I weighed my pack yesterday in Sarasota, and I’m sorry to report that it weighs 42 lbs. That is 25% of my body weight! Not good, but I am starting this hike with 7 lbs of food, because I do not want to trek into town for replenishments until I’ve been on the trail for a few days. I will walk off some of the extra weight simply by eating.

And, because I am starting in PA in March, I am prepared for any kind of weather. No doubt I will discard some cold-weather clothes when I arrive in Harpers Ferry. But, knowing that I am an unrepentant packrat, I do not think I will get under 35 lbs. My empty backpack alone weighs 8 lbs.

My plan was to leave today and drive from Sarasota to Wind Gap PA in a rented car, but surprise, surprise, when I went to pick up the car this morning, the drop- off charge for a one-way rental jumped from the verbal quote of $200 to an actual charge of $600. No thank you, Enterprise Rental Car.

And so, a little hiccup at the start. Not a problem, AMTRAK to the rescue. AMTRAK has a convenient bus connection in Sarasota that will deliver me to the AMTRAK station in Orlando, where I will board the Silver Meteor 98 for a 27-hour sprint to New York City.

When I think of NYC, I think of Penn Station, but they have a new (to me) AMTRAK train station across the street called Moynihan Hall. In its former life, Moynihan Hall was a Post Office. Makes sense. AMTRAK and a first class letter have a lot in common–you don’t know when they will arrive.

Moynihan Hall is only a few blocks from New York City’s bus terminal. I will hoof it over there and catch a commuter bus to Delaware Water Gap PA. I think the bus station is actually in Stroudsburg PA, or is it East Stroudsburg? Not sure, but I’ve been there before and I know it is a short walk to the Appalachian Trail.

If you look at a map, you will see that Delaware Water Gap is about 15 miles from Wind Gap, and being the old and slow hiker that I am, I do not want to re-hike this stretch, unless I have to. Maybe I will hitch a ride to Wind Gap, or simply re-walk it.

One more day before I have to lug 42 lbs on my back–uphill. Life is Good.