Date: 2005-02-21
To: More Progress Toward Springer
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday was a good day, and today has the prospect of being an even better one! Accomplishments yesterday included figuring how to download photos from my camera onto my PC, which was hopeful. On the other hand, since I was using my employers computer, and it blocks the use of non-employer installed programs, I was not able to download the software I'd like to use to manage and share my photos.   Now that I am officially retired, I had planned to buy a computer for myself -- having been spoiled for years by having one provided for me -- but only after returning from my hike. So yesterday I had a change of heart and decided I'd do it now. Fortunately, my wife -- who's a wiz at this sort of thing -- went on-line to identify the stores with the best deals on the computer I wanted, and by the end of the day we'd gone in her truck to Price Club to pick it up. At the moment it's still in the box in the dinning room awaiting installation, but that's major progress. If I'm going to learn to download, store and share photos, I really want to be able to configure my PC to do it "my way". The one I got even has a port for inserting the photo cards built into it, so now my wife and kids can use the external card reader I bought for their digital camera while I'm away. (We try to have strick rules about sharing computers at my house; saves a lot on the arguments if you know what I mean.)I also practiced using my Pocketmail device, and did a couple of em's. I set up my address book and just generally futzed around with the key board trying to get a feel for it. I really wish it were big enough for me to type with all ten figures like I'm used to, but I'll settle for the practicality of having email capacity with me while I hike. I'll probably have to learn to type the right way all over again when I get back, but I'll worry about that when the time comes. I also had some great responses to yesterday's Journal entry on the demons that I'll be bringing along on the hike. I was shocked (shocked I tell you!) to learn that others will also be bringing demons with them to Springer.   Our fearless hiker friend from Texas has wisely suggested that we let our respective demons duke it out at the shelter while we all quietly slip away unnoticed down the trail. Works for me!What else...oh, yeah. I managed to fix my new watch so that it said "Sunday" instead of "day eight". I do so dislike coming across as a curmudgenly old fuddy duddy. It just doesn't go with that self image I mentioned some entries back about still being 18. Oh, and one other thing. I heard from the SMRG Training Officer about those certification tests I took Tuesday night. You're probably not going to believe this -- I know I didn't -- but I PASSED. BOTH of them. I'm so happy. Now I can go off on my hike as an official "Field Team Member." When I get back, I'll start on the next level up -- Field Team Leader. I like that stuff -- I really do. Over time, I hope to get really good at it. Well, that was about it for yesterday, but it was enough to make me happy. And today, well I'm up early enough that I'm finally going to get that little shake-down hike in with my new pack. It won't be an overnighter, but it will be on the AT. I plan to drive west from here to Snickers Gap where there is a commuter parking lot right on Route 7 right where the AT crosses the road. I'll then hike north, in the direction of the Blackburn Trail Center. I don't know how far I'll go, but the plan is to just hike a couple of hours in, stop for a break, and then hike back to the car. Not too fast, but enough of a hike to get a sense of how the pack will feel on the trail, and make sure the boots are properly broken in. The temperature is in the 30's, the sky is overcast, and rain is predicted, so the weather is really perfect.   I'll try to do a trip report for tomorrow's Journal entry to get a sense of how that will work on the trail as well. I may even try to type it on my Pocketmail and send it off to my transcriber to see if the whole system works! I'll be taking my digital camera, so one of these days I expect I'll actually get some photos posted to this site. Don't hold your breath, but I'm feeling lucky today. Things are going well. One of these days....Stay tuned,