Date: 2004-06-19
From: Glasgow, Va., Spending the night on a Greyhound Bu

To: Motel 6 in Gainesville, Ga
Miles today: 0.0

zero miles todayMotel 6 in Gainesville, GaEverything is continueing to just fall into place. The Greyhound bus pulled into Gainesville, Ga at 11am and thanks to the help of Jan Liteshoe sending out an email to see if there was anyone in that area that could give me a ride back to Amicalola Falls State Park where my truck has been sitting since May 1st, I had 3 offers. The trail community is an unbelievable bunch of fantastic people. They are always willing to help another hiker. I didn't realize that my truck was almost 40 miles from Gainesville, but I'm sure they all did and still offered. Cedar Tree, DaleAmerica and Coosa were all willing to give me a ride. I tried calling Cedar Tree first, but didn't get an answer, so I gave DaleAmerica a call. He did a thru hike in '02 and although we never met on the trail that year, I have met him a couple of times since at different hiker gatherings. I found out that he lived about a half hour from Gainesville, so I said to let me try Cedar Tree again because in his email he said he lived in Gainesville. He answered the phone this time and within 10 minutes was picking me up to take me to his truck. He's an interesting guy...a 6th grade math teacher and in his spare time makes the Packa Poncho and he did a thru hike in 2000 and is working on piecing together another 2000 miler. He took time out in the middle of his weekend to run me 40 miles one way back to my truck. I can't thank you enough Cedar Tree...you're a real trail angel. DaleAmerica, it was great talking to you again and thanks alot for the offer of the ride. Coosa, I got your offer of a ride through an email and I have to really thank you for that. I'm glad I've had the good fortune of meeting you a couple of times at hiker gartherings. Before I would let Cedar Tree leave, I wanted to see if my truck would still start after sitting so long. It started right up and I thanked Cedar Tree for his generosity and we went our separate ways. I also want to thank Jan Lteshoe...she was the one that let everyone know I needed a ride and she forwarded the replies that she got from them to me. Jan, I owe you a great big hug and I'll even buy you a dinner...my choice of restaurants though. Thanks AngelShoe. I've got that JMT hike coming up in September and I'm sure I'll need a larger backpack. Winton Porter at Mountain Crossings had sent a backpack of mine to be repaired about a half a year ago and I drove up to see if it was back yet. Winton wasn't there, but we looked and at first didn't see it, but looked again before I left and found it packed away. Now I have my old backpack and I'm pretty sure that's what I'll use on the John Muir Trail. I also want to thank Corsican. I had a friend get in touch with him to see about a ride and he said he would have been glad to, but had a funeral to attend today. I didn't realize how far he would have had to drive. He lives in Hayesville, NC. When you are on the trail, you don't have a road map, so you have to try an remember how close everything is! . That would have been a long drive for him. I started to drive back to Florida after I stopped by another friends house in Hayesville and left a note...they weren't home. I ended up back in Gainesville and was pretty worn out from being up all night on the bus, so I got this room and slept for 11 hours. I'll go home and regroup for the next leg of my hike. I'm going to give the black flies a chance to leave Maine before I start walking again though. I've got over 1/3 of the trail done and the way it looks, I'll do the rest of the trail walking south. It just seemed to make sence...I've done a nobo thru hike and a sobo thru hike, so now it's time to try a flip. I love the Appalachian Trail and the community of people involved with it.