Date: 2012-03-13
From: Woody Gap

To: FINALLY I made it onto the trail
Miles today: 10.6

The day has finally arrived when I feel up to actually hiking on the AT. I am not wearing my pack and Rog is slack packing today since we will be hiking from Woody Gap back to Blood Mountain where our car is parked. The five of us in our cabin got up and ready to go. Lyn is going a different direction from us so we hope to see her somewhere else along the trail. Freefall is taking a zero because he has horrible huge blisters on his feet and is limping. Squach is staying with him at the hostel and taking a zero also. When we met up with Bill and Rod at the hostel, Bill said he had da new trail name for me (that should make Pitchit happy :-)) He thinks I should now be called Trail Mama...I kind of like that so maybe I will switch. We once again all piled into Jon's car and drove to Woody Gap. It had stopped raining finally..thank you Lord!!...but was very foggy. After devotions, prayer, and singing THE trail song of this group, "Step by Step" we were off for a VERY long day. Bill, Jon and Rod were soon out of sight as Rog and I plodded along...make that me plodding and Rog being a sweetheart and staying with me. It was 6+ miles to the spot where we were meeting the other 3 for lunch. I made it but just barely. My knee and hip, injured in the crash that broke Rog's neck, was starting to seriously hurt which it does periodically. So when we got to the guys, "Dr. Rod" insisted that I wear HIS knee brace and take two Aleve. I hate taking anything but humored him and swallowed. It was decided that because the last 2 or 3 miles involved climbing up and over Blood Mountain, which everyone says is difficult, that Jon and I would take an "easier route" - according to the guide book. Don't believe guide books...Jon and I walked about 4 miles and it was "boulder hopping" 95% of the time. We were climbing up and over rocks, streams, and fallen large trees on this "easy" trail. Jon described it to Rog as arduous...good description. Meanwhile the 3 guys had gone up and over the mountain so Rog backtracked to Jon and I to walk the rest of the way with us. Thanks, Jon, for helping me survive this stretch!The guys figured that I had hiked 11 miles for my very first experience at long distance hiking...not really the recommended way to start out! Rod called his brother Larry (a pastor who has hiked with Rog) to ask for a prayer that I make it. Really there was no choice but to "make it"...the only option was to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. The good news...NO blisters! Very sore knee and hip but that will heal with more rest. What kept me going was Elvis (His Hand in Mine album), Donovan (his only album), the Gaither Vocal Band, and me thinking about the kids who are going to benefit from having updated facilites to experience God's love at camp. A huge THANK YOU to son Jeff who spent hours putting music on my I Touch. It really helped me get through the day. And a huge THANK YOU to Bill, Rod, Jon and Rog who were all supportive and caring with this rookie hiker...you are all WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I love you all! (Pictures coming later...Rog has the camera with him so I can't post them yet)