Date: 2010-02-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

More stair climbing again today and, frankly, it sucks. Up and down the stairs, 'round and 'round the mezzanine, only the chill of the air lending any sense of reality to this boringly repetitive drill. It's a hockey arena, so the temperature is somewhere below 32 degrees, about right for daytime hiking weather in Dahlonega, Ga. I've been experimenting with my pack and now have it at about 20lbs, but need to add a couple more days worth of food, water, my digital camera (thanks Carlette) and some other odds and ends. I'll be somewhat shy of 30lbs when I start out, a pretty good weight for the colder time of year and I intend for that to be considerably lighter as time goes on and the weather warms. Sassafras Mt is where I sprained my ankle in '05 and was almost thrown off the trail not even 24 hours into the hike. I guarantee it will not happen in the same place this year. It could happen on the climb up, but once beginning the descent, I'm going to scoot on my butt until reaching the bottom. There's no guarantee it won't happen again, but not in the same place. Also, this time I will not be trash talking the mountain. I believe that to have been my tragic mistake 5 years ago, looking back over my shoulder like Lot's wife (I occasionally throw in the Biblical reference for my friends and family who insist I'm going to hell) and foolishly talking smack to an edifice as imposing as a mountain. Just plain dumb is how I see it from the wiser vantage point of 5 more years and I shall not make that mistake again. Other mistakes, are my God given right to make by the bushel, and I fully intend to do so, but not that one. Not again.One of my last chores before closing up my house is to get my cat, Nutmeg, caught up on her immunizations. Today I made the appointment and dug out the cat carrier, putting it in the living room where it will be convenient tomorrow morning. Alas, Nutmeg saw me and is now in hiding. I'll probably snatch her up when ever the opportunity presents, because she dearly resents being caged almost as much as riding in my truck. For a fat cat, she occasionally shows something like sprinters speed. I'll probably end up putting some tuna in the cage, thus luring her in and slamming the door shut. She'll spend the night yowling and none of us will sleep, but she will get to the vet. Following that chore I am left with buying one more tank of propane for the house, paying my taxes, paying my dentist for the privilege of allowing him to perform a root canal on me (Thank you God of Nitrous Oxide) and still more money to my physician for the various indignities she bestowed upon my aging and decrepit body. Should there be any money left, I will be allowed to go on my hike and, perhaps, even to carry some food along. Now to those of you without a life and who are reading this journal, be aware this is the first entry that my transcriber, Carlette (GatherNo Moss) Lewis is performing and be gentle with her. She is an actual Governmental Agent and as such is authorized to carry and use firearms. Word.Okay, Agent CK, it's all yours____________________________________________________Postscript: 10-4Propane before taxes???CK over and out.