Date: 2006-02-27
From: Blairsville, Ga

To: Blairsville, Ga
Miles today: 0.0

One more night at my home, then I'm out of here....for a couple days anyway. :-))) I live so close to the trail now (7 miles) that I'm going to spend the night at home when I walk through Neels Gap.When I leave here after that, I won't see this place until next October or maybe even November, depending on what I'm up to. I'm all ready, I guess. I haven't packed my backpack since I took some things out yesterday to go hiking with a freind who's in the area to do a hike with another friend. Amoeba and I walked up the Arkaquah Trail yesterday to the high point in Georgia.....Brasstown Bald. That was a very good climb to work these leg muscles that are used to walking on the mostly flat Florida Trail. It was 6.1 miles up and 6.1 miles back from the trailhead to the summit of Brasstown Bald which is 4780 feet high. If there were many sections of the AT that were as steep as some of that trail, there would be alot of knee problems with the hikers. I knew as I was climbing it that we were going to have to turn around and walk down the mountain and would have to do it slowly. I didn't want to do any damage to myself just a few days before starting my long walk. Actually, I don't want to do any damage to myself anytime. :-))) It was a cold day. There wasn't much wind when I left my home and it was 24 degrees out. It got much windier just after I left the truck. My ear was going numb when I was on the windy side of the mountain, but would warm up as soon as I got out of the wind. Yep, I left my pullover hat at home because I thought it was going to warm up. I know better, but......It only warmed up to 45 for a high today which really felt great for walking. We got up to the summit and I was able to spot the location of my home from the observation tower. It was another beautiful day here in north Georgia. We could see for miles. As long as we were out of the wind, it felt nice out. I had some steaks at home that I planned on grilling when we got back, so I suggested we get walking so I could grill before it got dark out. Well, that was yesterday and now I'm only one full day away from starting my long walk and I'm still not thinking about the stuff I have to do. Mrs Gorp called last night and said she was staying at Neels Gap. I offered to come up in the morning and slack her, which I did. She picked a good night to stay at Neels Gap because it was 18 degrees when I left to go up there this morning. I met her again at Hog Pen Gap just shortly after noon. Pittsburg also showed up with his dog, Wilson. We all talked a while and decided to let Mrs Gorp stay the night at my place, so I get to grill outside again. :-))) I really love it when I can repay some of the trail magic I get and Mrs Gorp has done alot for me each time I walk through Vermont. We're having chicken over charcoal tonight!!! I'll take her back to Hog Pen Gap in the morning and she can be on her way, then I'm meeting Chief at Neels Gap and we're going to the Smith House for somemore chicken....fried chicken. :-))) Xmas and Amoeba are supposed to be there too. I'll start my walk north the next morning. It will be really good to get back to walking another long trail. I guess I'm not too worried about packing up because I will be back in a few days. I can get anything that I might forget then. I could probably walk home without even taking any food because of all the pre-hike food I've been eating lately. My next entry will be from the mountains!!! Woohoo!!!!