Date: 2007-10-07
To: Thank You!
Miles today: 0.0

IT WERE AS WELL TO BE EDUCATED IN THE SHADOW OF A MT. AS IN MORE CLASSIC SHADE. SOME WILL REMEMBER NO DOUBT, NOT ONLY THAT THEY WENT TO COLLEGE, BUT THAT THEY WENT TO THE MT.                           HENRY DAVID THOREAUI would like to attempt to thank the many people that supported my family and I during my journey. I'm going strictly from memory so please forgive me if I miss any names.Starting from the inception of my dream, I want to start by thanking our friends Mandy, Brian and "little man" Ian. With their support I was able to have my family with me as I started out and a good sherpa to keep me going on my approach to Springer Mt.. A large thanks to Brian's brother Jay (Silent Bob) who rekindled my desire to give the trail a go after so many years and the good advice on gear.A Big Thanks to all of my nieghbors for showing your support and kindness towards Carissa, Matthew and Emelia while I was gone. Thank you Scott, Alaine and Ava-Lou for introducing me to Bill (Sprained Rice), who I slowly learned had a tremendous amount of knowledge about the trail, but was modest and wise enough to let me experience my own thru hike. Thank you to Matthew and Emelia's pre-school teachers, Ms. Mary, Ms. Doreen, Ms. Dawn, Ms. Paulina, Ms. Pria, Chava and Bec for looking out for my little ones and sharing our adventure with their classmates. Thank you to all of our family members: All the Lockett's, especially Situ!, The Buchters', including Emily and Jake with their lemonade stand!, and all the Youngs. Thank you so much Joyce and Gram for helping Carissa this summer!Thank you to all our friends and family that made donations towards my fund raising efforts for the American Cancer Society. With your help I was able to raise $3,311.00!!! I will be in contact with you all soon!A special thanks to Jim Shelton of the New Haven Register, George Austin of the Spectator and Kate Grenier and Dot Quimby of Unity College and my old friend Steve Messina for spreading the word about my efforts and journey.To all my old friends that took the time to come hike with me: Josh "kick ass weekend warrior", Jeff "old school" and Harry "Dirt", Thank you!And to all my friends that helped me along the way: Wade, Shirley, Pete and Kathy. Thank you for all the rides, meals and places to rest!Finally, I would like to thank the many people of the A.T. itself. First, thanks to all of the trail crew workers that maintain this enormous stretch of trail. Your dedication and hard work are greatly appreciated by us all. Thank you to all the trail angels out on the trail this year. Your show of good will and support helped to renew my faith in humanity. I also want to thank the many Hostel owners. You are all truly part of what the trail "experience" is about, good or bad, old or new, friendly or "hostile" you are what you are or a phrase I heard often on the trail "It is what it is", Thank youLast but not least, I would like the long list of thru hikers and or section hikers that I met on the trail. I will attempt to list everyone but again I'm going from memory.From my first days on the trail: Tortuga, Ronin, W.T.F., Robo, Pack B----, Baby Violet, Many sleeps ,Dwyard, Sylvian, Wishbone, Benjali, Bludog, Grey Turtle, THE PAIN TRAIN- Byte Code, Side Show, Big Shanty, Big B. and Little Spoon, Grizzle, Chach, Church Mouse, Achillies, Sir Privy Winks, Buffalo Bobby, Tennessee Jed, Chuck Norris and Tigger, Hawaii, Willy Goat and Trail Dancer, Alpine Strider, G-force, O2, Iceman, Mack, Buttercup, Fire Hazard, Band aid Kid, "The Vortex": Ox, Keymaster, Philmont, Hold on, Two Wheels, and So.Co., Tony Tiger, Kokopelli, Young Eagle, Talkerman, Weatherman, Sunshine and Google, Patches, Golden Child, Boogie and Shark, Mellow Yellow, Red Arm, U-Turn, Marked, Farmer (Fama), Orange Moon, Ginger Snap, Lucky, Tater, Blaze and Brisk, Flaxseed, Second Wind, General Tso, Stonewall, Sleeping Beauty, Fireball, W.A.G.O.S., Moon Goat and Otto, Circuit Rider and Sherlock, Sven and Uff-ta, C and N, Aristotle, Almost Lucky, Spartacus, Uno and Dewey, Mountain Man, Coach, Mate, Kimchee, Skip, Rain Check, Spock, Flying Turtle, Scholar, Barking Spider, Plodder, Pipeline, Wolf Taffy, Lion, Chuckles, Splendora, J. Beard, Mangrove, Formal Bear and Mittens the Moose, Bluemeanie and Hiker Chick, Lightening Rod, Flying Dutchman, Snow Plow and wife, John from PA, Jim from Seattle, Sphinx and Touch me There, Peter or P.O.S.H., Big Brother, Freed Bird, Baltimore Jack, Slack Pack, Chef, Megaphone, Spashley and Stealth, Grits, Luna, Pony Whisperer and Alpine, Mouse Trap, Backyard Boogie, Socks, Rain Dog, Spock (the original), Usual Suspect,Denali, Bow Legs and Bono, Toodles, Slinky and Dog, Bonafide, Mr. Easy, The Gimp, Lunch Box, Cool Hand Luke, Blissful and Paul Bunyon, Pokey Puppy, and Pierre and Francine. THANK YOU!!!!!