Date: 2014-08-10
From: Fontana Dam Visitor Shelter

To: HOME!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: mist

It was wonderful to reach our hotel room, shower, get dressed in clean clothes, and go out for dinner. Eating from the salad bar was a real treat, and our pizza was a welcome change from granola bars and dehydrated meals. As soon as dinner was over, I was ready for bed.Getting in the car the next day to drive home was a little like being on an amusement park ride. Going 60 mph on windy mountain roads was just too big of a change from the previous two week 1-2 mph speed.My husband and I stopped at NOC and Winding Stair Gap just so he could walk onto the AT a few feet and experience the immediate change from the "real world" to the quietness of the trail.It was weird finally being back in my own home after two weeks on the trail. There were so many options when I needed to dress and eat. It was a bit overwhelming. I learned a lot about backpacking ahead of time from attending Warren Doyle's Appalachian Trail Institute. I learned a lot by reading numerous books and online trail journals. People at REI were very helpful as I was shopping for gear. I was really happy with the REI tent, backpack, sleeping pad, pillow, stove and fuel, and the dehydrated meals I bought. My sleeping bag, rain poncho, and other odds and ends came from WalMart and worked just fine. My new hiking shoes seemed to fit well when I wore them before the hike, but I did have problems with blisters during the hike. Maybe due to rain, maybe I needed a half size bigger, I don't know. I plan to take them back to REI and see what they recommend. They have very knowledgeable employees and also advertise a great return/exchange policy, so we'll see what happens.One of the first things I did Monday morning was call my foot doctor. I wanted a professional to look at my poor toes. Thankfully, none were infected. Her advice was to soak in Epsom salts and keep the blisters covered in Neosporin and bandages. After this treatment and a few days wearing flip-flops instead of hiking shoes, they were looking and feeling much better.I lost 7-8 pounds during my fifteen days on the AT. What a weightnumber loss plan! LOL There is absolutely no way to carry enough food to replace the calories burned while backpacking. I slowly began gaining a few pounds once I had access to such a wonderful variety of food all day. I was sad to learn that James Garner and Pete Van Wieren both died while I was on the trail. They will be missed them.I spent the week catching up on home chores, shopping, and recuperating. I made another trip to REI. The only item from my hike that I wanted to replace was my spork. Nothing was really wrong with the one I used, but I bought a longer handled spoon to make eating out of Mountain House bags much easier.After one week home, I lost my first toenail. Two more would come off within the week. The finger that was stung by the bee was finally back to normal and I could wear my wedding rings again. My poison ivy all dried up. I still had some bruises on my elbows, shin, and knee; but they began to fade. The memories of my hike will be with me much longer, and I am so very thankful for the opportunity to have spent time on the Appalachian Trail. I have begun planning my next hike for the fall.