the metaphor

Since the aqua blaze, I hiked through the unofficial halfway point, got staph infection and have been off from hiking for almost two weeks. I was stuck in the little town of Duncannon, PA for the majority of the time. If you ever happen to be passing through, please stay at the Doyle Hotel and ask for the honeymoon suite. 

I came out here for a lot of reasons. Mostly I was sick of my focus on work, since I was solely supporting the household on a recession cam girls income, it caused a lot of stress about financial stuff. I was sick of being at home all the time. Sick of being 20 something and not feeling like I was having any adventures. I was sick of trying to make a lot of money to maintain a household that didn’t feel like a home.

I wanted to write. I wanted to get back into shape. I wanted to connect with the mountains. I wanted to test myself. I had this idea that if I could just do the trail, from start to finish, wake up almost everyday in the woods, hike through the mountains of Appalachia, drink spring water and make fires that maybe it could fix me. Maybe I would figure out what I want to do next. Maybe I would be more disciplined, maybe I would be more daring. Maybe I could write some amazing shit. Or maybe I’m just full of shit.

But, just like normal life, I find myself trying to avoid work, trying to find the easy way out. There are festivals, town vortexes, and other hikers that serve as perfect distractions to get off or slow down.

So, after not having hiked for two weeks, I’m flying out to Vegas for yet another distraction, but this one is a good one. I’m going to the Desiree Alliance Conference for five days to meet up with other sex workers, listen to smart ladies speak and educate myself about the issues facing our industry. I’m super excited to meet some of the amazing ladies that will be attending.

After that, its back to the mountains. I’m going to try to cam as much as I can while I’m around wi-fi because honestly I’m about flat broke, medical expenses, plus hotel stays to be near the doctor have made my bank account go into the negative. Also I need to save up some cash for a new pack and a few other things, I want to make sure I have everything worked out becase  I’ll be starting back on the trail in NY but starting in Vermont there are supposed to be some serious sections coming up (like the Whites).