Date: 2012-03-25
To: The day before the day
Miles today: 0.0

Day minus 1 - March 25Nice weather - 68 mostly sunny - light windsWell, after days of rushing around trying to complete the seemingly endless pre hike chores, I am finally on-board my flight to Atlanta.  The morning was busy.  But now I am ready to just take a step back and  begin to enter my zone.  Since time kept getting away from me, I really don't remember what I sent to the hiker hostel.  At least what I have learned from my previous two hikes is whatever I have or whatever I missed won't make much difference.  I have learned the best way to enjoy your trail experience is not to fight it.  If you need to be in control you will find that the trail is bigger.  If you accept what the trail has in store for you and work with it and not against it, the trail will give you safe passage. I am now in the air and headed to Atlanta.  I can feel that I am going into hiker mode.  My first thought is already trail related.  It is not one of worry or concern or apprehension or excitement, it is how glad I am that I will soon be losing the weight I need to take off this body. Trail life brings you back to the basics in thought and actions.  The thoughts you would never give any credence to go to the front of the line as to it's importance.  The issues that are in the forefront in your non hike mode get pushed to the back.  This is a good thing because if a AT hiker cant make the transition, non-trail life will creep in and a hiker will eventually find themselves being distracted and eventually they will be sucked off the trail.OMG.  I did it.  I have just made the transition to hiker status.  I just did one of the things the vast majority of hikers do which they don't do at home.  READ THE FOOD LABELS ... not just read them but study them like the never existed before.  They will find out things like reading that the tiny package of airline peanuts contains 60 calories and that is is processed in a facility that processes peanuts.  Go figure.So far the day has gone as smoothly as it could go.  Flight not only departed on time it was 25 minutes early.  Airport was fine.  $3.50 to the end of the MARTA.  Actually nice public transportation as public transportation goes.  Within a few minutes after arrival Josh from the hiker hostel was there.  The second hiker that was expected arrived on the next train and away we went. Signed in, made my bunk, was given my box, packed my pack and just now just waiting to go to town for dinner.  It concerns me how well things are going so far.  So far the iPhone is working well for my journals.  Of course I am not in a tarp with it raining out so it is not truly tested yet. At 5:30 took the van that went to Walmart.  Ate a subway ham and cheese with extra mayo.  First time ever had too much mayo if there is such a thing.  Now 9:30.  Just finished watching the last 45 minutes of the Lord Of the Rings.  In bed. Lights out already at 10:00.Set my alarm for 7:00.  Breakfast is scheduled for 7:30.  Josh will drive us to the base of Springer where we will hike up .9 mile to the first blaze.  I figure we will be leaving the hostel at around 8:30, reach the base at around 9:30, first blaze at 10:00 and let the hike of 2012 begin.