Date: 2013-03-22
To: dovetail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

hey everyone! dovetail here, caribou had just written a journal but i wanted to take some time to write some thoughts. I did have an interesting but great birthday, it started out cold and snowy but once we got moving and got warm i could not have asked for a better birthday, hiking in the beautiful wilderness of Tennessee, bein with my good ol buddy ol pal caribou, many people were missed but i was glad that caribou was with me to enjoy my 19th year of life. The day turned south when caribou started having his knee pain, it was very scary to see him in such pain and it did not seem good. i have learned this trip with some decisions its best not to get your hopes up, such as with weather. If you hear from one guy its going to be cold and rainy and from another guy that it will be beautiful, its better for me to get ready for freezing rain, so the next day if its freezing rain your ready, but if its beautiful the amount of joy that rushes through my body is unexplainable. So, with this knee pain caribou was having, i expected the worst. The way he described it, to me, sounded like he was going to be going home and i was going to be leaving this hostel to finish the hike on my own. with that i put my thinking cap on and started figuring out my game plan. since we didnt know for sure i was hoping that caribou was okay and he would be leaving with me, but i had to be ready for the opposite. i thought about how i would fair being on my own. At this point in time i can say i would be okay, caribous company is something i truly value out here but from these past three weeks on the trail, i knew i would be okay on my own. i meet and pass people every day, i can cook my food, get my water, plan out my days on the trail, and most important, i know my body. i know what i can and cannot do. I knew i would be okay if i had to leave this hostel on my own. luck has been on our side for that day, while mark( the dood who was driving the shuttle) and i were waiting for caribou to get out of the clinic, i get a text from him reading, im getting out soon, and i got good news. when i read this i instantly smiled and knew he was leaving with me. what a pleasant birthday suprise! we got back to the hostel and had a good night. now we wait for caribou to heal and were back on the trail!i also wanted to do my own thanking of people. first mom, dad, johnny, kt, maddie, sadie, sadie, andy, ashley, mya, violet, sammy, alex, scotty, caitlin, uncle scott, bronc, uncle mark, max and matt. my family. i dont know what i would do without you guys. you have been there for me through everything, if i ever needed anyone for anything i know i can count on you, and you have brought me to where i am today, and i will say that i am damn proud of who i am and the man i am coming to be. i dont know what i would do without any of you guys and i thank you for everything you have done for me. i love you all. Morgan, your da shit! you have been an amazing friend to me and my best friend since we met one another and i cant thank you enough for being there for me in my times of joy, sadness, and anger. thank you for listening to me and giving me advice. Aaron, my brother, i dont know what id do with out you, you have been my best friend since i started high school, but you are now my brother. if i ever need someone to talk to or vent to your my dood. you have helped me a lot in my life and helped me grow to somewhat well writer and a good dood. david, you always put a smile on my face and have taught me to love life and be happy as best i can. Lily and Cassidy, you two are the fokken best! you two have been some of the best friends i could have asked for, and i hope to always have you two in my life. i miss you both terribly and cannot wait to see you again! when i get back home we are going on some bad ass adventures! and to the people who may seem left out, your not! i have just been writing a lot and dont want to write a book, so my deepest apologies, but dont worry, your not forgetten! i miss and love you all so very much. i dont know what id do without any of you. i cant wait to see you all again and have good times! And im off, with a hop, a hip, a skip and a slide, all happy inside. Dovetail