Date: 2006-03-27
To: Home But Ready To Roam
Miles today: 0.0

Less than 10 days left! Sounds like some kind of sales pitch but it¢s the count down before my start on the AT. I could have done this entry a few days earlier but didn¢t want to take my socks off to count. I should have because I could have started one day earlier due to the sixth toe on my left foot. It has always made for funny footprints on the beach. Since my last entry several things have taken shape in preparation for my departure. Currently I am still planning to leave out the morning of 4/2 on the 8.8-mile approach trail to Springer Mt and head north. I plan on going up the morning of 4/1 and spending the day with Mom and Dad around Amicalola State Park. If any of you will be in the neighborhood or just want to come visit that night let me know. There will be an open door. As far as preparation goes I have continued reading through ¢Wingfoot¢s¢ Thru-Hikers Handbook circling, highlighting information, and making notes within it where the good buffets are. I have also taken a few notes from The New Appalachian Trail by Edward B. Garvey during his second thru hike in 1990. I am sure this will be time well spend once I get started. I also have to give a lot of credit to everyone who is already out on the trail because as I read some of your journals I tend to change my plans a little here and there. As far as gear goes I finally have all my gear in the same state and ready for final packing. This is after a little road trip of 1,790 miles home and back to San Antonio last weekend and another 895 miles back home this weekend. Thanks to a few recent sponsorships I have been able to add to this pile of gear and now need to make a few minor adjustments with my packing. Todd Walton and Outdoor Research (OR) out of Seattle, Washington sent me a Gore-Tex Seattle Sombrero along with an Endura Cap for those wet and rainy days. Out of just over twenty sponsorship letters sent out to backpacking gear companies OR was the only company that helped and if that doesn¢t say enough the quality of their products will. I also have to give many thanks out to David Wagner and my electrical subcontractor Amteck. Amteck has sponsored me my 3lbs 4oz, 20 square foot home for the next 5-6 months. It is a one-man tent made by Sierra Designs and is a much-needed item for this trip. He has also added a top of the line Therm-O-Rest sleeping pad for sleeping comfort. This is one item that even the manufacturer would not sponsor. Thanks David, if you get a chance you and your boy should break away and meet up on the trail one weekend.         One additional Sponsor that I would like to thank is Gray Construction. Thanks to ¢Team Gray¢ not only will I have a job when I get back from my walk, I will also have my cell phone when service allows. Jim told me that I could use it as long as I called him periodically so he could set up meetings on the trail. Guys in Lexington, if he disappears for a few days every now and then, I haven¢t seen him. I also have to give many thanks out to Brett and Randy for covering my insurance while I am gone. These guys along with the staff in Lexington have made it possible for coverage while gone. This is a huge blessing. One last thing as I finish up is thanks to Cat. and Brian for giving a great going away party as I left San Antonio. Along with the party came a cake topped with my trail logo. Thanks again everyone.Well, I better wrap this one up it¢s getting a little lengthy. If you have made it this far I better conclude by saying my left foot only has five toes after all. A few of you were probably scratching your heads in amazement saying he is a skinny, redheaded, left-handed, Pollock with eleven toes. That just couldn¢t be. Until next time¢¦