Date: 2007-04-15
From: Springer Mtn.

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Translation follows text as Jon sent it.Bus took some 2.5 hrs. longer than it should have, and drove right by the ATL airport, where I thought it would stop, thus allowing me to escape it and ride MARTA to meet Matt. No stop there, but all's well now that the awful ride's over. 'Twas a great relief to have good friend Matt Pulsts awaiting me @ the ATL MARTA sta. We wwould have had Matt's wife Megan ride up to the mtns. w/us, but the late arrival of the bus caused her to miss this fun ride, breaking their string of takin' me to Springer, as they took me up there in '01 (the bad penny returns). Instead, we went straight to the mntns. and Matt's father's cabin near Dahlonega; turns out Pete is ret. Army & even had gone thru Ranger Sch. here some 40 yrs. prior. Hence, as we toured his cabin, which is undergoing its third transformation, then 2 town 4 lunch (last meal of the condemned) we could talk trl., Army & Ger., where we'd both been stationed in the Cold War days. It being Sun., we couldn't get into any of the Ma & Pa restaurants which we full, so we settled for a Zaxby's (chain of chicken restaurants), which was fine. 2:20 we headed out from the Springer parking lot, w/lite sleet & somewhat muddy trl. There we met "Many Sleeps" a volunteer who hangs out in the parking lot, taking the trl's. "census"; he asked for my home state, and maybe my age (can't recall for sure, it being cold and sleety). Saw one young hiker who seemed to be a NoBo (trl. slang for North Bounder, as opposed to the southbound folks, SoBo's), then were at the summit, alone. Pete had brought some beer as a celebratory libation, we took ea. other's fotos & I signed the regis. Checked back to 25 Mar. when good friend Li (Hi Lo, my trl. namefor Li Brannfors) signed in and startd out on his own, much faster hike, so fast that he was to hike the CDT this year after the AT, quite a feat!Back to Matt, I wanted to mention that a couple weeks back told him that I thought I had a ride to Springer. Then I decided not to make friend Bob Krueger drive me up from Central FL, as he wouldn't be up there to enjoy the mntns., just be dropping me off and returning directly to FL. I decided this was a bit wastefull, so I booked a seat on the dreaded bus, and asked Matt for the ride from ATl to the mtn. As I expleind this to Matt, he said, "Good".Translation:Bus took some 2.5 hours longer than it should have, but alls well now that it¢s over. ¢Twas a great relief to have good friend Matt Pulsts awaiting me at the Atlanta MARTA station. We went straight to the mountains and to his father¢s cabin near Dahlonega. Turns out Pete (Matt¢s father) is retired Army and had even gone through Ranger School, one phase of the training here some 40 years prior. Hence as we toured his cabin, which is undergoing its third transformation, then to town for lunch (last meal of the condemned), we could talk trail, Army, and Germany, where we¢d both been stationed in the Cold War days.It being Sunday, we couldn¢t get into any of the Ma & Pa restaurants, so we settled for a Zaxby¢s, which was fine. At 2:20 we headed out from the Springer parking lot with sleet and somewhat muddy trail. Saw one young hiker who seemd to be northbound, then we were at the summit, alone. Pete had brought a celebratory libation; we took each other¢s photos, and I signed the register. Checked back to March 25th, when good friend Li ((Hi Lo, my trail name for him) had signed in. Back to Matt (Pulsts). Originally I had told him that I thought I had a ride to Springer and declined his offer. When that ride didn¢t work out, Matt stepped up to help me.