Date: 2015-07-04
To: Home in Germany
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Three months ago I made my first step north on Springer Mountain in Georgia filled with hopes and expectations. I was not really sure what to expect, since my knowledge was based on the experiences of others. Now I know a bit more about hiking the AT.But let me fill you in on what happened during the last ten days: When the doctor in Elkton confirmed that I had contracted another urinary infection I knew that it was not possible to cure this on the trail. So I would have to stay off the trail for the week that I had to take antibiotics ¢ not knowing that I would really be cured. I felt that my body was telling me very clearly: Stop right here, I cannot take any more.It was just incredible, that my mail angel Erich offered to pick me up, since it meant 600 miles and 12 solid hours of driving from New Jersey one day before he left for Germany with a group of students. Getting there on my own would have been complicated and taken much longer. Harpers Ferry, which had a train connection to D.C. was 100 miles away. So Erich drove me to New Jersey on Wednesday, I changed my flight and arranged for a stopover in New York and the bus to Boston. Thursday I took a bus to New York. Even though this meant returning to a city where I had spent seven very exciting months 40 years ago, I just walked a bit around my hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I was not in the mood for any touristic endeavors. But under different conditions I would really like to look up some of the places and people that were so important to me then. Friday morning the Megabus took me on bumpy roads to Boston, where my plane left in the evening.Last Saturday I was finally able to put my arms around my wife, who had been such a decisive source of strength during my months on the trail.Since then I am home and recovering, even though I don¢t put on weight, because my body still seems to be in hiking mode. I am still hiding in a way. Last Wednesday three grandchildren were born. Finn in Baden-Baden started, followed by the twins Felix and Lea here in Aachen. All three and their mothers are healthy and entered this world without any complications. Sometimes people want to know, whether I have arrived here yet. Well, let me tell you, when I hold one of these little bundles in my arms, the trail seems to be very far away. Of course my thoughts often stray to the wonderful people out there still facing the incredible challenges of the AT every day. Happy Trails to all of you! The Colonel wishes you the best of luck!I do not have the feeling of failure at all, on the contrary I sometimes even wonder how I got that far. I am very proud of these 1500 Kilometers and it has been an incredible experience, for which I am very grateful. I am fully aware that I owe it to many people that I could have this experience.What is next?Sometime in the next weeks I want to write a gear review and I may even try to formulate some general conclusions. It would even be great, if I would put pictures into my journal. And I will decide, whether I want to continue my hike in Elkton or close the AT chapter for good. But anyway I will be very happy to answer any questions. Please feel free to contact me via my guestbook or directly fromgerm@gmail.com