I'm a comin home momma!

The day started out with a lil tour of Windsor Ct trying to find that elusive postage stamp we know as Bradley Intl. That was all good as I enjoyed learning a lot about my son in law's FEMA job and finishing the awesome coffee Marissa sent me with. Flew out on time at 6am arriving directly in Atlanta at 830.

From Atlanta one must travel 80 miles NW via Gainesville. That's by Greyhound which to my disappointment wasn't going to depart till 430pm. I don't think what the ticket lady saw next could be described as a bright and shiny Jesus face after she sold me a non refundable ticket and told me the time of departure.

I asked prof Google for REI (outfitters) then proceeded to get an edumacation on two things, the Atlanta train system and the fact that my 46lb waterless pack was not fitting well at all yall and making my hands swell to numbness and my back was tensing up like a bulls butt in fly season. That's almost a verbatim dear ole dadism.

Yes I did do some training hikes and with the pack but not fully loaded.

By the time I reached REI I knew it wasn't just a second pair of shorts I was gonna need. The 430 departure ended up being a God sent blessing. 

I walked in and within minutes found myself getting undivided expert attention for almost 2 solid hours from THE MAN Patrick. Patrick's 2 hobbies are backpacking and rock climbing, his gift is service orientation.

He quickly showed me the pack lent to me by a good friend did not and would not adjust to fit my condition: small torso.

I'm now sporting a girls pack with men's shoulder straps and men's waist belt. I'm not confused.

Patrick also went thru my entire pack and removed about 6 lbs of material. The pack and 6lbs are now heading North as REI was two blocks from Post Office. In between was Zoe's Kitchen for Meditaranean and copious amounts of water on this 84' sun drenched day.

Back to REI to repackage the blivet (10lbs of shinola in a 5lb bag).

From there to the bus terminal. Standing in a very crowded terminal I'm quite sure I stuck out like a white sore thumb with a 40lb red tumor strapped to his back.

But thank God for Patrick as I can feel my hands and can now speak somewhat intelligently about fitting a backpack, or at least know where to point.

It's 5pm, Gainseville by 630 then hopefully a shuttle toward Springer Mtn.

There's 2 approaches to that gateway to the AT. One way is an 8mile hike thru Amicalola Falls State Park or traveling one mile North of trail, backtracking a mile then starting from there. Which way do you think most choose, which way would you choose, which way will I choose?

Aren't you just covered with goosebumps wondering, waiting, wide eyed and all impatient? Haha u b havin to wait!

Faithful Friend(s)

Jade was definitely a God send. I Moved onto camp Sept 2010 by Oct my friend Ellen said her sis in Buffalo had rescued a dog she thought was a boxer. Ellen knows boxers are my fav. The previous owner had increasingly long work days  sometimes crating her up to 10.5 hrs! All the answers to the questions of eye contact, soft bite, tail wagging, reaching into food bowl etc came back positive and proved positive as Jade has gone on to make literally thousands of friends since. Pit, boxer and lab mixed with a beautiful nature made for my greatest ambassador. Within a couple weeks my now best friend on the Lake Marylou asked if she could adopt MY dog. I said we could share which worked out perfectly since I worked long hours, spent many away from Camp and quickly grew tired of trying to squeeze Jade into a 1ft corner of my bed. A year later, still relatively new to the Lake community, while working on a dam project neighbors were asking Lou who the guy in the green shirt was, "that's Jade's Dad". Jade had already made more friends being the lil socialite that she is.

Leaving a week from today, she presents herself with a bit of a whine. I get a sense she has gotten a sense? No doubt she would love to tag along and perhaps if I make it up around these parts in Aug she will for a while. In the meantime she will continue to enjoy her 1,000 acres on a 123 acre lake. Meeting and making new and more friends while putting to rest those ridiculous dogcriminating pitbullist comments as she plays with her bestest friend Buttercup!

Are those spots without snow?!

Only the rugged remnant use these boxes through the Winter. Celebration's in order this Memorial Day!

Two weeks away and training hikes are going well. Goal is to hit Springer Mountain at 8 miles daily for a week then gradually increase. Most ask about training: among the 4 books and thruhikers I've met its debatable how much will actually lead to success vs the will. I'm as concerned about the downhills on my knees while planning to spend much time on them. "Going with a group?" Yes and no. Hundreds are venturing as I write but I don't know any, yet. And about being alone? Haven't been in 26 years even while living alone for over 10.

3 Weeks to Springer Mtn Georgia

That ole maple tree probably won't be coming back. At the end of a training walk on what's supposed to be the greenest day of the year I wondered if I would be, back. Tough place to leave,  more for the precious friends though Norwich Lake in the midst of the "Hidden Hilltowns" is and should remain a semi hidden treasure.

Told u I'm a magnet

Who's Bright Idea Was This?

I am a magnet for lunatics. When asked "why" I really had to think.
After the fifteenth time she asked I thought to myself, to put the greatest distance between myself and this conversation!
On April 8th, "good Lord willing and the creek don't rise" as my dear ole dad would say, I will land at Atlanta airport at 12:30 pm and start out from Springer Mountain a couple hours later to begin a Northbound trek of the Appalachian Trail (AT).
No one ever really knows if they will succeed. One might last 6 days, 6 weeks, or 6 months, we'll see.
For spirit, mind, and body. With a little mission and ministry thrown in for good measure.
With who? My 3 closest, crazy, lunatic friends; me, myself and I.