Date: 2012-02-26
To: Final Gear Selection Time!
Miles today: 0.0

Time is flying by, time is crawling by. As I watch the folks who are beginning the AT ahead of us, my impatience grows. The mild winter we are having up north is bringing with it Spring Fever, or in this case, Springer Fever. Symptoms; can't stay focused on one thought for more than 5 seconds. Trouble with eating normal portions. Nerves a total wreck. Moments of absolute highs followed by moments of great trepidation. The mood swings have as many ascents and descents as the AT itself. Only cure; get oneself on the AT and give her heck. Gear updating time. Looks as though we will have packages arriving daily for the next few days. I feel like a child at X-mas! 1. Vargo titanium spork, in lavender color. 2. Crocs, moss green, xxl wide. 3. Moleskin, 2" x 5yds. 4. 4" x 8" waterproof reporter's journal book. 5. (3) Dry Sacks, S, M, L 6. Frogg Toggs rain gear. 7. Frogg Toggs large backpack cover. 8. LEKI Carbonlite Aergon Speedlock Trekking Poles 9. 2-pair of Smartwool phd socks xl10. 2-pair Cabela's 11" Ultimax® Lifetime Liner Socks12. Cabela's "Perfekt¢¢" 7" Hikers by Meindl,12EE13. Cabela's GORE-TEX® Ultimate Gaiters, loden green14. Columbia® Aruba¢¢ III Zip-Off Pants, sage15. Columbia® Bahama¢¢ II Long-Sleeve Shirt ¢ Tall16. Patagonia Nano Puff Vest, Gecko GreenWas busy shopping and it kept my mind off this impatience to get to Georgia! Now likened to a small child, I will impatiently await each delivery!If you have followed my journal, then you know I have wanted to make this hike happen for many years. Each time I planned I was thwarted by insurmountable roadblocks. Was almost convinced that perhaps I was not meant to ever achieve this dream. This year has been the complete opposite of everything which came before. Been some small stumbling blocks, but nothing of importance. It seems that every doorway opens to Lakota and me hiking the AT this year! Welcoming us with open arms. It is humbling to say the least. I feel like there are good spirits helping me out. I feel Creator in my world and blessing us on this hike. It brings me to tears. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to hike the AT. This is something many can never afford to do, and I don't mean just money. I mean family, children, jobs, all of it. How does one put life as we know it, on pause, and hike for months? I know I am privileged to hike the AT, and I am humbled.Mom, I know you are worried about me. I love you so much for what you have taught me in life. I certainly was not the best son you could have had, but you never gave up on me. Lakota and I will be fine. We will take our time, there ain't no reason to rush. I promise to stay in contact with you as much as is technologically possible. If you could see some of the market places I delivered to when trucking, you would be quite happy with my AT choice. I am not going for this hike to die, I am going so I can LIVE! If something were to happen to me on the AT, is that not a wonderful place for it to happen. Did I hear an amen from Elvis? I have plans to hike the PCT next year, so please don't give up so easily. You know me, I am stubborn. I will be fine, all will be good. I love you Mom. You taught me to press leaves when I was a boy, then look them up for identification. You taught me to love our mother earth. You are a fine teacher, and a superb mother. Thank you for being there. Lakota spends so much time looking out for me. Now it is time for me to make him famous! I want to honor him for what he has shared with me. I can't wait to see how excited he is when we hit the approach trail. Thought about getting one of those Amish reflective, orange triangles they have on their buggies. Hang it on my backpack. That will keep other thru hikers from rear ending us! I am going to be so slow, but methodical. One step, next step, next step, break!, next step, and so on. Ordered 250 business cards with Lakota's pic on them along with our info and trailjournals link. $10 bucks, free s&h, Vista Print. So much easier than trying to write out, www.trailjournals.com/duddtiz2012. I have tried, it will only fit on a long envelope. lol Doing well with the No Plan strategy. Scares me a little as I have always been well prepared in my life. I know how to get to Springer Mountain. I know where north is. That is good enough. After finding out Lakota can travel Amtrak for free, I am almost certain that we will go north in late June to Maine. Then we will hike SOBO back to where we left our NOBO. This could give us at the very least, an additional month+ to finish. That would give us a good 8+ months to finish. This I think is doable for us. I am stoked! I am scared sh@&less too, but I try to block that out. Lakota can't make an entry here, so he asked me to tell you all Hello!There are some really cool folks in this Class of 2012. We are all from different worlds, but somehow we are so very much the same. This is an awesome experience and I hope this journal can encourage others to find the AT.Peace Out my friends. Cheers to the AT Class of 2012!