Adapting to a slow-paced life

Well we had planned on hiking 20+ mile days for most of our journey, but the weather is not being kind to Roxy. We are currently in Tennessee and the daytime highs have been reaching the 80s almost daily. With her thick coat of fur, Roxy was better suited to winter in the White Mountains than she is to summer in the south. 

Too hot on the mountain top. 

Roxy has also developed quite the appetite out here on the trail. I had a large bag of dog food that I expected to last 6 days, but she has devoured it all in 3.5 days. That means we will be making more frequent town stops to resupply, which will push us even further behind schedule. 

Clearly not interested in moving forward. 

Although we are now 4 days behind schedule, I'm looking at this as a blessing in disguise. We now can only hike from 6am until about noon, at which time Roxy makes it very clear that she is uncomfortable and no longer interested in hiking. That means from noon on we get to lounge on mountain tops, enjoy beautiful views and take pictures of the amazing world around us. 

Hot, but beautiful. 

Despite not making as much forward  progress as I would like, the weather is definitely giving me more time to truly appreciate all the wonderful life all around me.

Taking my time gives me opportunities to intrude on the intimate lives of forest life. 

Even though I can't help but think that I'm behind and not keeping up on the trail, I'm trying to remind myself that I have nothing to rush back to. This life is good, and there is no reason to try to rush to a finish. 

Happy to be with my baby girl, no matter how much she delays our hike.