Date: 2005-01-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well folks, have finally decided on a start time. Have been negotiating with some of the members of the Indiana AT club who are going to do a section hike that will complete the state of Georgia for them. We will all ride down together, and Martha, aka Hairball, and I will start down the trail together and the section hikers will hike with us for a day, or if they feel up to it will hike along till Neals Gap. We start down to Georgia on Thursday, March 10th and if we drive straight thru will hit the trail Friday morning, March 11th. We also have decided not to do the approach trail from Amicalola since we will have transportation, we will drive up the gravel road to within .2 mile from the top of Springer and start up there. Not to worry, Longhaul and gang, we are very slow and expect all of you starting the weekend of March 12th & 13th to catch up with us at Neals Gap, or shortly there after. Don't worry about Hairball and me crowding the shelters either when you guys do catch us, as we both have tents.I have most all of my stuff for my mail drops. Some of my vitamins/minerals that I will put in my mail drops came today, but were the wrong type, so I have to contend with that and reorder the correct stuff. Think I will take the wrong stuff down to the health food store and see if he will buy it from me, since he sells that brand anyway. Glad I still have time. Speaking of mail drops. I am using Mothergooses mail drop list to figure out my own. Thanks Mothergoose !! Hope you don't mind me borrowing some of your set up. She did a fantastic job ( real professional quality ) setting up all of 21 mail drops. I think I will only do about 8 to 10 drops myself. Mostly just when the trail goes thru or really close to a town with a post office or at about 200 to 250 miles apart. I may regret not doing more but for now that is the plan. Motels and restaurants are going to be way too inviting if I go into town too often, and too expensive for me since I've spent so much on supplements to get my old body all the way to Katahdin.Still have to get my taxes done, have to find someone to take care of my lawn, cancel some of my insurance coverage on my hot rod, put in a supply of salt bags for the water softner, ( grandma complains that the bags are too heavy for her to carry all the way down stairs to the softner. I keep telling her at almost 77 years old she could use a good workout ! ) clean out the basement and clean out the garage. Still am trying to put in 6 to 8 miles a day training too, although I missed three days this week. Should have more time this next month since I started my leave of absence this week. Feels good to finally have the time to train and do all the other stuff needed, before I hit the trail. I realize that the new reduced vertical seperation standards that went into effect January 20th, had to be taught to the entire enroute air traffic controller work force. It was important and I'm glad I got to be part of it. But now, I have some catching up to do in my own physical training and domestic chores before March 10th. It will be here very, very soon !! Before I forget, I want to thank everyone for the tons of verbal support and well wishes I have recieved. The mental aspect of this adventure is as important as the physical and I have gotten a great send off so far. I pray I don't dissapoint.I have been asked if this will satisfy my ' outdoor adventure ' gene or will this just make me want to do more. Well, there are many things I still want to accomplish in this life that are done mostly indoors, like piano lessons, natural healing and maybe even kids. However, I'm sure this adventure will beef up my love of nature also. Will have to wait and see how I feel after I finish at the top of Katahdin, but I think there is room and time left for all of those things. Heck, I have to do something for the next 70 years !!I'm not lost....... just not sure exactly where I amVitaman