Date: 2006-03-09
To: Set in stone.....
Miles today: 0.0

My truck is sold, my pack weighs 36 pounds, reservations made, bus ticket bought!!!!! I leave Tampa the afternoon of the 18th, arrive in Gainnesville Ga. the morning of the 19th, spend the night at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, then will start the Approach trail the morning of the 20th. Things have all worked out it seems, tho I am sure a problem will rear it's ugly head at the worst possible time.My credit card has been issued and activated, and my funds deposited. There are a few items I would like to buy, but now, anything I buy will be luxury items, and will do nothing but add weight to my pack. Every day I am waiting, I am doubting descisions made on gear choice. Should I bring the fleece pants and jacket, or go with 2 light weight under layers?!? Go with the lighter pack, or the heavier but more durable?!? Beef jerky or raisins?!? It all comes down to weight. I did buy a "Camelback" water bladder, 2 liter, to put into my pack, and will go with that, plus one 1 liter bottle carried for filtering and when water is scarce. I will be taking ground coffee after all, screw the weight difference between that and instant. Even just after one cup of it, I know I could not enjoy it for ANY amount of time.Thanks to Mary Ellen and Woody in Whittier N.C., and Jeff in Peekskill N.Y. for the offers of a room and shower. I plan on taking you guys up on that, if and when I can get that far along the trail. There have been a report or two of hikers having injuries this year already, one with a fractured arm comes to mind. The thought of injury is in the back of my mind, but I cannot let that bother me. I am quite sure I will get blisters, and a turned ankle or two, but as long as I pay attention to what I am doing, hopefully I can avoid something worse than a muddy, somewhat bruised ego from a fall. I am taking a cell phone with me,(emergency use for Gerry) and I will be checking that once a day in the evening hours to be sure all is ok, and as long as I can get a signal, he can reach me. I have been having thoughts on what it means to make a descision for doing something like this. I am not a superman to fly through 2000 plus miles, nor am I a great tree-hugging nature lover. I look within myself for a reason to do this, and cannot come up with anything else other than "It's something I want to do" If I complete it or not will depend on my answer I think, but I will have to find that answer on the trail, as I cannot give one now to save my ass. The doubts about doing it have all but left me, and I feel nothing but a growing excitement that in 8 days I board a bus. I will most likely make one more "Preparation" entry, then one from the Hiker Hostel on the 20th if I can before I leave for Springer. I want to take this last prep entry,(well almost last), to thank everyone that has signed my Guest Book, that has sent me e-mail with notes of kindness or tips, WhiteBlaze.net for all the nice people there and priceless information on the site, Trailjournals.com and everyone on it that has a journal. Your stories of heart-aches, struggles, commitments, and triumphs have been a real inspiration for me.THANK YOU!!!!! See you in Maine!!!