If you know my son or know anything about him, you know he would not ever write a blog himself. He absolutely hates social media and thinks it's showy and just perpetuates the lies that we tell because we want to hide from everyone else so that our lives look better than what they really are. Yes, he's a very deep thinker, and it's hard for him just to "let it go" for this one thing. So many people ask me and other family members quite often how he's doing. He doesn't like for me to share about him on FaceBook, but he did give me permission to write this blog about him and his travels. I will update often and as well as I can without actually being on the trail myself.
His dad (and his dad's best friend) took him up to Mt. Katahdin and started the trail with him on May 27. I really wish I had pictures to share of that, but Jon's phone was drenched on their way down the mountain that day. They walked the last 2 1/2 miles in pouring rain, and their phones didn't recover. Trand's phone was fine because he had a rain proof bag, but the two men did not. Trand had no pictures on his phone, of course. Jon was just sick. I am too. We lost all the pictures of that day and our son starting the AT!!
He is now on Day 29. He just left Rangely, ME yesterday. His next stop will be Gorham, NH. I know he will be glad to leave Maine behind. He is going at a much slower pace than he expected when he left. Two days in he called me from Abol Bridge. He sounded bad. He had dumped so much stuff off on the side of the trail already. His pack was too heavy. He was wet and sore and lonely. This was not something that he expected--loneliness. I wish I could share some of the things he's said to me while he's out there, but I'm not sure yet if I can. I will respect that. But needless to say, God is changing him. I'm so thankful that God is using something that HE chose. This is not a punishment or a "lesson" per se. It's a trip that Trand chose, and God is using it to shape him into the man he has planned for him to be. It's a very gracious way to do it if you ask me!
At Abol Bridge, he told me that he didn't have a stove to take into the 100 mile wilderness. That is a very long story. He did leave our house with one that he had cooked on several times to get ready. Then he had bought another one with my husband in ME because the TSA took his fuel. But he couldn't find matches that worked or a long enough lighter. So he was having to gather what he could that didn't need to be cooked to go into the 100 mile wilderness for 10-12 days. When we were getting off the phone he said, "If I die, you'll know where to look for me." Thankfully I don't usually overreact, and I told him that I felt sure he would not die. He could do this.
About 5 days later I got another call from him. I wasn't expecting it. Someone had found him at his lowest point and they had made it down to a road and gotten a ride into Monson, ME (which was to be the next stop.) He was doing okay when he called because he had made two friends and the guy "Poet" at the hostel there had befriended him. He spent a great two days there learning so much!! Poet helped him figure out what he really needed and didn't need in his pack. Trand really enjoyed being there with their family. They had a two year old little girl, and I think he realized how much he missed his own siblings. After two days of eating, sleeping, community, showering, and getting help he was ready to go back. He got a ride back to where he left off the trail. He arrived back in Monson on foot 6 days later. He was really happy to see Poet and his family again. He bought a new pack and got some different supplies to make his trip easier. At that point he sent home a big box of stuff. He also told me over the phone that he had found where he belonged. He absolutely loves the community of the Appalachian Trail. He's found comradery and fellowship and a family away from home. He's found people who love him and accept him for who he is. That's something he's never really had. I'm thankful.
When I received that box a few days later, he had put his journal in there (which he had already told me that he only had one page and I could read it.) Poet had given him another one. That one page gave me so much joy. I read it through tear filled eyes as I could see so clearly how God was changing his heart. I won't share here what he said, but it made this mama's heart soar.
His next stop was Caratunk, ME. He had stayed with those two friends that found him on the trail in the 100 mile wilderness. But they were traveling way slower than what he wanted. He was loving their company, but he didn't travel with them during the day. He would meet up with them at night, but after a while he went too fast and lost them. He at one point had plans to drive with them over to Canada, but that never happened because he lost them!
His next stop was Stratton, ME. This was an unexpected stop because he had asked Jon's mom to send his passport there to go over to Canada. But since that didn't happen, he is sending it right back. What he did find at Stratton was a little motel that he wanted to get away from quickly. :) He said that he took the last bed, and most everyone there was drunk that night and that the owners sold them pot. Oh my!! I asked if he partook, but he said he was so sick from eating too much in town that he couldn't even think about it. Thank God for hidden mercies. ;) He did decide from that experience, though, that he really enjoyed hostels that were owned by families and will try to stay in those as much as possible.
He has spent the last two nights in Rangeley, ME. He got there Monday, and his feet have taken a turn for the worse. He decided to stay two nights to let them rest and heal. He found a great little hostel owned by a family with kids, and he loved that. He called me several times both days he was there, and I can tell that he just misses home. He talks to the kids, and they just melt. Every time Cedar talks to him he says, "When are you coming off that trail?" "That's a LONG trail." :) Yes, Cedar. That's a long trail!!
He left out of Rangeley this morning, and he will be crossing into New Hampshire before I talk to him again. I think he's ready to leave behind the rocks and mud and black flies of Maine. (Although I think NH has black flies as well :/ ) He says that this next stretch will be pretty hard with high elevations that ascend very quickly. Lots of bouldering (rock climbing.) So if you think about it, pray for him. I expect to hear from him again next Tuesday or Wednesday.
If anyone would like to send him a postcard or letter or whatever, let me know. I have addresses. I'm sure he would love to hear from those praying for him.
No comments:
Post a Comment