What's in a Name?

The line

I chose to name my PCT blog Walkin' Down the Line for two reasons:

1) In the most basic sense, the PCT is one really, really long line. Its 2,663 miles span Mexico to Canada, sending the traveler through the most stunning regions of California, Oregon, and Washington. I suppose since most folks hike south to north Walkin' Up the Line might be more accurate, but that leads to my next reason...

2) Walkin' Down the Line is the title of one of my favorite songs. I feel obligated to note that Bob Dylan originally wrote it, but like many of his songs others covered it much better. A group called The Flatlanders did my favorite version, which I can't find on the interwebs, so here's a good cover by Linda Ronstadt.



Arlo Guthrie performed it at Woodstock too. He stops the song midway, seeming slightly perturbed and incredibly stoned, and says this:

"Wait a second that's not where it's at man, I mean there's a lot of people here and you're obviously not walking down the line, I mean you know, I mean when he wrote it he probably wasn't walkin' down the line, you know. But you should sing it because sometimes you might be walking down the line I mean like if an earthquake hits California and all the electricity goes and there's no gasoline, you'll have to walk where ever you're going, you might, you know, wanna sing that song, you might wanna stay at home, you know, but you could sing it at home too."

I'd like to think that Arlo would be happy to hear that people are walkin' up a really long line in California each year for pure pleasure and adventure rather than escaping natural disaster.