next adventure.

Tomorrow morning I'll walk out my front door, walk down my street past the National Zoo, hop onto a trail in Rockcreek National Forest cut off in Georgetown at the C&O Canal and head to my first campsite. I won't be far outside the city, but I bet it will feel a world away.

Readers, thank you for your time. Keep me in your thoughts or prayers, I'll certainly need it to get through March. I'll try and remember to take a picture in the morning before I head out.

Goodnight.

"lord have mercy on my rough and rowdy ways"

Here is a picture of me dreaming of warmer days!

With the news of another winter storm hitting right before I leave, all I can do is dream of summer. This native Floridian wants some warm weather soon!

I'm in the process of donating the last of my things and awaiting the arrival of some packages with the final pieces of gear for my journey.

My mom will be here in two days to say goodbye and learn how to send my resupply boxes. She's my rock, I guess.

 It seems unreal but I'm glad this day has finally come. In the home stretch now. everyday a little closer.

"Old gypsy woman spoke to me, said, “You're a wolf, boy, get out of this town”"

My gear.
Only thing I have left to buy is a water filter, some paracord and little things.
I don't own a scale so I'm not sure of the weight; I'm going to try and borrow one from the neighbor this week.  My food plan right now is 7 days at 2 lbs a day: 14lbs. Three more weeks!

Also my birthday was yesterday.  I'm now 27!  Made myself some blackberry cupcakes.