Date: 2010-04-02
From: Franklin, N.C.

To: Franklin, N.C.
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: clear sky

Welp, its good to be a king on the trail! Today, LastOnTheBus and I took a ZERO day here at the Budget Inn in Franklin, N.C. The Photo was taken at lunch yesterday as the best food I have had in two weeks! I have lucked out again by taking an off day during heavy rain! I am yet to hike in the rain during my two weeks on this grand adventure, but know my time will soon end for being "dry" on the trail. To get back to the subject of the trail the last couple days the high points of the trail have been: getting in higher miles per day as weather and health has been good. I have hiked all 12+ miles per day with my highest being my first day back from sickness at 15.4 miles up Blood Mountain and thru Neels Gap. However, that evening was spent ontop of a mountain in cold, heavy wet winds, which in case makes for poor sleep. I have been staying at shelters with the same group of people which you consider family after two nights with the same group. Funny, how hikers will stick together even at the hotels. At night we all seem to get together and talk outside till its hiker midnight (about 10 p.m.). I was able to eat lunch on top of Albert Mountain which was alittle over a mile high in Elevation at 5,600 feet! The gear I have purchased for this trip is working out better and as expected with no troubles and I would know for sure by now if I would have any problems. On the bad side the heat has been out which brings on the bugs in numbers for spring.A day in the life of a thru hiker so far has been to wake up, get your gear packed, eat breakfast (poptarts and coffee) put the dreaded boots back on and pack on, hike about 6-8 miles by noonish, get to a shelter, take shoes and socks off, eat lunch, take a nap, wake up, get water and treat it, put the wonderful boots back on with pack, hike another 6-8 miles to next shelter,take off shoes and socks, set up camp or claim a spot in shelter, unpack, get water and treat it, eat, chat and go to sleep! Next day is same order!This adventure is no easy task, but by now most of the people who want to quit or are having second thoughts about their thru hike are off the trail by now or by the 200 mile mark. I am very happy to be out of GA and in NC. Ga was very difficult with little views and flat trails. At this time I feel very good about my ability. I have wanted to "push" myself and do more miles, but have taken it easy and my body thanks me for it!The trail has given me a chance to think about my life and how hard some of the times have been. I have seen and been through a lot of hard times, but with such a loving family and support system I feel stronger than ever. I see that I have some of the best friends I could ask for! I listen to my Ipod sometimes on the trail and the song "Lucky Man" plays and it feels like it is the theme song of my life on how lucky I am to be where I am and to have the people I have in my life!My shout out today include: Day Tripper, Snickers, Grumps, Country Gold, Winged it, Nap Time, SID, PoPpInS, and H(2) on the trail! Also, a big hello to the Carroll family, Weatherfords(KP and Chance), The Howell Family, Gills, Millers, Tompkins, Barlows, Wheeler, Suben, Waffirds, Hays, and everyone else!Miss you Mom, Sis, Rudy, Benners, and Brutus! Also, in memory of Charles Miller I had Frog Legs for Lunch!Quote: Adversity causes some people to break and others to break records. "The Mountains are calling and I must GO"