Day 31: What does “ultralight” mean?
Lighter day than yesterday, even though I walked for thirty kilometers. But two things made a remarkable difference:
- A lunch worthy of the name (two burgers from McDonalds)
- About a three-hour break between one and four to avoid the most annoying sun.
We could say that the stop at the world’s most famous fast-food chain was the main push for the first two thirds of the day. We wanted to get there and reward ourselves with that junk food that can do us good only with this daily caloric regime. Or: it can’t really hurt us; it remains unbalanced food and certainly unhealthy. I also bought two cheeseburgers to go with extra salad and tomatoes for dinner. I have no memory in my life of an occasion where I ate McDonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner. But then again, I’ve never taken a backpacking trip like the one I’m doing now.
I listened to several podcasts (mostly episodes piled up in previous days), but I didn’t pick up the book again. I decided to postpone reading Sciascia to a better time when I can devote more attention to it, and tomorrow I’ll resume Jack Reacher’s “Gone Tomorrow”.
A thought that I repeated to myself today came up early this morning, when I noticed a guy leaving before six o’clock with a tiny backpack (it must’ve been a 30-liter pack). Two days ago, he had walked a good 32 miles (about 51 kilometers). He is undoubtedly part of that group of people you will never see again on the trail because they walk too much and fast. Hike your own hike1. Seeing his backpack made me think, “he is a real ultralighter.” Then I thought: it’s not about the material weight you carry with you, but the weight of all the comforts (or vices, for some). Living ultralight is an enormous satisfaction because it makes you realize what you need, what you really need. But it also means having a clear idea of what you are willing to give up: and it’s not about the superfluous, but also about what others consider an essential good – a car, for example, even when it would make my life easier. I think I am quite minimalist in my daily life, but I’m interested in incorporating what I am learning (and will learn) here on trail to put into practice the mantra of the book “Your Money or Your Life”: when you have understood what your enough is, everything else is useless and burdensome clutter – and it’s not just about material stuff.
Donata, Claudia, Andrea, and Cristina often send me voice messages. Simple ones, a couple of thoughts about what they’re doing and how life is going on back at home. And they bring me much pleasure and good company. Thanks to everyone 🤗
A very common saying here in America. Everyone must find their own way to tackle the trail. Their own rules, to quote Dino Lanzaretti again.↩