Watch "Goal Zero Guide 10 Adventure Kit" on YouTube
After a lot of research I finally decided on this company after a recommendation by Colby Brown a professional photographer that I follow on Google plus.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Solar power!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
What's in a name?
My name is Torry.
My trail name is "Stupid".
You may ask, Why would anyone want to be called stupid?
There are many answers to that.
The first is to keep my ego in check. In all his years, my father only gave me two bits of wisdom:
#1 no man is an island. We need people in our lives.
#2 always keep your pride, but lose your ego.
The ego distracts us from what is real. It prevents us from seeing the big picture. In a time of crisis the ego says "why me?" Instead of "anything is possible!"
Another reason for my choice of trail name is the humor of it. I just think it's funny when somone says "Hey stupid!". I get a smile thinking about meeting somone new and introducing myself by saying "I'm stupid".
It's ironic too.
Although as most people do, I have moments of stupidity, I am quite clever most of the time. ( there goes that ego again)
Finally this is a social experiment.
My given name is Torrance. My friends call me Torry. Through most of my life people called me Torry. One time when I was starting a new job, I introduced myself as Torrance. In the six months I worked there I learned that Torrance is a lot more respected than Torry. People respond with more seriousness to a Torrance and they are more likely to accept his opinion. So what if I chose a less respected name? Would people automatically assume I was as stupid as my name? Would they shun me? Would they see the humor of it and shout out "Hey Stupid's here." Would my wildernesses expertise shine through to where somone would say "I don't know, we better find stupid and ask him.
Anyhow, I'm having fun just thinking about it."
As a wise man once said "Stupid is like a box of chocolates, I gotta find Bubba!" Or something like that.
Until next time
Stupid
My trail name is "Stupid".
You may ask, Why would anyone want to be called stupid?
There are many answers to that.
The first is to keep my ego in check. In all his years, my father only gave me two bits of wisdom:
#1 no man is an island. We need people in our lives.
#2 always keep your pride, but lose your ego.
The ego distracts us from what is real. It prevents us from seeing the big picture. In a time of crisis the ego says "why me?" Instead of "anything is possible!"
Another reason for my choice of trail name is the humor of it. I just think it's funny when somone says "Hey stupid!". I get a smile thinking about meeting somone new and introducing myself by saying "I'm stupid".
It's ironic too.
Although as most people do, I have moments of stupidity, I am quite clever most of the time. ( there goes that ego again)
Finally this is a social experiment.
My given name is Torrance. My friends call me Torry. Through most of my life people called me Torry. One time when I was starting a new job, I introduced myself as Torrance. In the six months I worked there I learned that Torrance is a lot more respected than Torry. People respond with more seriousness to a Torrance and they are more likely to accept his opinion. So what if I chose a less respected name? Would people automatically assume I was as stupid as my name? Would they shun me? Would they see the humor of it and shout out "Hey Stupid's here." Would my wildernesses expertise shine through to where somone would say "I don't know, we better find stupid and ask him.
Anyhow, I'm having fun just thinking about it."
As a wise man once said "Stupid is like a box of chocolates, I gotta find Bubba!" Or something like that.
Until next time
Stupid
For my friends and family who don't know. In March 2013 I am planning to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. I will quit my job and head down to Springer mountain Georgia. From there I will hike 2100+ miles to Mt Katahdin Maine. If you ask why, you wouldn't understand if I told you. More info to come as I will be documenting my progress from preparation to homecoming.
Until next time,
Stupid
A Stupid bit of prose by Torry Newark
The road is calling me.
Every step I take is a drumbeat of the revelry that lures me to the horizon. To the unknown, the unseen, the world beyond my vision. Around the bend lies mystery, adventure, tremendous obstacles to conquer.
I step through my front door for the last time. Everything I own is on my back, in my hand and in my mind. I shed the skin of this American dream, sloughing off the debt and worry of 9000 days of toil and trouble.
I am free for the first time since I entered the womb as a soul into a living being. That soul rejoices at the promise of uncertainty. For better or worse this life is finally mine. I am the navigator of destiny on a wandering course.
Let the wind howl, let the wolves howl, let my heart howl in the face of adversity. Let me embrace the fear that held me coddled in that cushioned palace. I will strangle that fear with the chains of servitude that bound me and drag it across the mountains as a trophy of my triumph.
My steps crunch gravel and splutch mud. My mind travels to the deep recesses, turning inside out like a black hole. I walk the echoing corridors of memory as my feet meet the hot asphalt, ticking the cadence of my future.
In my mind I toll the bells, a cacophony of jangling celebration. Waking the inner child, the soldier, and the sage. "Wake up you slumbering muses! Its time for innocent delight, heroic strength and quiet wisdom. Now stretch and yawn, shake off the dust and cobwebs. Our glory is at hand!
Now stand!
Now walk.
The road is calling me."
Every step I take is a drumbeat of the revelry that lures me to the horizon. To the unknown, the unseen, the world beyond my vision. Around the bend lies mystery, adventure, tremendous obstacles to conquer.
I step through my front door for the last time. Everything I own is on my back, in my hand and in my mind. I shed the skin of this American dream, sloughing off the debt and worry of 9000 days of toil and trouble.
