Date: 2007-03-17
From: Neel's Gap

To: Neel's Gap, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Well, as you can see everything worked out for our zero day. Got up to catchthe shuttle to Mountain Crossings in hopes to stay for the nite. We were ableto get it, but Boat Drinks was leaving for the trail, so we said bye. Cool laidback guy, I enjoyed talking with him last night.I signed the register and was #231 for the season. I resupplied, and things area bit pricey, but they have everything a hiker needs. On the menu for the next5 days is some poptarts for breakfast, summer sausage and cheese for lunch, andeither Ramen, Liptons, or Tuna for dinner. I also got a luxury item of chocolatecovered espresso beans. I also picked up some cliff bars to see how well theywork and 2 more Vitamin I's, which I have not had to take everyday.So I am sitting here drinking my 3rd liter of water, because I got a bitdehydrated yesterday, and figured I'd share some stuff that I have learned.First, up is up. Doesn't matter so much the distance as does the gradient. Switchbacks are good, and cussing helps a lot too.Second, I really like Aqua Mira. I don't taste it, and the water has beenreally clear so far. I did use my coffee filter yesterday for some chunks, andthey worked really good.Third, I have so much more flexibility as a hammock hanger than do tenters. Ihave heard a lot of talk of "having" to get to a certain point because that iswhere flat ground is. I, so far, could have stopped just about anywhere if Iwant to. I have had two tenters express some jealousy of my flexibility andbeing able to stay dry off the ground.(I was humble, but smiled ear to ear inside...hee hee....hammockers will takeover the world some day!)Fourth, taking it really slow and being nice to your body is a MUST. I feellike we have done that, which has increased the enjoyment immensley. Fifth, no matter what, you will be convinced you hear a bear in your campsite atnite! LOLSixth, I can't personally imagine doing this without my maps, and all of myfriends appreciate them too! (thanks again Mom!)Seventh, doing "the doo" in the woods isn't as bad as I thought it would be. haa haa....I still have a phobia of running out of TP though.Eighth, typing on a pocketmail is easier with my thumbsNinth, wind is bad (said like Mr. Garrison from South Park)Tenth, remembering how to pronounce Dahlonega takes about as much time as itdoes to hike to Neel's Gap*duh La ni Ga*Eleventh, it is pointless to think about Maine when you get out here. It istotally doable if you make your goals from resupply to resupply....thinking thatI will hopefully be in Maine someday sounds ridiculous at this point, I justtake it one day at a time, and that makes me happy.Having the time of my life still. I love problem solving, and hiking each dayis like solving a puzzle from water resupply to when to eat lunch, to where tostop. It is a blast. Well..going to take a nap now. Back on the trailtomorrow!One last funny thing just happened. Remember I said this place is for sale? Well, a realtor just showed up with people, and we scared the crap out of them. Apparently they don't know hikers are staying here, and the place is a toal gearexplosion...not thinking that helps the seller. Kind of weird, but hey, it iswarm so who am I to judge? LOLTonight, Nicole and I combined some food and we enjoyed chicken potpieand chicken Lipton's Noodles....Nicole has chicken everything...we laughedbecause it reminded us of Bubba Gump Shrimp, only with chicken. Then I provideddessert of Oreos for all!Kay taught us this really fun card game called Fluxx, and we played a few hands. It has been the exact thing our bodies needed, and I am excited to get back outthere. Looks like we'll be getting into the 20's this week, so we'll see how thatgoes...we are both a little nervous.This house is hilarious too...if someone downstairs is runnung the water viadishes, shower, or laundry, the upstairs loses its water. Tonight I had justlathered soap all over my face and boom....no water. It made me laugh. Afterthe shower was done downstairs, my water came back.We all cleaned up the place really good, created a hiker box, and are leaving itnicer than when we arrived. Nice to be with other people who have the samemindset.We all sat down and charted out our next leg. Seems Nicole and I have a verysimilar hiking style as Gadget and Kay. It's cool to have some friends already.Happy St. Patty's Day!~Michele