Date: 2005-02-25
To: good luck to all
Miles today: 0.0

i have finally got around to posting my mail drops. They can be seen in the left column cleverly under "mail drops" I think there are 24 of them. These are towns that i plan to stop in. Some will be food drops, others guide books, maps, and other stuff. In '99 i plan for what seemed like forever. I lost my pack on the way to the trail and out went my plan before i even started. I also quickly learned that what looks good on paper, looks a whole hell of a lot different standing below another georgia mtn to climb. I have since decided that too much planning sounds too much like a job. With that said a day or so ago ,i sat down and made a plan. On paper has me finishing somewhere in early august, which in real life translates to mid-october i think? In short there is probably nothing wrong with planning and is truely part of the adventure. However you also have to be prepared to deviate from it if need be. If you try to stick no matter what it become less fun and more work. It's just a thought.   My fellow march company kids. Some of you lucky bastards get to leave in a couple of days. Me i'll be hanging out towards the back of the pack. I think the tail end of third battalion. My thinking is i get one more episode of lost in. I'll offer some advice, take or leave it. Some it i've probably already stated, but i'm getting old and i tend to repeat myself Those that think it'll be a romantic walk in the park or skipping through daises are probably going to be disappointed. Though if one gets the chance to skip through daisies, i highly recommend it. The beginning of the trail is tough especially for those who aren't used to hiking in the southern mtns. The AT seems to up one hill then down then right back up and repeat. This isn't rocket science, just one foot in front of the other. On my worse day it still was better than being at work or in school. Don't let the miles beat you down, let them come to you. Be prepared for cold weather & snow. The one happy day of sunshine can make you forget the 10 days of rain, unless it rains for another 10 days afterwards. Oddly i like walking in the rain. Above anything else have FUN! Enjoy yourself. I had the greatest time and met the greatest people. The toughest part for me was the ending and re-adjusting to real life. Since i'm headout again i haven't quite mastered that. Almost forgot .. leave pockets on your pack open, so mice don't chew their way in. Good luck to all!      So, i leave on St Patty's day with guinness in hand Those starting earlier in the week may i suggest stopping at helen ga to celebrate. I've heard it's a happy little town, though i've never actually been there. I'll be hiking with professor for the first 3 1/2 days. professor posted a stirring forum last week, which took on a life of it's own. So if you are going to throw sticks and stuff at him, please don't miss and hit me. hee-hee i kid, he's a good guy and i look forward to it. I've now quit both my jobs. My general mgr at the grocery store gave me that you got to be kidding look followed by a shaking head. Probably sick of hiring me. I was there a 14 months i think that's a record. I even secured a storage unit, which will call on the physics class i never had. It'll be like stuffing my entire apartment into a closet. Nothing i'm sure that a few guinness won't solve. Don't know that i like the way the thru-hiker book looks now. I alreay have a data book. I think i prefered when it was all together not 2 seperate parts. i stuffed all my stuff into my bridger pack with space to spare. It's 2lbs lighter than the one i'm going to take. Just wanted to know that if i wanted to i could switch later on. It's hard enough to get time off in life for one thru-hike. So when i stumbled on a second chance to do a thruhike it was hard to say no. Life is short kids, enjoy it while it lasts! hike happy!