I am free for the first time since I entered the womb as a soul into a living being. That soul rejoices at the promise of uncertainty. For better or worse this life is finally mine. I am the navigator of destiny on a wandering course.
Let the wind howl, let the wolves howl, let my heart howl in the face of adversity. Let me embrace the fear that held me coddled in that cushioned palace. I will strangle that fear with the chains of servitude that bound me and drag it across the mountains as a trophy of my triumph.
My steps crunch gravel and splutch mud. My mind travels to the deep recesses, turning inside out like a black hole. I walk the echoing corridors of memory as my feet meet the hot asphalt, ticking the cadence of my future.
In my mind I toll the bells, a cacophony of jangling celebration. Waking the inner child, the soldier, and the sage. "Wake up you slumbering muses! Its time for innocent delight, heroic strength and quiet wisdom. Now stretch and yawn, shake off the dust and cobwebs. Our glory is at hand!
Now stand!
Now walk.
The road is calling me."
Trail Magic!!!
So, Yesterday Morris the Cat and I took a short training hike. A fifteen mile loop from my house to Pine Level and back. Along the way we were talking about foraging for edible plants. About 3 miles away from my house, on the return leg, Morris Spotted some ripe cactus fruit in someones front yard.
"Should we take some?" He asked.
I looked at the property, and spying a rebel flag proudly displayed, I decided it would be a bad Idea to just take it. " there's liable to be a shotgun blast if you do." I warned, pointing to the flagpole in the yard. "It would be better to ask first."
With that I told him to stay by the road so we don't alarm the inhabitants. I went to the side of the house and ended up startling the lady who lives there when she looked up and saw me round the corner. I was wearing all black and I had a military type backpack.
I stopped in place as she said "Lord, you scared the wits out of me!"
I wanted to assure her that I wasn't a criminal or miscreant, so I raised my hands in a calming gesture and apologized. "I'm sorry mam, I didn't mean to startle you. It's just that my friend and I were hiking along the road and we saw some cactus fruit in your front yard. My friend told me how they are good to eat. Would it be OK if we picked a couple of them?"
She made a sour face and shrugged. "It's alright with me." she said.
I thanked her and headed back to the front yard. When I saw Morris I gave him the thumbs up and we went to the cactus and picked 2 of the fruit off.
John began peeling the fruit with his knife, explaining how to eat the fruit when I suggested we move on first, so we didn't make the lady nervous. When we turned to depart, the woman came walking out to the front yard with two packs of crackers and two bottles of Gatorade.
My first impulse was to tell her we had plenty of food and that we were only about three miles away from my house. but on second thought, it seemed best to let her give us the food. It makes people feel good to help, and telling her the real situation might have made her feel foolish.
So I accepted the food and drink with many thanks and we went on our way.
As we left the yard the woman shouted, "Be careful, there are a lot of coyotes around here! I wouldn't camp in this area if I were you." I live just down the road. There are few if any coyotes around there. I think she was afraid that we would return later for more food, or to harm her in some way. It's hard to be completely charitable in a world like ours, especially when you are old and alone. However, the fact that she offered help to strangers says a lot about this woman and her kindness. I think I'll bake her a batch of oatmeal cookies and drop them off with a thank you note.
until next time,
Stupid
"Should we take some?" He asked.
I looked at the property, and spying a rebel flag proudly displayed, I decided it would be a bad Idea to just take it. " there's liable to be a shotgun blast if you do." I warned, pointing to the flagpole in the yard. "It would be better to ask first."
With that I told him to stay by the road so we don't alarm the inhabitants. I went to the side of the house and ended up startling the lady who lives there when she looked up and saw me round the corner. I was wearing all black and I had a military type backpack.
I stopped in place as she said "Lord, you scared the wits out of me!"
I wanted to assure her that I wasn't a criminal or miscreant, so I raised my hands in a calming gesture and apologized. "I'm sorry mam, I didn't mean to startle you. It's just that my friend and I were hiking along the road and we saw some cactus fruit in your front yard. My friend told me how they are good to eat. Would it be OK if we picked a couple of them?"
She made a sour face and shrugged. "It's alright with me." she said.
I thanked her and headed back to the front yard. When I saw Morris I gave him the thumbs up and we went to the cactus and picked 2 of the fruit off.
John began peeling the fruit with his knife, explaining how to eat the fruit when I suggested we move on first, so we didn't make the lady nervous. When we turned to depart, the woman came walking out to the front yard with two packs of crackers and two bottles of Gatorade.
My first impulse was to tell her we had plenty of food and that we were only about three miles away from my house. but on second thought, it seemed best to let her give us the food. It makes people feel good to help, and telling her the real situation might have made her feel foolish.
So I accepted the food and drink with many thanks and we went on our way.
As we left the yard the woman shouted, "Be careful, there are a lot of coyotes around here! I wouldn't camp in this area if I were you." I live just down the road. There are few if any coyotes around there. I think she was afraid that we would return later for more food, or to harm her in some way. It's hard to be completely charitable in a world like ours, especially when you are old and alone. However, the fact that she offered help to strangers says a lot about this woman and her kindness. I think I'll bake her a batch of oatmeal cookies and drop them off with a thank you note.
until next time,
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