[at-l] resupply

[gaudet@mediaone.net (Arthur Gaudet)]

Thanks Chocolate, you've captured two of the feelings that 
overwhelmed me at the time. The 67 miles of trail had taken a lot out 
of me. I still wasn't up to even 10 miles a day, eating poorly, very 
tired. Then, in the aisle at the store, my mind just kind of froze - 
unable to make any decisions I went outside and lay down. Back inside 
I realized there was just too much! Even today, 4 years later I 
cringe at all the stuff available, and how little is useful to me. I 
eat whole foods so entire aisles of prepackaged/prepared stuff is 
just lost on me. I wondered at a culture who can afford such a 
luxury, and also why they would want to spend their wealth on such 
things.

Thanks for writing so well!

>There's just too much--too much to look at, too much to
>choose from. It's disorienting, overwhelming, for someone who has been walking
>through the woods for so long. I remember two experiences in 
>Virginia. South of
>Pearisburg, I was going to hop into a small town store and pick up a treat.
>There was so much to look at--but I was on a mission, and I managed to make my
>way to the chocolate bar display. (Imagine that.) Then I stood riveted, in awe
>at the possibilities, but completely unable to decide. "You're losing trail
>time. Just pick one," I told myself. "But which?"... "Just pick one." "I
>can't".... "Then pick three." "But which?" I worried that I would be standing
>there hungry and crying at closing time...
>
>Later I stopped at a commercial campground north of Cloverdale. I hung out in
>the camp store, soaking up all the visuals. I mean, they had food and ponchos
>and FUSES!!! I couldn't believe it. I stood and looked and looked and looked.
>Eventually, I came under suspicion for shoplifting.........
-- 
Arthur D. Gaudet         	"Is walking down called hiking, too?"
(RockDancer)  	                 -heard at the top of Mt Washington, NH