Date: 2010-12-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 52.0

georgiasonmymindgeorgiasonmymindgeorgiasonmymindGEORGIASONMYMIND......So my brother headed down yesterday. He stopped by Aubreys (my girlfriend) to pick up my truck, and hopped on 95 for the drive South. We expected him around 11 or 12. It was not to be. He first got stuck in traffic around DC for 2 hours, and than got stuck behind a car fire for 2 hours. His arrival time kept getting pushed back. I expected him around 3, but that got moved to 5. I was up at 2:30 and didnt go back to sleep. The NOC is a tricky place, so I wanted to meet him out at the road to lead him back to our cabin. I was on the road talking to him expecting him to pull up in two minutes according to the GPS. When it told him "arriving at destination", he was on a back road with trees everywhere and nothing in site. I said "where are you"?,.....his reply...."ummm have you seen the movie deliverance"? Oh dear. Well after another 40 minutes in the frigid cold he finally made it in around 5am. We spent some time initially going over the plan for the day. Coordinating a slack pack is confusing at times. Well its confusing all the time. I got a really nice e-msil from a couple who reads my journal. They live in this area and have offered help with coordinating our slack packing plans, and have even offered to pick us up if needed. I love this trail community.We left out to do a 27 miler over the Natahala Park. I called to Franklin and arranged for Mark to check in early at the hotel so he could get some sleep. The people at the budget inn (caters to hikers) were friendly and obliged.The hiking today was nice. While it did cover an awful lot of elevation, we were hiking with lighter loads, and the miles were much more enjoyable. Some amazing views today with a couple of fire towers to climb. I miss the smell of the woods....among other things. The forest just has this amazing fragrance in the summer that I miss terribly. I miss the wildlife as well. The closest thing I saw to wildlife was a dead mouse today. I'd even be happy with a reemergance of the ninja chipmunks. Geo and I did see a wild boar and its baby the other day. I've heard that these animals can be very aggressive. We all know what to do if confronted with a bear, but i've never seen any pamphlets or warning signs for a wild boar. She didn't mess with me though. Probably was warned by the snakes. This section of trail is stunningly beautiful, and I can only imagine it in the Summer. We are still hiking in pretty deep snow all day. Makes for tough climbs, but also makes for great pictures of snow capped mountains in the distance. Trying to ascend a mountain in the snow is like trying to run up a sand dune in bear feet. We finished our hike around 6:30, and headed straight for dinner.I forgot to write about the mouse. Last week we were in a shelter coming out of hot springs. Stoker put an Oreo cookie next to him on a ledge. A little mouse with no fear bagain eating it as we all looked on in awe. He had 7 hikers with head lamps staring at him as he nibbled away. The thing had no fear, probably starving to death. By the morning it was gone. I think after he got his fill, he invited the other mice over to finish it off. I'm sure they all went into Diabetic ketoacidosis and died, but at least it was a happy death. Naturally, we gave that mouse a trail name.....Oreo.Aubrey put together some clothes and things for me to wear home. When she asked what I wanted, i said "whatever you want me to wear home". Thing is, she sent me several options so i'm not sure which one. Aubrey likes to keep me coordinated. When home, she picks out my scrub attire the nights before work. She keeps me color coordinated by laying out my scrubs with perfect accenting t-shirts. She even coordinates good color schemes with my boxers and socks. She also sent deodorant(old spice aqua reef), and body spray. It's official, for the remainder of my thru hike i shall smell like a day hiker!! In addition, she sent a pair of my Merrels down. These made all the difference hiking today. They are a wide size, so they allow my foot to swell and be more comfortable. My foot is holding up, and will get me to Springer. It does not have a choice.I'm quite happy to be spending over due time with my brother, and to be enjoying these last miles. I remember in Maine there were so many Northbounders who were just miserable at the end of their hike. Pushing miles to meet family and deadlines. This is not the way I wanted to end such an amazing journey. I am loving the flexibility and the comfort. Remember tater chip? Well he's coming out to meet us on Friday or Saturday, and we can't meet. Geo and I talk about him often, and the consensus by everyone who ever met him is that Tater Chip is "The Man".Well off the bed. 24 miles tomorrow followed by a couple easier days. The tenative finish date is Tuesday the 14th. OHHHHHHHHH BOY!!!