I’ve found my original backpack + tent to be absolutely essential over the course of the first half of my Walk. Since Day 1 of the Walk, leaving Vancouver, WA, all the way through the 4,000+ miles of my original long-distance commitment, to Washington, D.C., my backpack and tent have never been out of my reach. The same has been true across every subsequent mile from D.C. to New Jersey, as I inch ever closer to New York’s Atlantic seashore. Even after upgrading in Texas from backpack to Chariot, I’ve simply kept my original backpack inside the Chariot cart I’ve been pushing (my tent safely tucked within my backpack) since Texas.

I did use my tent many times across Texas’ thousand miles; however, despite sleeping outdoors only seven times since leaving Houston on foot, I haven’t actually used the tent since central Texas. (I’ve simply made an outdoor bed atop my sleeping mat and slept in the weather, beneath the open stars.) Many times since central Alabama–the last time I slept outdoors–I’ve been inches away from sleeping outdoors again, but I’ve ended up receiving invitations indoors across every stop in these past eight states.

While I’ve benefited tremendously from the kindness of many others across these thousands of miles (most of them “strangers”), I’ve kept the tent because I’ve always known that I am ultimately my only guarantee that I’ll have a safe shelter in which to spend any given night.

Though a tough decision, it’s somewhat liberating to say goodbye today to my backpack and my tent. Beloved Rocio is returning to Atlanta after having spent the past couple of weeks with me in New Jersey. She’s taking that backpack full of my personal stuff with her (including my tent).

Shipping away my tent–my “portable home”– is definitely a leap of faith, but as the backpack full of stuff makes my heavy, overloaded Chariot plenty lighter across the remaining winter miles, I’m now envisioning a scenario where I reach the Atlantic, find a home to give the Chariot to, pack my remaining possessions into a large duffle bag, and take a series of rides back to Atlanta, where my beloved Rocio will be awaiting me…
It’s been getting VERY cold outside recently, as I’ve walked through snow, freezing rain, ice and more. Giving up the 4-season tent is therefore a greater challenge. I’m within a hundred miles of my Long Island finish line now, and I’m ready to take this leap of faith– to do whatever it takes to make it through to the salty waters of the icy Atlantic.

Will I have to sleep outside within the next couple of weeks, somewhere between Newark and Long Island, during any evening of the inclement weather to come..? I hope not, but if so, I still have my sleeping mat, warm winter clothing, and most importantly–a strong mind to face whatever may come–however happy OR inconvenient it may be…

Goodbye, Pack & Tent…