Yes. I am taking a vacation. I deserve it too. I will be backpacking about 45 miles on the Appalachian Trail next week with my father. My brother and the dog can’t make it this time. (OK, my brother said I could bring the dog if I wanted to, but let’s face it the dog is a lot more fun when some one else has to sleep with him.) We’ll miss them, but I’m sure we’ll manage to have some fun anyway.

As many of you know there aren’t internet cafes set up along the Trail, so I will be incommunicado for a week or so. Don’t panic. I’ll be back. You know, like, better than ever. Hmmm. Scratch that. I’ll be back beat up and bruised with blisters and aching feet, sore legs and a stiff back. Hopefully, I’ll feel recharged mentally, too. Getting away from home, from work, from (although I love them dearly) the wife and kids, from computers, hell even from blogging. For a week, my only concerns will be keeping dry, surviving the trudging, and avoiding the mice in the shelters. Pretty simple really. And simple is nice for a little bit. Helps me to handle the complexity of the real world when I get back.

If you feel left out, while I’m gone, you can read about some of my other backpacking trips here:

On the Trail
The Long Walk
but next time… I’ll have snowshoes
The Rain King
Almost Soaked

If backpacking isn’t your thing, but you are still missing me try one of these Each one oozing with geeky goodness, kind of a best of:

About my Summer Vacation …
The week that was
Cat Stevens where have you gone
You’d be Lucky to Get Fired Like This
I need to get this off my chest
The Ups and Downs of Mountain Biking
A Requiem (of sorts) for WHFS
The Elvis Bar
Reflection, Or the best car accident I ever had
I’m not a writer, just a blogger
Of Bullwinkle and Baseball
Looking Back Across Burning Bridges
Rare Mental Silence
Just Me Against the White Space

I am impressed. With me. Those of you who have read much of what I’ve written , know that I am one of my biggest critics. Imagine how surprised I was to compile a list of posts I like that was this long. When I started writing this, I figured I’d find 3 or 4.

Have a nice weekend and a good week next week. I’ll be back with more geeky goodness when I return.