Date: 2008-06-02
From: Sam's Gap

To: spring
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: few clouds

Okay, so today will not be a very long hiking day! But it will be a long day after a fantastic weekend. I am so sad it's over and am finding it hard to get excited about being back on the Trail, though I hope that will change after today is over. The weekend and wedding were so fun, lots of great moments to remember when I'm walking along alone on the trail. The wedding itself was at a most beautiful location--a white sandy beach at Big Sur in Califonia with a giant mass of rocks near the water, pounding surf. They had luck on their side with a nice sunny day though admittedly, down by the water it was windy and very cold. All of us girls were freezing in our little skirts and dresses. I thought it was sunny and WARM in California!! The ceremony itself was short and sweet, none of the long mass and traditional vows. Instead it was personalized for Ken and Bekah with all their family and friend to share in the moment. That's the way to get married--outside with a simple gathering of the people you love most. The party after was the high for me, mostly because it has been so long since I've had a chance to dance. What fun! I loved hanging out with Bekah and Ken and all of Bekah's fun friends. We had some great moves on the dance floor! My favorite being the lawnmower and shopping trip. Lot of laughs which in my opinion equal a perfect zero day.Sunday some of us who were left--Doug, Amber, my Mom and Bob, Ken and Bekah, had lunch at a scenic spot overlooking the spectacular CA coastline and ocean. And we didn't even have to walk 8 miles uphill to reach it! That was surely the best part.Now it is Monday and we have all gone our separate ways. It is such a let down, a hard transition after a fun weekend with my family that I hardly ever get to see. Doug and I are here at the Charlotte airport, waiting for our next flight which will take us back to Ashville. Then Daniel, our shuttle driver will pick us up and take us back to Sam's Gap. Since our flight doesn't even get in till after 7, it will likely be getting close to dark when we actually arrive back on the Trail. But Ashville hotels are expensive and this trip has been a lot more costly then either of us imagined. So to save money, we are being dropped off and then will hike until we come to a campsite, hopefully not long after we get on the Trail. Of course it's a gap, so the first few miles are likely to be all uphill. And in the dark. Hope my headlamp works well! (Thanks Mom)I am so tired now I could lay down and fall asleep! I got up this morning at 4:45 and went to bed late since Doug and I had to grocery shop to resupply. We brought all of our food for 5 days with up on the airplane today. That proved useful because it was a long first flight and we hadn't eaten breakfast so I was smart enough to remember I had all that food with me! Had some fruit from Big Sur and a granola bar from the pail of goodies that I got. Well my time is up. We won't have a chance to update things until at least 5 days. We will be in Tennessee then. So goodbye to Georgia and North Carolina. Two states down, 12 to go!!! Thanks everyone for signing the guest book! It is fun to read your comments and know you are thinking of us. Hello Sara and Ed!! :-)