The Best Laid Plans

So after many hours of planning and preparing to meet Paul on the AT last Thursday, everything went to h-e-double hockey sticks in a hand-basket and we're back to square one. Well, at least my pack is full and ready to be called into service, but all the logistical challenges that are involved with meeting someone out in the Maine boonies, thru-hiking, trying to involve one's spouse (who happens to like camping a whole lot but to not be too crazy about the hiking part), and figure out how to do this all around kids and careers remain. A long, difficult stretch through the Mahoosics last week left Paul and his hiking partner (poor soul - that was originally supposed to be me and I thank all my luckiest stars that work prevented me from experiencing that slice of fun) beaten down, very late, and not at all ready to continue on for the additional 10 miles we'd planned that day. So we aborted all plans, took Paul back to our house for a day of rest, food, showers, laundry, etc. and will try again next weekend. I wish I could say that I didn't mind abandoning Plan A (and Plans B and C and Emergency) and that I am spontaneous and flexible and accommodating, but I was honestly pretty disappointed all my planning didn't pan out.

There were, however, several silver linings to the last minute change in plans. First, already at Grafton Notch when I got the news that our plans would need some major reworking, I decided to hike up the trail to meet Paul and Tim. So I got a nice little (backpack-free) hike in, and got to experience meeting my bearded, SKINNY!, stinky brother in his own habitat. Then, we had the surprise pleasure of getting to spend a day spoiling Uncle Pauly back at our house. We went to the beach, ate lots and lots of ice cream (previously indifferent towards ice cream, Paul is now an ice cream addict and can devour frightening quantities of the stuff), filled Paul with garden veggies galore, and enjoyed hearing all his stories of life on the trail.

With a suddenly freer weekend, we also got to spend Saturday and Sunday at the lake, with not only Auntie Gwen and Brian (who are here for a few weeks), but Ben's sister Susan and her family. We took the whole fan-damily up Tire'Em, and since I carried Adam the ENTIRE way, I guess it counts as one more training hike for next weekend?

Aside: Throughout the hike, while being cradled in my arms, our little drama king kept saying "I can't do it...it's just too hard." Must be a rough life.

This is what you get to do at the summit when your kids are 9 and 11...looks mighty nice.

Grandpa and his shadow

And what would a trip to the lake be without a spin on Grandpa's boat?

So here I am planning again - round two on the AT sometime next weekend. This whole experience (plus spending a day and a half with a schedule-less someone who is constantly adjusting his plans based on weather and how he feels and various obstacles in his path) reminds me that some parts of life just can't be planned. It's hard for my Type A personality to grasp this concept, and to easily shift with the tides, but it's a good lesson all the same. Things generally work out, and if we look hard enough, we almost always find unexpected treasures on an altered path.