Date: 2004-05-18
To: THE FINAL THOUGHT
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up this morning in a nice bed in an air conditioned room in a motel on Main Street, Gatlinburg, U.S.A. Tom and I made a few phone calls, I dont have to catch my bus out of Knoxville until later this afternoon, Tom has to pick up a mail drop and do some laundry and its time for the breakfeast buffet at Shoneys. Even though the hiking part is over for me, my mind is still doing the trail. Tom and I started walking to the laundry and Post Office and decided it was too far and hopped on the trolley about halfway there. When we got on the trolley what a shock, Sun Pig, Trey and Simon are on the same trolley having made it to Trail Days and back. They said Hobo Joe and Trash Barrel Carol stayed in Damascus, but we still had enough of the original crew to hang out like old times. For the past 200 miles I havent seen a closer group of hikers then we were. We did the trail as a team. All you needed was the password to join. What a great hike its been, Im glad I ran into you guys one last time. I would like to say Thanks to everybody Ive met on the Trail its been a pleasure. Until we meet again. Its getting late and its time for me to start heading back to New York. It looks like everybody else is going to stay in Gatlinburg for one more night.      LATERMade it back to New York but it may take a while to realize im back. Im still reading the Data Book to figure out where im going, and I still have a craving for Noodles Stroganoff. Its taken me a long time to finish this journal, I guess it would have been quicker if I had my computer hooked up. Well its back to reality, Ive got to paint this place and in a few days go back to work. I took very few notes on this hike and just about every thing is written from memory which isnt that good anymore.Next year I was thinking of doing the section of the trail from Newfound Gap to Damascus in time for trail days, and maybe the next year start at Damascus and go north and so on. My mind and body want to do the whole Trail now but the best I can do right now is sections with my work schedule. Next year when I get back on the trail Ill be travelling lighter, Im looking into a hammock to replace the tent that I only used twice. Im leaving the water filter home and switching to Aqua Mira. The whole hike I didnt treat one drop of water and had no problems at all, it was amazing every water source listed in the Data Book was there not like here where it seems like were always having a drought and you learn how to conserve water. Im going to switch to an alcohol stove and a lighter backpack and a lighter sleeping bag. I figure I can shave about ten pounds off my pack weight. Its not that I had any trouble with the my pack weight but I learned alot seeing other hikers gear. Also I know I can do alot of big mile days but I sort of just coasted from shelter to shelter. Everyday seemed like an off day when you have more then enough time to do what I set out to do.Since coming back home Ive only had a few days off my busy schedule to take a hike on the A.T. in New York. I did an 18 miler and stayed at a shelter with Pita Man, Scuba, 30-30 Mouse Smacker and a few other Thru Hikers. It felt good to be back on the trail. Hay where are the switchbacks? Wheres the water? I know where the soda machine is on the top of Bear Mountain Thats why I carried all this change, AHHHHHHHH.