Date: 2007-11-03
From: Three Forks (USFS 58)

To: Springer Mountain
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

The ¢last¢ mileJust so hard to believe. The last four months seems like four years and four minutes at the same time.As you might expect, after spending the last night sleeping ¢under the stars¢, I was restless this morning and once I got up, made the trek from Three Forks to the parking lot at FS 42 in about ten or fifteen minutes (just kidding). There I waited for mom and dad and a few friends to show up. And waited, ¢¦ and waited. UmmmmOur original plan was to meet late morning so just because it is now 0900 they should be here, ¢¦ right? ¢¦ because. Anyways, turns out they left plenty early, but had to make several detours along the way. First in Warner Robins to pick up my TJ fan club president (Teresa), and then get off the interstate in downtown Atlanta (never an easy thing to do) to pick up three of my college friends. Naturally, they had to do a ¢rest break¢ at the Amicalola Visitor¢s Center before tackling the FS roads. C¢mon guys.And then it happened ¢ cell phones began beeping and playing music on both ends and it wasn¢t long after that we figured the distance between us was disappearing fast. Well, as quickly as one can on FS42. So it won¢t be long now. The plan is coming together. Meanwhile, there was a traffic jam at the parking lot where I was sitting. Vehicles were being deposited by hikers and leaf-peepers from every corner of the planet. Actually, the commotion was quite entertaining. Amongst the crowds were several really nice AT celebrities, can¢t remember all the names, but my dad informed me that one of them was Mudbutt and he was disappointed that he missed her (he had followed her TJ some years ago). Basically they were doing trail magic and taking full advantage of the pleasant weather.Finally! United with family and friends. The many pics uploaded today (30+) are in sequence and readily tell the story far better than words can. We walked up as a group, everyone jabbering rapid fire at the same time. No one knowing exactly what to do or to expect when we got to the top. Didn¢t matter. It was the best of times!Springer was busy today. To say it was a little congested is an understatement. But it was fun. The people were nice, especially to me once they learned why I was there.I signed the register.I touched the final blaze.Then came the bubbly. We toasted with Champaign (took three bottles to do the job properly) and smoked cigars. Sat around and talked. Took more pics. Talked and laughed again and again at nothing in particular. Finally the chill in the Fall air won out and it was the motivation we needed to reluctantly depart.Stopped by the Visitor Center to sign the official register. More pics. More posing. Gotta see the arch. Gotta look around at this thing or that. Eventually someone makes the initial move toward the car. Time to give it up.So be it. Naturally, I have other thoughts that I want to put on paper and share, but not today. For now, ¢¦ just want to bask in the glory of a job well done. That¢s always a good feeling. Hope your first weekend in November was as fine as mine.Thanks for reading.   ~ Dr Jekyll (Obie)   ME-GA 07PS: I¢m glad it¢s over. I¢m sad it¢s over.