Date: 2005-06-12
To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sunday, June 12.Big Meadows CampgroundI am now staying at Big meadows Campground & sitting on Monkey Head Rock that is right on the Appalachian Trail. I have sat upon this rock many times over the past few years & though about hiking the AT. I love this trail & everything about it. And, as I now sit here gazing at the Shenendoah Valley, it is just starting to sink in how lucky I have been to have had the opportunity to do this.There are way too many people to list, that I could say thank you to. But, there are 3 people who I would like to bring up.First, My oldest sister Linda. When I was planning this hike, never in my wildest dreams did I think she would have taken such an interest in it. She let me know that she wanted to help in anyway possible. She has done numerous things for me, but the best of all is when I talked to her on the phone from trail towns. I would call Linda and her voice always had such enthusiasm as to where I was & what I was doing. She would always ensure me that everything at home was OK. Thank you sister. I will never forget all you have done.Next, I would like to say thanks to my mom who really thought that I had lost my mind when I told her that I was planning on taking a walk in the woods for 6 months. However, she never critisized me or told me not to go. She only offered a little advice here & there and as always, stood behind me & my quest. She has gone overboard taking care of Crystal, especially since the news of our baby to come. So, Mom, Crystal & I are ever so proud to be the ones to give you your first granddaughter.Last, but certainly not least, my wife Crystal. She is the person who introduced me to the Appalachian Trail. Sometime back in the early 1990's when Crystal & I started dating, she brought me here to the Shenendoah National Park to go camping and hiking. Her family had taken her & her sisters here when growing up. One day we were standing on the trail & she says to me,"This trail goes from Georgia to Maine". "No way", I said. Since standing on the trail that day & up until now, things have just fallen into place for me to have planned & attempted this journey. While I was hiking the trail in these past few months, other hikers would ask me what my wife thought of me being out here. I always thought that it was so cool to be able to say that she is the one who sent me here! Crystal is one of the most amazing person's I have ever met. It wasn't just me hiking the trail, it was US. From preparation of gear to preparing me to come home, she was as much a part of this as me. Thank you Crystal. I love you.So now as I leave this trail, I only have 2 tears upon my face. One is for sadness & one is for happiness. The first is knowing how much I am going to miss the trail & all of the friends that I have made out here. The things that you have read in my journal was just a glimpse of all of the things that I have experienced. I can not come up with the words to express how great & wonderful it was and always will be to me. The second tear is one of happiness & joy that I feel about Crystal & I having a little baby girl in a few months. We are both just so excited and look forward to our new adventure and family.Thank you to everyone who has followed my journey. It has been really nice knowing you all were out there.Happy Trails & Take a Hike,Train