Date: 2010-10-03
From: Fairbanks Alaska

To: The Last Word
Miles today: 0.0

I've been home now for 10 days. The transition into life after the trail has been hampered by a case of giardia. I thought i felt it coming on as the symtoms are well known out there on the trail. I'll save you the dirty details but I spent the last few days in the bathroom. Kind of strange that I got it at the very end of my hike but better here than there. Although I have not lost my appetite and because of the illness my weight has remained below 160lbs. I got my antibiotics so I should be good to go real soon.The Fairbanks Food Bank has recieved 300lbs of food.A friend donated 700lbs of potatos from his garden (In my honor) to the Human values club.There are a number of others involved from differant parts of the country. The amount of cans that have been donated by them is 211. These numbers are still not complete yet but I want to Thank You all once again for helping me complete this journey and provide my hike with a meaningful and selfless purpose. I certainly could not have done it without you. StriderGeorgia to Maine the ATtrail crosses many roads. Every 3 to 5 days a hiker can either hike or hitch into town to get supplies, a meal, do laundry or a place to stay. These towns that are close to the trail are called trail towns. Some towns are very hiker friendly and make it easy and provide options for the cash poor hikers. The Hiker Hostels are usually the best and cheapest choice for the thru hiker. The best deals provide all the amenities on the premises and are conveniently located, very clean, close to resteraunts, grocery stores and pubs. Not all hostels are the same and word of mouth is usually enough to point you to the good ones. There are a few that fall into the BEST catagory and for $15 or $20 you get a bunk(clean sheets)laundry, shower, kitchen use, a pint of ice cream and a shuttle ride to and from the trail head. The best are run by folks who respect and understand the trail life and want to be connected to those on the trail. These were some of my favorites, The Hiker Hostel, Woods Hole, Standing Bear Farm, Dutch Haus, Bears Den, Churh of the Mountain, Maria's, Green Mnt House, Shaw's. The others fall into those out to make a buck while providing as little as possible and are usually dirty and unaccomidating. The roads that allow hikers to get into town are also places for people to met hikers as they cross the trail. There are countless acts of kindness out along the trail from people who want to put a smile on hikers faces while providing them with food and cold drinks. These kind people are Trail angels and the goodies they provide is called trail magic. Its always a welcome surprise to come upon some magic and more than once did it come at a time when it was needed most. Its amazing how badly one can crave something cold. Anything. The wilderness that surrounds the trail is what draws us to it. Some of it is picturesque and familiar but most of the 2179 miles is not postcard material. Most often we spend our time in the thick of the forest with no view other than the vegitation around you. Those who hike the trail for the purpose of seeing the views can be disappointed and are missing the beauty of the trail itself.   The sight of little juncos at 5000ft during the cold and miserable March at the beginning of the hike or the shadow of hawks gliding above, a fish breaking water on a silent and still pond, spiders, flies, birds, crickets, cicadas, squirells, chipmunks, turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, bears, turkeys, deer, moose, owls, great blue herons, buzzards, ants and butterflies out and about conducting their business. Sometimes its the sound of the wind or running water or the sight of dark clouds and the rumble of far off thunder that gets your attention. Sure the trail has the Smokies, Shenendoah, BlueRidge, Birkshires, Green and White mountains. What about Watauga Lake, Whitetop, Roan, Rogers, Big Bald, Unaka, Grayson Highlands, Dragons Tooth, The Priest, The Pinnicle, Sunfish Pond, Bear mnt, Indian Rocks, Upper Goose Pond, Bromley, Saddleback and Katahdin. The list goes on and on. Last but not least are the many people that I met. Those who came and met me and treated me to a ride, nice dinner, place to stay and an envirnment where I could relax and enjoy some of the good life. Your involvment helped me keep my spirits high and propel me further down the trail. The hikers themselves who would came and went as we moved north. Many who devoted much time trying to hike the entire trail but for reasons were unable to finish and those who kept at it until they completed their thru hikes up on the top of Mt Katahdin were all instrumental in making my hike the great adventure and wonderful journey that it was. I for the most part know these people by their trail names only. Some I was around long enough to find out a little about others didn't stick around too long. Here are the characters that made the trail a memorable and magical place. Thanks to you all.Robo Jesus - Retired cop from Narragansett/Jeruselum Rhode Island      (RI)Dances with Wolfie - has a dog named WolfiePicker - carried a pack guitar                                          (NC) Flow Easy - catch a wave/ride the wind easy going go with the flow   (PA) Swithback - prefered to go straight up the mountain not back & forth   (ME)Dethmarch - I understood this name/concept after 1500 miles of hikingSugarbush - a local ski resort and the syrup maple trees of Vermont   (VT)Pacemaker Man - is a 65+ section hiker with a pacemakerOut There - retelling a story in a resteraunt about being attached by a      rabid racoon got up then took the floor and got a little animated.          Specks - wore glassesNesta - Bob Marley's middle name. The safty meeting "Rasta Man"      (NY)1st Man - first name is AdamSockburn - socks got a little to close to the fire                  (Germany)Sideways - a stiff neck that lasted a little to long                  (NC)Tup - kept his food in a tupperware container                        (Scotland)Naptime - any time and any place he could. Hike hard sleep often      (MACatman - worked in the feline rescue fieldLil Buddah - a calm and semingly centered asian manDirt Road Dave - heavy equipment operatorRockstar - section hiker named by girlfriend                           (NY)Groupie - section hiker she is his girlfriend                        (NY)Hotlips - a pretty young blonde thats all I knowBulldog - blind man having his hike documentedHitchcock - documenting the blind hikers time on the trailSix Course - 6 trips to the buffet table at an AYCEPoundhound - conscious of every bit of weight that goes in the pack   (AK) Seeker - we all hope the trail will provide insights and directionWaitnSee - didn't have a trail name and was just going to WaitnSee   (NY)Listner - a 72yrs women attempting the last 1/2 of the trail         (FL)Rabid - wasn't around her long enough to find out12% - score he recieved on an outdoor apptitude testOlive oil - long and lanky dark haired gal carried a mandalinThere are many more that I don't know where or how they got their names. Some were assigned names and others showed up with names already. Some names stuck while others got changed along the way. Wether it be 4,5 or 6 months on the trail there is a life that is so unlike any other that is being experienced by a small sample of the population. These hikers share the joy, hardships, difficulties, surprises and friendships and after 2179 miles the satisfying feeling of accomplishing a most incredible journey. Strider GA-ME 2010