Date: 2003-12-03
From: Holding Pattern

To: Still Holding
Miles today: 0.0

Sorry about the delay, I'm settling into a routine here, which is scary in itself. How's my left knee? Healing, I suppose. Went to the doctor on Monday, she said it was probably a pulled ligament on the side of my knee. Recommendations: a brace, rest, and lots of Vitamin I. OK, I'm already on board with these. Still need crutches to get around, although not as much as on Sunday. The big question: when do I resume hiking? My options:1. As soon as possible. Load up on the pills and push through. Try to catch up to everyone ahead I've been hiking with.2. Wait until next week. Lets the knee heal more. Unfortunately, the weather is closing in. However I can complete this adventure by Christmas and start the new year with a blank slate. May finish alone.3. Get off the trail until next spring. Knee will be OK, weather will be good, but I won't be a thru-hiker. In fact, I may turn into a NOBO!Decisions, decisions. Buttercup, now I start to understand how you were feeling. I realize that I have no purpose other than completing the AT. Everyone I've met is continuing towards Springer, while I idle here, watching videos and cooking supper. Thank you, Miss Janet, for your hospitality, but sitting here is not my goal, although you provide an excellent oasis. My objective is the trail, as cold and snowy as it is. [Rereading this, I sound incredibly cliched, but I'm leaving it as is].What's happened since I left Hot Springs? It took two days for me to reach the top of Max Patch mountain, by which point I couldn't walk without my hiking poles. BS and Jessica were already on top when Fisher King and I made it. Synapse and Squirrel Meat arrived after dark. Max Patch is a bald mountain, with spectacular views in all directions. We also met two weekender hikers, Paul and John, who were camping on top. Thanks for the wine and rum cider, guys.The next day (11/26) Paul offered to take everyone's packs to Mountain Momma's at Davenport Gap. I decided to get off the trail and get a ride with them. Spent the day waiting for everyone else to arrive then went to Gatlinburg where Synapse's parents (Joe and Birdie) had rented a cabin for Thanksgiving. The whole crowd was there: Cliffdweller, QT, Synapse, Fisher King, Squirrel Meat, BS, Jessica, Chris (BS's friend), and me. I had a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat.Friday everyone returned to the trail while I went to Fatcat and Grommie's folk's (Dan and Peg) rented condo, also in Gatlinburg. Fatcat's gorgeous sister (Deborah) and brother-in-law were also there. I had another Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat. Played dominos for the evening.Saturday I went from Gatlinburg to Erwin, courtesy of various taxis, Greyhound, and my feet. Got here to a large crowd of SOBO's, some of who I hadn't seen since Maine. Hello to JJ and Just Joe, Medicine Man and Sunshine, and Squirrel Master and D-Bone. Good luck on the trail, you all. You'll probably beat me to Springer.The rest of the week I've been hanging out with Dumb Luck Wilkerson, Detour, and Moses. The days have morphed into a waiting game, while my knee slowly heals. I sleep late, watch TV, fix dinner, and hang out. Nice life, I suppose, but to no purpose (see second paragraph).What next? Snow is forecast for the next few days, so I won't be leaving until the weekend at least. This gives me almost 3 weeks to make it to Springer by Christmas (my original completion date). I'll know more by Friday and I'll update my journal before I leave.Hey, I hope you all had as good a Thanksgiving as I did, wherever you were: home, with friends, relatives, family, or in a shelter on the AT. Now stop reading my dribble and finish your Christmas shopping (only 21 days left).