During the days before the Appalachian Trail, many of the weekends are spent driving up into east Texas and camping in the Sam Houston National Forest. Yes, after the workweek ended, this Wayƒarer in preparation for the upcoming long walk, would get into the mental mode of being outdoors by spending time at Double Lake Campground.

Here, he would go for long walks in the surrounding forest while contemplating his life journey. Often, he chooses campsite number fourty-four because it is the closest site to the bathroom and shower house.

Some days he chooses to go on a walk in the forest; other days, he remains in the campsite to write in his journal or to draw sketches in his sketch book.

Today, I walk to the lake so that I might swim a mile. I am in training for my hike on the Appalachian Trail and suppose that this swim will help in that effort. This is the third time for me to do the mile swim and my first time here in Double Lake. The previous two times were at Grand Lake and Tall Timbers Scout summer camps.

Previously, I had measured the distance along the shore of the roped off swimming area to find it to be seventy four feet wide. After dividing a mile by this distance, find that I must needs swim thirty-six laps.

Upon arriving at the waters edge, I kick off my sandals, walk in and swim out to the north corner near the rear buoy to begin and swim along the rope′s length. I start slow and continue for what I guess is over three hours. After the last lap, I decide to do one extra and then swim to shore. I am totally exhausted and find it hard to stand up when I arrive at the shore. The walk back to the campsite is also slow. I have much time, several hours before the sunset, so decide to sketch the fireplace in my sketch book.

I arise early today and cook a small meal of oats with molasses and hot tea. Then I change into my shorts and sandals and head towards the water because I am swimming a mile in Double Lake. This will be the forth time in my life that I will have swam a mile and this will be the second time here in Double Lake.

After the first summer of walking on the Appalachian Trail, this wayƒarer returns to Texas to spend the winter in the home where he grew up, the Orange Brick House located in Pasadena, Texas

Then, as the time in his winter hiatus comes to an end, he prepared himself for his return back to the northeastern area. As he traveled across county, he would put up his thumb