Date: 2014-09-09
To: Kirkwood, MO - HOME!
Miles today: 0.0

I got up early and caught the 6am shuttle to the airport. This was too early for breakfast at the guesthouse so I ate at the airport. My flight was schedule for 9:45am. Just a few hours to home with a short lay-over in Atlanta. The weather was beautiful - a bit of turbulence but nothing to worry about. I arrived mid afternoon at Lambert to the beaming and beautiful face of Pearl(Jena) . We had a great meal at the Salted Pig on the way home - I pigged out! I will take a couple of days to adjust then Pearl and I will head out for a few days wherever she wishes to go! It is good to be home!As this is my last entry I wish to share a few words. It has been quite the journey. It got a little long for me at the end, but overall it was the trip of a lifetime. It was good to step out of my box for awhile but even better to be back home. My A.T. hike would have been much more difficult if not for the support of my wife,Jena. She held down the home front and also kept up with my multiple mail drops and addressing equipment failures. I could not have had a better hiking partner. Many thanks to my family and friends who supported me from afar by your thoughts, cards, food, well wishes, journal guest book entries (which Jena printed and got to me on the trail), words of wisdom and motivation. I could not have done this without you. I also developed a greater appreciation for my wife, children and family as well as the comforts of life we take for granted. All the trail magic I received, large and small, was much appreciated. The trail angels that go out of their way to help hikers are wonderful people. Many thanks to all!The camping I enjoyed and only tired of living out of my backpack near the very end. I met a lot of good people too; hikers and townspeople alike. The talks and miles hiked with my fellow comrades will not be forgotten. Those that helped me while in dire straights medically, I am forever grateful as is my family. It is because of all of you I was able to recuperate and get back on the trail after I went through the vaccinations. All the rides, storing my vaccine, warm hospitality in your homes, and general acts of kindness too numerous to mention in this last entry - I thank you all. I really enjoyed the small towns, where people had the time to share their lives with me. I saw more mountains than I knew existed on the A.T. and summited many of them. I'm not planning on climbing any more mountains for a while as my knees need a long rest. I hiked alone most of the time and found it to be very peaceful. I have to say that I feel more at ease now; five months without any stress will do that to you. My regrets, not to have had more time to sit on mountaintops and soak it all in and losing the boys at Gatlinburg. To anyone who followed my journey, including the trials and tribulations, I hope you enjoyed the trek. Anyone planning a future AT hike, I wish you sunny, cool, blister-free days!I would like to dedicate my journey to someone I thought of many times, my brother Ron, who lost his fight for life nearly one year ago. We love and miss him. Happy Trails to All! Life is Being Home! -Hoyt