Land of Nonsense?

Deer mouse,

sea cows gopher lion cheetahs

or sea lion buffalo buffalo rats 

or gopher otter porpoises.

While the insect said, mantis European honey bee fly

oh deer

An Invitation

Having mentioned my ambitions to some of you earlier, several of you expressed interest in joining me in my perambulations through the assorted wildernesses - having adventures. If this thing goes off like I hope it will, I plan to spend about five months traveling from Springer Mountain, Ga to Mt. Katahdin, beginning in early April. I will be traveling northward at about .583 mph average velocity. If you think you might want to and be able to join me for dinner or adventures and sundry, let me know, and we'll try to work it out.

Interested parties my drop a note here or send me a message at jay oh tea aytch see oh at gmail

Trail Name

One of the big traditions of the trail is to use a trail name or moniker to identify oneself. There are no rules governing this choice, and one may select a name for any number of reasons. Commonly, people wait until they are out on the trail, and fellow hikers will dub them according to some freak event or habit or characteristic. However, having seen the results of these dubious dubbings and having no desire to be known as Mudbutt, Nutless, Flabby Tabby, or Scrot, I have decided to prepare my pseudonym. And so, I invite you (yes, you) to help decide my name. I have posted a poll* to the side here with a few choices I find appealing or funny in some way, and I encourage you to vote for the one you think best. Or, if there are some good write-ins, I will add them and have another poll. 

Now, I feel, for my sake, I must ask you to take heed as to the moment of this decision. You are, in some way, setting a tone for the hike. Names, especially when assumed or symbolic, mold and shape the identity of the person. To put it awkwardly, one might even say, if one were so inclined, that there are some ways in which one does not really have a name so much as the name takes claim of one. Having said that, I look forward to your input.

*John Cotham is in no way legally bound to the results of this poll and reserves the right to adopt whichever name he chooses. The poll and dialog about it are purely for amusement.

Welcome

Well, the time has come; I have, as it were, taken the plunge and put in my notice at work, and I will soon be heading out to hike the Appalachian Trail. For those of you still fond of me, you may follow my adventures here. I will try to keep the posts light and breezy, saving my philosophical musings and Deep Thoughts for when I see you in person, and to put up pictures occasionally. For the rest of you, I will be keeping a tally of water and insect-born diseases contracted, broken bones, blood-blisters, and encounters with dangerous beasties and digits and appendages surrendered unto.