Date: 2005-03-10
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Miles today: 0.0

So it begins! Late tomorrow I begin the journey to Georgia. Then,from Springer Mtn., I begin my second attempt along that 2,174.9-milefootpath. (It grew .8 miles this year) The footpath that winds through14 states, two National Parks, a myriad of state parks, nationalforests, and wilderness areas. It is a slice of America that, manytimes, belong in a Norman Rockwell scene. The people, places,hospitality, and genuine caring of people you meet along the way makethe journey what it is. I am so very glad that I have the opportunityto try the journey a second time. This time, hopefully, to themystical dream, so far away, Mt. Katahdin, Maine. I will get into Atlanta around 10:00 on the 12th. Scholar is alsoarriving that day and I plan on meeting her at the flight gate. Fromthere we will take MARTA (Atlanta transit) to where Josh and LeighSaint, from the Hiker Hostel, will pick us up. Scholar and I, as wellas a many others plan on spending the night at the hostel and then wewill shuttle to Springer on the 13th. I stayed at the Hiker Hostellast year and it is a great place. We will stay at Springer thatnight and head out on the 14th. Scholar is debating on whether or notto do the approach trail. I told her, "No thanks! Once was enough forme." I did offer to have an oxygen bottle ready when she got to thetop. There are going to be a lot of people starting between the 13th and15th. I have counted about 42 and that is just from people that postthings on various trail related websites. I have a feeling there aregoing to a lot more people attempting thru hikes this year as opposedto last year. From what I understand last year was considered a"light" year for thru hikers. In any case, based on weather forecasts, it looks like the firstfew days we might get hit with all kinds of weather, sun, rain, coldand maybe even that dreaded snow! I just hope that my trek throughthe Smokies this year will have decent weather so I can see something! To all of you that I met and walked with last year, walk with meagain, in spirit, for we are bound together in so many ways. Thosethat I met or walked with and may see up the trail this year, Skirt,Dingle, Lonesome Dove, Salt Lick, PaPa Bear, LWOP, Skeemer, and Riskmay we meet under sunny skies this year! These are just a few people Imay run into. It doesn't include those I may run into at Trail Daysthis May! To all of you that have chosen to follow my journal, walk with meand I will attempt to weave the tale. The tale that will let you seeand experience the trail through my eyes. A tale that will attempt tolet you feel the cold, the heat, the rain, the sweat, the joy, thepain and the frustrations of the journey. I will do the best I can inthe telling of the story. Speaking of stories. When I was at the New Years get together atDoe Lake, LWOP told a story about the reading of The Hobbit whilehiking thru the Shenandoah's last year. The Shenandoah's are prettyeasy walking and you can do big miles if you want to. They chose toshelter hop, just go from one shelter to the next. The reason for theshelter hop was to do the reading. The people participating in thereading took turns reading chapters of the story out loud. I thoughtit was a pretty cool idea so I wrote LWOP the other day to see if Icould carry on the tradition. He replied and told me about the"rules" of the reading and so, when I get to the Shenandoah's I planon doing the read and hope to enlist others that are with me at thetime. Stay tuned, more info as the time approaches! Some of you have asked about my mail drop schedule. I have postedwhere I will stopping for mail up to Harper's Ferry, WV. I am onlyposting up to that point because the time frames may change and I wantto be as close as possible to my ETA's. I will post the second halfwhen I get there. Last but not least, feel free to drop me a line when you want.cuppajoe@pocketmail.comI won't say I can answer all you messages but I will read them andthey will be much appreciated! I will try to post one more entry from the Hiker Hostel. If not, Iwill send the entries from Neel's Gap to my transcriber. This year mytranscriber will be my son. He is in the Air Force, the service hewanted to join since he was a sophomore in high school. He is 20 nowand has been in the service for almost two years. My brother will actas backup this year, in case my son gets deployed somewhere. Mybrother will also be my picture poster this time around. He livescloser and the photo chips can get to him quicker. I am going to give one last plug a | to ZipDrive and Leif .. thecreators and maintainers of Trail Journals. Without them and theirsite, the ability for you to read and for me to post would benon-existent. If you can, please click on the Donate button on thehome page and help them out. If you notice, there are noadvertisements on this site and only by the contributions sent to themis this able to continue. Thanks. (They don't know I did this so Ihope it is OK to make the plug!)