Date: 2008-03-07
To: Rachel's Adventures in Macon
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 5 AM yesterday morning, so I could arrive at the airport at 6 and have time to go through security for my 8 AM flight. Yeah, it was early. But I like leaving places early. The darkness transforms all of those familiar places that I love during the daytime into just vague black shapes that I feel absolutely no regret leaving. Another advantage--dawn sleepiness numbs all of those feelings for friends and family which might otherwise put a hesitance in your retreating step.But I was excited. I don't think I have any conception of how long 6 months is. I still don't. Plus I love the excitement I always feel being in airports. I'm not homesick yet.Georgia is gorgeous. I was surprised to see such tall trees, and pine at that! My cousin Ashley keeps making fun of me for ogling at the trees. The temperature and weather here in Macon is about the same as Texas right now, so all is good. I haven't yet gotten the chills. There are other differences I keep ogling at, it's almost like culture shock:1. Barbecue here has nothing to do with cows, it's all about the pig. I'm gonna miss my brisket.2. I already knew about this, but NO BIG RED! 3. The cop cars have blue lights instead of red and white.4. The tea tastes like something a hummingbird would like to drink, and I'm fron Texas. I like sweet tea. Tea. Not sugar water.5. There are pre-bundled bouquets of daffodils growing right up out of the ground. 6. My cousin tells me breakfast tacos DO NOT EXIST here. I'm going to have to make my trail companions some homemade flour tortillas (hope I remember Ollie's mom's recipe!) and the potato and egg concoction to fill them with! 7. The trees are gorgeous.So, I can't get over the trees. I hate mesquite trees, and I'm glad to get out of mesquite tree country Texas. There aren't any oaks though, I might start missing those.Today we went to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette, GA to eat some fried green tomatoes. Juliette is where they filmed the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. The food was good. You should go there. We even took pictures of each other pretending to get our feet stuck in the train tracks. It was dorky, but worth it. Then we went to High Falls State Park and hiked a little nature trail next to the falls. It was really pretty. It's only a little hilly in Macon, and I'm about ready to see the mountains. I thought I saw mountains in the distance as my plane was coming into Atlanta, and got a surge of the butterflies. Tomorrow I head over to the Hiker Hostel, and Sunday I'll start the long walk north. My grandma gave me a card on Wednesday with money in it (THANK YOU!), and it contained a relevant poem by Adrian Rogers:    When going through life   and traveling in the direction   of your dreams, the best way   to get ahead is the simplest way:   Take it one step at a time.   Don't look over your shoulder; if you do,   you'll feel the weight of all your    yesterdays upon you.   And don't worry about what lies ahead.   By the time you get to   the bend in the road   or the crest of the hill,   you're going to be better and stronger   than you ever were before.   Just go a step at a time,   one day at a time.   And you'll find a rich, thankful life   you never thought you could afford.Well, I'll see some of you folks tomorrow hopefully.