Date: 2007-05-12
From: Waynesboro, Va - YMCA

To: Elkton Motel, Elkton, Va
Miles today: 0.0

Ok a big day for me; but, not much too put in the journal. It was good to finally rest without trying to hunt down "Mo Lassus". I heard that he actually waited an extra day here for me. Not a good thing to do; do not wait for "Zero". I liked the thought from him, though. I spent the day hanging with new friends. Ok, I am going to continue my story about my buddy from Dallas, Tx that came out to hike with me and brought a crossbow: Circa Easter 1990 in The Talladega National Farest, Pinhoti Trail: So after I came to terms with "Mountain Mike" spending 200 dollars on a Crossbow "for protection"; we got to hiking. It was not long that he and I got competitive and began racing each other. I would get ahead and rest; then he would catch me and say something smart-butt like, "the turtle beats the hare everytime." Our second night together, he began losing his mind. I asked him for a smoke and he said that he did not have very many left which "pissed" me off; but, let it pass. Now, when Mike ran out of smokes; he really became agitated at everything I did. He was really starting to have trouble with the hike that I had planned since childhood. I had the feeling that the AT should start down in Alabama; since the Appalachian Mountains start down here geologically. Well, to do this means that a hiker must bush wack from the Pinhoti Trail over to the AT. Today it is roughly connected; but, back then it was not. Mike knew that I had this desire from the beginning and thought that since he decided to come join me at the last moment; he would "hike my hike"! This was my first "trail marriage"; so, I was totally oblivious that this hike would not be all about me? That's right "O.G.": isnt life all about me We got up and hiked on day # 3 and I got out ahead again and stopped to rest some. Mike then came zipping by again and said something to make me mad. I got up and tried to catch him. I hiked harder than I had on the whole trip and hour after hour; I did not catch him. Night came and I set up camp. I was worried about him. I just could not figure out what happened to him. I did not think that he could out hike me. I set up camp and hardly slept at all; partly due to wondering what happened to him and a Whip-poor-will bird being right above me. It went "Whip-poor-will ;Whip-poor-will ;Whip-poor-will ;Whip-poor-will " all night long. Yes, Hank Senior: "I've heard that blue ole Whip-poor-will" too. I woke up and actually retraced my steps to see if Mike got lost somewhere by taking a wrong turn. I could not see where he could have got lost. There was a forest service road which he could have went down; so, I followed this road towards the town of Piedmont, ALA. I got a ride into town from a guy in a dumptruck. He dropped me off at a motel. I ate good at a KFC which went right thru me. It was the first non-trail food that I had eaten in 3 weeks. I was not used to the grease. I called Mike's parents and found out that Mike had hitched to Springer because he did not want to bushwack to there. I was totally flabergasted! He had most of my money and most of our food. I could not believe it! I told him not to come out here, damn! I then loaded up on food at the local market and headed out of town down a highway heading northeast to GA. I drew alot of looks as they were not used to hikers in this small town. As I walking, looking for a ridge to get up into the mountains; an "old timer" waved me up to his porch. I went up and he gave me a tall boy beer. It was Easter and he was alone and I talked with him for 2-3 hours. He was all alone because his daughter was killed in a brutal attack by a (racial slur). I felt bad for him; but, said that I had to get to the Appalachian Trail. Again, I am walking down a very deserted country highway when an old beat up ford truck stops with two good ole boys inside. They say, "get in." I say(in a manner similar to Butters on southpark)"Gee fellas, I, uh(stutter), Im not hitch-hiking". They said, "get in!" I realized that if I did not get in; there was going to be a problem. So, I hopped in. They introduced themselves as "Tommy Boy" and "Ole Blue"(true). I told them that I was not hitch hiking and not a drifter(which they would not believe) and that I was trying to get to the Appalachian Trail. They were drinking and driving. They were also shooting a WWII era ruger out the window and really "whooping it up". Tommie Boy handed me the pistol and Ole Blues eyes got real big(he was driving). He said, "why dont we put up the pistol!?" I was like, sure thing. I had been very uncomfortable since it had been brandished. They then went to a bootlegger in Esom Hill, Ga and got some more alcohol. They then said that they had an old house back behind theirs that I could live in. It was not too bad they said, just a few snakes! I again reiterated that I was not a drifter and really needed to get out here as they were now headed south and I needed to go north east. They finally let me out! I got out of the truck and put on my pack. As they drove away: I noticed that my buck knife had fell out of my pack. In the buck knife, was all the money I had in the world. Now, I was somewhere in Northwest Ga with no cash; no hiking partner; and not even at Springer Mountain, yet. I tried to hold it all together and camped by the highway and said alot of prayers that night!(story continued later)