Date: 2009-05-26
From: Georgia

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

After a 24 hour bus ride and about 10 days of hiking, I'm sitting here in the library in Hiawassee, Georgia. We beat our bounce box here so we're held up for hopefully just today......Good thing I suppose since I was in need of a zero day. We've been doing mostly 7 mile days. Yesterday we did 11. We really need to better organize our packages though or they'll keep slowing us down.My wonderful mother sent me an enormous mail drop. Fortunately it's made me only have to buy cream cheese and bread for the week, though a few of my dinners will have to be Clif bars since i'm picky, and we're sending some stuff back.I've had a great time so far. Life is so simple and pleasant when you have a path set in front of you. I am incredibly sore but i've managed to avoid any hardcore blisters, which is quite the accomplishment.I think our second night? we camped under this amazing waterfall in bear territory...long creek falls. It was sweeeeet, but sort of chilly.In Blairsville we stayed at the beautiful Blood Mountain Cabins with friends we met on the trail, Derek and Matt. They're cool, we hiked with them for quite a few days. They were out here for a week on vacation. One night up on Wolf Laurel we all laid out and looked at the stars...it was beautiful...haven't seen that many stars for yearsThru-hikers get lodging for cheap too. The cabin was $12 each, and we're staying at the Hiawassee inn for 17.50 a night. Granted we don't have jobs and are slowly working through our savings....The man at the Hiawassee inn is quite a character...he loaned us his van to go out to eat at an AYCE buffet and clothes to wear while he washed ours. People down south are so nice!!!! It's pretty easy to hitch into town as well.I haven't had a lot of animal encounters. I've seen a few snakes, some cool birds, lots of millipedes, mice and a turtle. Eric is the only bear that i've heard.We've met lots of cool people too, including John and Julia, a couple who has been to Africa three times...and climbed Kilimanjaro! I'm supremely jealous. I hope I have as many adventures in my life as they've had in theirs.So i'm keeping a tally of things Tim has lost. Well, I was going to but he hasn't really lost anything for a week but i'm sure that will change.1) His phone on the bus2) His trekking poles basket...which he later recovered3) One bottle of rice to an old man in a shelter. We had left and Tim returned to find the bottle cut open and the rice being eaten....15 minutes later. The bottle was mineUnfortunately i've been graced by the presence of my damn period. I've been using my diva cup, which is a pain in the vagina to wash out every morning and night. I found some tampons in a hiker box at the inn, so my vagina is happy again and hopefully my periods almost gone. I'll be due for my depo provera on June 8th and i'm giving myself the shot. I'm pretty psyched about that. It's kind of like i'm rebelling against the biomedical system I so abhor. I had to order the syringe....unfortunately they come in boxes of 100.Now, I wholeheartedly encourage people to send me things, but keep in mind that I have to carry everything! I'm trying to get/keep my pack down at 30 pounds. Thank you so much mom, I don't mean to complain, I know you're new to this. I love banana bread. It makes a great breakfast. More banana bread please!I ended up sending a few things home to reduce my pack weight including my gaiters...which i do miss since it's been incredibly rainy, and my underlayer pants, which I will also miss if I end up buying a skirt today to wear instead of my pants, which have been CUTTING into my hip when I wear my pack over them...it rubs. I might have those sent back to me, if I can. At Neels Gap the man also told us that our sleeping bags are crap because the zippers aren't insulated, so we'll have to buy new ones when we get up north. suck.Did I mention the first day out a bottle of soap exploded in my bag so that I smelled like Dr Bonners wintergreen for days?Anyways I need to get on to checking my e-mail and all that other junk. Basically, I'm having a great time. It's really beautiful out here, and i'm glad to be away from society.I miss and love you all!-JennaP.S Facebook is blocked on this computeroh and check out the photos that Survivor Dave took of us the first day!