Date:  Mon, 20 Mar 2000
Subject:  Val-der-ree, Val-der-raa

Well, this ones going out to all you Rockdogs.  I have greatly enjoyed the recent spurt in communications among you, the friends from my misspent youth.

For purposes of my upcoming hike, I have set up this here web-based account:  trudge2000at@yahoo.com   I don't know how often I'll have time or the opportunity to access it along the trail, but it might provide a quick way for me to let you know where I am.  It will probably be a pretty unreliable way to get messages back to me.  For snail-mail you might as well use my home address.  Otherwise, I will be trying to keep in touch with Don and he will probably know where my next maildrop is going to be.

I am catching Amtrak out of Boston on Wednesday morning and should take my first step on the Appalachian Trail on the 23rd.  I was hoping for an auspicious starting date.  My absolute latest deadline had been the 1st of April (April Fools Day).  Preparations dragged on and I missed March 15th (My Birthday, the Ides of March).  And then I missed the 20th (Vernal Equinox, First day of Spring).  So, for all you Discordians out there, I am starting on the 23rd.  Hail Eris!

Rockdog culture must never die,