I miss it, but not as much as I should.

Back in early October, I hiked a little over in North Georgia. It was very near the Appalachian Trail, but I didn’t actually make it to the AT itself. Here are some pictures from the trip.

I ended up hiking about 12 miles the first day, and my knees completely gave out. The next day, after having camped by a forest service road, I bailed, and called a “hiker shuttle” and got out of there. It was not the way I wanted to go, but it’s what it is.

In any case, whatever the problem was (believed to be problems with the iliotibial bands) needs time to get rid of the inflammation. I have given it time (minimum one month completely off the bike, since IBS is a typical bike injury) and now keep thinking I’d like to bike again. I just never pull the trigger. I have walked some, and intend to “get back in shape” by walking more.

I welcome ideas on how to get back to biking, and also (more importantly) how to not have this problem any more.

Sidenote about the two dogs in the photos above. The black one is my hiking buddy Seth’s. The white one was a random campsite dog that took to me, at least through the night when it was raining. She got under my rainfly when it was raining, and then stayed right outside my tent for the remainder of the night. I would love to have picked her up and kept her, but for various reason (none of which are compelling, in retrospect) I didn’t.

I carry a Crumpler Considerable Embarrassment (too small to put shoes and anything else) Osprey Resource Elroy (1/2/2009), and this stuff in it:

• Fenix PD20 (1/5/2009)
• Leatherman CX Skeletool (1/10/2009) [pre-review: the blade on this thing is incredible. in. cred. uh. ble.]
• Leatherman Bit Kit (1/5/2009)
• Moleskine Soft Cover Pocket Ruled Notebook (3.5 x 5.5)
• Pigma Micron 01 (0.25mm) #1 Archival Ink Pen, Black
• Sharpie Pen, black (testing)
• Shure IC2-MP Sound isolating earphones (11/5/2008)
• Granite Gear Air Tote (1/2/2009)
• Canon PowerShot SD870 IS (and three 4GB SD cards so I can take a hundred bajillion pictures if I need to (9/12/2008)
• Lowepro Ridge 10
• Joby Gorillapod Go-Go! (1/2/2009)
• Sandisk SD Extreme III 4GB – for my portable apps – it’s like a computer in my pocket (because I also carry a usb reader)
• Sigg Metro Thermos 13oz Dark Blue (6/17/2008)
• iPhone 3G 16gb of course, in black (7/12/2008) (in a Griffin Elan Form case)
• Topeak Master Blaster DX Pump (rei.com link since Topeak doesn’t make it anymore)
• Gore Bike Wear Signature Cap
• WhiBal G6 Pocket Kit (1/10/2009)

Pocket:

• Gerber Paraframe II CRKT P.E.C.K. Knife (a “money clip” knife) (9/22/2008)
• Chapstick Moisturizer
• Kavu Wally Wallet in Khaki of course (I love this thing)

Over the course of … something … I’ll probably review each of these items. I’ll try to annotate here when I’ve done the review.

Need to add:

• medical stuff (bandaids at the very least)
• spare tube
• multi-tool (one in the mail to me, now, actually [that I won!!!]) (and actually the Leatherman Bit Kit I already carry has a hex set)
• HP Mini 2140 netbook (no link yet because they haven’t been released [but I can't wait to get one])

This brings up a fair few important and interesting points. I have a love for messenger bags, and before it was messenger bags, it was backpacks and hip bags in general. I have had more than my fair share of them. In fact still have most of them. And there is one more on it’s way to me now (to fill a gap in my bag lineup that I created just for it to fill) [sidenote: I listed things on ebay just today to "make room" for the new item(s)].

It also exaggerates the point of my interest in gadgetry (for example, the Leatherman). And my firm commitment to things I’m used to and comfortable with (ChapStick).

I try to keep only items I will use, but at the same time, try to always have items I need. It’s a fine line, and one that an expanding bag size and diminutive bike commute has allowed me to push dramatically. I was never a Boy Scout, but my preparedness (at least in this one case, which is carrying stuff I might need ["Be Prepared"]) is clear. Yes, all this stuff is easily overkill. But, it’s good practice. Plus it’s fun. It’s like a man-purse. Full of gadgetry.

If you read that all intently you’ll notice that at pretty much all times I have thirty-two gigabytes of storage on my person. I hadn’t realized that until just now. That’s heavy.

Also, I am interested in suggestions on items I have left out. I know there’s something obvious that I need to have but just hasn’t happened to come up on my list just yet. Ok if I haven’t needed it, do I really need it? Maybe not. But there could be that one thing…