A great many people seem interested with my facial hair of late. Before I decided to walk across the United States the only creatures who were ever concerned with this were dogs. Dogs love facial hair. I imagine to a dog it is an odiferous cornucopia of wonder and joy. I have been told I have a way with animals; that they seem to instinctively like me. Many times I have befriended a dog that I was told did not like people. I am not sure about other species, but as far as dogs are concerned the secret to my success is the goatee.

But now people are interested in my facial hair. Mainly they seem curious if I plan to let it grow out on my journey. I have to admit there is a sort of mystique to the idea of starting my trip clean shaven and ending it with a wild grown out beard. I have given this matter much thought. I really would love to do this but after consideration I fear I am just going to keep the goatee as well as I can.

The main reason for this is heat. I am mainly going to be walking in the spring and summer. I will also be going through several deserts. Beards are already hot and beards in high summer heat are doubly so. I have grown a full beard before and it has a tendency to go a bit out of control even when I try to maintain it. I fear letting it loose with no way to contain it might be unleashing an unspeakable horror on the world. So I shall carry a razor and do my best to keep my current appearance. Maybe when I get back I will let it go for eight months just for fun. Well… eight months or until it devours a cat.