Triumph at Shingletown Gap

Earlier this week, my friend and I tried to hike to the lookout at Mt. Nittany. Due to various “circumstances” we missed the lookout and instead ended up hiking much longer than previously anticipated.  But we won’t go into those details here…

Anyway, today we thought we would try again with a different mountain, so we headed to Shingleton Gap.  It was a steep and rocky climb, but we totally triumphed over that thing.  If you’re ever in State College, PA I would definitely recommend this trail.  (I think it would be especially nice in autumn).

My low vision makes hiking on uneven and rocky trails even more difficult, but trekking poles really help. Well, trekking poles and really patient friends who are okay with going slowly and pointing out low branches and unstable rocks and other things I might miss.  A big thanks to Tamara and Richard for helping me today!

The hiking this week has been great in helping me train for the Camino.  I realized today that I leave in 23 days.  23 Days!  That’s like 3 weeks! (I know, my math skillz are amazing.)  Interestingly though, my focus hasn’t completely shifted to Spain yet.  I still have a few more days in PA before heading back home and I continue to enjoy this time with friends and family.  Perhaps when I arrive home Camino preparation will move to the top of my priority list?  

Until then, thanks for all the blog love and support.  I’m glad you all are enjoying it.  My next update probably won’t be for a few days, so I’ll end this wishing you all a great weekend!

Greetings from State College, PA

It’s been an awesome trip so far.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Visiting my cousins in and around DC!  They rock!  (Thanks again for letting me stay with you guys!)
• A day exploring the National Mall, including visits to a plethora of monuments and memorials, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and the National Archives.  Total Miles Walked: 8.
• Playing Wii for the first time.  I have the Wii physical prowess of a 57-year old (literally — I took the Wii “Fitness Test”), but I still loved it.
• Learning the game Killer Bunnies.
• Petting Zoo with Nat.
• Our day of intrigue at the International Spy Museum in DC.  We signed up for “Operation Spy” thing, where we became spies and had to solve a mystery, before heading into the museum itself.  Good stuff.
• Tour of Penn State in State College, PA.
• Lunch at Spat’s Cafe.  I give this place two thumbs up.  If you ever find yourself in State College, you have to give this Cajun place a try.  Great food and atmosphere.
• Getting lost on Mt. Nittany with Tamara.  We’re still not quite sure how it happened, but what should have been a total hike of two hours to the lookout, turned into a five and a half hour hike to nowhere.  Needless to say, we’re a little sore today.  I enjoyed the adventure though.  It felt like good preparation for the pilgrimage.

Overall, this trip has provided me with lots of fun activities, but also good down-time to help me transition from “work life” to my next phase in life, which I suppose I’ll start calling “nomad life.”  (I realized that between mid-July and November, the longest I’ll stay in one place is less than 3 weeks.)

A few times now, since I started traveling last week, my thoughts have turned to work.  I’ll remember a project or something and add that to my mental to-do list for when I return to the office.  I guess since I worked there for eight years, it’s taking my brain some time to realize that I’m not just on vacation right now.  It’s been interesting working through that and reminding myself that I can let it all go.

The other thing that has been happening with me is that, as I cross things off my to-do lists (like moving out of my apartment, the MI camping trip, my last day of work, going to DC) I find myself with less and less to focus on, thus leaving more and more room to mentally and spiritually and physically prepare for my upcoming pilgrimage.

Anyway, I’ll be in State College for a few more days before heading to Pittsburgh and meeting up with more family.  Tonight I’m headed to a Spikes game (single A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates)!  Tonight’s promotional activity at the Spikes game: Baseball Bingo!!  (Two of my favorite activities combined!  How awesome is that?)