Date: 2014-04-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

   So that part about finally leaving at 6:50 PM didn't happen. We got out to the runway and the pilot told us only one runway is open because there's construction on the rest. He also said we're number 20 in line to leave. We took off at 7:34 PM.    What a wild experience this already is. My mom is really frustrated that we decided to sit around instead of just leaving right away. She saw how much I prepared for the trip and is so upset for me that this happened because it "wasn't supposed to happen like this". I kept telling her there was nothing we could do about it anymore and everything will work itself out. I still get to go on the trail but it's just a day later. I told her to save her tears for if my gear was lost or stolen.    I managed to find a really nice Southwest employee that helped me get an actual seat on the next flight out of Chicago at 6:30 AM. It was nice knowing I wouldn't have to wait on standby. Oh maaajor bonus points for Midway - they have rooms with cots, pillows, and blankets! So awesome to not have to sleep in a small chair or an awkward bench. I got sleep but still not nearly enough as my body is needing.    I got to Atlanta in a timely fashion and was thrilled to see my pack waiting for me in the AirTran office. I looked inside everywhere and it seems like nothing was inspected or opened which was also great. I hung out for a bit rearranging my carry on stuff back into my pack and then headed onto the MARTA train to the North Springs stop 45 minutes away where one of the owners of the Hiker Hostel came to pick me and a couple other people up. While waiting for them, I met my first fellow aspiring thru hiker, Zach. He's my age, from Dallas, and we're both starting out from Springer with a similar plan for the first few days. It was really great to finally meet and talk to someone else who is just as "crazy" as I am to do this. It feels similar to starting college. And I'm sure it'll be like that for the first few weeks. Where are you from, what do you do when you're not planning to hike over 2000 miles, what gear are you using, etc.. Should be interesting.    On the ride to the hostel, we got to view a glimpse of the first 30 miles or so of the trail. The ridge line had a lot of ups and downs and was so awesome to see. It looked beautiful and I'm sure it's going to kick my ass.    We got to the hostel around 3:30 and took a tour. It's gorgeous. It's like a huge cabin in the woods but lots of room for people to stay, inside and outside. There will be 21 people staying tonight, not all here yet, and our room only fits 4 so as of now it's me, Zach, and Ben, who rode with us as well. He's from NY but lives in Boston now. There are also two cute dogs here, one of which immediately nuzzled my leg. She's really fat and fluffy and I want her.    When we got into our room, we started emptying and repacking our stuff and had more gear talk. I have a lighter pack in comparison to the both of them (being a woman that might not make as much of a difference I guess) but I have a hard time fitting all my stuff in it well. It all fits, just not in places where I'd like things to fit. All the bigger items on the inside like my food bag, tent, and clothes bag are kinda bulky on top of my sleeping bag so it makes it difficult to fit my water bottles in the actual holders on the sides. I know as the days go on I'll figure out better ways of arranging things (and my food bag will get smaller). And then when I get to the outfitters at Mountain Crossings in hopefully four days, they can help me with it even more.    It's a weird feeling being here. Still hasn't hit me yet even as I sit here and more people walk in or as we talk about the trail. It's comforting talking to others about their uncertainties though and sharing all of our nerves and knowing we'll all be going through it together. We met another guy named Grant who's from Philly(!) and chatted with him for awhile. It seems like most of the people here are starting from Springer. So we'll all likely end up 8 miles in at Hawk Mountain Shelter for the night together again. It'll be a cold evening tomorrow so I'm going to enjoy the bed tonight for sure. Hopefully all goes well with everything else!   First day of classes tomorrow! Eeek! I can't believe it!!!