Date: 2014-10-03
To: A week back to Civilzation off the trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I have spent the last week with my wife sightseeing and eating good food prepared by myself. The weather started beautiful with temperature in the 80s but then became overcast and cooler. But still no rain. I have taken a boat ride seeing lighthouses, visited museums, and been updating my journal. I still have a hiker hunger and have gained 7-10 pounds since being off the trail. I did have to buy a few new shirts since my old ones were too big.When I have met people at the museums or business and they ask where I'm from, I tell them North Carolina and that I walked to Maine. They are familiar with the trail and offer congratulation. It really hasn't hit me of what I have done but I know it is a major accomplishment. I am going to conclude my journal with an entry that I actually wrote on the trail one night when I couldn't sleep.The AT is a unique place, location, journey, community. It is not one time or place but at continuum. It starts in Georgia and ends in Maine but it is ongoing. Year by year hikers start to head north or south at various times and seasons. Some make it all the way in one year. Others stop for various reasons. Those who stop may return later to finish or not. Some flip flop, stopping in one location then going to Katahdin or Springer to finish. Others are section hikers who do parts of the trail taking many years to complete the trail. They do this for a variety of reasons but like all AT hikers they are hiking their own hike.Some thru hikers are young and fast. Some are older and fast. Some are older and slower. Some carry light packs with the bare necessities. Others carry too much but still manage to complete the trail. Some hikers have years of experience while others, myself included, have very little backpacking experience.Some hike by themselves by chance or by choice. Others hike in small groups as couples or friends. Hikers will join up with others at various times and hike for various distances. This can be for companionship or safety. I had the honor to hike with one gentleman for about 450 miles and with others for 1 to 2 weeks.Friendships will form over time. Many times you meet up at shelters, hostels, or in town. Everyone is on the same path following white blazes north or south.But the community is not just hikers walking every day for 4-6 months. There is a larger community of people from all walks of life providing for these hikers.There are the hostel hosts who put up with dirty smelly hikers. Many times in their homes providing beds, showers, laundry, transportation and sometimes food. Some of these hosts have been doing in many years, like Honey and Bear at the Cabin or Elmer in Hot Springs. Others are new such as Stacy and Shawn at the Farmhouse Inn. Many are former thru hikers who saw a need in a specific location. Hostels can be special buildings or houses specific for hikers. They can be small for 4-5 hikers or large for 10-15 or more hikers. They can be church basements or 3 car garages. Each has a unique but friendly atmosphere. Without these individuals to provide this relief the hike would be more challenging and less fun.   There are also the motels and hotels who provide special services and amenities for thru hikers.Each year the AT community grows by the thru hikers that finish. Many of these former hikers become trail angels.   Trail angels provide various assistance on the AT. Some will provide rides or shuttles into town. Some may provide rooms and meals to stay. Others will leave water, drinks, or food at road crossings. Still others will meet hikers and provide full meals. Not all trail angels are former hikers. Some are friends or relatives of hikers past and present. Some are just individuals who want to help hikers. Many have been doing for years . These individuals are greatly appreciated and are welcomed sights. Every time trail magic is encountered by thru hikers it is a happy time and one not usually expected.Trail magic is also done by large community groups. These are local church groups or hiking clubs. They will provide pancake breakfasts or set up a road crossing and provide meals. Some are local groups other travel to the trail from a far off town. Trail towns are another hiker experience. The town's people are familiar with hikers and will be helpful to the hikers. These town will hold hiker events during the year usually timed when a large number of hikers are coming thru. There will be hiker feeds providing food and drink and entertainment. The trail is not judgmental. Hikers go by trail names some they choose others given to them by other hikers. You are known not by your given name but by this new name. And you go by this name not only on the trail but when checking in at a hostel. You will meet someone at a shelter in Virgina and 3 months later you'll run into that person in Vermont.Information will be asked of you. What is your trail name, where are you from, when did you start on the trail. This is the important information to hikers. What you do for a job or specific about your life are less important. As you hike with someone for days, you will share information about yourself which makes for interesting conversation. Sometimes the information will come out as you explain your trail name.Hikers are more interesting in hearing from you on the weather, or where the next water source is or the best place to eat or hostel. Or what the trail is like ahead.Information flows quickly on the trail. Shelter registers will give people information about the trail or where fellow hikers are on a given day. Not all hikers sign in but many do leaving notes to their friends or puzzles.The trail is a continuous pathway of mountains, trees, streams, flowers and towns. During the walk along the trail one had many hours to think, contemplate, remember, or plan. One thinks about family and home they left for many months. They think about the future after the trail and what it will be like. You contemplate what is going the happen to you. You remember people or places along the trail you encounters. And you plan for the next day's hike or the future.I have experienced many of these items. I had trail magic when I less expected it. I got rides quickly or not. I experienced great hostel and friendly helpful owners. But most of all I have met great individuals along the trail and hope I have touched them in the same ways they touched me.I have to thank many individuals who supported me during my hike. My best friends, Dick and Nancy Hardick, who provided me with an address for mail drops as well as a nice bed to sleep in. Harry Brown, class of 89, who gave me the idea 15 years ago and gave me advise and encouragement. Rebecca Garson and Sue Heiser-Whatley who hiked with me in Virginia and got me to slow down. Nick Breedlove who wrote articles about me in my local paper. Dr. Killian, Carlisle dentist, who repaired my tooth and got me on the trail. Neville Harris of Woods Hole Hostel who got me to the clinic and helped me recover to continue my hike. The Community Table of Jackson County for allowing me to fund raise for them. Those individuals who contributed to the fundraising I greatly appreciated your support. And others who I have talked with over the last 6 months.Finally I have to acknowledge one individual without whom this journey of mine would have never occurred. That is my wife, LouAnn. I put our lives on hold for 6 months but while I was spending the time walking in the woods, she had many responsibilities. She looked after the house, paid the bills, sent me my mail drops, and met me at points along the trail in the beginning. It wasn't always easy and she had some major encounters which were not anticipated. When we finally return home, I know I will have many things to do around the house. But as I said without her support and encouragement this thru hiker would not have finish his hike.