Date: 2005-08-03
From: Weatherford, TX

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hello everyone,Thought that I would let everyone know what I have been up to.. I have been trying, and I do mean, trying to rest my foot. I have been biking and kayaking with lots of stretching and some weights.. I have gotten to see some family and some family friends.. I am really ready to get back on the trail. I was going to head back this week, but my parentspointed out that the doctor(s) said 4-6 weeks and this week would only be 23 days. They said it in a way only parents can, the guilt we know you will make the right decision talk.. So I made my flight for Aug 11 and then told them. So really I chicken out and on telling them before I bought the ticket.. I am a big girl.. LOLO I do think that this has helped me to think about all the wonderful things that I have done so far and kind of gain a bit of perspective from the daily grind of the trail.. I have enjoyed telling some of the ¢tame¢ trail stories to my family. I learned quickly that some should not be told when your going back on the trail.. :> A couple of things that are highlights that have not made the journal so far- One of the most memorable days for me on the trail was about July 21 in North Carolina. I had the honor to meet a wonderful section hiker named KennyB. First let me tell you that I think that section hikers are the ¢true¢ hiker on the AT. I kind of feel like the thru hikers, myself included, are unique, but the section hiker goes back year after year to hike the AT. I think that takes someone very special to keep at it piece by piece. Just when they are getting into shape and getting the routine down they are done for the section.. Well, KennyB is tops in my book. Kenny if you are reading this please correct anything that I mess up.. He finished his hike the day after I met him on July 22. It took him 11 years!!! I talked with him on the trail and then had the honor to chat with his wife, Pricilla, after she left him to his hike and went for the car.. Kenny is around 70yrs and had a brace on both of his ankles to help with severe arthritis. He was doing about 5 miles a day. He wanted to finish close to where he grew up. I would love to see the picture and the sign that his wife made when he finished.. Now that is a hiker!!! Way to go Kenny, and what great support Pricilla!!Another memorial meeting was Slow and Easy and Flex, a husband and wife and their friend from Michigan. They also were on the last section of their hike when I met them.   Slow and Easy (and Flex too???) also are thinking of biking across Canada.. Wow!! They taught me the ¢baggie¢ technique to get water. Which is when the water source is really only seeping and you use a baggie to catch the water.. My question is I wonder how long I would have taken to learn this.. LOLO. I only got one night in the Smokies with them, but I hope to keep in touch and maybe do some hiking in Big Bend, TX and I might run into them.. Thanks for all the encouragement and your wonderful inspiration.. There have been so many wonderful people that I think about and will try to share their stories with you as we go up the trail together.. I hope that you will get back in to the habit of checking the site, as I¢m sure that Longway will be up to filling in the blanks from when I can¢t get to a computer. I should be able to update tales from the trail a bit more often. I have loved hearing from each of you. One of the weird things is that you almost forget that life goes on outside of the trail.. I love to hear what you are up to and how things are going for each of you. I have added a few more pictures and will keep updating while I have a computer handy.. I just got back from a over night trip to Austin, TX with my mother. We have a great time and got to see some really cool bats.. I also ran into a 2000 thru hiker named Jim. It was really nice to meet another member of the club. We talked for a bit. I had to ask if my feet and knees would ever feel normal again. He said it took a while, but his did. I was able to hear and tell a few trail stories.. Learning once again that everyone¢s hike had many adventures.. I have a new pair of long underwear that say they will not hold odor.. I really doubt it, but it¢s sure worth a try. I better go unpack and get ready for sleep in my nice clean cool dry bed.. :>Dare to find your dreams, and then live them. It makes life so great!!!Thanks for being part of mine.Dream catcher